DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:09:25 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/health/diarrhoea-outbreak-cm-chandrababu-naidu-tells-officials-to-give-top-priority-to-public-health-662689.html Amaravati Feb 25 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday directed the officials to give top priority to public health At a meeting with officials of Medical and Health Department he reviewed the situation relating to outbreak of diarrhoea in Srikakulam and milk adulteration incident in RajahmundryThe Chief Minister directed officials not to neglect public health He said that various departments should work in coordination to prevent such incidents from recurringThe Chief Minister spoke to senior officials of the Health Department and officials of the respective districtsAccording to an official release he enquired about the health condition of those undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the Srikakulam and Rajahmundry incidentsHe enquired about the health of the two persons who are undergoing treatment in serious condition at the Srikakulam GEMS Hospital Officials informed the Chief Minister that one is on ventilator support and the other is on dialysisThe Chief Minister ordered that special attention be paid to the medical treatment of both of them He also wanted to know from officials whether more cases are being registered at the field levelOfficials said that 76 people are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals in Srikakulam They explained that the health condition of all except two is stableThey informed him that the water supply through the pipeline has been stopped and safe drinking water is being supplied through alternate measuresOfficials also told the Chief Minister that those affected by milk adulteration in Rajahmundry are under constant medical supervisionThe Chief Minister was informed that the milk samples have already been sent to the lab The health department is closely monitoring the situationState Health and Family Welfare Department Commissioner Veerapandian said on Tuesday that the condition of seven persons undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Rajahmundry is criticalAccording to him 15 people are undergoing treatment in various hospitals of whom three are on ventilators two on dialysis and three more on ventilatordialysisAmong those undergoing treatment there are two children including a fivemonthold babyHe said four people have died so far No new cases were registered on TuesdayVeerapandian told media that necessary steps are being taken to provide better treatment to all those hospitalised IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/diarrhoea-outbreak-cm-chandrababu-naidu-tells-officials-to-give-top-priority-to-public-health-662689.html Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/andhra-milk-adulteration-deaths-cm-announces-rs-10-lakh-compensation-662433.html Amaravati Feb 23 The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of four persons who died due to consumption of adulterated milk in Rajahmundry Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement in the Legislative AssemblyHe also declared that the government will bear the medical expenses of those undergoing treatment in the hospitalsTerming the incident as painful the Chief Minister expressed deep sympathy for the families of the deceasedHe told the Assembly that the affected people were undergoing treatment in hospitals with symptoms like vomiting stomach pain and dialysis problems Doctors found increased levels of urea and serum creatinine in the blood during clinical testsThe Chief Minister stated that Varalakshmi Milk Dairy of Narasapuram village of Korukonda mandal supplies milk to 106 families in two areas of Rajahmundry dailyOfficials have confirmed that the victims fell ill after drinking milk from this dairy Four people died in the incident Ten others are undergoing treatment and two of them are on a ventilator Three of the deceased were aged over 70 years while the fourth one was 58 years oldThe Chief Minister said that blood samples have been taken from the affected and sent to labs in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam for testsHe revealed that the dairy manager Addala Ganeswara Rao has been detained by the police and is being interrogated A case has been registered based on the complaint filed by the family members of the deceasedIf anyone indulges in this adulteration out of greed for money we will take it seriously We will take action against the culprits after the investigation the Chief Minister saidHe warned that the government will not remain indifferent to anyone in the state who commits adulteration or acts in a way that causes trouble to the peopleEarlier after learning about the incident of locals falling ill and several deaths due to consumption of adulterated milk in Chowdeshwari Nagar and Swaroop Nagar areas of Rajahmundry Chief Minister Naidu held a review with officialsIn a review meeting with the District Collector the SP Medical and Health Department and Food Safety officials and enquired about the details of the incident He also enquired about the medical assistance being provided to the victimsThe Chief Minister ordered that the best medical services be provided to those undergoing treatment Officials said that samples have been collected from 75 people in the families who consumed the milk while samples were being taken from the remaining peopleNaidu ordered that senior officials of the Food Safety and Medical and Health Departments should immediately go to Rajahmundry and monitor the situationHe again reviewed the situation in his chamber in the Assembly with ministers and officials in the afternoon IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/andhra-milk-adulteration-deaths-cm-announces-rs-10-lakh-compensation-662433.html Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sudarshan-pharma-stock-slips-3-pc-amid-gst-search-and-seizure-action-662333.html Mumbai Feb 23 Shares of Sudarshan Pharma Industries slipped over 3 per cent on Monday after the Goods and Services Tax GST department initiated an inspection and search operation at the companyâs registered office The stock fell 306 per cent on the BSE to hit an intraday low of Rs 2562 per share At 110 PM the shares were trading at the same level down 306 per centOver the past one year Sudarshan Pharmaâs stock has declined around 19 per cent according to the official dataThe decline in the companyâs share price came after it informed exchanges that the GST department had initiated an inspection search and seizure operation at its registered office on February 21 2026In its regulatory filing the company said it is in the process of collating information and responding to the authoritiesIt added that the final report related to the search and seizure will be concluded as per the prescribed proceduresDespite the recent development the company had reported improved financial performance for the December quarterFor Q3FY26 Sudarshan Pharma posted a net profit of Rs 415 crore slightly higher than Rs 39 crore reported in the same quarter last yearRevenue from operations rose sharply to Rs 168 crore compared to Rs 11565 crore a year agoEarnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation EBITDA stood at Rs 234 crore up from Rs 166 crore in the yearago periodHowever the EBITDA margin declined to 228 per cent from 399 per cent yearonyearIn its filing the company said it is focusing on increasing exports and expanding manufacturing salesIt also highlighted efforts to improve profit margins from the resale of active pharmaceutical ingredients API in domestic marketsAccording to the company these initiatives helped it achieve substantial growth in profit after tax during FY25 IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sudarshan-pharma-stock-slips-3-pc-amid-gst-search-and-seizure-action-662333.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/childhood-cancer-survival-rate-in-pakistan-remains-dismal-report-662376.html Islamabad Feb 23 Even though experts reckon that childhood cancer survival rates in wealthy nations is over 80 per cent it drops to below 30 per cent in low and middleincome nations like Pakistan largely due to delay in recognising symptoms lack of quality supportive care and trained specialists limited access to specialised treatment and treatment abandonment a report has detailed Around 10000 children are diagnosed with cancer in Pakistan each year an editorial in Pakistans leading daily The Express Tribune stated Every year Pakistan is losing children that could have been saved if they were born in nations which have better resources and resource managementThe dismal survival rate in Pakistan is largely due to a delayed recognition of symptoms lack of quality supportive care lack of trained specialists limited access to specialised treatment centres and even high rates of treatment abandonment the editorial mentionedDiagnosis of childhood cancer is delayed due to negligence on almost all levels of care A lack of awareness of symptoms causes a primary delay in consulting a doctor Then there is a delay in referring the child to an oncological centre which is further followed by a delay in the final diagnosis due to limited diagnostic facilities and overburdened hospitals The Express Tribune opinedDuring the treatment process families have to deal with inexperienced medical professionals and face difficulties in accessing medical facilities Families who reside in remote areas faced increased disadvantages as specialised care is absent in such regions it mentioned furtherEven if children are able to access medical facilities the price of advanced treatments lifesaving drugs and basic primary care provisions make it impossible for majority of families to use every possible resource IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/childhood-cancer-survival-rate-in-pakistan-remains-dismal-report-662376.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-reports-273-crore-active-ayushman-cards-rs-7-235-crore-approved-in-two-years-662409.html Gandhinagar Feb 23 Gujarat has 273 crore active Ayushman cards holders under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya YojanaâMukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana PMJAYMA with Rs 723549 crore sanctioned against 2755 lakh claims over the past two years government told the State Assembly on Monday Replying to a query in the House state Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said the scheme continues to see substantial enrollment and utilisation across the stateAt present 273 crore Ayushman cards are active in the state he addedProviding details the Minister said that in 2024â25 as many as 2524 lakh new Ayushman cards were approvedDuring the same period 1340 lakh claims were sanctioned amounting to Rs 366653 croreIn 2025â26 so far 3178 lakh new cards have been approved while 1415 lakh claims have been cleared with Rs 356896 crore sanctioned towards treatment costsThe Minister said that strict action is taken against hospitals found violating the rules or standard operating procedures of the schemeOver the last two years 49 hospitals have been suspended of which 29 remain under suspensionCiting a specific instance Minister Pansheriya added that in the case of JCCC Hospital in Jamnagar a penalty of Rs 869 lakh was recoveredThe doctor held responsible was suspended from the scheme and the matter was reported to the Medical CouncilIn the state Budget Rs 3472 crore has been allocated for PMJAYMAThe state government said it aims to build a healthy society through the provision of quality healthcare servicesThe scope of IVF treatment has also been expanded and the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre IKDRC at Ahmedabad will extend IVF treatment facilities to Surat Bhavnagar and JamnagarAs of November last year 2090 hospitals are empanelled under PMJAYâMA in Gujarat including 1132 government hospitals and 958 private hospitalsBeneficiaries can avail treatment for 2299 medical procedures along with 50 Specialised Referral Services IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-reports-273-crore-active-ayushman-cards-rs-7-235-crore-approved-in-two-years-662409.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/jp-nadda-launches-indigenously-developed-tetanus-adult-diphtheria-vaccine-662187.html Kasauli Feb 21 Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda on Saturday launched the indigenously manufactured tetanus and adult diphtheria Td vaccine at the Central Research Institute CRI here in Himachal Pradesh Addressing the gathering Union Minister Nadda congratulated the scientists technical experts and staff of the Central Research Institute CRI Kasauli describing the indigenous launch of the tetanus and adult diphtheria vaccine as a momentous and historic occasionHe stated that the launch marks a significant step towards safeguarding national health security and strengthening Indiaâs public health infrastructureThe Union Minister underlined that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set clear targets for achieving selfreliance in the health and pharmaceutical sectorsHe noted that the launch of the indigenously manufactured Td vaccine represents a concrete step towards the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in health and medicineWith the formal launch of the Td vaccine the vaccine has now been introduced for supply under the Universal Immunization Programme UIPThe Central Research Institute will supply 55 lakh doses to the UIP by April with production expected to scale up progressively in subsequent years to further strengthen the Universal Immunisation Programme of the government of India he saidHighlighting Indias global standing Nadda also stated that India is widely recognized as the âpharmacy of the worldâ and is among the leading vaccine manufacturers globallyHe said India has achieved Maturity Level III in the World Health Organizations global benchmarking of regulatory systems reflecting the robustness of its vaccine regulatory frameworkInstitutions such as CRI and have played a significant role in achieving these standardsThe Union Health Minister recalled that historically vaccine and drug development timelines were long tetanus vaccine development took decades globally tuberculosis medicines took nearly 30 years to evolve and the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine took almost a century of scientific effort In contrast during the COVID19 pandemic India developed two indigenous vaccines within nine months and administered over 220 crore doses including booster dosesHe also highlighted that COVID19 vaccination certificates were delivered digitally demonstrating Indiaâs digital transformation in public health deliveryReferring to Indias global solidarity efforts he said under the Vaccine Maitri initiative India supplied vaccines to nearly 100 countries of which 48 countries received vaccines free of costHe said the contributions of public sector institutions such as CRI strengthened Indiaâs capacity to serve both domestic and global needsNadda emphasised that CRI is the first government institute to manufacture vaccines under Good Manufacturing Practices GMP standards reflecting the modernisation and revitalisation of public sector vaccine manufacturing units Highlighting the Universal Immunisation Programme UIP he described it as the worlds largest immunisation programmeThe UIP currently provides 11 vaccines protecting against 12 vaccinepreventable diseases in which CRI has made substantial contributionsHe said every year approximately 2 to 25 crore children are born and a similar number of women become pregnantFrom the time of pregnancy registration beneficiaries are tracked through digital platforms such as UWINThe government ensures that expectant mothers receive five antenatal checkups including at least one by a specialist The immunization and tracking process continues until the child attains 16 years of age covering 27 doses under the programme IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/jp-nadda-launches-indigenously-developed-tetanus-adult-diphtheria-vaccine-662187.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/mongolias-total-number-of-confirmed-measles-cases-exceeds-14-000-661282.html Ulan Bator Feb 9 The total number of measles cases in Mongolia has increased to 14123 the countrys National Centre for Communicable Diseases NCCD said on Monday The majority of new measles infections were among schoolage children who had had only one shot of the measles vaccine the NCCD said in a statementIn view of this the NCCD advised parents to protect their children from a potentially severe disease by getting them two doses of the measles vaccineMeasles is one of the worldâs most contagious diseases spread by contact with infected nasal or throat secretions coughing or sneezing or breathing the air that was breathed by someone with measles The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours For this reason it is very infectious One person infected by measles can generate up to 18 secondary infections Xinhua news agency reportedMeasles can affect anyone but is most common in childrenBeing vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virusBefore the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 26 million deaths each yearAn estimated 107 500 people died from measles in 2023 â mostly children under the age of five years despite the availability of a safe and costeffective vaccineSymptoms of measles usually begin 10â14 days after exposure to the virus A prominent rash is the most visible symptomEarly symptoms usually last 4â7 days They include Running nose cough red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeksThe rash begins about 7â18 days after exposure usually on the face and upper neck It spreads over about 3 days eventually to the hands and feet It usually lasts 5â6 days before fading IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/mongolias-total-number-of-confirmed-measles-cases-exceeds-14-000-661282.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sharad-pawar-taken-to-pune-hospital-for-health-check-up-661297.html Pune Feb 9 NCPSP Chief Sharad Pawar on Monday was taken from Baramati to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune for a medical examination after experiencing a persistent cough earlier in the day The veteran leader is reportedly suffering from a severe cough and is experiencing some difficulty in breathingThese symptoms intensified on Sunday night according to his nephew Shrinivas Pawar leading to the decision for immediate hospitalisationPurvez Grant the head of Ruby Hall Clinic has been informed of the situationAfter the examination Grant will decide whether Sharad Pawar needs to be admitted or can be sent home after treatmentHis daughter and Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Supriya Sule is currently with her father Sharad Pawar at the hospitalAccording to Grant Sharad Pawar has been suffering from a cough since this morning We will examine him shortly and determine the necessary course of treatment If required he will be admitted we will take a decision based on his clinical conditionA specialised team of doctors is monitoring Sharad Pawars healthSeveral diagnostic tests have been conductedThe course of medication and dosage will be determined once the test results are availableThe hospital administration confirmed that the primary concern is a severe cough and the decision on hospitalisation will be made only after a thorough evaluationFollowing the recent passing of his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the recent plane crash Sharad Pawar had been travelling between his residences in Baramati Mumbai and PuneDuring this time NCP officebearers and workers from across Maharashtra had been visiting Ajit Pawar to offer their condolencesSharad Pawar underwent surgery for oral cancer before 2004Over the years the NCPSP Chief has undergone multiple procedures related to this condition in both India and the US IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sharad-pawar-taken-to-pune-hospital-for-health-check-up-661297.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/thyroid-health-a-national-priority-time-to-push-awareness-and-research-partnerships-minister-661304.html Mumbai Feb 9 Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday said that thyroid disorders are a national concern linked to productivity demographics and nation building Dr Singh urged the Indian Thyroid Society and the wider medical fraternity to intensify awareness research collaboration and early detection according to an official statementThe minister told the endocrinologists at a conference of the Indian Thyroid Society that undiagnosed thyroid conditions particularly hypothyroidism reduce energy levels workforce efficiency and longterm output in a country where over 70 per cent of the population are aged under 40 yearsAs around 42 million Indians are living with thyroid disorders Singh said the scale of the challenge demands proportionate research attention and public health responseHe called for stronger multidisciplinary coordination across life sciences medical sciences and allied sectors to address thyroid disorders in a comprehensive manner adding that medical issues of this magnitude cannot be left to a single domain and require wider societal awareness and institutional collaborationHypothyroidism affects nearly 11 per cent of adults and many remain undiagnosed Undetected hypothyroidism in pregnancy causes congenital hypothyroidism and irreversible neurodevelopmental harm in childrenFurther the minister highlighted the Biopharma Shakti Mission Indiaâs biotech advances and the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and a Rs 1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation framework to strengthen research with private and philanthropic participationHe cited Indiaâs progress in biotechnology including the development of the countryâs first indigenouslydeveloped antibiotic effective against resistant infections successful gene therapy trials for haemophilia and the rollout of the DNA vaccine during the COVID19 pandemic IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/thyroid-health-a-national-priority-time-to-push-awareness-and-research-partnerships-minister-661304.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/special-camp-under-pmsma-ensures-comprehensive-health-check-ups-for-pregnant-women-in-burhanpur-661326.html Burhanpur Madhya Pradesh Feb 9 Under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan PMSMA a special health camp was organised at the OPD of the District Hospital in Burhanpur on Monday during which comprehensive physical and mental health checkups of over 40 pregnant women were conducted During the camp more than six women were identified as highrisk pregnancies and were provided timely medical treatment necessary diagnostic tests and expert consultations to prevent complications and ensure safe deliveriesAs part of the initiative pregnant women and their family members were educated about the importance of four mandatory antenatal checkups the need for mental health care during pregnancy its early identification and overall significance Special emphasis was laid on institutional deliveries to ensure maternal and neonatal safetyInformation was also shared about the 24Ã7 free assistance services available under the CCP FCC and PMH programmes including prenatal postnatal and mentalemotional counselling Beneficiaries were guided on accessing support from home through TeleMANAS the Manhit App and the Suman Sakhi helplineThe PMSMA campaign is conducted on the 9th and 25th of every month with the objective of strengthening maternal and child safety promoting institutional deliveries and reducing maternal and infant mortality ratesBeneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the services and gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritising womenâs health through such initiativesManisha Awase a beneficiary said âHere all facilities are free medicines and treatment are provided without any costâAnother beneficiary Yogita Dipesh Bhalerao said that all medical tests which are usually expensive at private hospitals were conducted free of cost âThe Prime Minister has launched many schemes for women and they have been very beneficialâ she addedDr Poonam Singhal Gynaecologist said special camps are organised twice a month under PMSMA to closely monitor highrisk cases such as women with hypertension diabetes or previous Csection deliveriesEchoing similar views Dr Rehana Bohra said the scheme prioritises highrisk patients and plays a crucial role in ensuring safe motherhoodDistrict PMSMA Incharge Seema David said the programme is wellstructured and aimed at strengthening maternal healthcare services at the grassroots level IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/special-camp-under-pmsma-ensures-comprehensive-health-check-ups-for-pregnant-women-in-burhanpur-661326.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tns-namakkal-poultry-farms-step-up-biosecurity-after-bird-flu-alert-661231.html Chennai Feb 9 Poultry farms across Namakkal district have strengthened biosecurity and sanitation measures following a statewide advisory issued by the Tamil Nadu government after cases of avian influenza and unusual bird deaths were reported in parts of the state Though no outbreak has been detected in Namakkal so far farmers and officials are taking proactive steps to safeguard the districtâs poultry sector one of Indiaâs largest egg production and export hubs Authorities said the heightened vigilance is aimed at preventing any possible entry of the highly contagious virus into the tightly managed farm ecosystemGiven the scale of operations in Namakkal and the constant movement of people vehicles and supplies even minor lapses could pose a riskAs a result strict controls have been put in place to minimise exposure Sanitation drives have been intensified farm entries restricted and monitoring mechanisms tightened Only essential personnel are allowed inside farm premises while new visitors are barredVehicles entering the farms are being thoroughly disinfected and all operations are being carried out under protocols prescribed by the veterinary college and the department of animal husbandryValsan Parameswaran secretary of the All India Poultry Product Exporters Association said Namakkalâs poultry belt follows biosecurity norms throughout the year but additional precautions are triggered whenever alerts are issuedâFarmers owners and officials work together during such periods We increase sanitation and strictly regulate entry to ensure the disease does not reach our farmsâ he saidPoultry owners confirmed that disinfection frequency has been doubled with cleaning now done once a week instead of every 15 days Since eggs from Namakkal are regularly exported to domestic and international markets farms are required to maintain multiple layers of safety measures including strict hygiene standards and continuous surveillanceA poultry farmer from Tiruppur noted that the controlled environment inside commercial farms significantly reduces the threat of infectionâOur biosecurity systems run yearround Compared to open bird habitats our farms are far less vulnerableâ he saidMeanwhile veterinary doctors from the animal husbandry department are conducting routine inspectionsA senior official said inspections are normally held every 10 to 15 days but daily visits will be arranged if any signs of concern emerge Officials stressed that the district remains safe but vigilance remains the key to protecting Namakkalâs vital poultry industry IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tns-namakkal-poultry-farms-step-up-biosecurity-after-bird-flu-alert-661231.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/south-africa-releases-first-locally-produced-fmd-vaccine-in-20-years-661133.html Johannesburg Feb 7 South Africa has released its first locally produced vaccine for footandmouth disease FMD in nearly two decades the countrys Department of Agriculture said At a press briefing Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen together with the Agricultural Research Council ARC the vaccine developer and producer announced the release of an initial batch of 12900 vaccine doses with production expected to rise to 20000 doses per week by MarchThe ARC said plans are being prepared to distribute the vaccine to herds across the countryAccording to a statement from the department the milestone marks a shift from a largely reactive response to a more proactive scienceled campaign against the disease to help South Africa regain its FMDfree status from the World Organisation for Animal HealthThis will strengthen our frontline defence against footandmouth disease Steenhuisen said noting that the countrys longterm goal is to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for the FMD vaccine Xinhua news agency reportedThe FMD primarily affects clovenhoofed animals such as cattle pigs sheep and goats In most cases the symptoms include fever painful sores in the mouth and a rash with blisters on the hands feet and buttocksFMD is a severe highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impactThe disease affects cattle swine sheep goats and other clovenhoofed ruminantsIntensively reared animals are more susceptible to the disease than traditional breeds The disease is rarely fatal in adult animals but there is often high mortality in young animals due to myocarditis or when the dam is infected by the disease lack of milkFMD is characterised by fever and blisterlike sores on the tongue and lips in the mouth on the teats and between the hooves The disease causes severe production losses and while the majority of affected animals recover the disease often leaves them weakened and debilitatedAll seven of the serotypes have also been found in wildlife African buffalo are important carriers for FMDV Other species of wildlife do not seem to be able to maintain FMD viruses IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/south-africa-releases-first-locally-produced-fmd-vaccine-in-20-years-661133.