TRENDS
India to get first handheld X-ray device that uses AI to detect tuberculosis within a minute
The country has the biggest burden of tuberculosis cases and deaths in the world and the new technology may help in the quick detection of cases in the early stages of the disease.
BUSINESS
Cystic fibrosis patients pitch for life-saving drugs that are currently unavailable in India
Cystic fibrosis is life-threatening as it damages both the lungs and the digestive system, with those undiagnosed often dying in infancy.
BUSINESS
Cancer therapy shifting from patient-fitting treatment to treatment-fitting patient model: Novartis India MD
The oncology market in India is estimated to grow by $734.18 million in 2025, growing at a CAGR of over 13 percent. With progress in faster and less expensive gene sequencing, precision medicine is starting to be used more often, most notably in the treatment of lung cancer, says Amitabh Dube.
BUSINESS
Govt move to eliminate sickle cell anaemia a good decision but it may not be easy
The central and western parts of India, with predominantly tribal populations, have the highest prevalence of the sickle-cell disease which typically presents with severe bone pains and blood clots in critical organs
INDIA
Budget 2023: Health continues to be on backburner, allocations increase by meagre 12%
While the health ministry had received a 16 percent hike last year, the rise of a mere 12 percent this year may barely cover the inflation
BUSINESS
Budget 2023: FM Sitharaman announces mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia by 2047
India has the highest burden of the blood disorder after Nigeria
BUSINESS
Budget 2023: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces setting up of 157 nursing colleges
This is in line with 157 medical colleges established over the last 9 years, FM said in her Budget speech
HEALTH
Economic Survey 2023: No measure sufficient to counter COVID-19 like shock, says government
Economic Survey 2023: The report, however, has also underlined that the health infrastructure has improved dramatically since the pandemic began in 2020
HEALTH
Economic Survey 2023: Govt keeping check on drug prices through direct price control, Janaushadhi stores
Strap: In the report, measures by the government that are adopted to make medicines affordable for the citizens, have been mentioned
BUSINESS
Economic Survey 2023: Govt spent 2.1% of GDP on healthcare in FY23
The share of expenditure on health in the total expenditure on social services, said the survey report, has increased from 21 percent in 2018-19 to 26 percent in 2022-23.
HEALTH
US sets stricter guidelines for lead in baby food. Where does India stand?
India has a much higher limit of lead in baby food, apart from several other categories of packaged food, and there is no indication of any revision in the norms in the near future
HEALTH
Budget 2023: Medical device makers seek GST cut to battle imports from China, US
Demand help for MSMEs in the sector, higher import duty, increase in healthcare expenditure and restructuring of GST rates to encourage the domestic industry against imports which grew 41 per cent last year.
TRENDS
Passive Euthanasia: Here's what Supreme Court’s new rules signify
In India, crucial Supreme Court judgments have established the constitutional validity of an Advance Medical Directive and Foregoing of Life Support but experts say that the procedure laid down earlier made the norm unworkable in situations in an ICU setting where decisions need to be taken under time-pressure
TRENDS
Breastmilk sale by two companies prompts demand for a law barring practice
There is a growing concern that existing norms may not be enough to prevent companies from commercialising human milk
TRENDS
Flu, pneumonia shots see surge in uptake after COVID-19 pandemic
Low awareness and high costs meant that the uptake of these two vaccines was always low, but the trend has been positive since the onset of the pandemic, say specialists.
TRENDS
Coming soon: First at-home test to screen for cervical cancers in India
As of now, to get a screening for cervical cancer, women are advised to take a pap test, usually offered by gynecologists.
TRENDS
MC Analysis I Why India’s cardiology pharma market is expecting a major disruption this year
With a blockbuster heart failure drug Vymada going off-patent this month, its much cheaper generic versions by a number of drug makers are set to hit the market in India and several other countries.
HEALTH
Budget 2023: Foreign pharma firms push for fast-tracking of new drug approvals, ease of doing business
Multinational drugmakers are seeking relaxation of norms that govern the launch of new medicines and clinical trials of drugs in India.
INDIA
MC Exclusive | Bharat Biotech’s intranasal COVID-19 vaccine likely to be available only in corporate hospitals in major cities
Due to lack of rise in demand for booster doses, small private hospitals have showed no interest in procuring the vaccine despite the ease of administration it promises, say industry sources
BUSINESS
Budget 2023: Will health sector get the due it deserves?
The government’s low spending on healthcare has remained a major concern in a country where out-of-pocket expenditure is nearly 50 percent, according to the latest available figures
TRENDS
WHO awaits probe by Indian drug regulator to chart the fate of Marion Biotech
On December 27, Uzbekistan had said that 18 children may have died after consuming contaminated DOK-1 Max syrup by Marion Biotech. WHO issued a medical product alert for two substandard cough syrups by the Uttar Pradesh-based drug maker on February 12
TRENDS
Cancer treatment methods are not being applied properly: Nobel winning biologist
Harold E Varmus, co-winner of the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1989, says that one way to tackle the high cost of cancer drugs and immunotherapies is by ensuring wide availability of medicines that are off-patent.
BUSINESS
Budget 2023: MedTech industry flags demands long overdue
Foreign direct investment in the Indian MedTech sector stood at $386 million between January-September 2022 but the industry feels it should rise further
TRENDS
All you need to know about Paxlovid, the most promising COVID-19 drug
US-based Pfizer has signed a licensing agreement for Paxlovid with 30 drugmakers globally, including 19 Indian companies. Hetero and Zenara have said they received regulatory approvals for their versions of Paxlovid
