Think India Foundation

Could India's polio eradication success story be a model for its other health issues?

In the 1940s and 1950s, polio was considered a global epidemic, with thousands of new cases arising each day throughout the world.  Families in the United States kept their children out of public places such as parks and swimming pools, worried they would catch the disease. Between 1950 and 1954, doctors say some 22,000 US citizens were paralyzed by the virus. In 1952, the same year scientists developed an effective polio vaccine, almost 58,000 children were reported to be infected in the US alone, leaving 3,300 dead and thousands paralyzed.  

In India, the journey toward eradicating the disease has been a long one. By 1988, when the World Health Organization (WHO) passed a resolution to eradicate polio, 1,000 people a day worldwide were still being stricken by the virus. India accounted for around half that, with 450 children infected with polio every day, says Deepak Kapur, chairman of Rotary International’s India PolioPlus Committee. Read more

Source : www.minnpost.com

Drug regulator without updated list of drugs sold in India

NEW DELHI: Copying the western drug regulators that provide accurate information on drugs marketed in their countries, the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) proudly told the department-related parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare that similar actions had been taken in India. However the list was so full of inaccuracies that the parliamentary committee directed Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to remove it from its website immediately. 

In May 2012, the parliamentary committee looking into the functioning of the CDSCO recommended that with the information technology resources currently available, a centralized databank (e.g. licenses issued, cancelled, list of sub-standard drugs, prosecutions etc.) may be created to which all the State Drug Authorities should be linked. In its Action Taken Report (ATR) the health ministry informed the committee that data regarding 85,000 brands of drug formulations approved by the various state licensing authorities as obtained from the State Food & Drug Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat had been uploaded on the CDSCO website. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Slum-dwellers losing faith in public health facilities

 Mumbai : AROUND 18 per cent of people in low-income slums are moving from above poverty line to below it, reveals a new study on the health of urban poor by International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai.

The study, which covered Pune, Bhubaneswar and Jaipur, attributes this to the fact that a large majority of the urban poor is opting for expensive private health services, leading to massive "out-of-the-pocket expenditure". Read more

Source : www.indianexpress.com

Child immunization programme in 184 districts

New Delhi: In an effort to check child deaths due to preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, the central government has launched a special immunization week to reach out to 184 high-risk districts, an official said Monday.

"We have identified 184 high priority districts, where our prime focus would be to lay sufficient importance on generating awareness about immunization," said Anuradha Gupta, additional secretary, ministry of health. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

Immunisation drive targets kids in high-risk urban zones

Lucknow : After achieving almost 66 per cent coverage in immunisation level across the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched a special routine immunisation campaign for identified high-risk zones in urban areas.

The campaign is expected to cover almost 63,000 high risk sites identified in all 75 districts, vaccinating children who have been left out in routine immunisation camps due to migration of families and further increasing the immunisation coverage of the state. Read more

Source : www.indianexpress.com

India must emerge as leader in low-cost vaccines by 2020: APJ Abdul Kalam

Solan : Former president APJ Kalam on Thursday said India should emerge as the leader of low-cost vaccines for HIV, cancer and Malaria, and set the target of producing 20 per cent of world generics drugs by 2020.

"India is rich in bio-diversity which could be of immense use in the field of drug evolution and the Pharma industry and pharmacists should do exhaustive research and evolve drugs based on traditional Indian plants and herbs to combat many of the prevalent diseases around the world," he said referring to his 'Pharma Vision 2020'. Read more

Source : www.dnaindia.com

Karnataka government seeks Rs. 149 crore from Centre to boost pharma education

BANGALORE: With an aim to boost and strengthen drug administration in the state,Karnataka government has sought a grant of Rs 149 crore from the central government. A proposal has been sent to the central government authorities including the Planning Commission for consideration.