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ethiopias-addis-ababa-sees-nearly-700-000-international-arrivals-in-six-months-661134.html Addis Ababa Feb 7 Nearly 700000 foreign tourists visited the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa during the first six months of the current Ethiopian fiscal year that began on July 8 2025 according to local authorities Presenting the citys halfyear performance report on the tourism sector on Friday Adanech Abiebie Mayor of Addis Ababa City said that 699761 foreign tourists visited the capital during the period showing a 15 per cent increase compared to the same period last yearAccording to the mayor the inflow of tourists has enabled the city administration to generate 155 billion birr about 1 billion in revenue from the sector A total of 49 million domestic tourists also visited the city during the period exceeding the target of 47 millionThe mayor attributed the strong performance to the development of new and upgraded tourism destinations making the capital a leading tourism and conference hub in AfricaAbiebie further emphasised that public religious and cultural festivals that were celebrated in the city along with the expansion of sports and health tourism have significantly contributed to the rise in foreigners visiting the city The ongoing development works and flagship megaprojects being undertaken across the city are expected to attract an increasing number of tourists and highlevel international and continental gatherings Xinhua news agency reportedOver the past six months alone nearly 150 international and continental events were also held in Addis Ababa representing a 50 per cent increase compared to the same period last year according to the mayors reportOne of Africas most important cities Addis Ababa is home to nearly 35 million people Sitting atop the highlands next to the Great Rift Valley the city sprawls over more than 200 square miles housing a startling variety of historical and cultural attractions And if you want to get out there are the massive Entoto Mountains to explore right above Addis AbabaWithin the city centre Addis Ababa boasts monumental architecture and all of the grandeur that can be expected from any national capital Great churches mosques and museums offer respite solace education and inspiration to travelers from around the world Meanwhile traditional Ethiopian food and dance are on constant display throughout the city IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ethiopias-addis-ababa-sees-nearly-700-000-international-arrivals-in-six-months-661134.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/health-minister-nadda-urges-youth-to-work-responsibly-give-back-to-society-661173.html New Delhi Feb 7 Union Minister for Health amp Family Welfare JP Nadda on Saturday urged youth to work responsibly and to give back to society Addressing the convocation ceremony 202526 of Manav Rachna Educational Institutions MREI Nadda said it is not just the culmination of an academic journey but the beginning of a new phase of responsibility towards the nation and society He emphasised that the graduating cohort is privileged to be entering their professional lives during the second phase of Amrit Kaal leading up to 2047 when India aspires to become a fully developed nation âThis phase presents both immense opportunities and equally significant responsibilities the youth must contribute meaningfully to the national developmentâ Nadda said âAlways carry the sentiment that society has enabled their success and in return they must strive to give back by serving society selflessly and meaningfullyâ said Nadda He also urged the graduating students to move forward guided by strong values ethical conduct and a commitment to public service During the ceremony the Minister also highlighted the transformative progress achieved under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the last 11 yearsâ23 AIIMS have been established up from just six earlier creating a robust network of stateoftheart healthcare institutions across the countryâ Nadda said He further stated that India has made remarkable advances across healthcare indicators ranging from maternal and child health to communicable and noncommunicable diseases especially in tuberculosis and malaria cases and deaths The Minister also highlighted a significant drop in outofpocket healthcare expenditure with initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and largescale population screening programmes making healthcare more accessible and affordable A total of 2150 students from diverse disciplines including engineering management law education sciences and healthcare were awarded degrees during the convocationThis included 521 undergraduate students 58 postgraduate students and 11 doctoral scholars marking a significant academic milestone for the graduating cohort IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/health-minister-nadda-urges-youth-to-work-responsibly-give-back-to-society-661173.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 17:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/icmr-nivcelebrates74-years-ofscientificexcellencewith-school-students-in-pune-661007.html Pune Feb 5 The ICMRNational Institute of Virology NIV celebrated its 74th Foundation Day with a science outreach programme with school students to nurture scientific curiosity it said on Thursday On February 4 scientists from the ICMRNIV led a twophase outreach programme in coordination with Vijnana Bharati VIBHA and engaged with 1180 school students from classes 612 The experts engaged with 1130 students through visits to three schools across Pune and welcomed another 50 students along with their teachers for an interactive campus experience at ICMRâNIV Pune âStudents were introduced to key concepts of virology including different types of viruses insect and bird specimens and diagnostic kits Interactive videos posters and presentations showcased ICMRNIVâs contributions to public health while guided laboratory tours and demonstrations of diagnostic tools and PPE Personal Protective Equipment kits sparked scientific curiosity among young learnersâ said an official statement Dr Naveen Kumar Director ICMRNIV highlighted the instituteâs remarkable achievements upcoming research projects and future research vision The Director emphasised NIVâs mandate to focus on basic virology the development of medical countermeasures and pandemic preparedness He also noted that the upcoming zonal NIVs will concentrate on outbreak investigations within their respective zonesDr Rajiv Bahl Secretary Department of Health Research and Director General Indian Council of Medical Research in his keynote address spoke about âthe development of vaccines and new medical countermeasures against the diseases while underscoring the importance of institutional and industry collaborations in advancing Indiaâs vision of Viksit Bharatâ Appreciating ICMRNIVâs contributions to eliminating viral diseases Prof Shekar C Mande President Indian National Science Academy INSA emphasised the need for collective action for building a healthier and sustainable world for the next generation In August last year the Institute organised an Open School Day at two of its campuses in Pune to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators A total of 369 school students studying in standards IX to XII from 26 different schools in Pune attended the session They were accompanied by 36 teachers coming from the participating schools Key research themes showcased included vectorborne diseases respiratory infections and zoonotic threats IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/icmr-nivcelebrates74-years-ofscientificexcellencewith-school-students-in-pune-661007.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/drug-abuse-bill-to-be-tabled-in-ongoing-assembly-session-jampk-health-minister-661023.html Jammu Feb 5 JampK government will table a bill on drug abuse in the ongoing session of the legislative assembly Sakina Itoo Minister for Health and Medical Education said on Thursday The minister said in the assembly that the drug deaddiction rules have been finalised and sent to the law departmentShe informed the house that 49276 cases of drug abuse were registered since 2022The minister said that the government would bring a bill on drug abuse during the ongoing session of the Legislative AssemblySpeaking in the Legislative Assembly Sakina Itoo said that the bill has been prepared and will be introduced in the House during the ongoing sessionShe disclosed that NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq had highlighted that he had earlier introduced a bill on drug abuse making it compulsory to teach the ill effects of drug addiction in schoolsTanvir Sadiq said that he had withdrawn the bill on the assurance of the governmentThe Minister said that the government is also in the process of finalising drug deaddiction rulesâWe have framed the drug deaddiction rules and have sent them to the Law Department for examinationâ she saidThe Minister further said that 49276 cases of drug abuse have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir since 2022 She said 16759 such patients have been registered in Kashmir and 32517 in JammuIn recent years Jammu and Kashmir has seen an exponential increase in drug use According to official data shared by the Central Government in Parliament the number of people affected by drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir has reached nearly 10 lakh which is around 8 per cent of the total population of Jammu and KashmirOn 4 August 2023 the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment conveyed to the Parliament of India that approximately 1350 lakh drug users are estimated to be in Jammu and Kashmir with the majority falling within the age range of 18 to 75 years IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/drug-abuse-bill-to-be-tabled-in-ongoing-assembly-session-jampk-health-minister-661023.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/covid-vaccine-not-linked-to-decrease-in-fertility-study-661091.html New Delhi Feb 6 Amid several claims of vaccination and reduced fertility a study of nearly 60000 women showed that the Covid vaccine played no role in a decrease in childbirth Since the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic unfounded rumours have circulated especially on social media alleging that vaccination impairs chances of becoming pregnant In the later stages of the pandemic there was a decrease in the number of children born in some countries including Sweden This raised the question of whether this could be due to the new vaccines Our conclusion is that its highly unlikely that the mRNA vaccine against Covid19 was behind the decrease in childbirth during the pandemic said Toomas Timpka professor of social medicine at LinkÃping University Sweden The study published in the journal Communications Medicine found no statistically significant difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated women in childbirths and miscarriages We see no difference in childbirth rates between those who have taken the vaccine and those who havent Weve also looked at all registered miscarriages among those who became pregnant and we see no difference between the groups there either Timpka said Their analysis is based on a study of almost 60000 women aged 18 to 45 years in Sweden Of these women 75 per cent were vaccinated once or more against Covid from 2021 to 2024 The researchers used data on childbirths vaccinations miscarriages and deaths from health care records The results are in line with several previous studies that have not found any association between the Covid vaccine and fertilityImportantly the study examined conception and pregnancy in the general population unlike most previous research which âfocused on couples undergoing fertility treatmentâThe researchers also adjusted their findings for factors other than Covid that could have affected conception rates such as age and underlying illnessSeveral studies have shown that Covid infection can be dangerous for pregnant women but vaccination can reduce that risk substantiallyâPresent scientific evidence is clear that the protection against severe disease a Covid19 shot provides clearly outweighs possible risksâ Timpka said âWomen who want to start a family and who are on the fence about whether to get a Covid19 shot should not hesitate about having the vaccineâ Timpka added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/covid-vaccine-not-linked-to-decrease-in-fertility-study-661091.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gold-silver-prices-slip-amid-profit-booking-dollar-gains-661092.html Mumbai Feb 6 Gold prices fell moderately while silver lost over 3 per cent on Friday due to a stronger dollar and a rout in global technology stocks MCX gold February futures fell 097 per cent to Rs 150590 per 10 grams around 1040 am on an intraday basis Meanwhile MCX silver March futures plunged 371 per cent to Rs 234775 per kgOn the MCX silver prices had declined as much as 6 per cent to their days low of Rs 229187 per kg earlier during the session before a strong reboundCommodities denominated in dollars became more expensive for holders of other currencies as the US dollar got poised for its strongest weekly performance since November hovering close to a twoweek highSilverâs sharp correction has reignited concerns over stretched valuations and heightened volatility even as analysts maintained that the white metals longerterm fundamentals remain constructiveInvestment banker JP Morgan warned that silvers rich valuations could trigger disproportionate downside during bouts of market stress adding that downside may be cushioned in the near term with prices stabilising for a recovery next yearAnalysts called the sharp drop in precious metals a technical correction due to longerterm drivers such as geopolitical uncertainty centralbank buying and macro uncertainty remaining intactThe broader uptrend in COMEX gold remains intact with the recent decline reflecting profit booking and healthy price digestion rather than trend reversal they saidMarket watchers advised investors to do staggered allocations rather than lumpsum investments to reduce entry riskStrong support is seen in the Rs 137000 to Rs 142000 zone for MCX gold futures while resistance is anchored around the Rs 165000 to Rs 175000 zone they saidRegarding COMEX silver they said that a sustained move beyond 85â92 could lead to an upside momentum up to 95â105 with the medium to longterm outlook remaining constructive on steady industrial demand and structural supply constraints IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gold-silver-prices-slip-amid-profit-booking-dollar-gains-661092.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/amid-falling-demographics-chinanow-pushing-women-toward-more-childbirth-report-661099.html New Delhi Feb 6 From the strict onechild policy to curb population China is now pushing women to bear more children to boost the dwindling demographics said a media report The Myanmarbased MeKong News reported that over the past four decades the state not women has been dictating the countryâs birth policies While the onechild policy introduced in 1979 was justified as an urgent brake on population growth the country is now forcing women towards more children as it stares at a demographic collapse As per official data released in January the number of births in 2025 fell 17 per cent yearonyear to 792 million the lowest recorded since population records began in 1949âBeijing still treats reproduction as a lever of economic planning not as a matter of personal freedomâ the report said With an aim âto accelerate development lift incomes and ease pressure on resourcesâ the onechild policy subjected scores of women to forced abortions involuntary sterilisation and intense pressure tactics including detention fines and harassment The state coercion became an enforcement mechanism embedded into local governance where compliance was treated as administrative performanceâ the report said adding that it resulted in not just demographic control but also the institutionalisation of reproductive surveillanceFurthermore the traditional preference for sons also skewed the countrys sex ratio âUnder a onechild restriction the stakes rose dramatically the wrong gender became for some families an economic and cultural catastropheâ the report said It highlighted that the human cost was borne by girls whose births were often treated as mistakes in a system built to limit choice China ended the onechild policy and moved to a twochild policy in 2016 and later expanded to a threechild policy as the birth rate continued to slide âThe confusion of Chinaâs policy shifts reveals a deeper problem rather than recognising individual rights the government recalibrated reproductive limits based on economic needsâ the report said While the state has begun encouraging childbirth many couples are facing mounting pressures due to rising living costs job insecurity housing burdens and gendered workplace penalties Notably with the skewed sex ratio China now also has a shrinking pool of women of childbearing age âEven as the state now calls for more childbirth women remain caught between policy demands and social realitiesâ the report said It said that the consequences of decades of social engineering may now not be reversible even with policy Uturns IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/amid-falling-demographics-chinanow-pushing-women-toward-more-childbirth-report-661099.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/integrative-medicine-modelin-public-health-to-boost-universal-health-coverageanupriya-patel-660999.html New Delhi Feb 5 Integrating Ayush with modern medicine in public health can help boost Universal Health Coverage said Anupriya Patel Minister of State for Health amp Family Welfare on Thursday Speaking at the third day of the World Governments Summit held in Dubai UAE she highlighted the need to shift health systems towards prevention and longterm wellbeing Addressing the session âFrom Policy to Practice Investing in the Future of Integrative Medicineâ Patel noted that the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases mental health challenges and lifestyle disorders driven by urbanisation unhealthy diets physical inactivity and chronic stress requires moving beyond episodic curative care âThe convergence of AYUSH systems with modern medicine and public health frameworks as a strategic pathway to building a resilient preventive and peoplecentric health ecosystem This approach aligns closely with the goals of Universal Health Coverageâ the Minister said Patel also outlined Indiaâs policyled and systemsdriven approach to integrative healthcare She highlighted how India has pioneered the structured integration of its rich traditional medical systems with modern scientific medicine translating ancient knowledge into scalable evidencebased public health models with relevance for health systems worldwide According to the World Health Organisation 88 per cent of member states have traditional systems of medicine that are culturally accepted Earlier speaking in a media interview Patel shared that integrative healthcare has been institutionalised in India The National Health Policy NHP 2017 provides a powerful mandate for integrative healthcare in India Patel stated that the integrative healthcare model has been operationalised across primary secondary and tertiary healthcare systems in the country At the primary level Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country now deliver traditional medicine services including Ayush practices such as yoga and wellness Ayush blocks function at secondary healthcare facilities and national tertiary institutions are establishing dedicated integrative healthcare units the Minister said adding the inclusion of traditional medicine in medical education systems IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/integrative-medicine-modelin-public-health-to-boost-universal-health-coverageanupriya-patel-660999.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ayushman-arogya-mandirs-strengthening-fight-against-cancer-jp-nadda-660811.html New Delhi Feb 4 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs is strengthening the fight against cancer in India said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on World Cancer Day on Wednesday World Cancer Day is observed every year on February 4 to raise awareness about cancer and the advancements in technology to fight itAs per ICMRâs National Cancer Registry estimates India recorded over 153 lakh new cancer cases in 2024 and around 8â87 lakh deaths against a global burden of 20 million new cases and 97 million deaths in 2022 Taking to the social media platform X the Health Minister stressed the importance of early detection and regular screening as well as the steps taken by India to combat the deadly disease He also mentioned the waiving of customs duty on 17 cancer drugs in the recent Union Budget making medicines more affordable âUnder the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi several initiatives have been introduced to strengthen cancer care in India The establishment of Cancer Day Care units in every district and the exemption of customs duties on important cancer medicines will provide major relief to patients Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are also strengthening our fight against cancer through largescale screenings enabling early detection and timely treatment across the countryâ Nadda said âOn World Cancer Day we come together to raise awareness about cancer and the importance of early detection prevention and timely care It reminds us to support survivors and encourage regular screenings for a healthier future societyâ he added Welcoming the waiver on customs duty for cancer drugs experts also underscored the need to translate higher health investments into stronger cancer systemsâIndiaâs health sector is at a defining moment with the Union Health Budget crossing Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time and firmly positioning healthcare as a driver of economic growth social equity and the India2047 visionâ said Amit Kumar Ghosh Additional Chief Secretary Medical Health amp Family Welfare and Medical Education Uttar Pradesh âThrough initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat populationbased screening new cancer institutes and planned cancer daycare centres our focus is on early detection timely referral and affordable treatment Going forward stronger publicâprivate collaboration and patientâcentric policies will be key to reaching the last mileâ he added while speaking at the IHW Cancer Summit in the national capital Dr Shyam Aggarwal Chairman Medical Oncology at a Delhibased hospital noted that the future of cancer care lies with advanced technology âOn this World Cancer Day today my thoughts are on the evolution of technology tilting towards deep sequencing of DNA genes to decide cancer treatment Moving beyond imaging that is detecting tumours less than 5mmâ Aggarwal saidâIt is the future of oncology We will soon start asking patients Is your ctDNA negative We need to push our labs and researchers to adopt this technology as it is becoming routine in other countries he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ayushman-arogya-mandirs-strengthening-fight-against-cancer-jp-nadda-660811.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/japanese-researcherstobegin-human-trial-for-nipah-vaccinein-april-660825.html New Delhi Feb 4 A team of researchers in Japan has announced a clinical trial to confirm a vaccines efficacy against the deadly Nipah virus in humans The vaccine candidate developed at the University of Tokyo is set to start clinical trials in Belgium in April Nikkei Asia a Japanbased Englishlanguage news magazine reported The new vaccine offers a potential breakthrough against a disease whose fatality rate is estimated to be between 40 per cent and 75 per cent Currently there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah virus infectionThe latest development comes even as India reported two confirmed cases of Nipah virus from West Bengal in January The new vaccine is reportedly being developed by inserting a portion of the Nipah viruss genetic information into the measles virusâWhen the vaccine is introduced in humans antigen proteins similar to those of the Nipah virus are produced The immune systems response is seen strengthening the bodys defenses helping to prevent the onset of symptomsâ the report said âThe modified measles virus widely used globally for measles vaccinesâ it added The team has already established the vaccines efficacy and safety in animal trials with hamsters To confirm the vaccines safety in humans the Phase 1 clinical trial will involve 60 subjects Separately a team from Oxford University began Phase 2 clinical trials with a Nipah vaccine candidate in Bangladesh in December About 300 people aged 18 to 55 are expected to participate Nipah virus infection has also been designated as a priority disease under the World Health Organizations WHO Research and Development BlueprintNipah is a zoonotic disease that is primarily transmitted from bats to humans either directly or through contaminated food It can also spread from animals such as pigs to humans and in some cases between people through close and prolonged contact particularly in healthcare settings In humans Nipah virus infection can range from asymptomatic illness to severe respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis Globally the case fatality rate is estimated to be between 40 per cent and 75 per cent depending on early detection and quality of clinical care IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/japanese-researcherstobegin-human-trial-for-nipah-vaccinein-april-660825.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/undp-backed-digital-platforms-boosting-indias-immunisation-ecosystem-report-660844.html New Delhi Feb 4 Governmentled digital platforms supported by the United Nations Development Programme UNDP including the UWIN and eVIN have strengthened Indiaâs immunisation ecosystem said a report from the UN agency on Wednesday In its annual report 2025 launched at UN House at the Country Programme Management Board meeting the UN agency noted that UWIN helped track immunisation services for 32 million pregnant women and 97 million children The eVIN on the other hand enabled monitoring of vaccine stocks and coldchain temperatures across 30000 coldchain points covering over 650 million doses Further the immunisation platforms also expanded insurance coverage to 42 million farmers while supporting 63000 people with climateresilient livelihoods in the country The report also demonstrated UNDPâs role in progress in areas including SDG localisation acceleration and financing digital healthcare solutions childcare support crop insurance and climate action âIndiaâs development progress in 2025 reflects strong government leadership in delivering at scale through public systems These systems are delivered across health insurance care and climate action reaching women children farmers waste workers and lowincome householdsâ said Angela Lusigi Resident Representative UNDP India UNDP is proud to have supported these efforts by strengthening technical expertise helping public programmes function more effectively and respond faster when support was needed she addedFurther the report noted that the UNDP worked with national and state governments to strengthen how the Sustainable Development Goals move from policy to delivery The SDG Coordination and Acceleration approach is now institutionalised across key ministries supporting more aligned implementation At the subnational level SDG monitoring frameworks are operational in 33 of 36 States and Union Territories improving how data informs planning and budgeting Further economic security was reinforced through stronger social protection and risk mitigation Indiaâs crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana PMFBY expanded coverage to 42 million farmers These measures helped farming households recover faster from climate and income shocks the report said Communitybased childcare models enabled women in lowincome urban areas to take up paid work while also creating jobs in the care economyIn 2025 UNDP supported India in designing its National Adaptation Plan and a genderresponsive Biodiversity Finance Plan Communityled restoration initiatives supported more than 63000 people with climateresilient livelihoods helping reduce vulnerability to environmental shocks while sustaining incomes the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/undp-backed-digital-platforms-boosting-indias-immunisation-ecosystem-report-660844.