PSM News

Aug 19, 2024 India’s achievement of its long-term goal to become a developed economy also hinges on its population losing weight, the Economic Survey 2023-24 had indicated. As India is posed to capitalise on its demographic dividend—a large youth population—it is crucial that the population’s health improves. Rising obesity rates and unhealthy lifestyles are threatening this potential.   New Delhi: India’s achievement of its long- term goal to become a developed economy also hinges on its population losing weight, the Economic Survey 2023-24 had indicated. As India is posed to capitalise on its demographic dividend—a large youth population—it is crucial that the population’s health improves. Rising obesity rates and unhealthy lifestyles are threatening this potential. The Economic Survey 2023-24 had flagged the urgent need for Indians to adopt a balanced diet to harness demographic dividends fully. Obesity is highlighted as a significant concern, with the survey noting a rise in obesity rates among adults Obesity in India Data from the National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5) indicates that obesity among men aged 18-69 increased to 22.9 per cent from 18.9 per cent in the previous survey (NFHS-4). Similarly, for women, the rate rose to 24.0 per cent from 20.6 per cent . “Obesity is emerging as a serious concern among India’s adult population. According to National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5), the percentage of men facing obesity in the age bracket 18-69 has increased to 22.9 per cent in NFHS-5 from 18.9 per cent in NFHS-4. For women, it has increased from 20.6 per cent (NFHS-4) to 24.0 per cent (NFHS-5),” the survey stated. Unhealthy diets, excessive social media usage, prolonged screen time, and sedentary lifestyles are increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. These factors also undermine India’s economic potential by affecting the working-age population. Experts want thinner India for better economy Experts have stressed the urgency of addressing these health issues to boost India’s economic prospects. They want individuals o monitor their waist size, according to a Tol report. Dr Neelam Mohan, senior director and head of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and liver transplantation at Medanta Medicity, highlighted the importance of government intewention in combating obesity effectively: “Govt involvement is crucial in driving the momentum needed to combat obesity effectively.” Dr Mohan pointed out that addressing obesity and related health issues like diabetes and heart disease can also help alleviate the burden of associated ailments, such as fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, and strokes. She noted the worrying trend of young adults experiencing cardiac issues, which were previously uncommon in this demographic. Want to lose weight? You are what you eat Emphasising individual responsibility in weight management, Dr Mohan said, “You are what you eat.” She pointed out that dietary habits significantly impact weight management, contributing 80-90 per cent of the effect compared to physical activity. She stressed the importance of educating young parents and adolescents about nutritious eating habits to curb obesity from teenage years into adulthood. Urban India is more obese than Bharat Data from NFHS-5 also illustrates that obesity is more prevalent in urban areas compared to rural regions, with 29.8 per cent of urban men facing obesity versus 19.3 per cent of rural men, and 33.2 per cent of urban women versus 19.7 per cent of rural women. “Combined with an ageing population in some states, obesity presents a concerning situation. Preventive measures must be taken to enable citizens to have a healthier lifestyle,” the survey added. It also noted that the NFHS-5 Survey coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially increasing sedenta1Y lifestyles; a potential reversal in this trend in NFHS-6 would be a positive sign. What can the government do to shed weight Dr Girdhar Gyani, director general of the Association of Healthcare Providers (India), recommends integrating Body Mass Index (BMI) into the national policy for preventive healthcare. “Increased screen time is the primalY culprit for the current situation,” he said. Gyani advocates for stalting with BMI awareness and then promoting better dietary habits, physical activity, and reduced screen time.He flagged the importance of ongoing awareness efforts about health issues, including stroke, cewical cancer vaccination for women, and annual vaccinations. However, Gyani stressed the need for promoting awareness about BMI as a crucial next step, explaining that when BMI surpasses 25, individuals are at higher risk of health problems, with a BMI over 30 indicating obesity. Obesity root cause of problems Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, founder chairman of Narayana Healthcare, identified obesity as the root cause of most contemporal•y medical problems. He noted that many early-stage diseases due to obesity are reversible, and emphasised the importance of individuals knowing their health metrics. “Know your number” is his key message, urging individuals to be aware of their body weight, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and other critical health parameters.For obese individuals, Dr Shetty recommended undergoing preventive checkups to obtain baseline readings of various health metrics. “An obese person feels I can walk a hundred miles. I have no problem,” he said. Dr Shetty stressed the importance of understanding that perceived fitness level does not always correlate with actual fitness and advocated for comprehensive evaluations of heart, kidney, liver, and other organs since obesity affects all bodily systems.Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co- chairman of the National IMA Covid Task Force, highlighted waist circumference as a simple and affordable way to assess health risks. How to reduce waist size? Is it easy? “Focusing on waist circumference is the most accessible and cost- effective approach, as it can be easily measured without the need for laborat01Y tests,” he said. Reducing waist size can improve health markers such as blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and lessen the likelihood of chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. He also emphasised the importance of educating children about health, stalting from ages 10 to 12, with carefully curated information to avoid misinformation. This approach ensures children receive correct guidance for maintaining well-being during their developmental years.NFHS-5 data shows that the prevalence of abdominal obesity is

Sep 06, 2024 The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has enforced stricter timelines for insurance companies to boost accountability and customer service. Changes include faster settlement of death claims, quicker processing of policy surrenders, and prompt handling of health insurance claims. Customers can approach the ombudsman if these deadlines are not met. MUMBAI: Insurance Regulator and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has tightened timelines for various services undertaken by insurance companies, aiming to enhance accountability and customer service. In life insurance, death claims that do not require investigation must be settled within 15 days, down from 30 days earlier. For early death claims that require a probe, the resolution period is now 45 days while earlier it was “not later than 90 days”. Maturity claims, survival benefits, and annuity payments should be settled on their due dates, and policy surrenders or partial withdrawals must be processed within seven days, Irdai said in its master circular on protection of policyholders’ interests. ‘Insurers must allow 30-day free-look for life, health plans’ Insurance companies are also expected to send premium due intimations and information regarding policy payments, such as maturity or survival benefits, at least one month before the due date. The regulator has said that if the companies fail to meet the timelines, customers can approach the ombudsman who has the power to direct insurance companies. For new business proposals, insurance companies are required to process them and request any additional information within seven days. A copy of the policy, along with the proposal form, must be provided to the policyholder within 15 days. In case of health insurance, the regulator has reiterated that cashless claims must be settled within three hours and non-cashless claims within 15 days. New business proposals should be processed within seven days and policy documents issued in a fortnight. For customers exercising their right to free- look cancellation, insurance companies are required to process the refund within seven days of receiving the request. Services related to policy loans and alterations in original policy conditions are also bound by a seven-day timeline. In unit-linked insurance policies (ULIPs), services such as switch and top-up requests must be fulfilled within seven days. In cases of customer complaints, the insurer must acknowledge the complaint immediately and initiate action within 14 days. If the issue is not resolved within this period, the insurer must inform the complainant within 14 days of the original complaint date. Key features of the master circular include providing essential information at various stages of the insurance contract and mandating Customer Information Sheets (CIS) with policy details. Additionally, insurers must offer proposal forms and CIS in regional languages and allow a 30-day free-look period for life and health insurance policies. Source: India Times

Aug 29, 2024 The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (Epic) said that meeting WHO guidelines of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (pg/m3) could increase the life expectancy of Delhi’s 18.7 million residents by 7.8 years. Even if the air quality matches the national standards of 40 pg/m3, life expectancy could rise by 4.3 yea rs, it added. New delhi: Bad air is reducing the life expectancy of people in Delhi by a whopping 7.8 years, according to a new report. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) repolT by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (Epic) said that meeting WHO guidelines of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (gg/m3) could increase the life expectancy of Delhi’s 18.7 million residents by 7.8 years. Even if the air quality matches the national standards of 40 gg/m3, life expectancy could rise by 4.3 years, it added. As per the report, ‘if all of India were to reduce particulate pollution to meet the WHO guideline, residents in Delhi would see the maximum benefits’. “In North 24 Parganas, the country’s second most populous district, residents would gain 3.6 years of life expectancy,” stated the report. As per the report, Delhi was the most polluted city/state in India, with an average PM2.5 level of 84.3 gg/m3 in 2022. Uttar Pradesh followed with a PM2.5 level of 65.5 gg/m3. However, Delhi has made significant improvements compared to previous years. Delhi’s PM2.5 levels declined to 84.3 gg/m3 in 2022, down from 126.5 gg/m3 in 2021, 111.6 gg/m3 in 2020, and 124.4 gg/m3 in 2019. The report previously claimed that Delhi’s residents were on track to lose 11.9 years of life expectancy on average relative to WHO guidelines and 8.5 years relative to national guidelines if 2021 pollution levels persisted. After a decade of experiencing palticulate pollution levels averaging about 49 gg/m3—more than nine times the WHO norms—particulate concentrations in India dropped to 41.4 gg/m3 in 2022, stated the latest report. “If these reductions are sustained, an average Indian is likely to live nine months longer compared to what they would have if they were exposed to levels similar to the last decade. Further, if pollution met WHO guidelines, Indian citizens could gain 3.6 years,” the report said. The report also highlighted other health risks in India. While particulate pollution takes 3.6 years off the life of an Indian resident, malnutrition shortens life by 1.6 years, tobacco by 1.5 years, and unsafe water and sanitation by 8.4 months. Tanushree Ganguly, director, AQLI, said, “Delhi’s PM2.5 levels in 2022 were 17 per cent lower compared to 2021. Since this is a single-year trend, it is difficult to distinguish between temporary factors like weather and permanent ones like policy implementation as the cause of this decline. However, if Delhi sustains this reduction, the average resident could live 1.6 years longer. One path to continuous improvement is by implementing forceful policies and making deliberate efforts to enforce standards. Many countries like the US, China, and Japan have successfully reduced pollution through robust policies and effective implementation.” Source: Economic Times

Aug 27, 2024 Leading the Japanese delegation was Kiyokazu Nakajima, Professor in the Department of Next Generation Endoscopic Intervention at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. The discussions revolved around the technical aspects and proposals for creating a state-of- the-art, publicly-funded research centre for medical device development, validation and skill training New Delhi: A delegation from Osaka University, Japan, accompanied by officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi to discuss the establishment of a NationalCentre for Medical Device Development, Validation and Skill Training at AIIMS, a statement by AIIMS said. The visit was marked by a high-level meeting chaired by M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi, at the Ramalingaswami Boardroom. The focus of the meeting was an ambitious project in line with India’s “Make in India” initiative for medical devices, AIIMS stated. According to a statement, this visit is a continuation of the collaborative efforts initiated nearly a decade ago following the joint statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the late Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, during their summit in Tokyo on September 1, 2014. As a result of that summit, AIIMS and Osaka University signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 13, 2014, aimed at the development of novel and affordable surgical instruments, marking the first such R&D collaboration between medical institutions in India and Japan, the statement said. Leading the Japanese delegation was Kiyokazu Nakajima, Professor in the Department of Next Generation Endoscopic Intervention at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. The discussions revolved around the technical aspects and proposals for creating a state-of-the- art, publicly-funded research centre for medical device development, validation and skill training. The delegation also visited the proposed site for the centre at AIIMS Delhi’s Jhajjar campus, the statement said. This visit builds on the foundation laid by earlier collaborative efforts, including the onsite training of delegations from AIIMS to Japan, where they visited prominent facilities such as the Fukushima Medical Device Development Support Centre at Fukushima, Medical Device Development Centre (MEDDEC) at Kobe and medical device manufacturing company CASTEM Co. Limited at Hiroshima. Additionally, they had meetings with Overseas Medical Equipment Technical Assistants (OMETA) at Tokyo to understand and learn the sustainability of the proposed centre in India. The AIIMS delegations, led by Hemanga K Bhattacharjee, Professor of Surgical Disciplines at AIIMS New Delhi, along with specialists from other departments, scientists and technical officers from AIIMS gained valuable insights into cutting-edge technological research and hands-on experience on prototype conceptualisation, computer assisted designing, 3D printing for rapid prototype and subsequent manufacturing experience, which will be crucial in the establishment of the proposed centre in India, per the statement. This innovative project aims to reduce India’s reliance on imported medical devices, which currently stands at over 70 per cent . The centre is expected to provide a platform for Indian surgeons, physicians, and engineers to conceptualise, design, develop, and test medical device prototypes. Japan’s support, palticularly in technology and knowledge transfer, will be instiumental in establishing this first-of-its-kind facility, which promises to make high-quality, affordable medical devices accessible to the Indian population and promote an ecosystem for the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector which is in line with the “Make in India” policy of the Government of India, the statement said. Source: Economic Times