Addressing the participants at the health regulatory practices workshop, M Madan Gopal, principal secretary, health and family welfare department, Karnataka said: "The main focus of the government is to develop quality enforcement wing, drug testing laboratories and quality pharmacy education, in Karnataka. The state has one of the best drug administrations in India, which has been appreciated by the centre. If the proposal is approved by the centre, it will give a boost to the pharma industry in Karnataka." Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Karnataka health dept makes Rs.149-cr proposal to strengthen drugs control dept

Bengaluru : Karnataka department of health and family welfare has proposed for Rs. 149 crore to strengthen the drugs control laboratory and enforcement wing.

Incidentally, the Union government under its 12th Plan has taken a decision yesterday to allocate Rs.1200 crore to improve the drug administration in the country for the development of the drugs control departments across the country. The government is now looking to spruce up its laboratory for drug testing and bolster the enforcements wing which are critical components to ensure high quality and safe drug manufacturing in the country. Read more

Source : www.pharmabiz.com

Nagaland to make available generic medicines in hospitals

Kohima : Nagaland Minister for Health and Family Welfare Imkong L Imchen today asserted to work towards making generic medicines available in all the hospitals. 

In his first interactive session after taking over the charge of the Department with the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and Medical Superintendents (MS) of all the districts hospitals here, Imchen expressed serious concern over the non-availability of medicines for the patients in the district hospitals. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

Uproar in Maharashtra Assembly on development fund distribution

MUMBAI: Opposition members in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today took the government to task alleging bias in distribution of developmental funds forcing adjournment of the House for the day amid slogan shouting. 

Budgetary demands of food, civil supplies and consumer protection, public health, medical education and food and drug administration (FDA) were passed amid uproarious scenes. Read more

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com

Taking stock of wastage in TN, Kerala

Introduction of the Pentavalent vaccine has reduced the wastage rate of immunisation vaccines, finds a WHO study

Universal immunisation: Makes better impact. Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

The vaccine wastage in Tamil Nadu and Kerala dropped by almost half following the introduction of pentavalent vaccine, though there was no change in the vaccine coverage rates. A post-introduction evaluation of pentavalent (DPT+HepB+Hib) vaccine in Tamil Nadu and Kerala carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the findings indicate that States in India are ready and able to successfully introduce new antigens in their immunisation programmes.

Pentavalent vaccine was introduced in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in December 2011. It protects children against five diseases —TB, hepatitis, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

Extremely drug-resistant TB rearing its head in India

NEW DELHI: When the chest pain and racking cough of tuberculosis patient Asha (31) refused to subside even after six months of treatment, the doctor got her sputum tested again - only to find that she had developed a worrying form of the disease known as Extensively Drug Resistant TB, which is nearly impossible to treat as of now. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is home to 73,000 patients with MDR-TB. The figure for XDR-TB is not yet known.

India is already grappling with the disease burden of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) tuberculosis, which manifests when a patient fails to take all the TB medicines exactly as prescribed and misses out some doses. The TB bacterium, which remains in the patient, mutates and cannot be treated with the first and second line of treatment. Read more 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India's Primary Health Care Needs Quick Reform

Primary health care delivery needs to reinvent itself. Only then can India aim for universal health coverage

Early last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the government would work towards providing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all. As intents go, it is as noble as it gets. This, because the operative word here is ‘universal’. Much like the Indian Constitution promises every citizen justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, the PM proposed health care be added, as a “fundamental right”, whether you’re above the poverty line or below it.

To what extent can the government absorb health care costs? The answer lies in first addressing the basics. If the vast majority of patients are taken care of at the primary level, it will take the stress off insurance schemes, making them more viable. Image: Arko Datta / Reuters

Soon after the announcement, at a high level ministerial meeting in Delhi almost every minister pledged to work together. In the months that followed, two ambitious programmes were announced: National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) and Free Essential Medicines. When implemented, it would cost the country Rs 22,000 crore and Rs 28,560 crore, respectively. But the agreement had irony written all over it. Read more

Source : forbesindia.com

Karnataka plans VC fund for pharma sector

The fund will have initial corpus of Rs 50 cr

The Karnataka government has proposed to set up a venture capital (VC) fund with a corpus of Rs 50 crore to support budding entrepreneurs in the pharmaceutical sector.