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sc-suggests-govt-reconsider-sonam-wangchuks-detention-under-nsa-660877.html New Delhi Feb 4 The Supreme Court on Wednesday orally asked the Union government to reconsider the continued preventive detention of Ladakhbased social activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act NSA A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Wangchukâs wife Dr Gitanjali Angmo terming his detention illegal and an arbitrary exercise violating his fundamental rightsDuring the hearing the Justice Aravind Kumarled bench observed that Wangchuk had been in custody since September 26 2025 and that the medical reports placed before the apex court indicated his health was certainly not very goodIt was suggested to Additional Solicitor General ASG KM Nataraj that the government should give it a thought as to whether there was a possibility of rethinking the continuation of Wangchukâs detentionIn response ASG Nataraj assured the Supreme Court that he would seek instructions from the authoritiesDefending the detention he argued that the NSA is a special law enacted for preventive purposes The NSA is meant to prevent a person from acting in a manner prejudicial to public order or the security of the state Preventive detention is not punishment It is based on the discretion of the detaining authority he told the apex court adding that the District Magistrate had passed the order after objectively assessing the materials placed before himASG Natraj submitted that Wangchukâs speech delivered on September 24 2025 was provocative in nature and triggered violent protests in Leh resulting in four deaths and injuries to 161 people He further contended that while Wangchuk had challenged the original detention order he had not assailed subsequent ordersHowever the Justice Aravind Kumarled Bench indicated that if the very foundation of the detention order was found to be legally deficient including on grounds of nonapplication of mind subsequent approvals would not independently sustain itThe Supreme Court remarked that if the detention order is quashed all subsequent actions would stand invalidated In an earlier hearing the bench noted Wangchukâs health concerns and ordered a specialist from a government hospital to examine him with the medical report submitted in a sealed cover IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sc-suggests-govt-reconsider-sonam-wangchuks-detention-under-nsa-660877.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/over-200-patients-regain-vision-at-indian-army-eye-camp-in-kutch-660901.html Bhuj Feb 4 Over 200 individuals including veterans their dependents and residents from remote areas of Kutch district regained their vision following a threeday surgical eye camp organised by the Indian Army at the Military Hospital in Bhuj Gujarat The initiative conducted in collaboration with a specialised ophthalmology team from the Army Hospital Research and Referral New Delhi also provided comprehensive eye screenings for more than 2500 patientsLt Gen Dhiraj Seth PVSM UYSM AVSM General Officer CommandinginChief Southern Command visited the camp and interacted with beneficiaries and medical personnelâSuch initiatives significantly improve the quality of life for veterans and local residents alikeâ he said commending the medical teams for their professionalism and dedicationThe specialist surgical team was led by Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra PVSM AVSM SM VSM Consultant and Head of Department Ophthalmology who is credited with over 1 lakh successful surgical proceduresAdvanced cataract surgeries performed during the camp restored sight to patients from farflung villages of Kutch while the wider ophthalmic screenings enabled early detection and timely treatment of other eyerelated conditionsOrganised as part of the Armyâs ongoing outreach in border regions the camp reflects its commitment to veteransâ welfare and community healthcare in strategically sensitive areasBy providing advanced diagnostic and surgical services closer to remote populations the Army has helped overcome challenges related to distance and limited local medical infrastructureLt Gen Seth highlighted the importance of such programmes in fostering stronger connections with border communitiesâThe Indian Army will continue to undertake focused medical and welfare initiatives to support both veterans and civilians strengthening the enduring bond with the people of these regionsâ he notedRooted in the ethos of âService Before Selfâ the Indian Armyâs efforts extend beyond defence duties aiming to promote inclusive development and accessible healthcare in frontier districtsThe Kutch surgical eye camp exemplifies this commitment combining expert medical care with outreach to populations that traditionally face barriers to quality health servicesBy restoring sight and providing early diagnosis for thousands the camp has left a lasting impact on the lives of residents reaffirming the Armyâs role as a key contributor to community welfare alongside its defence responsibilities IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/over-200-patients-regain-vision-at-indian-army-eye-camp-in-kutch-660901.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 04:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/world-first-fingerstick-test-to-expand-hepatitis-b-diagnosis-access-660950.html New Delhi Feb 5 A worldfirst Australian trial has found that a simple fingerstick test for hepatitis B DNA is as accurate as standard lab testing paving the way for wider access in remote and resourcelimited settings Published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology the study showed that the pointofcare test can deliver results within an hour and be performed in decentralised clinics Xinhua news agency reported The fingerstick test can help overcome delays caused by laboratorybased testing according to a statement from the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales in Australia The results of our trial found that the fingerstick pointofcare test is highly accurate closely matching the accuracy of traditional tests said Professor Gail Matthews who led the research at the Kirby Institute The finding has the potential to expand access to testing and treatment globally especially where access to testing is limited Matthews said Hepatitis B a viral infection that attacks the liver affects an estimated 254 million people worldwide and causes over 1 million deaths annually as per global statistics Though preventable by vaccine only about 8 per cent of those living with chronic hepatitis B receive treatment according to the World Health Organization WHO Currently hepatitis B DNA testing for both diagnosis and monitoring requires collecting a venous blood sample to be processed in centralised laboratories meaning patients can need to travel long distances to take the test and then often wait days or weeks for results This delay and the multiple clinic visits involved can hinder timely treatment and care In comparison the new pointofcare test can be done in small health clinics using a finger stick blood sample which can be performed by a broader range of health care workers and provides a result within 60 minutes It is an effective alternative to laboratory testing for many infectious diseases including hepatitis C but until now its efficacy for hepatitis B DNA using finger stick blood has been unknown The new test could also support global efforts to meet the WHO target of eliminating hepatitis B as a public health threat by 2030 the researchers said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/world-first-fingerstick-test-to-expand-hepatitis-b-diagnosis-access-660950.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-bombaydevelopsmethod-torecover-t-cells-for-cancer-therapies-660960.html New Delhi Feb 4 Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay have developed a simpler and more efficient method to recover immune cells grown in the lab for Tcellâbased cancer therapies In immunotherapies such as CAR Tcell Tcells a type of immune cell are taken from a patientâs blood and modified in large numbers in the laboratory and infused back into the patientâs bloodstream to help fight cancerThese cells grown outside the body must be collected gently so that they remain alive and functional when returned to the patient Finding safe and efficient ways to grow Tcells and retrieve them is therefore an important part of making these therapies work âCell recovery sounds simple on paper but in practice it turns out to be one of the biggest challengesâ said Prof Prakriti Tayalia from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at the IIT Bombay âWithout enough healthy cells you cannot test them properly or use them for therapyâ she added To better mimic the bodyâs natural environment Tayaliaâs team worked with a specific type of scaffold made using a process called electrospinning These electrospun scaffolds look like thin mats made of very fine fibres similar to a dense fishing netThe team grew Jurkat Tcells a human cell line grown and used in the laboratory to study Tcell biology cancer and HIV inside electrospun scaffolds made from a material called polycaprolactone Under a microscope the researchers observed that the cells actively moved into the scaffold and became tightly lodged between the fibres Further the research showed that collecting the cells using trypsin an enzyme led to higher cell death In contrast cells recovered with accutase a milder enzyme survived in greater numbers and behaved more like healthy Tcells They formed clusters an essential step before Tcells divide and continued to grow well after recovery âHarsh treatments to cells using enzymes such as trypsin can damage key surface proteins needed for immune signalling and activation reducing the cellâs therapeutic usefulness Accutase appears mild enough to avoid this problemâ Tayalia said The studys findings published in the journal Biomaterials Science could help laboratories use such scaffolds when preparing cells for therapies such as CAR Tcell treatment âIf we want these advanced therapies to reach patients every step matters How we grow cells and how we retrieve them can make a real differenceâ Tayalia said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-bombaydevelopsmethod-torecover-t-cells-for-cancer-therapies-660960.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/female-medic-dies-under-suspicious-circumstances-at-vijayawada-hospital-660980.html Vijayawada Feb 5 A postgraduate medical student was found dead under suspicious circumstances at a government hospital in Andhra Pradeshs Vijayawada on Thursday officials said Battula Deepika a student of PG final year in the Anaesthesia Department was found dead in the Vijayawada Government General Hospital early in the morningOn getting the information the police rushed to the spot and launched an investigation The body was shifted for a postmortem examinationThe police with the help of hospital authorities were examining CCTV footage as part of the investigation to find the cause of her deathPreliminary investigation revealed that Deepika was on duty from 4 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday As she was feeling hungry she had asked a classmate to bring her foodLater Deepika reportedly complained of abdominal pain and asked a junior medic to administer her an injectionA few hours later she was found lying on the table in the operation theatre Doctors examined her and administered Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation PCR but all attempts to revive her proved futileMinister for Health Satya Kumar Yadav expressed shock over the incident He spoke to the father of the medico and assured all support to the familyThe minister directed Vijayawada Police Commissioner Rajasekhar Babu to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the deathHospital Superintendent Dr A Yedukondala Rao said an investigation was on into the death of Deepika under suspicious circumstances Clarity on the cause of the death is likely after receipt of the postmortem examination reportThe hospital has also launched an internal inquiry He said a committee has been constituted to conduct the inquiryThe Superintendent said they were investigating to find out if she was facing any harassment The officials recorded the statement of the junior medico who administered the injection and othersMeanwhile the NTR district Collector has sought a report from hospital authorities The superintendent said the report would be submitted after the committee completes its investigation IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/female-medic-dies-under-suspicious-circumstances-at-vijayawada-hospital-660980.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gcri-records-259-lakh-opd-visits-treats-over-26-800-new-cancer-patients-in-2025-660742.html Gandhinagar Feb 3 Over 259 lakh outpatient department visits more than 17800 surgeries and 50130 chemotherapy sessions were recorded at the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute GCRI in Ahmedabad during 2025 underscoring the scale of cancer care delivered by the institute over the year The figures were released ahead of World Cancer Day 2026 Official data shows that 26810 new cancer patients were registered at GCRI in 2025Of these 9147 patients came from states outside Gujarat highlighting the instituteâs role as a national referral centreThe largest number of outofstate patients were from Madhya Pradesh 4572 followed by Rajasthan 2678 Uttar Pradesh 1094 Maharashtra 279 and Bihar 288 Patients from several other states also sought treatment at the instituteClinical activity remained high throughout the year Along with surgeries which included 50 bone marrow transplants GCRI carried out 5852 radiation therapy treatmentsDiagnostic and support services also saw significant volumes with more than 246 lakh laboratory investigations conducted in 2025The institute reported increased use of advanced technology in both diagnosis and treatmentThe number of PETCT scans rose from 1813 in 2021 to 6333 in 2025 reflecting expanded access to advanced imaging for cancer detection and treatment planningIn the field of surgical oncology GCRI performed 50 roboticassisted cancer surgeries within a sixmonth period while 40 HIPEC Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy procedures were completed over the past three years HIPEC is a specialised procedure used in selected cases of cancers that have spread within the abdominal cavity Preventive care and early detection formed a key component of the instituteâs work During 2025 GCRI organised 110 communitybased cancer screening camps across Gujarat covering more than 12000 people Since the launch of the nocost cancer screening outpatient department in October 2021 over 50000 individuals have been screened resulting in the earlystage identification of 118 cancer casesIn addition an HPV DNA screening programme for women living with HIV was carried out under which more than 1400 women were screenedFollowup examinations enabled the early identification of several cervical precancer and cancer cases allowing timely medical interventionGCRIâs expansion is linked to longterm efforts to strengthen cancer care infrastructure in GujaratThe foundation for its development was laid during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Chief Minister of the state and the institute has continued to expand under the present state governmentTo mark World Cancer Day on February 4 GCRI will hold a felicitation programme for 500 cancer survivors who have remained cancerfree for more than 10 years reflecting longterm treatment outcomes achieved at the institute IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gcri-records-259-lakh-opd-visits-treats-over-26-800-new-cancer-patients-in-2025-660742.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-records-over-one-lakh-new-cancer-cases-in-2025-chennai-reports-highest-count-660774.html Chennai Feb 4 Tamil Nadu has crossed a critical public health threshold registering more than one lakh new cancer cases in a single year for the first time The latest figures for 2025 according to data submitted in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare show 100097 fresh cases in the state underscoring a sharp and sustained rise in incidence and raising concerns among health authorities about prevention early detection and treatment capacity Experts caution that without stronger screening programmes and lifestyle interventions the numbers could continue to climb in the coming yearsThe upward trend has been consistent over the past five years Annual registrations rose from 68750 cases in 2020 to 76968 in 2021 89265 in 2022 92816 in 2023 and 96486 in 2024 before breaching the onelakh mark this yearThe steady escalation highlights the growing disease burden and the urgent need for coordinated public health measures across districtsOf the newly recorded cases in 2025 women accounted for 53542 patients while men comprised 46555 The total number of people currently living with cancer in Tamil Nadu has reached 109097 reflecting both increased incidence and improved survival that requires sustained medical supportChennai continues to carry the heaviest caseload reporting 8505 new cases this year Kancheepuram followed with 7295 cases and Vellore with 6525Health professionals attribute higher numbers in urban areas to lifestylerelated risk factors pollution exposure stress and delayed diagnosisCancer patterns also vary by gender Among men mouth cancer remains the most common largely linked to tobacco consumption followed by colorectal and stomach cancers Among women breast cancer leads with cervical and ovarian cancers accounting for a significant share indicating the need for stronger awareness and routine community screening initiativesMedical experts note that nearly half of cancer cases are detected at advanced stages reducing survival chances and increasing treatment costsPreventive steps such as regular exercise maintaining a healthy body weight avoiding tobacco and alcohol and undergoing periodic screenings are considered essential to lowering riskPersistent lumps unexplained weight loss prolonged pain or unusual symptoms require immediate medical attentionMeanwhile data submitted in Parliament by the Health and Family Welfare Department revealed that 10821 deaths in 2025 were linked to ovarian breast and cervical cancers alone Public health specialists say the figures serve as a wakeup call for both policymakers and the public to prioritise awareness screening and early diagnosis to curb Tamil Naduâs rising cancer burden IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-records-over-one-lakh-new-cancer-cases-in-2025-chennai-reports-highest-count-660774.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/cancer-screening-drive-covered-over-three-crore-adults-in-gujarat-health-dept-660686.html Gandhinagar Feb 3 Gujarat has recorded a major achievement in public healthcare by completing largescale cancer screening across the state over the past four years strengthening early detection and access to treatment ahead of World Cancer Day Health department figures show that more than three crore people above the age of 30 have been screened for oral cancer while over 16 crore women have undergone breast cancer screening and more than 82 lakh women have been screened for cervical cancer World Cancer Day is observed globally on February 4 each year to raise awareness and encourage action against cancerThis years theme United by Unique highlights the importance of peoplecentred care and recognises that every individualâs experience with cancer is different Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwideAs per estimates cited by the National Cancer Institute more than 14 lakh cancer cases were reported in India in 2025 Globally nearly one crore people die from cancer every year reinforcing the importance of prevention early diagnosis and timely treatmentIn Gujarat cancer continues to pose a serious public health challenge Data from the ICMRâNational Centre for Disease Informatics and Research indicate that one in nine men and one in 12 women in the state face the risk of developing cancer during their lifetimeTobaccorelated cancers are more prevalent among men while breast and cervical cancers account for a significant proportion of cases among womenHealth officials have noted that lifestyle environmental and genetic factors contribute to the rising incidence of these cancersState health authorities said the extensive screening drive has helped in identifying suspected cases at an early stage enabling faster referral and treatmentâRegular screening and timely diagnosis are key to improving cancer outcomes and saving livesâ an official saidUnder Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel the state government has implemented several measures aimed at cancer prevention and controlThese include tobacco cessation initiatives promotion of balanced nutrition and regular physical activity vaccination programmes and community awareness campaigns across urban and rural areasTo strengthen human resources in the health system the government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute to implement a Training of Trainers programmeUnder this initiative gynaecologists surgeons dentists community medicine specialists and medical officers are being trained as master trainersThrough their support more than 37000 frontline health workers across the state are expected to receive training to enhance cancer screening and referral services Screening programmes for oral breast and cervical cancers are being conducted from subhealth centres to medical collegesIn addition daycare chemotherapy centres at district hospitals are providing treatment closer to patientsâ homesThe Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute and its satellite centres continue to offer outpatient services diagnostic facilities surgery radiotherapy and chemotherapy further strengthening cancer care across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/cancer-screening-drive-covered-over-three-crore-adults-in-gujarat-health-dept-660686.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/geriatriccarea-nationalimperative-for-indiasageingpopulation-say-experts-660689.html New Delhi Feb 3 Amid a rapidly ageing population in India experts on Tuesday stressed the need for a homebased communityled and integrated elder care model to boost geriatric care in the country Speaking at an event held in the national capital the health experts also discussed the growing challenges confronting the countryâs elderly population and the urgent need for more responsive and inclusive approaches to geriatric care The experts highlighted that the challenges for geriatric care are multidimensional in nature These include rising disabilities and agerelated health conditions such as dementia and Alzheimerâs significant gaps in geriatric healthcare infrastructure coupled with a sharp urbanârural divide in access to medical services and mounting economic pressures driven by inadequate social security and rising healthcare costsâAgeing is not just about adding years to life but adding life to those years Geriatric care must be coordinated continuous communitybased and compassionate Mental and emotional wellbeing are as critical as physical health especially in an era of nuclear families and increasing social isolation Geriatric care is not a luxury it is a necessityâ said Dr Rajinder K Dhamija Director Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences IHBASAccording to government data Indias senior citizen population is projected to surge to around 230 million by 2036 making up about 15 per cent of the total population âGeriatric care cannot remain confined to a few tertiary hospitals or centres of excellence In a country as large and demographically diverse as India care must begin at home and be strengthened through districtlevel systems Many elderly health needs do not require hospitalisation but can be effectively managed through trained caregivers homebased services and coordinated community support The real challenge is scale integration and lastmile deliveryâ added Rajesh Bhushan Former Secretary Ministry of Health amp Family Welfare during the event organised by Illness to Wellness Bhushan also highlighted the need to repurpose and upskill general physicians integrate social care with medical services and draw lessons from countries such as Japan and South Korea to create unified onestop elder care models that combine healthcare rehabilitation and social support The experts also pointed to a widening digital divide with many seniors struggling to adopt technology due to limited access and lack of agefriendly training as well as physical infrastructure public spaces transport systems and emergency response mechanisms that remain largely illequipped to support the safety mobility and independence of older persons Prof Nirmal Kumar Ganguly Former Director General ICMR noted that ageing outcomes are deeply influenced by social engagement mental stimulation and timely management of chronic conditions âAge is truly just a number Mental engagement social interaction and proactive management of vision hearing balance and chronic diseases can dramatically improve quality of life While challenges such as dementia diabetes and hypertension are rising advances in technology and medical science offer real solutions provided they are made accessible and equitableâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/geriatriccarea-nationalimperative-for-indiasageingpopulation-say-experts-660689.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-reaffirms-commitment-to-inclusive-rights-based-social-development-at-un-meet-660702.html New Delhi Feb 3 India has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and rightsbased social development at the 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development at UN Headquarters New York said the Ministry of Women and Child Development on Tuesday Leading the Indian delegation Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur highlighted Indiaâs rightsbased and wholeofsociety approach that leaves no one behind She emphasised that social justice and social protection in India are rooted in constitutional guarantees and aligned with the countryâs longterm vision of âViksit Bharat 2047â She highlighted the guiding principle of âSabka Saath Sabka Vikasâ reflecting a wholeofgovernment and wholeofsociety approach to ensure that no one is left behind Thakur also delivered a national statement on âadvancing social developments and social justice through coordinated equitable and inclusive policiesâ The MoS outlined key national initiatives demonstrating scale inclusion and lastmile delivery It includes parity in girlsâ and boysâ participation in education supported by improved school infrastructure and residential schooling in remote areas Other initiatives include largescale expansion of basic services including piped drinking water clean cooking energy and sanitation facilities with significant benefits for women and vulnerable communities Further Thakur stressed transformative financial inclusion through hundreds of millions of bank accounts with women emerging as leading beneficiaries of entrepreneurship and credit schemes nationwide protection and support mechanisms for women and children through dedicated helplines and integrated service centres Comprehensive maternal child health and nutrition programmes reaching over 100 million beneficiaries and expanded social security and targeted schemes for the elderly persons with disabilities unorganised workers and transgender persons were mentioned The Minister also highlighted the role of digital public infrastructure and Direct Benefit Transfers DBT in enhancing transparency efficiency and accountability in public service delivery Emphasising that global challenges require collective responses Thakur expressed support for strengthened multilateral cooperation capacity building and SouthSouth collaboration to accelerate progress on social development models IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-reaffirms-commitment-to-inclusive-rights-based-social-development-at-un-meet-660702.