Sep 06, 2024 Chris Free, a research professor at UCSB and co-lead author of the study, described the research as a major advancement. IIOur study not only estimates inadequate micronutrient intake for 34 different age-sex groups in nearly every country, but it also makes the methods and results accessible to other researchers and practitioners.” New Delhi: A new study has highlighted a major global health issue: millions of people around the world are not getting enough essential vitamins and minerals from their diets. Researchers from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) conducted a comprehensive analysis to uncover the extent of micronutrient deficiencies. Published in The Lancet Global Health on August 29, this study is the first of its kind to estimate the global inadequacy of 15 critical micronutrients. The study reveals that over half of the global population is falling short on key nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E. Chris Free, a research professor at UCSB and co-lead author of the study, described the research as a major advancement. “Our study not only estimates inadequate micronutrient intake for 34 different age-sex groups in nearly every country, but it also makes the methods and results accessible to other researchers and practitioners.” The researchers analysed data from multiple sources, including the Global Dietary Database, the World Bank, and dietary surveys from 31 countries. They examined nutritional intake across 185 countries, breaking down the data into 17 different age groups, from zero to 80 years old, plus an 80+ category. The study looked at 15 essential vitamins and minerals: calcium, iodine, iron, riboflavin, folate, zinc, magnesium, selenium, thiamin, niacin, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and E. The findings were concerning. Nearly all of the micronutrients studied were found to be inadequately consumed by a significant poltion of the population. Iodine was particularly deficient, affecting 68 per cent of people globally, followed by vitamin E (67 per cent), calcium (66 per cent), and iron (65 oer cent). Other nutrients like riboflavin, folate, and vitamins C and B6 also showed high rates of inadequate intake. Niacin was the closest to adequate levels, with 22 per cent of the population falling sh01T, while thiamin and selenium showed deficiencies in 30 per cent and 37 per cent of people, respectively. Source: Economic Times

Sep 10, 2024 The National Quality of Care Network (NQOCN) organized a two-day International Conference on Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety, hosted by Amrita Hospital, Faridabad. The event included workshops, presentations, and discussions aimed at fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement in healthcare delivery. Delegates from India and SAARC countries participated, according to the hospital. Faridabad: Amrita Hospital,  Faridabad, hosted the third  International Conference on  Healthcare Quality and  Patient Safety, organized by  the National Quality of Care  Network (NQOCN),  focusing on strategies to  enhance healthcare quality and patient safety Speaking at the conference, Punya Salila Shrivastava, Secretary of the Union Minist1Y of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, said, “The Government of India is committed to transforming healthcare under Ayushman Bharat, with over 1.74 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. However, the real challenge now is ensuring quality. With your support (delegates and industry players), I’m confident that we can make a significant difference in improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes across the nation. Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Medical Director at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, remarked, “Patient safety is a critical global agenda, and the WHO’s theme for 2024, ‘Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety,’ emphasizes its importance. Equally important is the involvement and engagement of patients themselves in efforts to further the ‘Patients for Patients’ Safety’ initiative.” A white paper was also presented following a roundtable discussion on the economics, demand, and quality of cost-effective care. The two-day conference featured workshops, presentations, and discussions aimed at fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement in healthcare delivery. Over 1,000 delegates from India and SAARC countries participated in the event, the hospital said. Source: Economic Times