The move to set up an exclusive VC fund for the pharma sector has been spelt out in the Karnataka Pharma Policy 2012, which was unveiled recently. Through the new policy framework, the state government aims to build a leadership position in the pharmaceutical sector. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

1.04 cr to be covered under anti-Filariasis drive in Allahabad region

ALLAHABAD: State health authorities are all set to launch a three-day Mass Drug Administration(MDA) campaign against various types of filariasis in rural and urban pockets of the four districts of the Allahabad region including Allahabad, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh and Kaushambi on National Filaria Day on March 21.

Teams would be carrying out the Mop-Up Round (MUR) on March 22 and 23 under which, everyone above 2 years of would be administered dose of DEC and Albandazole tablets. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Karnataka drugs control dept sets drug test target to 12,000 from current 3,000

The Karnataka drugs control department’s is now on an aggressive mode to increase its drug testing capability to around 12,000 samples from the current 3,000 samples in a year.

“With the required drug test lab infrastructure in place at the three locations of Bengaluru, Hubli and Bellary, we would be able to achieve the target of 12,000 drug samples,” Dr BR Jagashetty, Karnataka drugs controller told Pharmabiz. Read more

Source : www.pharmabiz.com

U.S. groups criticize India drug, tech, farm policies

(Reuters) - U.S. industry groups on Wednesday called for the United States to increase pressure on India to reform high-tech, agricultural and pharmaceutical policies they said block U.S. exports and damage patent rights.

The entrance of Pfizer World headquaters in New York City, August 31, 2003.

Credit: Reuters/Jeff Christensen/Files

"India has essentially created a protectionist regime that harms U.S. job creators" in favor of the country's generic drug manufacturers, Roy Waldron, chief intellectual property counsel for Pfizer (PFE.N), said in testimony to the House of Representative Ways and Means trade subcommittee. Read more

Source : in.reuters.com

Karnataka unveils Pharma Policy with incentives for infrastructure, education, research

Karnataka Pharmaceutical Policy announced by the state government is set to spur investments in this sector in the coming years. With some incentives and concessions, the state policy is seen as a catalyst for growth and development of the pharmaceutical sector. The state is also scheduled to announce the formation of the Karnataka Pharmaceutical Development Council (KPDC) with a budgetary provision of Rs.1 crore and the Vision Group on Pharmaceuticals with a Rs. 25 lakh allocation which are two monitoring agencies.

The attention to education and research further provides an impetus to the state’s pharmaceutical industry. The government has also planned to organize an event once in two years titled ‘Pharmacia’ to showcase the sector in Karnataka with grant of up to 50 per cent of the cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 600 lakh. Read more

Source : www.pharmabiz.com

Union govt's 'list' exposes state's clinical trial claims

INDORE: While the Union government on Tuesday provided an updated list of 44 clinical trial victims compensated in between 2005 and 2012, experts have raised fingers over the institutional ethics committee of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College (MGM) alleging it with inaction for not recommending a single victim for compensation to Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

Experts alleged that none of the patients from Madhya Pradesh have been compensated yet. "There have been 35 deaths at MYH alone. But the ethics committee and even the state government is not bothered to recommend compensation to the family members of the victims who died due to adverse effects of drugs," said Dr Anand Rai. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

West Bengal to get fair price diagnostic centres: Mamata

Kolkata: After introducing fair price medicine shops in government hospitals, the West Bengal government is now planning to start fair price diagnostic centres. 

The response from the common people (for fair price medicine shops) is extremely positive. On the same line, we are planning to open fair price diagnostic centres at various locations, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com

Pay for surgeries, costly treatment with EMIs soon

MUMBAI: Soon you will be able to finance the purchase of prescription medication. With healthcare costs going through the roof and exorbitantly-priced medicines making treatment inaccessible for many, companies are trying to reach out to patients and provide options of convenient monthly payments. 