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/union-budget-a-huge-disappointment-tn-will-respond-in-assembly-polls-says-stalin-660711.html Chennai Feb 3 Terming the Union Budget for 2026â27 a huge disappointment for the people of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said the state would deliver a fitting political response to the BJPled NDA government in the upcoming Assembly elections Interacting with reporters in Chennai Stalin made it clear that the state had expected meaningful allocations and policy support from the Centre but received noneI have said it earlier There was only disappointment We expected there would be some change There was no change We only got disappointment he saidDescribing the Budget as a setback to Tamil Naduâs development aspirations the Chief Minister added that the people would not forget the neglectThe people will teach a lesson for this he remarked hinting that the forthcoming elections would serve as a referendum on the Centreâs approach towards the StateAt the same time Stalin struck a conciliatory tone when asked about his political rivals I donât consider anyone as enemies I only see them as friends he said signalling that his focus remained on governance rather than confrontationEarlier in the day the Chief Minister inaugurated several public welfare projects in his Kolathur Assembly constituencyA major highlight was the opening of a new multistoreyed healthcare facility constructed by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority at a cost of Rs 1174 croreThe building houses a range of medical services aimed at improving access to treatment for residents The first floor accommodates a physiotherapy centre while the second floor includes an artificial limb centre to assist differentlyabled patientsDialysis services will be provided on the third floor and the fourth floor has been equipped with additional patient care facilities including a blood purification unitStalin also inaugurated six new ration shops in the locality and opened a park developed near Kolathur Lake to offer recreational space for familiesAs part of his outreach he distributed books laptops and other assistance to students and beneficiariesMinisters KR Periakaruppan Ma Subramanian and PK Sekarbabu Chennai Mayor R Priya legislators and senior officials attended the events underscoring the governmentâs focus on both welfare measures and infrastructure development ahead of the election year IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/union-budget-a-huge-disappointment-tn-will-respond-in-assembly-polls-says-stalin-660711.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-ustradedealgame-changer-formedtech-pharma-sectors-industry-660714.html New Delhi Feb 3 The trade deal between India and the US is a gamechanger for the Indian MedTech and pharma sectors said industry experts on Tuesday In a historic move the US has announced a reduction in tariffs on Indian exports to 18 per cent from 50 per cent which is a constructive development for the IndiaUS trade relationsThe US is Indiaâs largest export destination accounting for about 20 per cent of total exportsThe Association of Indian Medical Devices AiMeD hailed the deal and noted that it can prove to be a âvital boost for our manufacturers enhancing global competitiveness spurring investments and creating jobsââThe US tariff slash from 50 per cent to 18 per cent is a gamechanger for Indian medical devices slashing export costs and unlocking billions in US market potential amid China1 shifts We urge sustained IndiaUS regulatory harmonisation to capitalise fully on this opportunity for âMake in Indiaâ MedTech successâ said Rajiv Nath Forum Coordinator AiMeDFurther Nath noted that the US tariff cut to 18 per cent on Indian goods also provides Indian medical devices a competitive edge over Chinese counterparts which face higher Section 301 tariffs typically at 25 per cent plus additional hikes up to 5060 per cent on some items like respiratorsâPreviously India endured up to 50 per cent duties while China had around 30 per cent but the new deal aligns Indiaâs rate below Chinaâs base favouring India amid China1 diversificationâ he addedThe Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India Pharmexcil also highlighted the positive implications of the IndiaUS trade deal for the Indian pharma sectorâThe IndiaUS trade agreement represents a pivotal moment for the pharmaceutical sector with key highlights including the reduction of tariffs on Indian goods exportsâ said Namit Joshi Chairman â PharmexcilâThe reduction in reciprocal taxes is incrementally positive for Indian pharmaceutical companies particularly those with significant exposure to the US market which accounts for 3040 per cent of the sectors total revenueâ he addedJoshi noted that the deal also fosters greater market access for Indian generics and biosimilars strengthening Indiaâs position as the global leader in affordable medicinesâBy enhancing trade ties streamlining regulatory processes and ensuring supply chain resilience this agreement will drive growth in Indias pharmaceutical exports unlock new opportunities for innovation and reinforce the countryâs critical role in global healthcareâ the expert said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-ustradedealgame-changer-formedtech-pharma-sectors-industry-660714.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/aiims-research-day-fosters-discussion-on-innovation-ai-and-national-health-priorities-660293.html New Delhi Jan 30 The All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi on Friday observed AIIMS Research Day 2026 showcasing innovation artificial intelligence AI and national health priorities The scientific programme held at the Jawaharlal Auditorium brought together faculty members researchers clinicians and students from across disciplines who reaffirmed their commitment to innovation translational science and nationally relevant health researchâAIIMS Research Day provides an important institutional platform to recognise research excellence encourage young investigators and align our scientific efforts with national health priorities As Indiaâs premier public medical institution AIIMS remains committed to fostering innovation strengthening translational research and creating an enabling ecosystem that supports impactful patientcentred scienceâ said Prof M Srinivas Director All India Institute of Medical Sciences New DelhiThe Day served as a platform to celebrate research excellence encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and reaffirm the institutionâs role in advancing evidencebased healthcare innovation and policyrelevant research in IndiaProfessor Nikhil Tandon Dean Research informed that AIIMS Delhi currently anchors one of the countryâs most active publicsector research ecosystems with over 1000 funded biomedical research projects supported by investments exceeding Rs 300 croreFiftyseven scientists from AIIMS New Delhi are ranked among the worldâs top two per cent of researchersHe noted that AIIMS has also expanded its focus on research translation with its innovation and incubation programme having received over 140 innovation applications supported 30 startups and facilitated more than Rs 25 crore in external fundingFurther Dr Shivkumar Kalyanaraman Chief Executive Officer Anusandhan National Research Foundation spoke on AI for science and engineering and highlighted the transformative role of emerging technologiesâThe integration of AI with science and engineering offers unprecedented opportunities to accelerate research enhance problemsolving and address complex societal challenges Institutions such as AIIMS play a critical role in translating these technological advances into solutions that directly benefit public health and national developmentâ Dr KalyanaramanThe daylong event also featured platform and poster presentations by undergraduate and postgraduate medical students residents doctoral scholars and nursing students reflecting strong research engagement across the academic and career life courseThe sessions were complemented by discussions on emerging research challenges national health priorities and the future of interdisciplinary collaboration IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/aiims-research-day-fosters-discussion-on-innovation-ai-and-national-health-priorities-660293.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 00:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/epstein-files-claim-bill-gates-caught-sexually-transmitted-infection-sought-antibiotics-for-melinda-660395.html New Delhi Jan 31 Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates contracted sexually transmitted disease STD after alleged sexual encounters with Russian girlsâ and asked for antibiotics for his thenwife Melinda French Gates according to the latest claim in the Epstein files The fresh allegations come as the US Justice Department released a large batch of files encompassing over three million pages of records 2000 videos and 180000 images related to its investigation into financier Jeffrey EpsteinEpstein likely made the claims in draft emails dated July 18 2013 on behalf of Gates longtime science adviser Boris NikolicIt claimed involvement in activities ranging from allegedly helping Gates obtain drugs to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girlsThe draft also describes Gates asking Epstein to delete correspondence related to the alleged incident and provide antibiotics for Melinda Gates secretlyIn a separate draft email addressed to Gates Epstein again writing as Nikolic accused the billionaire of attempting to stage a coverup to protect his public imageThe draft alleges Gates asked for antibiotics so they could be given to Melinda without her knowledge and urged the deletion of emails referring to an alleged STDThe draft stated You implore me to please delete the emails regarding your STD sic your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to MelindaMeanwhile a spokesperson for Gates strongly rejected the claims contained in the documents calling them absolutely absurd and completely falseThe only thing these documents demonstrate is Epsteins frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame the spokesperson saidThe latest document release also unveiled a list of highprofile individuals including US President Donald Trump Tesla chief Elon Musk former Prince Andrew MountbattenWindsor and acclaimed Indian American filmmaker Mira NairJeffrey Epstein a wealthy US financier died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sextrafficking charges involving underage girls His death was officially ruled a suicide IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/epstein-files-claim-bill-gates-caught-sexually-transmitted-infection-sought-antibiotics-for-melinda-660395.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ccrasconcludesinternshipprogramme-on-aiapplications-in-ayush-660406.html New Delhi Jan 31 The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences CCRAS has successfully concluded its Internship Programme on Artificial Intelligence AI in Ayush systems the Ministry of Ayush said on Saturday The programme conducted from December 15 to strengthen the application of information technology and datadriven approaches in Ayush research concluded on January 30It also offered an interactive and interdisciplinary learning environment enabling interns to integrate traditional Ayush concepts with modern computational toolsProf Rabinarayan Acharya Director General DG CCRAS highlighted the strategic importance of AI in advancing the Ayush sector and outlined the ongoing initiatives of CCRAS in this areaâThe applications developed during the internship should be carried forward for validation and scaling through structured projectmode implementationâ he addedA total of 180 applications were received for the internship from which 33 students were selected following a structured screening process The participants worked on a wide range of AIenabled projects including applications in medicinal plant research bioinformatics Prakriti assessment medical imaging posture detection and optical character recognition OCR of manuscriptsThe projects were aligned with CCRASâs broader objectives of digital documentation evidence generation and technologyenabled validation of traditional knowledge systemsMentorship by domain experts encouraged innovation critical thinking and practical problemsolving among the participantsThey appreciated the efforts of the interns and emphasised the growing relevance of emerging technologies in strengthening evidencebased research across Ayush systemsâThe internship programme reflects CCRASâs continued commitment to capacity building innovation and institutional strengthening by engaging young talent and promoting the use of advanced technologies in Ayush research and developmentâ the Ministry saidâThe initiative is expected to contribute to the creation of a robust research ecosystem and support the longterm vision of mainstreaming Ayush through evidencebased and technologydriven approachesâ it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ccrasconcludesinternshipprogramme-on-aiapplications-in-ayush-660406.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sc-ruling-on-menstrual-hygienea-landmark-stepfor-womens-dignity-stigma-free-education-experts-660422.html New Delhi Jan 31 The Supreme Courtâs recognition of menstrual hygiene as a right to life is a landmark step for womenâs dignity and stigmafree education said public health experts on Saturday The apex court on Friday ruled that access to menstrual hygiene is an integral part of a girl childâs right to life dignity health and educationA Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan while observing that âa period should end a sentence not a girlâs educationâ stated that the government bears a positive obligation under Article 21 of the Constitution to protect the right to health particularly the menstrual health of girl childrenThe SC also issued a comprehensive set of mandatory directions to all states and UTs union territories to ensure free sanitary napkins functional gendersegregated toilets and menstrual health awareness in every school across the countryâMenstrual hygiene in schools has been a longstanding problem that requires assertive intervention By mandating these measures we are preventing infections promoting equality and removing stigma We are protecting the childâs mental health and also reducing absenteeism essentially ensuring that a natural biological process does not become a barrier to a childâs futureâ Rajeev Jayadevan ExPresident of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell Kerala told IANSThe 127page detailed judgment observed that lack of access to menstrual hygiene management MHM products forces girls to resort to unhygienic alternatives such as rags or cloth or use of menstrual absorbents for prolonged periods which have demonstrably adverse consequences for their healthâRecognising menstrual health as a fundamental right is a landmark step Free sanitary pads in schools can reduce absenteeism and health risks for girlsâ Poonam Muttreja Executive Director Population Foundation of India told IANSâBut dignity also requires sustainable product choices safe disposal mechanisms water and sanitation facilities and stigmafree education without these access alone cannot deliver lasting health or environmental outcomesâ she addedIssuing a slew of directions the Court ordered that all schools governmentrun as well as privately managed must have functional gendersegregated toilets with usable water connectivity handwashing facilities with soap and infrastructure catering to children with disabilitiesOn the availability of menstrual absorbents the top court directed states and UTs to ensure that every school provides oxobiodegradable sanitary napkins free of cost preferably through vending machines within toilet premisesâEach toilet unit shall be equipped with a covered waste bin for the collection of sanitary material and cleanliness and regular maintenance of such bins shall be ensured at all timesâ the apex court saidDr Ishwar Gilada a Mumbaibased Consultant in HIV STIs and Sexual Health told IANS that as ordered by the SC timebound implementation making menstrual health part of sexual health and making it a shared responsibility not only that of women is crucialâIt is not only important to provide free sanitary napkins but even their safe disposal is equally important The Ministry of Health need not wait for another followup order on disposal of sanitary pads A vending machine approach just like it was initiated for condoms is needed for the hourâ Gilada added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sc-ruling-on-menstrual-hygienea-landmark-stepfor-womens-dignity-stigma-free-education-experts-660422.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/whomonitoring-nipah-cases-in-india-rules-out-travel-curbs-660233.html New Delhi Jan 30 The risk of transmission of Nipah virus remains low and there is no need for any travel or trade restrictions said the World Health Organisation noting that it is closely monitoring the deadly virus cases in India In its latest Epidemiological Bulletin the global health body reported two cases of Nipah virus in 25yearold nurses a woman and a man working at the same private hospital in West Bengalâs North 24 Parganas districtThe WHO informed that the healthcare workers developed initial symptoms in the last week of December 2025 which progressed rapidly to neurological complications The two were placed in isolation in early JanuaryFollowing confirmation an extensive public health response was activated A total of 196 individuals who had contact with the confirmed cases were identified traced monitored and tested All contacts have remained asymptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah virus infection the WHO saidNo additional Nipah cases have been detected so far The situation is being monitoredâ it said adding that âbased on current evidence WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictionsâAmid reports of several countries introducing Covidstyle checking at airports over fear of spread the UN health body stated that the risk of transmission remains lowâWHO assesses the risk at the subnational level in West Bengal as moderate given the presence of fruit bat reservoirs in the IndiaâBangladesh border areas and the possibility of sporadic zoonotic spillover However the national regional and global risk remains lowâ the WHO saidâThe cases are confined to the North 24 Parganas district with no reported travel while symptomatic All identified contacts have tested negative and surveillance and infection prevention measures have been intensified The likelihood of spread to other Indian states or internationally is considered lowâ it addedThis is the seventh documented Nipah outbreak in India and the third in West Bengal following outbreaks in Siliguri 2001 and Nadia 2007Nipah is a zoonotic disease that is primarily transmitted from bats to humans either directly or through contaminated foodIt can also spread from animals such as pigs to humans and in some cases between people through close and prolonged contact particularly in healthcare settingsIn humans Nipah virus infection can range from asymptomatic illness to severe respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis Globally the case fatality rate is estimated to be between 40 per cent and 75 per cent depending on early detection and quality of clinical careCurrently there is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah virus infectionThe WHO recommended reducing battohuman transmission by preventing bats from accessing date palm sap boiling freshly collected sap washing and peeling fruits thoroughly discarding fruits with signs of bat bites and avoiding areas where bats roost IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/whomonitoring-nipah-cases-in-india-rules-out-travel-curbs-660233.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/budget-2026-may-propose-banking-governance-bill-to-push-psu-banks-fund-big-projects-660235.html Mumbai Jan 30 The government may propose the introduction of the Banking Governance Bill on February 1 2026 in the Union Budget presentation a move aimed at enabling public sector banks PSBs finance large projects by themselves The draft legislation is expected to make PSUs more professional competitive and technologyâdriven as well as strengthen board composition and improve accountability NDTV Profit reported citing sourcesThe government may also separately consider raising the foreign direct investment FDI limit in public sector banks above the current 20 per cent cap and narrowing their pay and talent gaps with private banksThe Bill remains to be finalised and may take another three to four months before being tabled in the Parliament the report saidIts formal announcement in the Budget would signal the governmentâs intention to press ahead with one of the most significant structural reforms in the banking sector in recent yearsFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the 15th Budget of the PM Modi government on February 1 This will also be the second full Budget since the National Democratic Alliance NDA came to power for a third consecutive term in 2024Another recent report said that investors are likely to be focused on the debt metrics deficit outcome and scheduled borrowings for the next years budget to align with strategic objectivesThere has been a significant improvement in the asset quality of scheduled commercial banks with a sharp decline in the percentage of bad loans and higher recoveries according to the Economic Survey 202526It points out that the gross nonperforming asset GNPA ratio and net NPA ratio have reached multidecadal lows while the capitaltoriskweightedasset ratio CRAR of banks remained strong at 172 per cent as of September 2025The recovery rate in NPAs in banks has approximately doubled from 132 per cent in FY18 to 262 per cent in FY25 IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/budget-2026-may-propose-banking-governance-bill-to-push-psu-banks-fund-big-projects-660235.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ai-enabled-stethoscopesmay-boostdiagnosis-ofheart-diseases-study-660047.html New Delhi Jan 29 Amid growing influence of artificial intelligence AI in healthcare a new largescale clinical trial published in The Lancet on Thursday showed that an AIenabled stethoscope can boost early detection of various heart diseases A team of Spanish researchers found that an AIenabled stethoscope helped doctors in identifying early signs of serious heart conditions such as heart failure arrhythmias and valve disease in primary care clinicsThe study found that introducing the technology to doctors led to a substantially faster and more frequent detection nearly twice as many new heart failure cases and three times as many detections of irregular heart rhythms of these cardiovascular conditions indicating that the device performed wellâPrimary care faces a growing workload and limited resources making it the ideal recipient of the efficiencies promised by artificial intelligence AI The potential of AI to improve diagnostic accuracy through decision support systems or image analysis is clear However implementing these tools into primary care workflows remains challengingâ said corresponding author Sergio CinzaSanjurjo from Santiago de Compostela University SpainThe TRICORDER trial is the first cluster randomised controlled implementation trial RCIT of a clinical AI technology on a national scale involving 205 UK NHS general practices and more than 15 million registered patients in the UKThe AI stethoscope integrates three algorithms designed to detect heart failure irregular heart rhythms and valve disease during routine appointmentsOver the 12month study period doctors performed nearly 13000 AIassisted cardiac examinationsWhile the overall heart failure detection rates were similar between the groups 1342 new cases in the AI group versus 1984 in usual care subgroup analyses showed that patients examined with the AI stethoscope had significantly higher detection rates compared to patients who were not examined with the AI deviceThe trial suggests that AI tools such as smart stethoscopes could help physicians detect heart problems earlier in routine care but only if theyâre properly integrated into daytoday clinical operationsDespite strong algorithmic accuracy realworld benefit depended heavily on clinician engagement and workflow integrationMany practices reported declining use of the AI stethoscope over time citing extra steps in routine work and limited electronic health record integration as key barriers IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ai-enabled-stethoscopesmay-boostdiagnosis-ofheart-diseases-study-660047.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/lifestyle-changes-intake-of-ultra-processed-foods-driving-obesity-at-alarming-rate-eco-survey-660067.html New Delhi Jan 29 Obesity is rising at an alarming rate and is today a major public health challenge in India said Economic Survey for 202526 on Thursday According to the Economic Survey tabled in the Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman the concerning trend was driven by unhealthy diets lifestyle changes including sedentary lifestyles increased consumption of ultraprocessed foods UPFs and environmental factorsâIt is affecting people across all age groups and increasing the risk of NCDs such as diabetes heart disease and hypertension impacting both urban and rural populationsâ the Survey saidCiting data from the 201921 National Family Health Survey NFHS the Survey said that 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are overweight or obese Among women aged 1549 years 64 per cent are obese and among men 40 per cent are obese The prevalence of excess weight among children under five has risen from 21 per cent in 201516 to 34 per cent in 201921As per estimates more than 33 crore children in India were obese in 2020 and it is projected to reach 83 crore children by 2035The Economic Survey also flagged concern over the rising UPF market in the country which is displacing longestablished dietary patterns worsening diet quality and is associated with increased risk of multiple chronic diseasesâIndia is one of the fastestgrowing markets for UPF sales It grew by more than 150 per cent from 2009 to 2023 Retail sales of UPFs in India surged from 09 billion in 2006 to nearly 38 billion in 2019 a 40fold rise It is during the same period that obesity has nearly doubled in both men and women This mirrors the global rise of obesity parallel to dietary shiftsâ it saidâThe rising use of UPFs imposes a substantial economic cost through higher healthcare spending lost productivity and longterm fiscal strainâ it addedThe Survey also cited comprehensive multipronged initiatives launched by the government to prevent manage and reduce obesity in the countryThe interventions include POSHAN Abhiyaan amp Poshan 20 Fit India Movement Khelo India Eat Right India Nationwide Awareness Campaign âAaj Se Thoda Kamâ and AAMs the School Health Programme and Yoga promotionThese aim to promote a holistic approach that integrates health nutrition physical activity food safety and lifestyle modifications and continue to advance the goal of a healthier stronger and obesityfree India IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/lifestyle-changes-intake-of-ultra-processed-foods-driving-obesity-at-alarming-rate-eco-survey-660067.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/un-predicts-144-million-people-in-afghanistan-will-require-health-services-in-2026-660132.html Kabul Jan 29 The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA has predicted that 144 million people in Afghanistan will require health services in 2026 local media reported on Thursday Among these people only 72 million people are expected to be covered by existing programmes according to OCHA statement It stated that 54 per cent of those who need health services are children 24 per cent are women and 10 per cent are speciallyabled people Afghanistans leading news agency Khaama Press reported The OCHA noted that funding of over USD 190 million will be needed to address these health needsThe OCHA stated that Afghanistan remains the worlds largest humanitarian crisis in 2026 with around 22 million people relying on humanitarian assistance International organisations and NGOs have been ramping up their efforts to provide vaccinations maternal care and emergency medical services in AfghanistanMeanwhile United Nations Childrens Fund UNICEF said on Tuesday that Afghanistan is facing one of the worst child malnutrition crisis with around 37 million children facing acute malnutrition annually local media reportedUNICEF representative in Afghanistan Tajudeen Oyewale stressed the need to address the crisis during the launch of malnutrition prevention and treatment guidelines on Tuesday Khaama Press reportedThe malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan has deteriorated since 2021 amid economic collapse drought and humanitarian funding shortagesAccording to the World Food Programme more than 90 per cent of Afghan households cannot buy sufficient food resulting in children facing permanent developmental damage from hunger and insufficient nutritionThe updated guidelines include significant changes in treatment and prevention approaches with more focus on lifesaving interventions for the most severe cases of malnutrition The guidelines have provided care instructions for babies under six months old showcasing a critical step in reducing child malnutrition UNICEF expressed hope that these revised guidelines will improve treatment outcomes and save the lives of children in Afghanistan amid the malnutrition crisisVarious factors including poverty food insecurity limited access to healthcare and poor maternal nutrition cause malnutrition among children in Afghanistan Rural regions are particularly affected due to the crisis as families face food scarcity and do not have access to medical facilities while ongoing restrictions on womens healthcare workers have further affected treatment access IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/un-predicts-144-million-people-in-afghanistan-will-require-health-services-in-2026-660132.