July 29,2024 Kolkata: A 54-year-old woman succumbed to swine flu at a private hospital in the city last Saturday (July 20), the first swine flu death reported in Kolkata this season and possibly the first death from the disease in three years. The woman was a leukaemia patient with comorbidities. Hundreds of Kolkatans and residents of the suburbs have been laid low by swine flu, apart from other forms of influensa. Before this, Kolkata’s last recorded swine flu death was in Aug 2021. The woman had been admitted to Peerless Hospital early last week with multiple ailments. She was suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a form of blood cancer. Even though the cause of death in her death certificate mentioned sepsis with septic shock, she had tested positive for H1N1 or swine flu, the hospital said, adding it had notified the state health department, following protocol. “She had been frail due to cancer, comorbidities and her immunity was very low,” said a doctor at the hospital. “That could be a reason why she had contracted swine flu, which was not her only ailment.” The hospital has seen a steady flow of swine flu and influensa cases in July. During the first half of the month, 58 per cent had tested positive for Influensa A, out of 55 samples tested. As many as 18, or 56 per cent , of them were swine flu patients, while 14 or 44 per cent had seasonal influensa (H3N2). Eight swine flu patients are now in the hospital, though most have mild symptoms. The number of samples testing positive for swine flu, however, has climbed down at Peerless in the latter half of July. “Out of 100 samples tested between July 1 and 27, around 20 per cent have turned out to be swine flu. Around 70 per cent of the samples tested this month have are positive for various strains of Influensa A,” said Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri, chief microbiologist at the hospital. “Swine Flu cases have reduced over the last 8 to 10 days,” said Sayan Chakrabarty, infectious diseases physician, Manipal Hospitals. At Peerless Hospital, out of 55 samples of ‘Flu PCR’— between July 1 and 16 — 32 have tested positive for Influensa A virus. Eighteen were swine flu patients, 14 had seasonal influensa. BP Poddar Hospital had got 86 patients with flulike symptoms in a week. Source: Healthworld

July 29,2024 New Delhi: About 50,000 people lose their lives every year due to snakebite in the country, the highest in the world, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy said on Monday. Every year, 30-40 lakh people are bitten by snakes across India, the Saran MP said, raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on matters of importance. “Bihar is the poorest state, enduring both poverty and natural calamities. Across India, 30 to 40 lakh people are bitten by snakes and 50,000 people die, which is the highest in the world,” Rudy said, emphasising the alarming mortality rate from snakebite. He stressed that many deaths could be prevented, pointing to the climate change impact on snakebite incidents that increased at temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius. Vellore MP M Kathir Anand voiced his concern on the plight of beedi workers, most of whom were women. He demanded an increase in their wages, citing inadequate central funding. Anand urged the Centre to consider budget allocations and provide pension for those older than 60, noting the workers’ significant exposure to dust and other occupational hazards. Kanyakumari MP Vijay Vasanth called for an increase in the quota of recommendations to 150 per year to better assist people. He also urged the government to re-evaluate Ayushman Bharat to ensure that all medical expenses were covered. “Let us work together to realise the full potential,” he said, advocating for improved healthcare coverage. Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur raised concern about corruption in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) supplementary nutrition programme in Punjab and claimed that fake beneficiaries were allegedly receiving aid through private entities. “I want to bring to the women and child development ministry’s attention that there is corruption in the ICDS supplementary nutrition programme in Punjab, where aid is being given to fake beneficiaries through private entities,” Kaur said, calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry. She also pointed out that 28 lakh Anganwadi workers were paid only Rs 2,200 per month, calling it below standard and demanding justice for mothers and children. S Jothimani, the MP from Karur in Tamil Nadu, raised her opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). “We strongly believe that only those who can afford it can clear NEET as it costs Rs 25 lakh to buy the question paper,” Jothimani asserted, highlighting the socioeconomic disparity caused by the exam. She noted that at least 18 students in Tamil Nadu had committed suicide due to NEET and demanded its complete abolition. Jothimani emphasised that fewer students from rural areas had secured admission after NEET was introduced, calling for the removal of “this rot” from the education system. Godda MP Nishikant Dubey claimed Advivasis’ rights were being usurped by “Bangladeshi immigrants” and recounted an incident where they were allegedly beaten after trying to protest. “Adivasis were trying to protest in Jharkhand because their rights were being taken by Bangladeshis and they were beaten in their hostels by police,” Dubey said, accusing the state government of settling Bangladeshi people in Jharkhand and calling for president’s rule to be imposed. Source: Healthworld