Globally, patient financing companies like Springstone and Medicard bear the cost of a patient’s treatment including surgeries, procedures and even pharma prescriptions, ranging from $2,000 to $40,000.

These companies include patient financing start-ups which will provide options so patients don't delay expensive treatments and have access to medication through a customised repayment plan — an affordable alternative to personal loans and credit cards. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Delhi govt slaps VAT on medical implants

NEW DELHI: Drugs used during hospital treatment and all medical implants such as heart stents, pacemakers and those used in dental procedures are set to become costlier in the capital, with the government deciding to impose value added tax on these products. 

Delhi government on Sunday issued a public notice asking hospitals to pay VAT on these items, which may raise costs by around 5%. It wasn't immediately clear if this would be covered under medical insurance. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

'436 killed in clinical trials last year'

NEW DELHI: As many as 436 people died last year due to serious adverse events (SAE) during clinical trials. Investigations are now on to ascertain how many of the deaths were caused by drugs administered to the trial subjects. 

 

Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Friday that deaths could be due to life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart failure and stroke or side-effects of the drugs or their administration to critically or terminally-ill patients. "Such deaths are investigated to arrive at the causal relationship, if any," Azad said in parliament. Read more

 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Panel seeks warning labels on medicines

NEW DELHI: All antibiotics, TB drugs and other habit-forming medicines may soon come with a label warning users about the dangers of taking them without medical advice.

Experts said it was a much-needed step as the indiscriminate use of drugs was leading to fatal consequences in patients.

Recommending this to the health ministry as a way to address the problem of drug resistance, a task force has also suggested creating a new category, H1, for these drugs by amending the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told Parliament on Friday the recommendations have been included in the draft notification for inviting public comments. As per the notification, drugs specified in schedule H1 will be labelled with the symbol 'Rx' in bold red colour. It will have a warning, 'It is dangerous to take this prescription except in accordance with medical advice and not to be sold by retail without prescription of the registered medical practitioner'. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Basic medicines unavailable in several state PHCs in Maharashtra

PUNE: The government's claim last year that all healthcare facilities in the state will be well-equipped with medicines and machines by December 2012 has fallen flat with a recent survey finding that many primary healthcare centres do not even have basic drugs such as paracetamol. The survey also found poor distribution of drugs among PHCs, with some reporting excess stock while others found waiting for supplies for months together.

Basic medicines like paracetamol, common antibiotics and essential drugs used post-delivery and life-saving anti-rabies and anti-snake venom vaccines were found unavailable at a sizeable number of primary health centers (PHC) surveyed in the state. The survey was carried out to check availability of five essential medicines at primary healthcare centres and found that essential medicines were not available in 13 % PHCs while their stock was insufficient in 75% of the PHCs surveyed. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

‘Illegal drug trials’ on kids: Notice sent to Health Ministry

New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued a notice to the Union Health Ministry after receiving information that three government hospitals committed illegal drug trials on nearly 3,500 children in the past five years.

According to NHRC, a notice was sent to the Secretary of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare alleging that Safdarjung, Lok Nayak (previously Lok Nayak Jai Prakash) and Kalawati Saran Children hospitals had conducted illegal drug trials on 3,479 children during the past five years. Read more

Source : www.expressindia.com

Safer, more effective vaccine delivery designed

WASHINGTON: Researchers have designed a new type of vaccine delivery that holds promise for improving the effectiveness of DNA vaccines, besides being painless.

About 20 years ago, DNA coding for viral proteins was found to induce strong immune responses in rodents, but so far, tests in humans have failed to duplicate that success. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Chhattisgarh fails to distribute free tablets to anaemic children

RAIPUR: It's ironical that a state like Chhattisgarh that boasts of having effectively implemented the Rashtiya Surkasha Bima Yojana (RSBY) for BPL and APL families has been callously delaying the centrally sponsored scheme of distribution of folic and iron acid tablets to treat deficiency of anaemia, which effects 80 per cent children in the state, in schools.