August 29,2024 New Delhi: The government will shortly notify a revised version of good manufacturing practices (GMP), at par with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, for small pharmaceutical companies with an annual turnover of less than ₹250 crore. Companies with an annual revenue of up to ₹250 crore fall under the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) category. As part of the government’s guidelines, which were announced in July 2023 and notified in December, drugmakers with an annual turnover of more than ₹250 crore were to compulsorily follow GMP within six months, while those with a turnover of less than ₹250 crore were supposed to do so over a 12-month period. “Already GMP is applicable for bigger companies that have annual turnover of ₹250 crore or above. The government notified the GMP guidelines last year on 28 December. However, smaller firms were given time for one year to create an enabling environment to comply with GMP rules. A revised version of the GMP at par with WHO standards is in the works and will shortly be notified to be effective from December onwards,” a government official aware of the matter said. The government is also doing risk-based assessment of these bigger companies to check whether GMP is being followed, and suitable action is being taken against errant companies, the official said on the condition of anonymity. Queries sent to a health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered till press time. Earlier this month, Union health minister J.P. Nadda said in parliament that more than 300 measures, including show-cause notices, production-halt order, suspension, cancellation of licences /product licences etc., were ordered based on the risk-based assessment of the drug firms by the state licensing authorities and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the provisions of the Drugs Rules 1945. Last year, the Centre revised Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, which prescribes good manufacturing practices, or GMP standards for drug firms. GMP is a set of mandatory guidelines for pharmaceutical companies to maintain the quality of products by way of controlling the quality of raw materials, methods, machines, processes, personnel, facility and environment, among other things, used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical items. This revision of Schedule M was done in view of allegations of contaminated cough syrups manufactured by Indian firms that were allegedly linked to deaths of children in developing countries, including 66 in Gambia and 68 in Uzbekistan in 2022. The GMP compliance would secure India’s image as the pharmacy of the world and bring the country’s drug manufacturing capability at par with global standards, especially those issued by the WHO. Moreover, this would ensure the production of globally-acceptable quality of drugs. Mint recently reported about the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) considering issuing and renewing licences only to those pharmaceutical firms that can prove they follow GMP. There are around 10,500 drug manufacturing units in India, of which around 8,500 fall under the MSME category. “We are educating our member companies on the GMP guidelines and how to work on it. Workshops are being created on the same. However, one year’s time was a very a little period to do such a mammoth task. It is easier to start a new factory than to upgrade the existing one and this activity consumes a lot of time. We have submitted our request to the Union health minister and Drugs Controller General of India to extend our deadline,” said Harish Jain, president, Federation of Organizations of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs (FOPE), an association of MSME drug firms. Source: Livemint

August 27,2024 New Delhi: Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav on Monday said special medical stores will be opened in every tehsil of the country to ensure adequate availability of AYUSH medicines. The Union AYUSH Minister also said the government is mulling on ways to ensure Ayurvedic medicines based on traditional knowledge get due recognition. “Only a few AYUSH medicines are available in common medical stores, due to which patients and doctors prescribing these medicines face problems. The government wants to ensure AYUSH drugs come into the market in abundance after research. These medicines should be available everywhere. For this, we are trying to open at least one special medical store of AYUSH medicines in every tehsil of the country,” he said. AYUSH hospitals are also being opened at the tehsil level, said the minister, who also visited medical institutes in Indore, Dewas and Ujjain and reviewed facilities there. Source: Healthworld

August 26,2024 As the globe faces a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria – making traditional antibiotics ineffective – specific viruses could offer a solution. Viruses called bacterio phages, or phages, target bacteria but can’t infect humans or other higher organisms. Phages inject their DNA into the bacterial cell, multiply to large numbers using the resources of the host, and then burst out to infect more bacteria in the vicinity. Essentially, they are a naturally occurring, self-replicating and specific antibiotic. Discovered more than 100 years ago, their use against bacteria was largely sidelined in favour of antibiotics. Our new research looked at one particular protein used by phages to bypass the natural defences of bacteria. We found this protein has an essential control function by binding to DNA and RNA. This increased understanding is an important step towards using phages against bacterial pathogens in human health or agriculture. Bacterial defence systems There are hurdles to using phages to target bacteria. Much like our bodies have immune mechanisms to fight off viruses, bacteria have also evolved defences against phage infections. One such defence are “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”, or CRISPR, now better known for its applications in medicine and biotechnology. CRISPR systems in general