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-hospitalsets-record-withover500-successful-kidney-transplants-inoneyear-660136.html Gandhinagar Jan 29 The Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre IKDRC has become the leading government hospital in the country for kidney transplants It has scripted a record by performing 502 successful kidney transplants in 2025 alone setting new milestones in the countryâs medical landscape and also bringing lasting changes in the lives of people IKDRC the Ahmedabadbased hospital has performed a total of 157 cadaver transplants 90 swap transplants 49 paediatric transplants and 43 robotic kidney transplants This includes 170 kidney patients from other statesDr Pranjal Modi Director of IKDRC told IANS that this year alone 502 kidney and 86 liver transplants were conducted at the hospital and most of the patients got operated under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya ABPMJAY schemeThe highly qualified and expert team of doctors at IKDRC is also making extensive use of technology in kidney transplantsAccording to Dr Pranjal Modi also the ViceChancellor of Gujarat University of Transplantation the number of robotic kidney transplants at the institute is continuously increasingHe informed that the hospital introduced a robotic kidney transplantation facility last yearâLast year 43 robotic kidney transplants were performed while this year the target is to cross the 100 mark All this is free of cost as the cost is borne by the state governmentâ he addedThe IKDRC focuses on providing affordable healthcare services to the weaker sections of societyIn 2025 a total of 318 transplants were performed under the Ayushman BharatAlong with kidney transplants IKDRC has also emerged as a leading centre for liver transplants A total of 86 liver transplants were performed here in 2025The IKDRC has not only emerged as a leader in the field of advanced medical technology but is also setting an example for other medical institutions in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-hospitalsets-record-withover500-successful-kidney-transplants-inoneyear-660136.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/australia-closely-monitoring-outbreak-of-nipah-virus-health-minister-660197.html Canberra Jan 30 Australias health minister said on Friday that the government is closely monitoring the outbreak of the Nipah virus in Asia Mark Butler told Nine Network television that the Nipah virus has never been detected in Australia but that authorities were taking the threat posed by an outbreak that began in India in December very seriouslyThe Indian authorities tell us theyve got that outbreak under control but nonetheless were monitoring it very very closely because this is a very serious virus he saidAuthorities in Indonesia on Thursday implemented stricter monitoring for passengers arriving from overseas at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali which is the most popular overseas destination for Australian travelers Xinhua news agency reportedButler said on Friday that Australia has clear protocols in place for sick travelers arriving from overseas and that the government has not received any advice to change those protocolsNipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted between animals and humans and in some instances through humantohuman contact It is classified as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization due to its epidemic potential and the severity of illness it can causeNipah virus was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia In 1999 an outbreak was reported in Singapore following the importation of sick pigs from Malaysia No new outbreaks have been reported from Malaysia or Singapore since 1999 In 2001 Nipah virus infection outbreaks were detected in India and Bangladesh In Bangladesh outbreaks have been reported almost every year since In India outbreaks are periodically reported in several parts of the country including the latest one in 2026Nipah virus can also spread between people It has been reported in healthcare settings and among family and caregivers of sick people through close contact In health facilities the risk of spread can increase in overcrowded poorly ventilated hospital environments with inadequate implementation of infection prevention and control measures such as the use of personal protective equipment cleaning and disinfection and hand hygiene IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/australia-closely-monitoring-outbreak-of-nipah-virus-health-minister-660197.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/free-diagnosis-treatment-ensuringaleprosy-free-india-govt-660223.html New Delhi Jan 30 Free diagnosis and multidrug treatment at public health hospitals is ensuring that India remains leprosyfree said the government on Friday National Leprosy Day in India is observed annually on January 30 coinciding with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to honour his work with those affected by the diseaseâUnder the National Leprosy Eradication Programme NLEP India continues its efforts towards a LeprosyFree India ensuring free diagnosis treatment and care services at government health facilities nationwideâ the Health Ministry posted on social media platform XâLet us work together to eliminate stigma and ensure dignity and care for allâ it addedLeprosy also known as Hansen disease is a chronic infectious disease caused mainly by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae The disease affects the skin the peripheral nerves the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and the eyesApart from the physical deformity persons affected by leprosy also face stigmatisation and discrimination However leprosy is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disabilityIndia achieved the official elimination of leprosy as a public health problem less than 1 case per 10000 population nationally in December 2005As of March 2025 31 statesUTs and 638 districts have achieved this with a prevalence rate of 057 per 10000The NLEP now targets Zero Transmission Zero Leprosy by 2027 through early detection free multidrug therapy MDT and stigma reductionUnder the NLEP the government provides services such as free diagnosis and treatment MDT at all government health facilities microcellular rubber footwears for patients free assistive devices for leprosy patients selfcare kits for patients with ulcers and reconstructive surgery for Grade 2 deformities with a welfare allowance of Rs 12000All services under NLEP are available free of cost at all government health facilitiesIf left untreated leprosy may cause progressive and permanent disabilities The bacteria are transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated casesLeprosy is also a neglected tropical disease NTD which occurs in more than 120 countries with around 200000 new cases reported every year IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/free-diagnosis-treatment-ensuringaleprosy-free-india-govt-660223.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/budget-2026-expertscallfor-tax-funded-universal-health-care-enhancing-public-hospitals-659897.html New Delhi Jan 27 Health experts on Tuesday urged the government to introduce taxfunded Universal Health Care and boost resources at government hospitals in the upcoming Union Budget 2026 The experts also highlighted the lack of funds to in public health care institutions to deliver adequate services to a large number of patients and stressed the need to expand PMJAY to include outpatient careâWe advocate taxfunded Universal Health Care with a basic health package for all citizens and to increase public health allocation to 255 per cent of GDP strengthening government hospitals and human resourcesâ said Dr Vinay Aggarwal past National President Indian Medical AssociationâThe government should reform PMJAY to include outpatient care realistic package rates DBT copayments and timely reimbursementsâ he addedThe expert also urged the government âto provide GST exemption on lifesaving equipment consumables and all vaccinesA recent report by The Lancet Commission stressed that the public sector healthcare system is the backbone for achieving the universal health coverage goal An accompanying Comment paper examined Indiaâs progress towards universal health coverage and highlights structural weaknesses in the health systemIt particularly highlighted fragmented governance poor coordination across levels of care health services organised around institutions rather than citizens and persistent gaps in quality equity and continuity of care as major barriers to UHCThe paper suggested that Indiaâs path to universal health care requires multiple programmes and noted that operating in silos can weaken accountability and service continuityHealthcare delivery must remain facilitycentred rather than focused on patient journeys and longterm care needs It also mentioned that weak referral systems and poor integration between primary secondary and tertiary services limit efficiency and outcomesThe study stressed that policy intent alone is insufficient without institutional capacity to execute reformsâWhile over the last few years the government has increased the allocation for healthcare in its budget the continued prioritisation on capacity building has often left public healthcare facilities with insufficient funds to deliver adequate services to the large number of patients that they serveâ said Aditya Banerjee Member at Medical Technology Association of India MTaIâA deliberate shift in the public procurement criteria from the lowest upfront price to the best longâterm value for the overall healthcare system is essential for delivering better patient outcomes for every Rupee spentâ he added Banerjee said that it will help avoid the spiralling healthcare budgets that today is becoming unsustainable in many developed economies of the world IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/budget-2026-expertscallfor-tax-funded-universal-health-care-enhancing-public-hospitals-659897.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/chinese-scientistsidentifykey-ebola-virus-mutation-659849.html Beijing Jan 27 Chinese researchers have unveiled a crucial mutation in the Ebola virus that significantly enhanced its infectivity during a major outbreak providing new insights for epidemic surveillance and drug development The study published in the journal Cell focused on the Ebola virus disease EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC from 2018 to 2020 the secondlargest in history which caused over 3000 infections and more than 2000 deaths Xinhua news agency reportedThe research tells us that during major emerging infectious disease outbreaks realtime genomic surveillance and evolutionary analysis of the pathogen are crucial said Professor Qian Jun from Sun Yatsen UniversityThis is not only able to warn of changes in transmission risk but also to prospectively assess the effectiveness of existing drugs and vaccines guiding us to preemptively adjust control strategies Jun addedA key question drove the research namely beyond the impact of local healthcare challenges did viral evolution itself contribute to the Ebola outbreaks prolonged durationWe have long been aware that key viral mutations often act as invisible drivers accelerating transmission during major outbreaks Having worked on Ebola for over a decade we had to investigate whether similar patterns of mutation existed for this virus said Jun explaining the teams motivationIn 2022 the team analysed 480 complete Ebola virus genomes and discovered that a variant carrying a specific mutation in the viral glycoprotein named GPV75A had emerged early in the DRC epidemicThis variant rapidly replaced the original strain and its rising prevalence closely mirrored the surge in case numbers suggesting it might confer a transmission advantage according to the research teamSubsequent experiments using various models confirmed the mutations biological impact It showed that GPV75A had significantly enhanced the viruss ability to infect multiple types of host cells and miceFurthermore this study revealed a potential clinical concern notably that the GPV75A mutation had diminished the antiviral effectiveness of some existing therapeutic antibodies and smallmolecule entry inhibitors indicating a possible risk of drug resistanceThese findings underscore the importance of continuous viral genome monitoring during outbreaks to anticipate evolutionary threats and inform the development of broadspectrum countermeasures the research team said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/chinese-scientistsidentifykey-ebola-virus-mutation-659849.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/plastics-emissionstodoublehealth-risks-worldwideby-2040-study-659858.html New Delhi Jan 27 Emissions from the global plastics system greenhouse gases airpolluting particles and toxic chemicals released particularly from plastics production processes could double health risks by 2040 if no meaningful action is taken to change current practices according to a study on Tuesday The research published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal identified health harms at every stage of the lifecycle of the plastics from the extraction of fossil fuels the feedstocks for more than 90 per cent of plastics and material production to their eventual disposal or release to the environmentThe modellingbased study compared the global human health impacts of several different future scenarios for plastics consumption and waste management between 2016 and 2040Under a âbusiness as usualâ scenario by 2040 the negative health impacts from plastics could double with greenhouse gas emissions and associated rising global temperatures accounting for 40 per cent of the health harmsAir pollution predominantly from plastics production processes would account for 32 per cent and the impact of toxic chemicals released to the environment across plastics life cycles would account for 27 per centThe remaining health harms less than 1 per cent relate to reduced availability of water impacts on the ozone layer and increased ionising radiation the researchers saidWe found that emissions throughout plastics lifecycles contributed to human health burdens of global warming air pollution toxicityrelated cancers and noncommunicable diseases with the greatest harms from primary plastics production and open burning Megan Deeney from the London SchoolThe model found that if the plastics system continues with no change to policy economics infrastructure materials or consumer behaviours annual health impacts could more than double from 21 million healthy years of life lost in 2016 to 45 million healthy years of life lost in 2040Overall the study estimates that the global plastics system could be responsible for cutting 83 million years of healthy population life between 2016 and 2040The study also predicted little impact from improving plastic waste collection and recycling alone But together with improvements to waste collection and recycling substituting or reusing materials health impacts linked to plastic emissions showed a reductionTo effectively reduce plastic emissions and their impact on health policymakers must better regulate and significantly reduce the production of new plastics for nonessential uses the team said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/plastics-emissionstodoublehealth-risks-worldwideby-2040-study-659858.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/thailand-enhances-screening-of-flights-originating-from-nipah-virus-high-risk-region-659740.html Bangkok Jan 26 Thailands Civil Aviation Authority announced that it will implement comprehensive screening for all flights arriving from Indias West Bengal a highrisk region for Nipah virus starting from 0000 local time on Monday to prevent the virus from entering the country In a statement released on Sunday the authority said the screening measures will be adjusted dynamically based on the evolving situationKey protocols currently in place involve airlines conducting preliminary health checks at the point of departure Passengers who exhibit symptoms that call for further testing are required to present relevant medical certificates before boarding and must adhere to public health guidelines throughout the flightUpon arrival in Thailand all travelers will undergo temperature checks and be required to fill out a health declaration form Dedicated screening stations have been set up in the jet bridge areas of designated airportsAccording to Thai media reports direct flights operate between Kolkata in West Bengal and three major Thai airports Suvarnabhumi Don Mueang and Phuket where the screening measures have already been rolled outNo Nipah virus cases have been reported in Thailand so far authorities said on Sunday Xinhua news agency reportedAccording to the World Health Organization and other health bodies the Nipah virus primarily targets the lungs and brain Symptoms include fever headache drowsiness confusion and coma with a mortality rate exceeding 40 per cent among infected patientsNipah virus NiV is a zoonotic virus it is transmitted from animals to humans and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people In infected people it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic subclinical infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs resulting in significant economic losses for farmersAlthough Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people making it a public health concernNipah virus was first recognised in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in Malaysia No new outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia since 1999 IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/thailand-enhances-screening-of-flights-originating-from-nipah-virus-high-risk-region-659740.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/our-journey-was-rooted-in-service-padma-shri-awardees-dr-rajendra-prasad-and-kk-thakral-659807.html Lucknow Jan 26 It is a proud moment for UPs state capital Lucknow as two eminent doctors from the city have been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award for their outstanding services in the field of medicine The awardees are renowned pulmonologist and tuberculosis specialist Dr Rajendra Prasad former Head of the Department at King Georgeâs Medical University KGMU and noted Ayurveda surgeon KK Thakral Dr Rajendra Prasad who has been selected for the Padma Shri is regarded as the founder of the Pulmonary Medicine Department at KGMU He began his journey at KGMU as a student and eventually rose to become the Head of the DepartmentSpeaking to IANS Dr Prasad shared details about his family saying his late father Gopichand was a cloth merchant while his late mother Vijay Lakshmi was a homemaker His son Dr Nikhil Gupta is a faculty member in the Department of Medicine at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute while his daughter Dr Pallavi is a dentist and is marriedDr Rajendra Prasad credited his wife Meera Gupta and his entire family for his achievement Reflecting on his nearly five decades of medical practice he said I have always maintained a warm and respectful relationship with my patients I would advise the next generation of doctors to treat patients with empathy as good behaviour helps patients recover fasterMeanwhile Thakral a distinguished practitioner of Shalya Tantra Ayurvedic surgery has also been conferred with the Padma ShriRecounting his early life Thakral told IANS Our residence was in the region that is now part of Pakistan in the Sargodha district During the Partition in 1947 we migrated to India and settled in Yamunanagar now in Haryana My father was a physician and practised medicine The initial years were difficult but despite the challenges my father paid special attention to our educationHe further said that after completing intermediate education his father sent him to study at an Ayurvedic college in Lucknow where he underwent rigorous training for five years Due to my fatherâs discipline and guidance I consistently performed well in all subjects The MS Ayurveda degree had just been introduced at that time and I was the topper of the first batch he addedThakral said he completed his education in 1964 from Lucknow and in 1968 from Banaras adding that he followed the discipline and values learned during his training throughout his life I have served as a lecturer and professor as well Around 70 to 80 per cent of my patients come from economically weaker sections such as labourers workers and lowincome groups They need good affordable and accessible healthcare If a farmer does not receive timely treatment it affects not only his health but also his livelihood he saidHighlighting the benefits of Ayurveda Thakral said it is a costeffective system of medicine that does not rely on foreign exchange Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs efforts to promote AYUSH and traditional medicine he said The system has undergone changes over time and medical treatment has become expensive in many places In this context the Prime Ministerâs initiative to promote AYUSH and traditional medicine is highly commendable in public interest and in the national interest IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/our-journey-was-rooted-in-service-padma-shri-awardees-dr-rajendra-prasad-and-kk-thakral-659807.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/nearly-4-000-hiv-positive-children-in-pakistans-sindh-expose-systemic-failure-in-infection-control-report-659656.html Islamabad Jan 25 As many as 3995 registered HIVpositive children in Pakistans Sindh and more than 100 new cases reported in Karachi in 2025 expose systemic failure of infection control and regulation a report has stated Nearly 4000 children in Sindh living with HIV many of them not infected at birth or through personal behaviour but in healthcare facilities where patients undergo treatment making negligence a crime according to a report in Pakistans leading daily The Express TribuneThe Express Tribune report stated The Pakistan Medical Associations PMA highlevel alert on the alarming rise in paediatric HIV cases should jolt authorities out of their habitual inertia The numbers alone are damning 3995 registered HIVpositive children in Sindh and over 100 new cases reported in Karachi in 2025 These numbers point to a systemic collapse of infection control and regulationThis is not the first warning for Pakistan as the 2019 Ratodero tragedy where hundreds of children were infected was considered to be a turning point triggering investigation and promises of reform However six years later PMA is compelled to reveal the rising number of HIV cases among childrenThe report in The Express Tribune said What makes this crisis particularly disturbing is that it is largely preventable Unsafe injections reused syringes unregulated blood banks and illegal clinics run by quacks continue to operate with impunity Inability â or unwillingness â to enforce minimum standards has turned clinics into sites of contagion The PMA rightly warns that this is no longer just a medical emergency but a socioeconomic catastrophe in the makingIn December last year another report stated that the deepening HIV crisis in Pakistan is not only a medical emergency but also demonstrates institutional rot and showcases the consequences of years of neglect the failure to implement basic health standards and the human cost of corruption According to regional data Pakistan with a sharp increase in HIV cases is ranked second among nations in the AsiaPacific a report has statedThe shocking statistics highlight the use of contaminated syringes unregulated blood transfusions fake doctors and violations of medical rules Health officials have reported 3995 registered HIVpositive children in Sindh a figure that only represents documented cases according to a report in European TimesAccording to the data more than 600000 fake doctors practise in Pakistan with 40 per cent of them based in Karachi The figure demonstrates the deepening medical malpractice crisis in Pakistan With insufficient oversight these fake doctors operate freely reusing syringes mishandling blood and conducting unsafe procedures that further increase the spread of HIVPakistanâs healthcare system long burdened by underfunding and mismanagement has repeatedly failed to uphold global standard operating procedures SOPs for infection prevention and control The World Health Organisation WHO and UNAIDS have established clear protocols for safe blood transfusions syringe disposal and patient management the European Times report statedThe few HIV treatment centres that are present in Pakistan face shortages of testing kits antiretroviral medicines and trained staff resulting in diagnosis and treatment delays Patients often suffer as they have to move from one hospital to another in search of basic carePakistanâs deepening HIV crisis is more than a medical emergency it is a reflection of institutional rot It exposes the consequences of years of neglect the failure to enforce basic health standards and the human cost of corruption The tragedy of nearly 4000 HIVpositive children in Sindh the epidemic of quack doctors and the routine use of contaminated medical tools together form a damning indictment of the stateâs indifference This is not a story of a virus spreading silently it is a story of systemic failure that allows the virus to thrive the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/nearly-4-000-hiv-positive-children-in-pakistans-sindh-expose-systemic-failure-in-infection-control-report-659656.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/dr-nori-dattatreyudu-conferred-padma-bhushan-for-pioneering-contribution-to-cancer-treatment-659677.html New Delhi Jan 25 Renowned radiation oncologist Dr Nori Dattatreyudu has been awarded the Padma Bhushan for his outstanding contribution to the field of medicine as the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the Padma Awards list for 2026 on Sunday The award recognises Dr Noriâs decadeslong work in advancing cancer treatment and improving patient outcomes across the worldThe Padma Awards among Indiaâs highest civilian honours are approved by the President of India and announced every year on the occasion of Republic DayFor 2026 President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards across three categoriesThese include five Padma Vibhushan 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards with two duo cases counted as single honoursThe awards will be formally presented by the President at ceremonial functions at Rashtrapati Bhavan usually held in March or AprilDr Nori a worldrenowned Indian radiation oncologist has been a leading figure in cancer research and treatment for several decadesHe has served as the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials sponsored by the US National Cancer Institute and has earned wide recognition for his contributions to radiation oncologyOne of his most significant achievements is his pioneering work in highdoserate brachytherapy which has transformed the treatment of cancers affecting the cervix urinary system chest head and neckHis work on remote afterloading brachytherapy has allowed doctors to deliver precise and targeted radiation to cancerous tissues while minimising damage to healthy cellsSince its introduction in the 1970s this technique has become a globally accepted standard and has helped millions of patients worldwideDr Noriâs contributions have been widely acknowledged at both national and international levels In 2014 he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honour one of the highest civilian awards in the United States He was also conferred the Padma Shri in 2015 for his services to medicineIn addition he has been named among the top doctors in America by his peers based on evaluations by tens of thousands of oncologists particularly for his work in treating cancers in womenBorn into a Telugu family in Mantada village in Andhra Pradeshâs Krishna district Dr Nori completed his medical education at Kurnool Medical College and later pursued postgraduate studies at Osmania Medical College IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/dr-nori-dattatreyudu-conferred-padma-bhushan-for-pioneering-contribution-to-cancer-treatment-659677.