According to government data while 9 out of 10 children in the age group 6-35 months are anaemic in the state, this proportion is never less than 80% in any sub group of population. Most children who are anaemic have moderate to severe anaemia. Against the national average of 74 per cent Chhattisgarh has 88 per cent children suffering from it. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

West Bengal to set up more fair price medicine shops

KOLKATA : The West Bengal Government plans to set up more fair price medicine shops in each of the districts of the State. There are 19 districts (including Kolkata) in Bengal.

According to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the setting up of fair price shops would help bring down the cost of medicines, thereby benefiting the end-consumers. Read more

Source : www.thehindubusinessline.com

Bihar's healthcare spend up 5-fold in 7 years: Modi

PATNA: The state government has earmarked Rs 5,085 crore for health-related facilities in financial year 2012-13, up from around Rs 1,000 crore that it was spending on it in 2005-06. Moreover, the government has planned to spend up to 2.5% of the GDP on health services in five years from now, against the current expenditure of only 1.2% of the GDP.

This was stated by deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi while inaugurating an international seminar on "Emergency Medicine and Trauma" at the Jaya Prakash Narayan All India Institute of Medical Sciences (JPNAIIMS) here on Monday. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Army takes up welfare initiatives in naxal-hit villages

RAIPUR: Indian Army, which is carrying out a training exercise in the forests near Kondagaon, has taken up a series of initiatives for the welfare of people in the nearby villages located in the remote locations of Naxalite-affected tribal Bastar region. 

Army personnel have constructed public bathrooms, waiting sheds and provided other civic amenities in the villages of Umargaon, Alwad and other villages and organized free health camp for the people. Hundreds of people from the nearby villages attended the medical camp where the Army doctors examined the patients and distributed medicines free of cost. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Karnataka drugs control dept urges DCGI to upgrade its status from sub-zone office to zonal office

Karnataka drugs control department has urged the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to upgrade its status from the existing sub zone office to zonal office. The upgrade will provide considerable benefits to the 236 pharma companies in the state.  

In this regard, the DCGI has been positive about the request and we expect the upgrade from the existing sub zone office to zonal office status in the next few months, Karnataka drugs controller Dr. B R Jagashetty told Pharmabiz. Read more

Source : www.pharmabiz.com

Ahmedabad to host national symposium on innovations in pharma

AHMEDABAD: A national symposium on innovations in pharmaceutical sciences will be held in Ahmedabad on February 16, 2013.

To be themed on innovation in the pharma industry, the symposium will be called 'Innovative Insights on Pharmaceutical Industry'. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Soon, 2nd line of treatment for HIV-affected in Goa

PANAJI: The Goa State Aids Control Society (GSACS) has sent a proposal to the regional head of the National Aids Control Organization(NACO) to start a second line of treatment for HIV-infected patients at its Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) center at the Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital, Bambolim.

The ART centre at GMC refers HIV patients who develop resistance to drugs given under the first line of treatment to the J J Hospital in Mumbai. Dr Vanda Viegas, a senior medical officer with the ART center, said that the proposal has been sent to the regional head of NACO in Mahararshtra, and a reply is awaited. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

West Bengal's dependence on other states for IV fluids to come down

KOLKATA: West Bengal's dependence on Gujarat and other states for the supply of intravenous (IV) fluid is likely to come down substantially by mid-2013, thanks to a manufacturing unit coming up at Dhaniakhali in Hooghly. The plant is expected to start production within the next six months and will supply 200,000 pouches of IV fluid every day. Patient parties will also have to pay less for each pouch of IV fluid, once the plant starts operating, the Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association(BCDA) says.