act as “molecular scissors” by cutting DNA into pieces, be it in a lab-based setting or, in nature, inside a bacterium to destroy a phage. Imagine wanting to use a phage against an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection. The only thing standing in the way of that phage killing the bacteria and eradicating the infection might be the bacterium’s CRISPR defence which renders the phages useless as an antimicrobial. That’s where knowing as much as possible about phage counter-defences becomes important. We are investigating so-called anti-CRISPRs: proteins or other molecules that phages use to inhibit CRISPR. A bacterium that has CRISPR might be able to stop a phage from infecting. But if the phage has the right anti-CRISPR, it can neutralise this defence and kill the bacterium regardless. The importance of anti-CRISPRs Our recent research focused on how an anti-CRISPR response is controlled. When faced with a powerful CRISPR defence, phages want to automatically produce large amounts of anti-CRISPR to increase the chance of inhibiting CRISPR immunity. But excessive production of anti-CRISPR prevents the replication of the phage and is ultimately toxic. This is why control is important. To achieve this control, phages have another protein in their toolbox: an anti-CRISPR-associated (or Aca) protein that frequently occurs alongside the anti-CRISPRs themselves. Aca proteins act as regulators of the phage’s counter-defence. They make sure the initial burst of anti-CRISPR production that inactivates CRISPR is then rapidly dampened to low levels. That way, the phage can allocate energy to where it is most needed: its replication and, eventually, release from the cell. We found this regulation occurs at multiple levels. For any protein to be produced, the gene sequence in the DNA first needs to be transcribed into a messenger-RNA. This is then decoded, or translated, into a protein. Many regulatory proteins function by inhibiting the first step (transcription into messenger-RNA), some others inhibit the second (translation into protein). Either way, the regulator often acts as a “road block” of sorts, binding to DNA or RNA. Intriguingly and unexpectedly, the Aca protein we investigated does both – even though its structure would suggest it is merely a transcriptional regulator (a protein that regulates the conversion of DNA to RNA), very similar to ones that have been investigated for decades. We also examined why this extra-tight control at two levels is necessary. Again, it seems to be all about the dosage of the anti-CRISPRs, especially as the phage replicates its DNA in the bacterial cell. This replication will invariably lead to the production of messenger-RNAs even in the presence of transcriptional control. Source: Healthworld

August 26,2024 New Delhi: An affordable tuberculosis testing technology that can detect the disease using a patient’s sputum for just Rs 35 has been developed by apex medical research body ICMR’s regional centre in Assam’s Dibrugarh. The ‘A CRISPR case-based TB detection system ‘ is light, portable and involves three steps of testing. Over 1,500 samples can be tested in one single run in around two-and-half hours, ICMR sources said. Conventional diagnostic techniques for TB commonly rely on culture, which requires 42 days to confirm as TB negative, microscopy, and nucleic acid-based methods. These are also time-consuming and may require sophisticated equipment. An official said, “Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, necessitating the development of accurate and rapid diagnostic tools for effective disease management. Current diagnostic methods often exhibit limitations in terms of sensitivity, specificity, speed and cost, emphasising the need for innovative approaches”. Additionally, some molecular diagnostic methods, while offering improved sensitivity, may lack the desired specificity or face challenges associated with cost and ease of handling. “Considering these problems, the CRISPR-Cas12a-based molecular diagnostic system ‘GlowTBPCRKit’ coupled with an amplification step (using thermal cycler) and the ‘ RapidGlow device ‘ provides a promising solution,” the official said. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has now invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from eligible organisations, companies, manufacturers for undertaking ‘Transfer of Technology’ for commercialisation of the ‘A CRISPR case-based TB detection system’ for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The ICMR-RMRCNE institute will provide expert guidance and technical support for the production of ‘A CRISPR Cas based TB detection system’ in all phases. Such technical oversight by the institute would accelerate the development of the product and its commercialisation. The ICMR would also provide technical support through its team of experienced scientists in study, planning, product development, development of study protocol, results or data analysis, outcome assessment, safety and efficacy assessment, product improvement, etc., if deemed fit upon the mutual understanding between ICMR and collaborative company. The apex health research body through its institutes would provide support and facilitation to conduct the research and development or clinical study of new technology or product in India through its affiliates or institutes, in collaboration with the company and institutions in a professional and mutually agreed upon manner and timelines. Source: Healthworld