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ai-systems-must-be-tested-on-diverse-population-scale-datasets-before-deployment-nha-ceo-659616.html New Delhi Jan 25 Artificial intelligence models in healthcare must be tested on large and diverse population datasets before being deployed on the ground to ensure trust accuracy and inclusion National Health Authority NHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Sunil Kumar Barnwal said on Sunday Speaking at the Federated Intelligence Hackathon on Health AI organised as a preevent to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at IIT Kanpur Dr Barnwal said India is now moving from experimentation to building benchmarked and reliable AI models for healthcareHe stressed that federated and consentdriven AI systems allow innovation to scale without centralising sensitive health data thereby protecting privacy and strengthening public trustReferring to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana AB PMJAY and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ABDM he said AI solutions must be contextready and reflect Indiaâs demographic and regional diversityThe nationallevel hackathon was organised by the National Health Authority in collaboration with the ICMRâNational Institute for Research in Digital Health and Data Science NIRDHDS and IIT KanpurIt was held from January 19 to January 24 2026 with a focus on developing secure privacypreserving and scalable Digital Public Goods for Health AIThe inaugural session also saw addresses by Prof Sandeep Verma Head of the Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal and Ritu Maheshwari Secretary Medical Health and Family Welfare and State Mission Director ABDMâUttar PradeshThe speakers highlighted the growing role of technology research institutions and governments in shaping Indiaâs digital health ecosystemDr R S Sharma Distinguished Visiting Professor at IIT Kanpur and former CEO of the National Health Authority said Digital Public Infrastructure and interoperable Digital Public Goods are key to building secure scalable and citizencentric health data systemsHe underlined that such frameworks ensure both innovation and accountability Vivek Raghavan CEO and Cofounder of SarvamAI spoke about the importance of Indiaâs layered digital health architecture in enabling AIdriven healthcare at both population and individual levelsHe said highquality data strong privacy safeguards and security are essential for effective AI adoptionHe also stressed the need for indigenous opensource AI models to ensure local AI sovereignty and reduce dependence on external systems IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ai-systems-must-be-tested-on-diverse-population-scale-datasets-before-deployment-nha-ceo-659616.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/early-intervention-a-national-responsibility-to-secure-future-of-kids-with-special-needs-minister-659487.html New Delhi Jan 23 Early intervention is a national responsibility to secure the future of children with developmental delays and other special needs said Dr Virendra Kumar Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment on Friday Speaking at the inauguration of the Cross Disability Early Intervention Centre CDEIC at the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities NIEPID in Noida he emphasised the governmentâs unwavering commitment to inclusive and early support systemsHe affirmed that the Ministry will continue to strengthen early intervention services so that children with developmental delays and disabilities can achieve their fullest potential and participate meaningfully in societyâEarly childhood intervention is not merely a service but a national responsibility to secure the future of every childâ Kumar saidâCentres like CDEIC represent the government of Indiaâs resolve to reach children at the earliest stage ensuring timely scientific and compassionate supportâ he addedHighlighting the transformative power of early intervention Kumar noted that the first six years of life are decisive for brain development and lifelong outcomes in health learning and social participationDirecting that the Noida centre evolve into a model of excellence the Minister stressed that quality must be reflected not only in infrastructure and aesthetics but also in advanced technology skilled professionals and evidencebased practicesHe further emphasised that families especially parents and caregivers are central to successful early intervention and instructed the centre to organise regular structured caregiver training programmes with proper certification to empower families as equal partners in the childâs developmental journeyâParents are the first and most powerful therapists in a childâs life and when empowered with the right knowledge and support no child with developmental delay will ever be left behindâ he addedThe Minister reiterated that with the combined efforts of professionals institutions and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities DEPwD CDEICs must become centres of hope trust and innovationThe CDEIC at Noida is designed to provide holistic multidisciplinary services for children with developmental delays and other special needs The centre will offer occupational therapy physiotherapy speech therapy medical consultation special education family counselling and schoolreadiness interventions enabling comprehensive care under one roofWith stateoftheart facilities the centre is expected to cater to a large population of children in the critical 06 years age group from Noida and surrounding regions IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/early-intervention-a-national-responsibility-to-secure-future-of-kids-with-special-needs-minister-659487.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/childhood-vaccinesdonotraiseriskof-epilepsy-study-659545.html New Delhi Jan 24 Routine childhood vaccinations are not associated with an increased risk of epilepsy in young children according to a new study led by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The study published in The Journal of Pediatrics showed that the aluminum used as vaccine adjuvants also does not increase the risk of the neurological conditionâIncident epilepsy was not associated with uptodate vaccination status or cumulative vaccine aluminum exposure among children less than 4 years of ageâ said the team including those from the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in Marshfield USThe study included 2089 children diagnosed as having epilepsy from age 1 year to less than 4 years These were compared with 20139 children without epilepsy based on age sex and health care siteThe majority of the kids were boys 54 per cent and between the ages of 1 year and 23 months 69 per cent No higher risk following the childhood vaccine schedule was observed stated the researchersTo assess vaccine exposure the team examined the schedule for routine childhood vaccines and their cumulative aluminum exposure from vaccine adjuvants measured in milligramsAluminum salts including formulations of aluminum hydroxide AH amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate aluminum phosphate AP combined AH and AP AHAP and aluminum potassium sulfate are commonly used as adjuvants in vaccines While this helps to enhance immune response it has been a focus of safety concernsHowever the team found that neither measure was associated with a higher risk of epilepsyâThe adjusted odds ratios for both measures did not exceed 10 Children with previously established risk factors for epilepsy including those born prematurely those with a history of epilepsy and those with underlying neurologic or medical conditions had substantially higher odds of developing the conditionâ the team saidA subgroup analysis suggested that very young infants 1 to 2 months old who received vaccines containing the adjuvant combination AHAP appeared to have about twice the odds of an epilepsy diagnosis compared with those who did not but the odds did not quite reach statistical significanceâOverall this study provides additional reassurance on the safety of the childhood vaccine schedule at a time when vaccination coverage has declined in some populations the researchers saidThese results may help providers communicate with parents concerned about potential risks of epilepsyâ they added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/childhood-vaccinesdonotraiseriskof-epilepsy-study-659545.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/national-girl-child-day-india-advancing-towardsan-equitablesociety-says-govt-659563.html New Delhi Jan 24 India is advancing towards an equitable society with no gender discrimination and equal opportunities for girls said the government Initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development MWCD the day serves as a platform to raise awareness about gender discrimination promote equal opportunities and foster an environment where girls can thrive as empowered citizensThe day also aligns effectively with Indias vision of womenled development and Viksit Bharat by 2047The government has through different initiatives supported by community participation NGOs schools and Anganwadis made measurable gains in girls survival education and empowermentâNational Girl Child Day 2026 serves as a reminder of the importance of empowering girls and fostering an environment of equality and opportunity Through multisectoral awareness campaigns policy enforcement and community engagement India continues to build momentum towards gender equity and societal attitudesâ said an official statementâWith the ongoing commitment from government civil society and communities India is advancing towards an equitable society where every girl child is valued protected and empowered to realise her full potentialâ it addedThe government has addressed persistent inequalities faced by girls including gender biases female foeticide challenges related to the child sex ratio child marriage and barriers to education and healthImportantly the day emphasises changing societal attitudes to value and respect girls as equals thereby promoting their holistic developmentSignificant progress has been made through sustained efforts particularly under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao BBBP scheme with the Sex Ratio at Birth SRB rising from around 918 in 201415 to 930 in 202324 at the national level the government saidIn addition to this the Gross Enrolment Ratio GER for girls at the secondary level Classes 910 in India has shown improvement rising from 7551 per cent in 201415 to 78 per cent in 202324Furthermore the Gross Enrolment Ratio GER for girls at the secondary level reached 802 per cent in 202425The government has implemented a range of targeted schemes to protect educate and empower the girl child many integrated under the umbrella Mission Shakti which includes Samagra Shiksha Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya KGBV and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao BBBPOther initiatives include the Vigyan Jyoti Scheme scholarships for girl child Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act Prohibition of Child Marriage Act Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat POSHAN Abhiyaan and Mission VatsalyaTo promote longterm economic security and independence for girls the government has also introduced dedicated savings and investment schemes that encourage families to plan for their daughtersâ education marriage and future needs with the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana SSY IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/national-girl-child-day-india-advancing-towardsan-equitablesociety-says-govt-659563.html Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-life-sciences-leaders-scaling-ai-digital-transformation-report-659456.html New Delhi Jan 22 Life sciences leaders in India are scaling artificial intelligence AI and digital transformation said a report on Friday The report by KPMG which surveyed 110 global Life Sciences leaders noted that life sciences CEOs in India are also investing in enhancing workforce skills and the country is on track for sustainable growth in the sectorâIndiaâs life sciences sector is moving from aspiration to execution CEOs are scaling AI and digital transformation pursuing MampA with strategic clarity and investing in workforce skillsâ said Vijay Chawla Partner and Head â Life Sciences KPMG in IndiaâBy combining innovation with efficiency and leveraging Indiaâs talent base the industry is positioning itself for sustainable growth and global leadership in a rapidly evolving healthcare and Life Sciences ecosystemâ he addedGlobally over 80 pc global life sciences CEOs believe AI is crucial for growth reducing emissions and improving energy efficiencyThe report showed that leaders are decisively shifting from experimentation to execution focusing on integrating AI strategically transforming their businesses through MampA and reshaping their workforce to unlock a new era of innovation and efficiencyWhile 86 per cent of CEOs reported a moderatetohigh appetite for MampA over the next three years signaling a continued drive for transformation 80 per cent noted adjusting their growth strategies to navigate interrelated market challengesNotably 73 per cent of global leaders reported plans to allocate between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of their technology budgets specifically to AI initiatives 65 per cent of CEOs anticipate measurable returns on these investments within the next three yearsHowever as AI adoption accelerates cybersecurity remains a critical concern for 84 per cent of CEOsFurther the report said CEOs are making talent development a central focus acknowledging that 85 per cent believe workforce readiness for AI is crucial to achieving their goalsFor life sciences CEOs executing ESG initiatives also ranks as the secondmost important operational focus over the next three yearsAbout 80 per cent of CEOs believe that AI will play a significant role in reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency As a result sustainability objectives are increasingly translating into tangible operational improvements and financial gains signaling a promising path forward for the industry IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-life-sciences-leaders-scaling-ai-digital-transformation-report-659456.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-2nd-country-globally-to-integrate-mobile-stroke-units-with-emergency-medical-services-icmr-659278.html New Delhi Jan 22 India is the second country globally to integrate Mobile Stroke Units with emergency medical services to boost treatment in rural areas said Dr Rajiv Bahl Secretary Department of Health Research and Director General ICMR Bahl stated this as the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR handed over two Mobile Stroke Units MSUs to the Assam government marking a major shift from stroke patients in remote areas having to travel to hospitals to hospitals reaching patientsThe initiative is part of an ICMRfunded initiative to study âStroke Care Pathwaysâ in the region After the pilot phase ended the ICMR donated the units to ensure that people of Assam continue to receive rapid treatment for cerebrovascular emergenciesâMobile Stroke Units were first developed in Germany and later evaluated in major global cities India has evaluated such units in rural remote and difficult terrain in Northeast India We are also the second country globally to report successful integration of an MSU with emergency medical services for treating rural acute ischemic stroke patientsâ Bahl saidStroke is one of the leading causes of death and longterm disability in India and requires timely care within the golden hourâThe handover strengthens Assamâs emergency response system and ensures continuity of this lifesaving service under state ownershipâ said P Ashok Babu Secretary amp Commissioner Health AssamHe noted that the collaboration with ICMR has enabled faster treatment better coordination and improved outcomes for stroke patients and provides a strong foundation for expansionThe MSU is a mobile hospital on wheels equipped with a CT scanner teleconsultation with specialists pointofcare laboratory and clotbusting drugs enabling early diagnosis and treatment of stroke at or near the patientâs homeThe Northeast has a disproportionately high burden of stroke Difficult terrain long distances and limited access to specialised care have historically made timely stroke treatment challengingTo address this the ICMR established a neurologistled stroke unit at Assam Medical College amp Hospital Dibrugarh and physicianled stroke units at Tezpur Medical College Hospital and Baptist Christian Hospital TezpurThe Mobile Stroke Units were embedded into this prehospital stroke care pathwayThe model reduced treatment time from nearly 24 hours to about 2 hours reduced deaths by onethird and reduced disability by eight times the Ministry said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-2nd-country-globally-to-integrate-mobile-stroke-units-with-emergency-medical-services-icmr-659278.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/wef-2026-accessibility-affordability-andpersonalisation-key-to-boost-womens-health-sayexperts-659294.html New Delhi Jan 22 Improving accessibility affordability and tailoring treatment and diagnostics to womens needs are some of the crucial measures to closing the health gap for the fairer sex by 2030 said experts at the ongoing World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos Women spend 25 per cent more of their lives in poorer health than men due to delayed diagnoses and limited access to appropriate careAt a session titled Breakthroughs in womens health the experts highlighted how insufficient investment in sexspecific research and innovation for women results in preventable mortality morbidity and loss of economic potential estimated to be 1 trillion globallyThe panel unanimously pointed out that the focus needs to be on the human side of implementationâThe greatest innovations are the ones that will end up being accessible affordable and used by women around the worldâ said Gargee Ghosh Chasin President Global Policy and Advocacy Gates FoundationâWhile invention is critical access and use are equally critical And thats what makes the difference between product and impactâ she added while mentioning incredible innovations specific to womenâs health such as the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer an AIbased ultrasound that will bring early diagnosis of highrisk pregnancy and a microarray patch for contraceptionSania Nishtar Chief Executive Officer GaviThe Vaccine Alliance stated that more than just innovation it is important to translate science and evidence into policy and then policy into pilots and then pilots into scalable deliveryâInnovation has to be matched with delivery capability And the challenge is that if you do not have that delivery capability if you do not have sustainable financing youre unable to use innovations for the impact that theyre intended to haveâ she addedNadia CalviÃo President European Investment Bank stressed the importance of primary health and the distribution of the preventative treatments to womenâPrimary health is the starting point for a healthy society Of course womens health is the basis for a healthy society a stable society So I really think we have to put a lot of focus on that the family doctors the way that we can get these medicines and these preventative treatments to every woman around the worldâ CalviÃo saidOrazio Schillaci Minister of Health Ministry of Health of Italy called for increasing the number of clinical trials tailored for women and personalising treatment for women Schillaci also mentioned the potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing the health sector IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/wef-2026-accessibility-affordability-andpersonalisation-key-to-boost-womens-health-sayexperts-659294.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-delivers-75-tonnes-of-life-saving-cancer-medicines-in-afghanistan-659322.html New Delhi Jan 22 India on Thursday delivered 75 tonnes of lifesaving cancer medicines in Kabul to address the needs of cancer patients in Afghanistan In a post on X Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated India delivers 75 tonnes of lifesaving cancer medicines to Kabul to address the urgent needs of cancer patients India remains committed to supporting the friendly people of AfghanistanIn December Afghanistanâs Minister of Public Health Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali held a meeting with Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sectorThe talks focused on boosting health cooperation sharing expertise between medical professionals building the capacity of Afghan health workers and ensuring the supply of quality medicines to Afghanistan Cancer treatment medical visas for Afghan patients and support for health facilities were also discussed Afghanistans Ministry of Public Health posted on XJalali thanked India for its recent support in the health sector and outlined additional needs to improve Afghanistanâs healthcare systemDuring the meeting Nadda reaffirmed New Delhis commitment to supporting the Afghan people including through the supply of medicines and vaccines He confirmed that a CT scan machine along with medicines and vaccines would soon be sent to a childrenâs hospital in KabulNadda added that India would work to ease access to medical treatment for Afghan patients and stood ready to extend further assistanceFollowing the talks with the Afghan Health Minister Nadda in a post on X wrote Held a productive meeting with Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali Afghan Minister of Public Health Reaffirmed Indiaâs commitment to continued humanitarian assistance and healthcare cooperation with Afghanistan and discussed avenues to further strengthen this collaboration with particular focus on long term supply of medicinesâMade a symbolic handover of cancer medicines and vaccines reflecting Indiaâs commitment to support the medical needs of the Afghan people A larger consignment of medicines vaccines and a 128slice CT scanner is also being dispatched to Afghanistanâ he addedNadda noted that India has supplied 327 tonnes of medicines and vaccines to Afghanistan over the past four years Proposals from the Afghan side for a radiotherapy machine and additional medical supplies are also being processedAfghan Health Minister Jalali also met Minister for AYUSH Ministry of Ayurveda Yoga and Naturopathy Unani Siddha and Homoeopathy Prataprao Jadhav during which the two sides discussed setting up a traditional medicine institute and research centre in Kabul training practitioners and signing a bilateral cooperation agreementâJalali said standardising traditional medicine was essential and noted that Afghanistan had begun regulating the sector adding that Indiaâs experience made its support especially valuableâ said the Afghan Ministry of Public HealthAccording to the Afghan Ministry Jadhav pledged support for establishing research centres developing curricula and expanding cooperation in traditional medicine in the futureTaking to X Jadhav wrote âStrengthening bilateral healthcare ties Held a productive meeting with HE Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan and Karan Yadav CdâA Embassy of India Kabul We discussed enhancing cooperation in Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy for mutual wellbeingâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-delivers-75-tonnes-of-life-saving-cancer-medicines-in-afghanistan-659322.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-chinese-applooks-to-tackle-global-loneliness-crisis-659335.html New Delhi Jan 22 Amid falling marriages and birth rates and many living an isolated life in China a new app is seeking to fight loneliness according to a media report The Are You Dead app developed by a company called Moonscape Technologies enables individuals living alone or single to be in touch with a designated emergency contact the Guardian reportedThe company which describes it as âa lightweight safety tool crafted for solo dwellersâ allows users to check in once a day by clicking a large green button If the user misses two consecutive days of checkins the app will send an automated alert to a designated emergency contactThe app comes as more people in their 20s and 30s are living alone in China The report noted that in 2024 a record low of 61 million couples got married in the country while 26 million couples filed for divorceIn addition the country is witnessing a significant decline in birthrate creating demographic challenges as the population shrinks each year By 2030 there could be as many as 200 million singleperson households according to Chinese state mediaIn such a scenario the Are You Dead app has tapped into peopleâs anxiety of dying alone with no one even to bury themâThis app makes people feel alive It is an interesting phenomenon that reflects and combats the loneliness of young people todayâ the report quoted a user on RedNote a social media platform that is predominantly used by women as sayingAccording to Ian Lü one of the cofounders of Moonscape Technologies the idea for Are You Dead came to him while browsing on Chinese social mediaâIn recent years there has been wide and heated discussion about a hypothetical âare you deadâ appâ Lü said âFor example something with features like if you donât check in for 48 hours someone will come and collect your bodyâThe report also cited Chinaâs notorious â996â work culture meaning workers toil from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week as a major factor for stress and social isolationThe new app thus is becoming a tool to combat feelings of isolation which also builds up anxiety stress and a sense of helplessness the report said with mental health experts also vouching for the app that will help connect to other peopleâThis new âliving aloneâ group is a global phenomenon I hope the whole world can pay attention to the safety issues of people living aloneâ Lü said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-chinese-applooks-to-tackle-global-loneliness-crisis-659335.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/female-representation-in-stem-highest-in-india-workforce-participation-lags-report-659350.html New Delhi Jan 22 Even though India has outpaced many developed countries in terms of gender equality in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics STEM education the lesser participation of women in the workforce remains a concern according to a report The report by EY India highlighted progressive policies and industry interventions that led to the advancement of women in STEM fieldsHowever it also highlighted systemic challenges that continue to affect higher numbers in the workforce especially in leadership positions It called for multifaceted efforts to bridge the gender gapCiting education as the cornerstone for womenâs rise in STEM education the report mentioned the vital role of government initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Vigyan Jyoti and the Pragati Scholarship in increasing female enrollment in STEM educationâIndiaâs National Education Policy NEP 2020 has further emphasised skillbased learning and inclusivity laying the groundwork for a more diverse and competitive workforce Several corporates have also supported female enrollment in STEM courses through earmarked scholarships under their CSR programmes to encourage more women to pursue STEM coursesâ Aashish Kasad National Leader Chemicals and Agriculture sector EY IndiaâAs a result India now exceeds global averages in female STEM graduates However there remains a stark gap between education and employment with many women not transitioning into STEM careersâ she addedKasad attributed the STEM gap to âunconscious bias and workplace culture where women in STEM face unequal pay and limited leadership opportunities worklife balance pressures lack of mentorship and networking and restricted access to crucial career progression supportâThe report cited the 2024 LinkedIn dataset where women represented 412 per cent of the overall workforce with sectors such as retailecommerce healthcare pharma and IT leading the way in hiring STEMqualified women It pointed to a positive momentum toward bridging gender disparities in these industriesThe report noted that many corporateled initiatives are now providing resources offering career support and mentorship programmes helping women navigate challenges in STEM careers and achieve professional goalsâAddressing gender diversity in STEM can unlock immense potential for innovation and economic growth for the countryâ said KasadShe added that fostering an inclusive environment encouraging mentorship and challenging societal stereotypes can be crucial to boost the share of women in STEM careers in IndiaKasad called for âcontinued efforts in policymaking corporate leadership and societal transformationâ to help shape the future of STEM careers for women IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/female-representation-in-stem-highest-in-india-workforce-participation-lags-report-659350.