July 29,2024 New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 112th episode of his monthly radio broadcast, ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ calls on people and organisations to use National Anti-Narcotics Helpline ‘Manas’ in India‘s fight against drugs. During his monthly broadcast, PM Modi said, “In Mann ki Baat, I have often discussed the challenges of drugs. Every family worries that their child might be exposed to drugs. Now, to help such people, the government has launched the National Anti-Narcotics Helpline ‘Manas.” “This is a very big step in the fight against drugs. A few days ago, the Manas Helpline and portal were launched. The government has also released a toll-free number–1933. Anyone can call on this number to get necessary advice or seek information related to rehabilitation,” he added. The Prime Minister also pointed out that if anyone has any other information regarding drugs, then they can also call this number and share it with the Narcotics Control Bureau. “All the information shared with Manas will be confidential. I urge all the people, families and organisations involved in making India drug free to use Manas extensively,” PM Modi said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the MANAS (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra) Portal on July 18 with a toll-free number 1933 to seek advice on de-addiction and rehabilitation and share information on drug trafficking. MANAS will have a toll-free number 1933, a web portal, a mobile app, and a UMANG app so that citizens of the country can anonymously connect with NCB 24×7 to seek advice on de-addiction and rehabilitation and share information on drug trafficking. Illicit cultivation is one big menace to be tackled, and, NCB along with BISAG-N has developed a web portal and mobile app “MAPDRUGS” to curb illegal cultivation and provide accurate GIS information so that such illicit cultivation can be destroyed by the concerned agencies. (ANI) Source: Healthworld

July 23,2024 Mumbai: The Finance Minister in her Union Budget 2024-25 speech today proposed changes in the basic customs duty for X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors to support domestic manufacturing. This was a welcome move that has been lauded by all the stakeholders involved. Another announcemnt on the exemption of three cancer drugs from basic customs duty has been welcomed. The budget also provided an impetus to the digital infrastructure, allocating significant funds for healthcare and women-led development initiatives. Stakeholders are of the opinion that these steps will advance healthcare access and innovation in India. Welcoming the move, Dr Aakaar Kapoor, CEO and Lead Medical Advisor, City-X Ray & Scan Clinic said, “The nation embraces the Union Budget 2024 presented by our Finance Minister, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, with several key initiatives standing out. The government has proposed changes in the basic customs duty for X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors used in medical X-ray machines are set to support domestic manufacturing. Additionally, the decision to fully exempt three more medicines from customs duties provide relief to cancer patients. The Finance Minister also proposed digital public infrastructure applications to enhance productivity and innovation across various sectors, including healthcare and announced the construction of a new medical college in Bihar. Furthermore, the Union Health Ministry’s budget has seen a 12.59 per cent increase, raising it from Rs 80,517.62 crore to Rs 90,658.63 crore. Over Rs 3 lakh crore is allocated for women-led development, and the PMGKAY scheme, benefiting over 80 crore people, has been extended for five more years. Five new schemes will support 4.1 crore youth over the next five years with a central outlay of Rs 2 lakh crore.” Cancer incidence has been on the rise in the country and the exemption of three cancer drugs from basic customs duty would make cancer treatmetns more accessible, Uday Deshmukh, Founder & Chairman, Onco Life Cancer Group of Hospitals remarked, “Exemption of three cancer treatment drugs – Trastuzumab deruxtecan, Osimertinib and Durvalumab from basic customs duty is a great initiative by the Government to provide custom duty exemptions on the a few Cancer medications. With Cancer cases growing exponentially every year, it is an important starting step towards affordable healthcare. Hopefully, in the near future, government will be able to provide custom duty exceptions/relief on most cancer medications for the benefit of the patients. We are happy and satisfied with the important decision taken by the government in public interest.” Adding Deshmukh’s views, Dheeraj Jain, Founder and Chairman, Redcliffe Labs, following the budget announcement said, “The exemption of custom duty on cancer medicines will enhance their accessibility and affordability for many. With cancer responsible for 71 per cent of deaths in the 30 to 69 age group and 15 per cent of cancer patients being children and adolescents in India, timely diagnosis and personalized care are paramount. Notably, 63 per cent of Indian women who succumb to cancer could be saved through timely screening, highlighting the urgent need for early diagnosis. By combining early diagnosis with immediate access to treatment for advanced-stage patients, we can significantly improve the overall healthcare landscape across the nation.” Source: Healthworld

