TRENDS
Wake up, it’s time to sleep!
The annual multi-country sleep survey has shown that a majority of the respondents recognise the importance of achieving quality sleep and its impact on overall health but the understanding of various solutions to sleep-related issues remains elusive. March 17 is World Sleep Day
INDIA
Rising Covid cases: Health Ministry advises five states to prevent spread of infection
The five states, which have received the letters, include Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat and Karnataka.
TRENDS
India gets first dedicated precision oncology centre
The burden of cancer is rising in India with nearly 20 lakh new cases predicted annually from 2025 and personalised cancer care is pitched as the future of cancer treatment
BUSINESS
Time for pharma industry to move from Make in India to Invent in India: Laurus Labs CEO
The government should look into incentivising disruptive research in the healthcare sector, says Satyanarayana Chava, the founder of the Hyderabad-based company that sells active pharmaceutical ingredients in over 55 countries.
TRENDS
COVID-19: Experts stress weeks ahead crucial as cases creep up in many states
In light of a rising trend in influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory illnesses being witnessed in many states, the Centre also called an interdepartmental review meeting last week
TRENDS
Why keto diet may be more harmful than good for you
The low-carb, high-fat diet was associated with increased levels of bad cholesterol along with a twofold heightened risk of cardiovascular events, according to a first-of-its-kind observational study
BUSINESS
Lack of subsidies a major challenge for private hospitals, says Sterling Hospitals’ Gill
Sterling is the largest corporate hospital chain in Gujarat and has tertiary care hospitals and cancer centres in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Gandhidham
TRENDS
Novartis, Eli Lilly get court notices in case related to breast cancer drugs
The Kerala High Court said the drugmakers are parties to a petition seeking generic versions of their patented products to lower treatment costs.
TRENDS
India’s focus not only on healthcare but also on wellness: PM Modi
Addressing a post-budget webinar on health and medical research, Modi said that beneficiaries managed to save nearly Rs 80,000 crore in treatment costs by availing of services under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana.
TRENDS
Flu virus strain in circulation causing more severe symptoms: Dr Gagandeep Kang
This particular H3N2 strain, which is behind most influenza cases in many cities, seems to be causing bronchitis and associated symptoms, such as diarrhoea and conjunctivitis. These symptoms are usually less common with influenza, says Kang.
TRENDS
Bariatric surgery for obesity is gaining ground in India, but has a long way to go
Though aggressive public awareness campaigns and programmes are being conducted by different institutions to promote bariatric surgery in the country, the social stigma associated with surgery for obesity, lack of awareness and non-coverage by health insurers are major hurdles.
TRENDS
Influenza outbreak in several cities; patients report severe, longer sickness
In India, influenza virus circulation usually peaks during the monsoon season between June-September with secondary peaks during winter seen between November-February
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Proton beam therapy offers new lease of life to cancer patients, fewer side-effects: experts
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre is the country’s first and only hospital to have proton beam therapy in clinical operation.
TRENDS
Fresh trouble for tainted pharma firm linked with Gambia deaths in decade-old case
In September last year, three cough syrups supplied by Maiden Pharmaceuticals were linked to the deaths of nearly 80 children in Gambia, but later the Indian government said that in-country examination had found no contamination in the drugs supplied to the African nation.
INDIA
Health ministry asks states to monitor heat-related illnesses, deaths from March 1
Various districts in India are experiencing unusually high temperatures for this time of the year
TRENDS
New organ donation rules: Why they may not go far enough
India conducts the third highest number of organ transplants in the world every year but only a small fraction of those who need life-saving intervention actually get it
TRENDS
No link between use of high-selling antacid ranitidine and cancer risk: Korean study
The molecule sold under the brand name of Zinetac and Rantac, among others in India, has been facing a controversy since 2019, after an unacceptable level of a probable carcinogen was found in its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient.
INDIA
India saved over 3.4 million lives due to unprecedented scale of COVID vaccination: Report
"A Lancet modelling study estimates that in India around 34,22,00054 deaths were prevented by vaccination in the year 2021, an estimate based on officially reported deaths in India," the report has said.
TRENDS
Challenges galore as new DCGI takes charge
Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi takes over as DCGI at a time when India's pharma industry is facing a major credibility issue worldwide due to allegations of supplying substandard products
BUSINESS
Global leader in radiation therapy devices for cancer patients hopes to bridge gap by focusing on non-metro markets in India
Nearly 50 percent of all cancer patients need radiation therapy but access to a crucial device in India is a major challenge. Elekta, one of only two global organisations that manufacture radiation therapy devices for cancer treatment, introduced its new technology in Indore (a tier 2 city) recently.
TRENDS
Pharma sector gets first tranche of payment under under PLI scheme
Dr Reddy's Laboratories Limited, Biocon Limited, Strides Pharma Science Limited and Premier Medical Corporation Private Limited have been granted the incentives in the first phase
TRENDS
MC Explains: What is Marburg virus and does India need to be on alert?
There are concerns that Marburg virus disease, an Ebola-like highly fatal disease, can spread globally and turn into a pandemic
TRENDS
Delhi hospital, Merck partner to improve access to head & neck, colorectal cancer care
The number of cancer cases in India has increased dramatically over the last several years, with head and neck and oral cancers emerging as the leading forms of the illness in several states
BUSINESS
AstraZeneca’s lung cancer drug also approved to treat biliary tract cancer
More than 30,000 new cases of biliary tract cancers are reported in the country every year with 90 percent of them diagnosed in the advanced stage