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-bombays-new-smart-platform-tohelp-researchers-decode-brain-diseases-659352.html New Delhi Jan 22 A team of bioengineers at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay has developed new smart platforms BrainProt and DrugProtAI that unify data on scattered brain diseases to help researchers find markers explore treatments and pinpoint druggable targets BrainProt v30 is a database that combines various types of biological data from genes to proteins into a single platform to enable systematic insights into human brain function in both healthy and diseased statesIt is the first system to integrate multidisease data from genomics transcriptomics proteomics and biomarker research and multidatabase information into one portalâBrainProt also includes resources to identify and understand protein expression differences between the left and right hemispheres of the human brain across 20 neuroanatomical regions This is the first resource of its kindâ said Prof Sanjeeva Srivastava from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering IIT BombayBrainProt includes data on 56 human brain diseases and 52 multiomics datasets derived from more than 1800 patient samples These datasets include transcriptomic data for 11 diseases and proteomic data for six diseasesFor each disease users can examine genes and proteins frequently associated with the disease assess how strongly these genes and proteins are already supported by existing medical and scientific databases and how their activity levels change in patient samplesDrugProtAI was developed to understand whether a protein can be druggable has the biological and physical characteristics needed to be a useful drug target before doing costly experimentsThis is crucial because only about 10 per cent of human proteins currently have an FDAapproved drug with another 34 per cent under investigationâBefore investing years of work in a protein target DrugProtAI predicts whether the protein is druggable by looking beyond the proteinâs sequence such as cellular location structural attributes and other unique characteristics it hasâ said Dr Ankit Halder coauthor of the studyThe tool generates a âdruggability indexâ a probability score indicating how likely a protein is to be druggable A higher score suggests that the protein shares many properties with proteins that already have approved drugs while a lower score indicates that drug development would be more challengingâBy integrating DrugProtAI directly into BrainProt we created a pipeline where researchers can move from identifying a disease marker to examining its expression patterns to evaluating its druggability and exploring existing compounds or clinical trials all within an hourâ Halder said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-bombays-new-smart-platform-tohelp-researchers-decode-brain-diseases-659352.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-noninvasive-imaging-tech-to-scan-skin-signal-risk-of-heart-disease-659412.html New Delhi Jan 23 A team of German researchers has developed a new imaging technology that can noninvasively scan your skin and also reveal early signs of cardiovascular risk FastRSOM skin scan can detect tiny changes in blood vessels oxygen levels and tissue composition that are invisible to traditional imagingIt can capture detailed images of the smallest blood vessels directly through the skin and detect tiny changes in their ability to expand and contract known as microvascular endothelial dysfunction MiVEDUntil now doctors had no precise and noninvasive way to see or measure these early changes in humansAccording to the team from the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres by revealing early signs of heart disease risk the technology could help doctors intervene sooner guide personalised therapies and improve longterm heart healthWith fastRSOM we can for the first time noninvasively assess endothelial dysfunction at singlecapillary and skinlayer resolution in humans said Dr Hailong He researcher at the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz MunichOur novel approach offers an unprecedented view of how cardiovascular disease manifests at the microvascular level added Dr Angelos Karlas cofirst author vascular surgeon and senior research scientist at Technical University of Munich TUM University HospitalThe study is published in the journal Light Science amp ApplicationsFastRSOM provides highresolution dynamic MiVED biomarkers describing subtle impairments in blood vessel function that are generally present before clinical symptoms or measurable macroscopic disease features appearThese early changes are often linked to risk factors such as smoking high blood pressure or obesity However in contrast to computing risk based on descriptive conditions fastRSOM can quantitatively capture the actual changes that these conditions have imposed on the microvascular system long before major complications developBy capturing these early warning signs fastRSOM opens up new possibilities for early detection prevention and more precise monitoring of cardiovascular health The technology could help identify individuals at higher risk of developing cardiovascular events with higher precision and monitor lifestyle or therapeutic interventions the team saidThe RSOM Raster Scan Optoacoustic Mesoscopy is a noninvasive imaging technology that uses pulses of light to generate ultrasound signals producing highly detailed 3D images of structures beneath the skin IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-noninvasive-imaging-tech-to-scan-skin-signal-risk-of-heart-disease-659412.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/76-pc-indian-recruiters-to-create-new-jobs-in-h1-2026-healthcare-manufacturing-to-lead-report-659426.html New Delhi Jan 23 About 76 per cent recruiters in India are focussed on job creation across various sectors in the first half of 2026 according to a report Naukri Indiaâs biannual survey based on insights of over 1250 recruiters showed that the healthcare sector is set to lead with 88 per cent new jobsThe manufacturing sector is set to follow with 79 per cent new roles in H1 2026The BFSI sector is likely to show a relatively conservative yet strong hiring outlook 70 per cent and IT sector 76 per cent will create jobsâWith 76 of recruiters focused on new job creation the H1 2026 Hiring Outlook reflects sustained confidence in Indiaâs job market said Dr Pawan Goyal Chief Business Officer at NaukricomAt an overall level IT and Business Development roles are expected to witness the highest hiring activity during H1 2026 with 45 per cent recruiters in each sector anticipating the same up from 37 per cent amp 20 per cent recruiters respectively in H2 2025Further despite widespread concerns about AIdriven job losses 87 per cent of recruiters believe AI will not have a significant impact on overall employmentIn fact compared to the previous Hiring Outlook survey where 13 per cent of recruiters predicted AIled job creation 18 per cent of recruiters now expect AI to create new roles mainly across IT analytics and marketingImportantly AI is emerging as a catalyst for new role creation especially in technology analytics and marketing functions This evolution highlights the importance of continuous upskilling as organisations prepare for the next phase of workforce transformationâ Goyal saidMeanwhile hiring demand is expected to continue favouring entryto midlevel professionals with IT and manufacturing leading midlevel hiring and healthcare driving entrylevel rolesNotably 69 per cent of IT recruiters expect the highest demand for midlevel professionals 47 yrs of experience while 65 per cent of healthcare recruiters plan to hire from the 03 years experience band emphasising a push toward fresh talent in the sector the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/76-pc-indian-recruiters-to-create-new-jobs-in-h1-2026-healthcare-manufacturing-to-lead-report-659426.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/chikungunya-cases-rise-in-southern-tn-govt-issues-alert-659252.html Chennai Jan 22 Amid a noticeable increase in chikungunya infections across parts of Tamil Nadu the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine DPH has issued a statewide alert directing district administrations and urban health bodies to step up monitoring diagnosis and mosquitocontrol efforts to curb further transmission Health officials said heightened vigilance was essential as seasonal conditions remain favourable for vector breedingIn an advisory circulated to all District Health Officers and City Health Officers the department said a rise in cases had been recorded in Chennai Villupuram Tenkasi Theni Cuddalore Chengalpattu Kancheepuram and Ariyalur districts Patients have commonly presented with high fever severe joint pain muscle aches and extreme fatigue or drowsiness prompting the department to flag the need for early identification and prompt clinical managementTo strengthen surveillance and containment field officials have been instructed to collect sufficient blood samples in feverprone areas and ensure laboratory confirmation using IgM ELISA testsHealth authorities underlined that timely reporting by all government and private hospitals as well as diagnostic laboratories was mandatory to enable early interruption of transmission Any delay in reporting officials cautioned could allow the virus to spread rapidly within communitiesThe department has also ordered that all designated dengue and chikungunya wards in hospitals be kept mosquitofree with adequate bed strength and sufficient mosquito nets for patientsSentinel surveillance hospitals and medical colleges have been directed to maintain stocks of governmentapproved diagnostic kitsIn parallel training programmes based on updated national clinical management guidelines for fever dengue and chikungunya are to be organised for doctors nurses and frontline healthcare workers Rapid Response Teams have been placed on standby with logistical and mobility support to respond to any sudden spike in casesDistrict Collectors have been asked to convene interdepartmental meetings to ensure coordinated action including joint information education and communication IEC campaigns and intensified vectorcontrol drivesAt the grassroots level district entomologists and health inspectors have been told to intensify sourcereduction activities by eliminating stagnant water in artificial containers and conducting weekly masscleaning drives in highrisk areasDaily larval surveillance periodic indoor fogging and the application of larvicides in large waterstorage containers have been made mandatoryStressing that public cooperation is crucial health officials urged residents to scrub waterstorage vessels weekly use bed nets wear protective clothing and ensure proper solidwaste management The department said compliance would be reviewed daily with actiontaken reports to be submitted regularly to headquarters IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/chikungunya-cases-rise-in-southern-tn-govt-issues-alert-659252.html Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/human-heart-regrows-muscle-cells-after-heart-attack-study-659135.html New Delhi Jan 20 In a worldfirst discovery scientists in Australia have found that the human heart can regrow muscle cells after a heart attack raising hopes for future regenerative treatments for heart failure The study published in Circulation Research revealed that while parts of the heart remain scarred after a heart attack new muscle cells are also produced a phenomenon previously seen only in mice and now demonstrated in humans for the first time Xinhua news agency reportedUntil now weve thought that because heart cells die after a heart attack those areas of the heart were irreparably damaged leaving the heart less able to pump blood to the bodys organs said Robert Hume research fellow at the University of Sydney and first author of the studyIn time we hope to develop therapies that can amplify the hearts natural ability to produce new cells and regenerate the heart after an attack said Hume also lead of translational research at Australias Baird Institute for Applied Heart and Lung ResearchThough increased mitosis a process in which cells divide and reproduce after a heart attack has been observed in the heart muscles of mice this is the first time the phenomenon has been demonstrated in humansThe team made the breakthrough using living heart tissue samples collected from patients undergoing bypass surgery at Australias Royal Prince Alfred HospitalUltimately the goal is to use this discovery to make new heart cells that can reverse heart failure said Professor Sean Lal the studys senior author and heart failure cardiologist at the Royal Prince Alfred HospitalCardiovascular disease remains the worlds leading cause of death and heart attacks can eliminate a third of the cells in the human heart researchers said adding that the discovery offers promising groundwork for novel regenerative medicine IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/human-heart-regrows-muscle-cells-after-heart-attack-study-659135.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/local-leadership-key-to-improving-infant-maternal-health-iim-lucknow-study-659143.html New Delhi Jan 20 Affirmative action in local government leadership can significantly help improve health outcomes particularly infant survival and maternal prenatal care in India according to a study led by researchers at the Indian Institute of Management IIM Lucknow on Tuesday The study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PNAS journal offers important insights into how structural interventions can address longestablished social and health inequitiesThe findings showed that village clusters with affirmative action in local leadership recorded significantly better health outcomesInfant mortality rates were significantly lower in villages led by local representativesMaternal health indicators also improved including higher odds of receiving at least two prenatal visits tetanus vaccinations and prenatal supplements by the second trimesterâOur study found that local leaders from historically disadvantaged groups made decisions on health and education spending that appear to address some structural inequalities in local communitiesâ said Prof K G Sahadevan from the varsityBy using a quasiexperimental design the research team focussed on the impact of leadership reservation for Scheduled Castes SC in Indiaâs local governments the smallest units of governance responsible for delivering essential public services such as health and educationThe study compared 60 village clusters with SCreserved leadership to 60 village clusters without such reservations in 2021The team used a rich mix of data sources including administrative health records primary data collected in schools and indepth interviews with local leadersWhile the study recorded an increase in health outcomes in villages with affirmative action in local leadership no corresponding improvement was recorded in the education sectorThe research team did not find any statistically significant difference in the test scores between the two groupsFurther it showed that Scheduled Caste leaders experienced difficulties in working with teachers implying that persistent social inequalities may limit the effectiveness of improved education outcomes It also discouraged potential SC leaders from stepping forwardThe research provides notable insights for policymakers in low and middleincome countries seeking to advance human development outcomes IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/local-leadership-key-to-improving-infant-maternal-health-iim-lucknow-study-659143.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/hyaluronic-acid-may-help-improve-gynaecological-cancer-treatment-study-659038.html New Delhi Jan 19 In the firstever study Australian researchers have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of using stabilised hyaluronic acid sHA gel during radiation treatment for gynaecological cancers The gel is already approved by Australias Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in prostate cancer radiation treatmentThe team led by experts from Monash University investigated hyaluronic acid gel for the first time in women as a means to gently create more space between the tumour and the rectum during MRIguided brachytherapy a type of internal radiation treatmentBy creating this space clinicians aimed to reduce radiation exposure to the rectum allowing a higher dose of radiation to reach the tumour with more effective targeting reducing damage to healthy tissue and potentially improving treatment resultsThis study is a worldfirst in exploring stabilised hyaluronic acid sHA gels potential to improve outcomes for patients undergoing brachytherapy for gynaecological cancers Our findings show the procedure is safe feasible and offers promising technical advantagesâ said Dr Carminia Lapuz from Monash UniversityBy increasing the distance between the tumour and the rectum we hope to pave the way for safer more effective treatments and greater equity in cancer care Lapuz added The study is published in the Journal of Medical Radiation SciencesIn the small study on 12 patients doctors found the gel easy to use and clearly visible on MRI scans making it simple to check its position throughout treatment and importantly the patients felt no discomfort with the spacer No complications were reported related to the gelThe gel increased the distance between the tumour and the rectum for all 12 patients and safely stayed in place during the course of brachytherapyThe gel dissolves safely in the body over time as shown through its existing use in prostate cancer treatmentWhile this study did not look at longterm side effects or changes in radiation dose to the rectum it shows that using sHA gel as a spacer is safe and feasible for people with gynaecological cancerBy reducing radiation exposure to healthy tissue and enabling better targeting of tumours this approach has the potential to improve quality of life minimise longterm side effects and deliver more effective cancer care for women worldwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/hyaluronic-acid-may-help-improve-gynaecological-cancer-treatment-study-659038.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/physical-activity-in-adolescence-may-ward-off-breast-cancer-risk-later-study-658814.html New Delhi Jan 17 Adolescent girls who actively partake in recreational physical activity can have significant protection against risks of breast cancer according to a study Researchers from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in the US showed that recreational physical activity may be associated with breast tissue composition and biomarkers of stress in adolescent girlsIn the study girls who reported engaging in at least two hours of recreational physical activity in the prior week compared with none had lower percent water content in breast tissue an indicator of lower breast density and lower concentrations of urinary biomarkers linked to stressThe findings published in the journal Breast Cancer Research shed new light on how physical activity during adolescence a critical period of breast development may influence biological pathways related to future breast cancer riskâThe importance and urgency of this research are underscored by the rising incidence of breast cancer in young women and the alarmingly low levels of recreational physical activity observed both in this study and among adolescents globallyâ said Rebecca Kehm Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School of Public HealthâOur findings suggest that recreational physical activity is associated with breast tissue composition and stress biomarker changes in adolescent girls independent of body fat which could have important implications for breast cancer riskâ Kehm addedThe study aligns with previous research in adult women showing that higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower mammographic breast density a key predictor of breast cancer riskDuring adolescence participants selfreported pastweek engagement in recreational physical activity including both organised and unorganised activities and completed clinic visits that included blood and urine collection as well as breast tissue assessmentsThe average age of girls in the study was 16 years More than half 51 per cent reported no recreational physical activity in the past week Seventythree per cent reported no participation in organised activities and 66 per cent reported no participation in unorganised activitiesThe team noted that additional longitudinal studies are needed to determine how these adolescent biomarkers may translate into breast cancer risk later in life IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/physical-activity-in-adolescence-may-ward-off-breast-cancer-risk-later-study-658814.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-ranks-second-globally-in-use-of-claudeai-largely-for-software-development-658827.html New Delhi Jan 17 India accounted for the secondâhighest global use of US AI firm Anthropics Claudeai with most activity concentrated in technical and software development work a report has said The report from Anthropic said that five of the top 10 use cases in India fall within software development and that 452 per cent of use cases revolve around computer and mathematical workThe report highlighted that Indian users are two times overrepresented in the survey conducted on Claudes usage in CSS HTML and UI styling tasks and 17 times overrepresented in building and debugging web applicationsOther distinct Indian use cases include developing AI systems such as chatbots and workflow automation at 15 times representation and that users also employ Claude for job searching professional development academic STEM work and business planning the report saidIt noted Indiaâs Anthropic AI Usage Index at 022 a measure of whether Claude is overâ or underârepresented relative to the workingâage populationAn AUI above 1 indicates that a country uses Claude more intensively than its population alone would predict while an AUI below 1 indicates lowerthanexpected usageGlobally Claude usage remains concentrated among certain tasks most of which are related to coding it said adding that the US India Japan the UK and South Korea lead in overall Claudeai useâSome professionals may see some of their skills elevated such as radiologists and therapists as AI takes on some of their timeintensive tasks potentially offering more time to engage with patients and clientsâ the report noted on evolving AI trendsOthers may see their roles simplified or see a deskilling effect as AI can take on large portions of their roles such as data entry workers IT specialists and travel agentsOpenAI CEO Sam Altman had earlier said that India is the AI firms secondlargest market in the world and it may become our largestDue to Indiaâs young techâsavvy population the country holds a significant advantage in adapting to emerging technologies especially artificial intelligence AIIndian youth are rapidly integrating advanced tech tools making India a global hub for innovation and digital skills IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-ranks-second-globally-in-use-of-claudeai-largely-for-software-development-658827.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/alcohol-ban-in-bihar-led-to-better-proteins-fat-intake-decline-in-processed-foods-iit-kanpur-658836.html New Delhi Jan 17 The prohibition on alcohol in Bihar in 2016 has led to higher intake of calories protein and healthy fats from nutritious food sources according to a study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Kanpur on Saturday The study finds that alcohol prohibition enacted under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act by the Nitish Kumarled government significantly increased caloric protein and fat intake from healthy food sources such as pulses dairy products and nutbased oilsImportantly the move led to a decline in consumption of packaged and processed foods which are often complementary to alcohol useâThe ban did not just free up household resources it also triggered positive behavioural spilloversâ said Vinayak Krishnatri from Department of Economic Sciences at IIT KanpurâReduced alcohol use was associated with lower marital conflict improved household stability and a greater prioritization of spending on nutritious foodâ Krishnatri addedIn the paper published in the journal Agricultural Economics the team drew analysis based on householdlevel data from two rounds 201112 and 202223 of the nationally representative Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office NSSOTo account for broader time trends and regional economic changes the researchers compared Bihar with neighbouring states Uttar Pradesh Jharkhand and West BengalTo ensure the validity of the findings the researchers employed multiple statistical matching techniques and conducted extensive robustness checksThe study showed that alcohol prohibition freed up household resources which were subsequently redirected towards healthier food consumption rather than unhealthy alternatives Stronger gains were seen in urban areas where enforcement of the ban is relatively more effectiveContrary to concerns households did not reallocate these savings towards unhealthy food consumptionA particularly policyrelevant finding is the increase in protein intake in a state where diets are traditionally cerealdominated The study also found a shift away from cheap unhealthy fats towards betterquality cooking oils improving overall dietary qualityAlcohol prohibition in Bihar was primarily aimed at reducing domestic violence and alcoholrelated social harms The study also reveals that it generated unintended nutritional and health benefitsâWe show that the ban led to meaningful improvements in diet quality by shifting household spending from alcohol to foodâ said Prof Sukumar Vellakkal coauthor and Associate Professor Department of Economic Sciences IIT Kanpur IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/alcohol-ban-in-bihar-led-to-better-proteins-fat-intake-decline-in-processed-foods-iit-kanpur-658836.