"The transportation cost from Gujarat for every pouch of IV fluid is nearly Rs 5.75. From Hooghly, we can bring this down to 25 paise per pouch. Today, there aren't any IV fluid producing plants in the eastern sector. This plant is being set up in collaboration with a Chinese company. In the first phase, that is to become operational in the next six months, the investment is Rs 50 crore. We hope to complete two more phases over a period of three years. We shall then go into manufacture of disposable syringes and medicines," said Apurba Saha, chairman, Pailan Group. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

3-day mass drug administration in Kanpur from today

KANPUR: A three-day Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign against various types of filariasis will start in the city from today. This programme is organized under the state health department which will be carried out in two cities, Lucknow and Kanpur, in phase one. The filariasis preventive drug will be given door-to-door, like polio drops. The target is to cover nearly 38 lakh people living in rural and urban population above two years of age. Kids under two years and pregnant ladies will not be administered the drug. 

Chief medical officer (CMO), RP Yadav informed that health workers will visit houses and distribute filariasis resistant medicine. These teams will also tell people about the benefits of taking the medicine. The medicines will also be available in hospitals, health posts, CHCs, and PHCs. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Clinical trial relief norms flawed

NEW DELHI: The new Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) guidelines meant to help calculate compensation in case of clinical trial related injury or death in a fair and equitable manner seem to be loaded against the very people it is meant to help. 

The guidelines suggest a formula based on the income of the injured or dead person along with age and severity of disease. Such a formula raises questions about how the income or worth of a housewife, a student or child or an unemployed person would be evaluated if they happen to be affected trial subjects. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Get TB drugs at shops free, govt to pay up

NEW DELHI: In a move to curb multi-drug resistant tuberculosis cases caused mostly because of irregular medication, the government has decided that relevant medicines will be available for free at all chemist shops and corporate hospitals.

The government presently spends about Rs 250 crore on providing free medicines to TB patients. The new scheme will cost about Rs 100 crore more.

The scheme will be rolled out across the country by next March. A patient, confirmed positive for TB by a qualified doctor, simply needs to register with the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP). Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Doctors deliver hope to rural pregnant women

HUBLI: Rural pregnant women face several disadvantages compared to their urban counterparts. They are more likely to receive delayed or inadequate parental care, factors that contribute to higher infant mortality. In Dharwad, a group of gynecologists hope to better their lot by voluntarily offering their services.

Karnataka State Obstetrics and Gynecological Association, which also includes doctors of Hubli's Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) hospital, has initiated a unique pilot programme. The three-month programme ensures obstetrical care in rural areas, and enables healthy and full-term pregnancies for rural women in Dharwad district. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Gondia needs a medical college immediately

The state government has been promising to start a government medical and hospital in Gondia. The population of the city and district has grown a lot and it now needs a government hospital. People from Gondia area have to go to Nagpur for treatment.

Gondia is a Naxal-affected area and hence it is imperative to have a state-of-the-art hospital. If the villagers get proper medical treatment at nominal cost then they will develop a positive image of the government. It will be easier to counter Naxalite propaganda by providing such facilities. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

After polio, Bihar targets eradication of measles

Patna: After polio, Bihar has decided to seek eradication of measles by launching a special vaccination drive to cover nearly 13.5 million children from Monday, an official said.

State Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar, who is also executive director of Bihar State Health Society, on Sunday said the state will now focus to fight against measles by increasing routine immunization. Read more

Source : www.ndtv.com

Dengue vaccine trials at an advanced stage: Azad

NEW DELHI : A vaccine is being developed against dengue, government announced on Friday hoping that its trials would be successful to enable containment of the deadly disease which is spreading and has claimed 216 lives so far this year.

Ghulam Nabi Azad talking to the media in New Delhi. File Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told the Lok Sabha that the trials of the vaccine are at an advanced stage in several countries, including in India, and hoped these would pass. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

New-age Japanese Encephalitis vaccine to be available soon

FRANKFURT: A new age single dose vaccine with over 90% protection rate against Japanese Encephalitis (JE), which kills thousands of Indian children every year, will soon be available in the country.