July 24,2024 Michigan: A Michigan Medicine study found that high systolic blood pressure (the top number on the blood pressure reading and how hard the heart pumps blood to the arteries) increases the risk of the two most common types of strokes over time. The study looked at the average systolic blood pressure years before the first stroke in over 40,000 adults aged 18 and older who had no history of stroke. Researchers covered three types of stroke: ischemic, a clot that cuts blood supply to the brain and the cause of over 85 per cent of all strokes; intracerebral hemorrhage, a bleed within the brain; and subarachnoid hemorrhage, bleeding between the brain and the tissues that cover it. They found that having a mean systolic blood pressure that is 10-mm Hg higher than average was associated with a 20 per cent higher risk of overall stroke and ischemic stroke, as well as a 31 per cent greater risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. “Our results suggest that early diagnosis and sustained control of high blood pressure over the lifespan are critical to preventing stroke, ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, especially in Black and Hispanic patients who are more likely to have uncontrolled hypertension than white patients,” said senior author Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H., professor of internal medicine and neurology at University of Michigan Medical School. Black patients had a 20 per cent higher risk of ischemic stroke and a 67 per cent higher risk of intracerebral hemorrhage than white patients. Hispanic patients had a 281 per cent higher risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage, but not any other stroke type, compared to white patients. While Black and Hispanic patients had a higher risk of stroke, researchers found little evidence to suggest that race and ethnicity affected the association between cumulative systolic blood pressure and the type of stroke that affected any patient. “Examining racial inequities advances our understanding of the social, economic and political structures that affect health behaviors and risk for stroke among racial and ethnic minority groups,” said Kimson E. Johnson, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.W., first author and postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan. While systolic blood pressure is a modifiable target for preventing stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, a national study conducted in 2020 found that blood pressure control in the United States worsened from 2013 to 2018, especially for Black and Hispanic adults. Self-monitoring of blood pressure improves blood pressure diagnosis and control and is accurate and cost-effective, but it remains an underused tool, Levine says. “Two major barriers to self-monitoring of blood pressure are lack of patient education and insurance not covering the home blood pressure monitors, which cost $50 or more,” she said. “Health care systems and providers must educate and urge their patients to do home blood pressure monitoring, and insurers must pay for home blood pressure monitors to optimise people’s blood pressure and reduce their chances of having a stroke.” Source: Healthworld

July 24,2024 New Delhi: The Centre should consider infertility a national health priority and include it under insurance, Dr Ajay Murdia, founder and chairman of Indira IVF, said, emphasising the need for investment in IVF infrastructure, especially in rural areas. The stark financial divide and monetary burden of seeking IVF treatments in India render it inaccessible for many, Dr Murdia told PTI on the eve of the World IVF Day, observed on July 25. He said the Ayushman Bharat scheme has greatly enhanced healthcare access for millions of Indians through financial protection and essential medical coverage. IVF treatment, if included in this scheme, could benefit millions of people by making essential services more accessible and affordable for those in need. According to some estimates, about 27.5 million married couples who are actively trying to conceive are suffering from infertility. But only about 275,000 IVF cycles are performed every year, Murdia, the man behind India’s one of the largest fertility chains said, citing available data. “This silent epidemic, affecting one in six couples, is rapidly evolving into a national emergency with far-reaching consequences for India’s societal structure and economic prospects,” he stated during the exclusive interview to PTI. The financial toll of this crisis is devastating, he rued. The IVF treatments, costing up to Rs 2-3 lakh per cycle, are pushing countless families into debt. Across the country, there’s a severe shortage of government-run IVF centres, effectively denying millions the chance of parenthood, Dr Murdia highlighted. Many state-funded health centres still lack the necessary facilities to provide effective infertility treatment. Private sector initiatives, such as establishing more IVF clinics in rural areas and providing financing options for treatment, are critical to bridging this gap, he pointed out. Diagnostic facilities and basic infertility investigations are limited in primary health centres (PHC)in rural regions, leading many to opt for traditional or religious practices instead of modern medical interventions, the Indira IVF founder said. The infertility treatment landscape paints a stark picture of inequality, he said. “This glaring healthcare gap is creating a dangerous divide where eventually only the wealthy can afford to build families,” he stated. “Around half of the country’s 2,500 IVF centres operate without a structured framework, which can impact the consistency of treatment quality. Moreover, a substantial portion of treatments is concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations with limited access to these services and creating significant gaps in fertility care availability,” Murdia said. The inclusion of comprehensive insurance coverage for infertility treatments, particularly IVF, could alleviate the financial strain on couples and make these essential services more accessible, he said. Insurance policies covering fertility treatments can bridge the financial divide, ensuring that all couples, regardless of their economic status, have an equal opportunity to build their families. Although EMI options are available for infertility treatments, Indian corporates offer insurance for IVF treatments. The government should consider this too, Murdia said. Currently, only CGHS employees and some other states provide IVF insurance, reimbursing Rs Rs 60,000-65,000 per cycle for up to three cycles, he said. The government needs to revise these costs to make them more acceptable to IVF centres until there is widespread government infrastructure with IVF facilities across the country, he added. According to NFHS, the fertility rate is 1.6 in urban areas and 2.1 in rural India. By 2050, India’s total fertility rate (TFR) is projected to dip irreversibly to 1.29, far lower than the replacement rate of 2.1. Investment in IVF infrastructure, especially in rural areas, is crucial, Dr Murdia underscored. Source: Healthworld