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Landmark innovation brings hope for head and neck cancer patients with low-dose immunotherapy that reduces cost by 95%
Oncologists at Tata Memorial Centre have tested a low-dose immunotherapy regimen that brings down treatment costs for head and neck cancers to Rs 3.3 lakh a year from Rs 62 lakh. In immunotherapy, cells derived from the patient’s own body are genetically re-engineered to fight against cancer cells.
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Hospitals flooded with pollution-induced cases as poor air quality leaves Delhi-NCR gasping
There has been a spike in patients with respiratory issues needing out-patient or in-patient services. Some with severe symptoms have even been admitted to ICUs
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Not a single taker for Rs 50,000 crore scheme to set up hospitals in non-metro areas
Under the scheme, scheduled commercial banks were allowed to provide credit with interest rate, capped at 7.95 per cent per annum, for projects in the healthcare sector. A maximum of Rs 100 crore per project was to be disbursed.
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MC Exclusive: Private hospitals’ body bats for PMJAY coverage for all men above 80, all women above 60
If implemented, it will ensure PMJAY coverage for an additional 7.5 crore population in India.
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Newer, advanced drugs rapidly changing breast cancer treatment outcomes, patient experience: Experts
Research on cancer treatments is now aimed at turning the disease into a chronic, manageable one, like diabetes and hypertension.
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Mental health under insurance coverage: How it may help break the taboo
Experts believe that all insurance products covering mental health will help remove the stigma around it and positively influence the health-seeking behaviour of patients
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Startups that make healthcare more affordable, accessible will succeed: Ex-US health official
Many Indian digital healthcare startups are focussed on accessibility and affordability, said David Shulkin, former US secretary of veterans affairs, who currently advises Indegene on using digital tools to help life sciences companies.
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Not just tobacco, alcohol can also cause oral cancer: Study
The study by a group of international experts under the aegis of the International Agency for Research on Cancer says the major causes of oral cancer are smokeless tobacco and chewing of areca nut products. The study says there is a paucity of data in the area of oral cancer prevention and calls for additional research.
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In Depth | Why India’s resident doctors are neck-deep in mental health crisis
Response by medical colleges to the National Medical Commission’s latest directive could help in the compilation of the first-ever record of suicide data by PG medicine students in India.
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MC Explains | It’s being called the most contagious SARS-CoV-2 virus. What you need to know about Omicron XBB
The sub-variant, first detected in August, is rapidly replacing other Omicron sub-lineages in many areas where it has been found. The silver lining is that so far, it has not been found to cause more severe illness than other Omicron sub-variants
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Hospital oxygen plants not enough, India needs national medical oxygen grid: Report
The report backed by the US AID for International Development and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation bats for a reliable national oxygen grid with multiple generation and storage components, and a network for a smooth flow from surplus to deficit areas.
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Rising COVID-19 cases and new Omicron subvariants put government on alert
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on October 18 reviewed the number of COVID-19 cases being reported daily, active cases, case positivity and testing status.
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Coming Soon: Eye drops that can help you put away your reading glasses
In July, the USFDA had approved the use of eye drops designed to improve age-related near vision. Now, an Indian company is gearing up to launch similar drops here.
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Doctors’ body pitches for capping trade margin at 30% for all drugs in India
The demand, aimed at bringing relief to patients, comes at a time when the government is already considering limiting profit margins for a large number of commonly used medicines
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Penalise consultants for not teaching PG students: VK Paul to private hospitals
The government, in its effort to address the crisis of specialist doctors in the country, has been asking private institutions to play a bigger role.
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WHO noncommittal on sharing cough syrup causality assessment report: Govt sources
Experts say that the detection of contaminants diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in the India-made cough syrups by the WHO and Indian authorities themselves is strong enough evidence against the poor and unsafe quality of the cough syrups. 66 children are reported to have died in The Gambia after consuming the syrups.
CURRENT-AFFAIRS-TRENDS
Gambian cough syrup deaths: Health ministry forms four member panel
The committee will also advise and recommend DCGI about further course of action.
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Exclusive | Early probe finds violation in drug manufacturing process by Maiden Pharma
Trouble for the Haryana-based drugmaker, which is in soup for allegedly exporting adulterated cough syrups, may escalate as initial investigations by Indian authorities have found major violations on its part
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How Maiden and other Indian pharma firms exploited WHO certification process
The recent incident of medicines from India purportedly leading to the death of 66 children in Gambia has once again brought the spotlight on loopholes with drug quality monitoring in the country
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Why Indian regulators fail to prevent fatal lapses in drug manufacturing
Haryana-based Maiden pharmaceuticals is in the eye of a storm for supplying adulterated cough syrups to Gambia. It has now emerged that the firm has been a habitual offender.
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Cough syrup deaths: Govt says drugs not permitted for sale in India
The ministry said in a statement that the cough syrups made by local manufacturer Maiden Pharmaceutical has permission to manufacture these products for export only.
HEALTH-TRENDS
Cough syrups that killed Gambian kids not sold in India but spark questions on quality check
Officials at India’s drug regulator say that the licence to manufacture drugs was granted by the state drug administrator and as of now it was only being exported to Gambia
HEALTH-TRENDS
Orange Health, India’s fastest diagnostic firm, to cover all metros by year-end
After launching the services in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad, the company is looking to expand its services to 2-3 more major cities.
HEALTH-TRENDS
Paediatric cancer deaths in India double of developed nations: Govt report
Nearly 49 percent of the paediatric cancers in India remain undiagnosed, while the five-year survival rate is just about 40 per cent. Experts say childhood cancer awareness week may be the ideal way to introspect and see where India stands and chart the way forward.