The vaccine Imojev, made by French pharma giant Sanofi Pasteur, can be used for immunization of those 12 months and older and has undergone successful multi-centre studies in the US, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines with more than 2,400 adults and 2,200 children receiving the vaccine. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

KTwo Technologies, Keonics to partner with Bihar govt

The consortium has won this project on a Build Own Operate and Transfer for 3 years

Bangalore : KTwo Technologies, a Bangalore-based company which is into healthcare solutions, is partnering with Karnataka-government owned Keonics to provide primary health care services in Bihar. The consortium has won the National Rural Tele Medicine Ayush Network (NARTAN) and will set up telemedicine delivery system in 212 primary health centres, 38 district hospitals and a central unit at Patna. The consortium has won this project on a Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model for 3 years.

KTwo with its flagship product Kshema - Unified Healthcare System would set up the primary and district health centers with a command and control center in Patna to over steer the complete operation with video conferencing facilities. KTwo Technology Solutions founded by Anant R Koppar who completed his Doctoral research in “affordable and accessible healthcare system for rural India” had conceived the technology way back in 2007 and set up such Kshema kiosk in Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states in India. Read more

Source : www.business-standard.com

NAC pitches for development of Northeast region

New Delhi: Seeking to speed up development of the Northeast, the National Advisory Council has favoured internet connectivity to the region through Bangladesh, daily direct flights from each of the seven state capitals to Delhi and a separate plan to implement healthcare initiatives. 

The NAC, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, also took a dim view of the telemedicine project, jointly implemented by ISRO and the Northeast Council, and pitched for time-bound roll-out of the planned 72 telemedicine nodes and deployment of trained staff. Read more

Source : zeenews.india.com 

Diabetes on the rise in Madurai

MADURAI : Experts want people to understand gravity of the situation

SILENT KILLER: Cardiologist S. S. Annamalaisamy speaking at a public awareness programme organised in view of the World Diabetes Day in Madurai on Sunday. Photo: G. Moorthy

At a time when the public health system is waging a battle with dengue in Madurai district, another major challenge being faced is diabetes which is hitting several men and women in their prime age. Read more

Source : www.thehindu.com

India Poised to Supply Free Drugs to 1.2 Billion People

Beijing : As the northern Indian state of Rajasthan rolls out an ambitious universal healthcare plan, the discontent of the state’s doctors stands in stark contrast to the joys of the 68 million people who will benefit from the scheme.

HIV positive people in New Delhi demonstrate for access to cheap generic drugs. (IPS Photo/Mudit Mathur)

Just a little over a year ago, the state government began supplying free generic drugs to its massive population, effectively stripping doctors of the ability to prescribe more expensive branded medicine. Read more

Source : www.thejakartaglobe.com

Germany, India To Form Working Group For IT Cooperation

India and Germany plan to form a working group to expand bilateral cooperation in the field of information technology (IT).

"We have discussed the possibility of setting up a working group for cooperation in the IT sector. This group can look at areas like e-learning and e-medicine, among other things," said German Vice Chancellor Philip Rosler, who met IT Minister Kapil Sibal. Read more

Source : biztech2.in.com

Allocation for health sector enhanced three-fold: PM

NEW DELHI: Recognising the need to address complex challenges in the health sector, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said allocation for it has been enhanced by about three times in the 12th plan period with enhanced thrust on nutrition and sanitation.

He also noted that free generic drugs will be made available through all public hospitals in the country to help in "reducing out of pocket expenditure of the poor" on health. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Dengue continues to stalk Kolkata citizens

KOLKATA: Just when the city had started to breathe a sigh of relief, here comes the bad news. Dengue, which has had a deadly run all through the rainy season this year, is still wreaking havoc at certain city pockets. According to hospital sources, the load of patients infected with dengue has come down significantly, but the threat is far from over.

Residential localities adjoining the airport have contracted the disease in serious proportions for the second time this year. At housing complexes along Belghoria Expressway and Jessore Road (opposite gates 21/2 and 3 of the airport), several residents have reported high fever since Wednesday. Many had to be admitted to hospitals after their condition deteriorated. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com