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/hpv-vaccination-dnabased-screening-key-to-fight-cervical-cancer-in-india-govt-658860.html New Delhi Jan 17 Vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus HPV as well as improving access to DNAbased screening is crucial to eliminate cervical cancer in India said officials from the Health Ministry on Saturday The experts were speaking at Indiaâs first national summit organised by AIIMS to accelerate the cervical cancer elimination agendaAradhana Patnaik Additional Secretary and Managing Director National Health Mission NHM Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reaffirmed the governments unwavering commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problemâCervical cancer elimination is an achievable goal for India and we are fully committed to accelerating action across prevention screening and treatmentâ said PatnaikâOur focus is on rapidly expanding HPV vaccination strengthening screening at all levels particularly through highperformance methods such as HPV DNA testing to ensure timely access to diagnosis and treatment for every woman With stronger systems clear operational protocols and sustained partnerships across states and stakeholders we can make cervical cancer elimination a reality and safeguard the health of millions of women across the countryâ she addedProf Dr VK Paul Member Health NITI Aayog stated that India has a historic opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer but it requires speed scale and systemwide alignmentHe highlighted the need for evidencebased implementation modelsWe must initiate pilot projects that demonstrate how HPV DNAbased screening and selfsampling can be implemented on scale particularly across primary healthcare platforms These insights will help India build a national model that ensures women everywhere benefit from timely screening accurate diagnostics and seamless followupâ Paul addedOrganised by the Departments of Radiation Oncology Surgical Oncology and OncoAnaesthesia amp Palliative Medicine DRBRAIRCH at AIIMS the Summit focused on the three key pillarsStarting with scaling HPV vaccination to strengthening screening through highperformance HPV DNA testing the event focused on boosting selfsampling methods and closing the loop with effective cancer careThe summit also delved into establishing uniform national SOPs enabling hubandspoke care models and streamlining treatment and followup pathways to ensure equitable highquality care nationwideâCervical cancer can no longer be addressed in silos Convening government clinicians innovators and patient advocates is key to creating the momentum and accountability needed to accelerate prevention early detection and effective treatment said Dr Abhishek Shankar Assistant Professor Department of Radiation Oncology DRBRAIRCH at AIIMSThrough this initiative we aim to define clear actionable recommendations that will shape Indiaâs roadmap to cervical cancer eliminationâ he addedThe Summit brought together over 500 participants including representatives from AIIMS campuses nationwide state health departments cancer institutes WHO UNICEF ICMR civil society organisations and industry partners and concluded with a National Call to Action outlining priority steps to accelerate Indiaâs cervical cancer elimination roadmap IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/hpv-vaccination-dnabased-screening-key-to-fight-cervical-cancer-in-india-govt-658860.html Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/south-korea-reports-1st-african-swine-fever-case-in-2-months-658720.html Seoul Jan 17 South Korea on Saturday confirmed its first case of African swine fever ASF in about two months prompting authorities to cull thousands of pigs and issue a standstill order to prevent the virus from spreading According to the provincial government the outbreak was detected at a farm in Gangneung about 170 kilometres east of Seoul in Gangwon Province Yonhap news agency reportedAuthorities said 29 of 32 pigs that died at the facility on Friday tested positive for the virus which is fatal to pigs but harmless to humansPrime Minister Kim Minseok has ordered emergency containment measures including restricting access to the site and culling operations after receiving a report on the new caseKim also stressed the need for a thorough epidemiological investigation to determine the cause of the outbreakIt is the first confirmed case in the country since November when an outbreak was reported in Dangjin South Chungcheong ProvinceTo prevent the spread officials culled 20000 pigs at the affected farm and issued a 48hour standstill order for pig farms in six adjacent cities and countiesIn November last year the country confirmed its sixth ASF case of the yearThe case was reported at a pig farm in the city of Dangjin in South Chungcheong Province which raises 463 pigs Yonhap reported It has the largest swine farming capacity in the country making the situation far more serious and raising the risk of a nationwide spreadThe government culled 1423 pigs from the affected farm and other nearby farms operated by the same owner and issued a 48hour standstill order for pig farms and related facilities nationwide the officials saidAll of the previous five cases of 2025 were reported in the northern part of Gyeonggi Province IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/south-korea-reports-1st-african-swine-fever-case-in-2-months-658720.html Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/combining-two-medicinesmay-help-treatchildhood-brain-cancer-study-658724.html New Delhi Jan 17 A team of Australian researchers has tested a new way of treating childhood brain cancer by combining two medicines in lab studies The study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine found that using the two treatments together may work better than using either on its ownThe team from the Childrens Cancer Institute and University of New South Wales tested a combined therapy approach on a group of difficulttotreat brain tumours diffuse midline gliomas DMG in the labThis group includes diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma DIPG a rare but fatal childhood brain cancer and a type of DMG Children diagnosed with DIPG usually survive for about 12 monthsWe recognise that no single drug treatment is able to eradicate the most aggressive of brain cancers on its own said Conjoint Associate Professor Maria Tsoli from UNSWShe said this is what led the researchers to see if combining treatments could work betterUNSW Conjoint Professor David Ziegler said one of the biggest challenges with these tumours is that thousands of genes are switched on at the same time driving the cancers growthIt has proven extremely difficult to find a way to switch them all off he saidThe researchers said that DMG cells grow out of control because of changes that disrupt normal gene activityThe study discovered a promising combination of drugs that successfully shuts down the transcription process effectively switching off thousands of genes at once they explainedThe team focused on two important proteins involved in transcription FACT and BET found at high levels in cancer cells Drugs that block these proteins already exist but when used on their own they only slow the cancer slightlyBut when used together the cancer cells died in laboratory experimentsExperiments in mice showed that it slowed tumour growth and helped the mice live longerThe researchers also found the treatment activated signals linked to the immune system This means the cancer cells may become easier for the bodys immune system to recognise and targetBecause of this the researchers think that adding an immunebased treatment such as CAR Tcell therapy could work even better in the futureThe researchers said both types of drugs are already being developed for use in patients as they are now in clinical trials IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/combining-two-medicinesmay-help-treatchildhood-brain-cancer-study-658724.html Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-likely-to-roll-out-collateralfree-loans-for-gig-workers-domestic-helpers-soon-658730.html New Delhi Jan 17 The government reportedly plans to launch a microcredit programme in April 2026 offering collateralâfree loans of up to Rs 10000 per annum to gig workers domestic helpers and other vulnerable groups The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is apparently designing the scheme on the lines of the PM Street Vendors Atma Nirbhar Nidhi PMâSVANidhi which provides street vendors with small workingâcapital loans according to reportsUnder PMâSVANidhi vendors receive initial loans starting at Rs 10000 and on timely repayment they become eligible for subsequent tranches of Rs 20000 and Rs 50000 along with a 7 per cent interest subsidy and additional incentives for adopting digital paymentsThe new scheme aims to help gig and platform workers many of whom lack formal credit histories to buy twoâwheelers and other assets needed for their workEligibility is expected to mirror PMâSVANidhiâs verification approach where beneficiaries will include workers registered on the governmentâs eâShram portal who hold governmentâissued identity cards and a Universal Account NumberPMSVANidhi needs vendors to hold a licence and be included in urban local body surveysAs of November 2025 more than 3138 million unorganised workers and over 509 lakh gig and platform workers were registered on the eShram and those verified on the portal will be first in line for the new loans the reports saidUnder the restructured Prime Minister Street Vendorâs Atma Nirbhar Nidhi PM SVANidhi Scheme which aims to benefit 115 crore beneficiaries including 50 lakh new beneficiaries the government had informed earlierThe lending period has now been extended until March 31 2030 The total outlay for the scheme is Rs 7332 crore the statement addedThe key features of the restructured scheme include enhanced loan amounts across the first and second tranches provision of a UPIlinked RuPay Credit Card for beneficiaries who have timely repaid the second loanThe schemeâs coverage is being expanded beyond statutory towns to census towns periurban areas etc in a graded manner IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-likely-to-roll-out-collateralfree-loans-for-gig-workers-domestic-helpers-soon-658730.html Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/aiia-to-continue-fostering-entrepreneurship-innovation-in-ayurveda-ayush-ministry-658741.html New Delhi Jan 17 The All India Institute of Ayurveda AIIA has reiterated its dedication to foster entrepreneurship innovation in Ayurveda through its startup incubation centre Incubation Centre for Ayurveda Innovation and Entrepreneurship AIIAiCAINE the Ministry of Ayush said on Saturday Through AIIAiCAINE the Institute supports newage ventures that contribute to evidencebased sustainable and inclusive health solutionsâAIIAiCAINE continues to empower innovators by providing a structured platform to transform ideas into impactful enterprisesâ the Ministry saidThe Institute also successfully organised an awareness programme on MSME opportunities for Ayurvedabased startups on the occasion of National Startup Day 2026 on FridayThe programme was conducted in collaboration with the MSMEâDevelopment and Facilitation Office in the national capitalâThe event reaffirmed AIIAiCAINEâs commitment to nurturing a robust innovationdriven startup ecosystem rooted in Ayurveda aligned with national priorities for entrepreneurship MSME growth and sustainable healthcare solutionsâ the Ministry saidIt brought together policymakers academic leaders startup enablers and aspiring entrepreneurs to deliberate on strengthening the MSME and startup ecosystem with a special focus on Ayurveda and integrative health innovationsâThe sessions highlighted government support schemes institutional mechanisms for innovation intellectual property protection certification and standardisation requirements and financial mechanisms essential for earlystage startupsâ the Ministry saidDuring the event Dr Arun Kumar spoke about innovationdriven entrepreneurship in Ayurveda while Sunil Kumar Deputy Director MSME provided an overview of MSME initiatives and government schemes relevant to Ayurvedabased enterprisesProf Manjusha Rajagopala shared the academic and institutional perspective on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within Ayurveda institutionsDr R K Bharti Joint Director MSME emphasised the need for a strong policysupported ecosystem to promote startups and MSMEs particularly in the traditional medicine and wellness sectorsThe technical sessions featured expert talks by Sangeeta Nagar former Senior Scientist DPIIT on Intellectual Property Rights IPR and their importance for startups and Jyoti Neeraj Senior Manager SIDBI who elaborated on financial support mechanisms and funding opportunities available for startups and MSMEs IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/aiia-to-continue-fostering-entrepreneurship-innovation-in-ayurveda-ayush-ministry-658741.html Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/spacex-brings-back-4-nasa-astronauts-to-earth-in-first-ever-medical-evacuation-from-iss-658474.html New Delhi Jan 15 Elon Muskled SpaceX on Thursday successfully brought back four NASA astronauts to Earth in the firstever medical evacuation from the International Space Station ISS NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov returned to Earth at 1241 am PST 211 pm IST aboard SpaceXâs Dragon capsuleâWelcome home Crew11 At 341 am ET 0841 UTC the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of San Diego Californiaâ NASA said in a post on social media platform XâDragon and NASAâs Crew11 return to Earth splashing down off the coast of Californiaâ added SpaceXThe astronauts concluded a more than fivemonth mission aboard the ISS and their early departure leaves just three NASAs Chris Williams cosmonauts Sergey KudSverchkov and Sergei Mikaev on the space station Another crew of four should arrive next monthâAll four crew members will be transported to a local hospital for additional evaluation taking advantage of medical resources on Earth to provide the best care possibleâ NASA said on XOn January 8 the US space agency postponed its first scheduled spacewalk of 2026 with Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman over âmedical concernâ with an astronautThe space agency however has not provided details about the medical issue or the name of the astronaut involvedâDue to medical privacy it is not appropriate for NASA to share more details about the crew member The situation is stableâ NASA had shared in a blogpostMeanwhile NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted that Crew11s return reflects the strength and capability of the US space programme in safely bringing astronauts back He also praised the Crew11 teams for their achievementsâCrew11 completed more than 140 science experiments that advance human exploration Missions like Crew11 demonstrate the capability inherent in Americaâs space programme our ability to bring astronauts home as needed launch new crews quickly and continue pushing forward on human spaceflight as we prepare for our historic Artemis II mission from low Earth orbit to the Moon and ultimately Marsâ Isaacman saidDuring their 167day mission the four crew members traveled nearly 71 million miles and completed more than 2670 orbits around EarthThe Crew11 mission was Finckeâs fourth spaceflight Yuiâs second and the first for Cardman and Platonov Fincke has logged 549 days in space ranking him fourth among all NASA astronauts for cumulative days in space IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/spacex-brings-back-4-nasa-astronauts-to-earth-in-first-ever-medical-evacuation-from-iss-658474.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 04:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-healthcare-sector-to-sustain-strong-growth-in-fy26-report-658477.html New Delhi Jan 16 Indiaâs healthcare sector which has delivered a resilient performance in Q2FY26 is expected to sustain the momentum over the remainder of FY26 said a report on Thursday The report by EYParthenon the sector remained strong in Q2FY26 with rising demand for highend clinical specialties steady capacity expansion by hospital chains and strong consolidation in diagnosticsThe sector will sustain the momentum with rising healthcare utilisation capacity additions coming on stream and continued investor interestWhile nearterm margin pressures may persist for newly commissioned assets mediumterm fundamentals remain strong underpinned by favourable demographics expanding insurance coverage and increasing demand for specialised care the report saidMergers and acquisitions activity remained robust during the last quarterIn Q2FY26 the healthcare sector saw more than Rs 10000 crore worth of announced transactions across hospitals diagnostics and specialty care This included buyouts minority investments and crossborder acquisitionsHealthcare assets continue to command premium multiples particularly in diagnostics and highgrowth specialty segmentsNotably the average revenue per occupied bed ARPOB across leading hospital networks rose by 1016 per cent yearonyear Large hospital chains also continued to expand aggressivelyâQ2FY26 underscores the structural strength of Indiaâs healthcare sector What stands out is the sustained shift toward highacuity specialties such as oncology cardiology and neurology reflected in rising occupancy levels and doubledigit ARPOB growth across leading hospital chainsâ said Kaivaan Movdawalla National Healthcare Leader EY Parthenon IndiaâAt the same time diagnostics players are moving decisively up the value chain with accelerated investments in genomics oncology and AIled testing platforms This combination of clinical depth asset expansion and technology adoption positions the sector well for durable longterm growthâ Movdawalla addedWhile leading hospital chains plan to add over 18000 beds over the next three to five years diagnostic companies reported 1022 per cent yearonyear revenue growth in Q2FY26Growth was driven by rising volumes in Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities with rapid expansion of B2C channels and increased demand for highcomplexity testingSeveral diagnostics players also reported EBITDA margins in the range of 2535 per cent supported by operating leverage and network optimisation the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-healthcare-sector-to-sustain-strong-growth-in-fy26-report-658477.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 04:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-to-build-1st-bsl-4-lab-to-fight-against-deadly-viruses-658496.html Ahmedabad Jan 15 Gujarat is set to significantly strengthen its biosecurity infrastructure with the construction of its first Biosafety Level4 BSL4 laboratory a highsecurity facility designed to handle the worlds most dangerous and highly infectious pathogens The advanced biocontainment complex will aid in the development of vaccines rapid diagnostics and critical research against lifethreatening viruses for which no cure or treatment currently existsThe move comes in the wake of repeated outbreaks of animaltohuman diseases in recent years most notably the Covid19 pandemic During the pandemic India relied solely on the countrys only BSL4 lab in Pune for sample testing and pathogen analysis Gujarat has also witnessed cases of Chandipura virus in humans and Lumpy Skin Disease in animals both requiring BSL3 or higher facilities With the rising threat of viruses such as CrimeanCongo Hemorrhagic Fever CCHF Nipah Chandipura and Lumpy Skin Disease the need for another highlevel containment laboratory has become urgentThe upcoming BSL4 and Animal BSL4 ABSL4 laboratory is being developed by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre GBRC in Gandhinagar adjacent to the Animal Vaccine Institute in Sector28 Spread across 1421 acres the facility will include a 27190 square metre BSL4 and ABSL4 unit BSL3 and BSL3 ISO7 laboratories ABSL3 units BSL2 labs and specialised systems for effluent decontamination and waste managementThe BSL4 laboratory will be equipped with multiple protective layers including a fully airtight environment HEPAfiltered air systems positivepressure space suits for scientists chemical decontamination showers and effluent treatment systems that sterilise all liquid and solid waste before disposal These safeguards ensure no pathogen escapes into the environment under any circumstances Once operational the facility will enable pathogen isolation sequencing advanced testing and vaccine research dramatically reducing Gujarats dependency on national laboratories and enabling faster response during outbreaks It will also support the monitoring of zoonotic diseases those transmitted from animals to humansWith this development Gujarat will become home to Indias second BSL4 lab and position itself as an emerging global hub for biomedical research The facility will not only enhance the states preparedness for future pandemics but also bolster national security by improving Indias ability to counter biothreats and bioterrorism risks IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-to-build-1st-bsl-4-lab-to-fight-against-deadly-viruses-658496.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/your-mouth-bacteria-can-predict-risk-of-chronic-liver-disease-says-study-658544.html New Delhi Jan 16 Your mouth bacteria can significantly affect your gut health and predict the risk of chronic liver disease finds a study Each year more than two million people die from advanced chronic liver disease ACLDIn the study published in the journal Nature Microbiology the researchers analysed bacterial populations in saliva and stool samples from 86 patientsThe team from the Technical University of Munich in Germany found that both the gut and oral microbiome undergo significant changes as liver disease worsens where changes to the oral microbiome were already detectable at earlier disease stagesIn healthy individuals bacterial communities differ substantially between body sitesBut in patients with liver disease oral and gut microbiomes became increasingly similar as the disease progressed and nearly identical bacterial strains were recovered from the mouths and guts of patientsThese strains are typically found in the mouth and are rarely present in the healthy gut However we observed increases in the absolute abundances of these oral bacteria in patients with advanced chronic liver disease said Melanie Schirmer Professor of Translational Microbiome Data Integration at TUMThis strongly suggests that these bacteria translocate from the mouth and colonise the gut Schirmer addedFurther the team identified several oral bacterial species that colonised patients gutsThey also found evidence that higher levels of these bacteria in stool samples were associated with damage to the intestinal barrierGene analysis showed that these bacteria carry genes encoding collagendegradation enzymesThe team confirmed these enzymes were active by testing isolated bacteria from stool samples and synthesizing the enzymeCollagen breakdown can compromise the gut barrier potentially allowing bacteria and bacterial products to reach other organs such as the liver We believe this may worsen the disease explained Aurelie Cenier a doctoral researcher and cofirst authorOur findings open potential new therapeutic strategies for people with advanced chronic liver disease Protecting or restoring the gut barrier could help slow disease progression Targeting the oral microbiome offers a way to positively influence the course of the disease and prevent clinical complications added Dr Vishal Patel from Kings College London IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/your-mouth-bacteria-can-predict-risk-of-chronic-liver-disease-says-study-658544.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/world-bankapproves286mnloanto-boosthealthcareaccessin-bengal-658552.html New Delhi Jan 16 The World Bank on Friday approved a loan of 286 million for a new programme to enhance access to healthcare for over 90 million people in West Bengal The West Bengal Health System Reform Programme Operation will support delivery of personalised healthcare services across the state for people over 30 years through digital tracking measures for noncommunicable diseases NCDs such as hypertension and diabetesIt will also bring a patientcentric care approach to the stateâs health systems improve measurement of health outcomes and boost the resilience of healthcare facilities to extreme weather eventsThe 286 million loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development IBRD has a final maturity of 165 years including a grace period of three years the World Bank said in a statementâThis programme will help West Bengal deliver more equitable and higherquality health services with measurable results for women adolescents and people living with noncommunicable diseasesâ said Paul Procee the World Bankâs Acting Country Director for IndiaâBy linking financing to verified outcomes and strengthening governance and climate resilience the operation addresses both service gaps and systemic constraints that have held back health gains for vulnerable communities This will have a direct impact on the ability to seek good jobsâ he addedWest Bengal has made sustained health gains in the past two decades with infant mortality rates declining from 32 deaths per 1000 live births in 20102012 to 19 in 2018â2020The total fertility rate is at 164 births per woman as of 2019 which is among the lowest in the country As a result life expectancy in West Bengal is 72 years which is higher than the national averageHowever in spite of these gains and high literacy rates among adolescent girls at 89 per cent West Bengal has the secondhighest rate of adolescent pregnancies in India at 16 per cent which also drives the maternal mortality ratio at 103 deaths per 100000 live births in 20182020The districts of Purulia Birbhum Murshidabad Maldah and Uttar Dinajpur face critical challenges in reproductive maternal and adolescent careEarlier this week the Washingtonbased multilateral funding agency also approved 680 million loans for three projects in Assam to help the state increase resilience to extreme weather events improve governance and service delivery and provide more than four million students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/world-bankapproves286mnloanto-boosthealthcareaccessin-bengal-658552.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-stack-widening-financial-and-digital-inclusion-report-658563.html New Delhi Jan 16 Indiaâs digital public infrastructure and tech push laid the groundwork on which agentic AI can thrive on trusted data and integrated workflows a report said on Friday The report from the World Economic Forum said the countrys India Stack is creating digital rails that have widened financial and digital inclusionIndia Stack includes the Aadhaar digital identity the Unified Payments Interface that processes over 18 billion transactions a month DigiLocker and the Account Aggregator frameworkWith a 4 trillion economy a young techsavvy population and policies that prioritize openness India is positioned to shape the age through models that combine scale sustainability and equity the report saidThe government is bolstering that foundation with investments in nextâgeneration computing and artificial intelligence including the National Quantum Missionâs aim to develop 1000âqubit quantum computers by 2031 and the expansion of AI compute capacity supported by 18693 GPUsEquitable progress depends not on the tools themselves including how we deploy agentic AI but on how we reimagine the systems skills and values that govern their use the think tank saidIt lauded Indias work in this area as India Stack ambitiously reimagining technology as a public good and deploys models that combine scale sustainability and equityThe report also forecasted that AI agents could handle about 45 per cent of routine enterprise tasks by 2029 but cautioned that more than 80 per cent of generative AI pilots fail to deliver measurable earnings gains and only one in three employees say approved AI tools meet their needsHowever early adopters reported productivity gains of 4060 per centScaling this demands new architecture and bold leadership as agentic AI fast becomes the backbone of enterprise operations the report notedAnalysts estimated that AI and related technologies will create 170 million new roles by 2030 while displacing 92 million jobs and urged businesses to invest in skills design ethical systems and focus on inclusivity IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-stack-widening-financial-and-digital-inclusion-report-658563.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/nipah-casesrise-to-5in-bengal-experts-warn-againstintruding-animalhabitats-658652.html New Delhi Jan 16 The ongoing Nipah outbreak in West Bengal with cases rising to five in just a week acts as a warning against intruding into animal habitats said health experts on Friday The first two patients a male nurse from Purba Medinipur district and a female nurse from Mongolkot in Purba Bardhaman district who worked at a private hospital in Barasat in North 24 Parganas district continue to remain in the ICU All three new cases a doctor a nurse and a health staff member have been admitted to the infectious diseases hospital in BeleghataThe West Bengal government has also sent around 100 people into home quarantine since the first confirmed cases on Monday Of these around 30 are being closely monitoredHuman intrusion into animal habitats primarily through deforestation and intensive farming has been a key driver of Nipah virus NiV emergence This disruption forces the natural reservoir hosts fruit bats flying foxes into closer contact with human settlements and domestic animals leading to the virus spilling over to new populationsAccording to experts the exact mechanism by which the virus jumps to humans is not fully known although consumption of batcontaminated fruit and drinking raw date palm sap have been proposed as possible routesâNipah virus is known to circulate in certain species of bats Human infection is rare and is the result of an accidental spillover at the humanbat interface also called a zoonosis This is more likely in rural and forestadjacent areas where agricultural practices increase contact between humans and fruit bats searching for foodâ Rajeev Jayadevan ExPresident of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell Kerala told IANSHumananimal interphase intruding their domains consuming raw datepalm rack toddy or tadi that is contaminated by bats eating halfeaten raw fruits that are leaked by batsâ are potential reasons behind the recent outbreak added Dr Ishwar Gilada Secretary General of Peopleâs Health Organisation PHOBut can the disease potentially turn into a pandemicThe experts noted that although persontoperson transmission can occur on a limited scale the prevailing version of the Nipah virus does not have the characteristics of a pandemic virusNipah is essentially a zoonotic infection from animals to humans and then from human to human Nipah virus spreads through saliva urine and other body fluids of an infected personAirborne transmission through droplets among close contacts of an infected person especially if the patient develops a cough or vomiting is also likely The risks can be reduced by following universal precautions such as wearing masks and gloves while caring for patientsâTheoretically any zoonotic infections that spread from human to human have the potential of causing an epidemic or pandemic But from its first outbreak in Malaysia in 1998 till date it has not happenedâ Gilada told IANSAs there are no proven antiviral therapies or human vaccine against the Nipah virus early detection is crucial to control an outbreakâBecause Nipah carries a high mortality rate it is important to arrest the spread of infection as early as possible This requires systematic contact tracing where all close contacts of the patient are identified monitored for symptoms and kept in isolation according to protocolâ Jayadevan saidIf the initial diagnosis is delayed the disease may spread further making containment more difficultImportantly the expert stressed the need for increasing public awareness especially to avoid contact with batsâMisguided attempts by wellmeaning individuals to trap handle or drive bats away can be counterproductive and may actually increase the risk of spillover Besides bats can fly dozens of kilometres each day so driving a few bats away from one property will not keep them away permanentlyâ Jayadevan told IANSGilada also urged people to not intrude on the habitats and domains of animals birds and the environmentâNot consuming bats raw fruits especially halfeaten ones not consuming ToddyTadi strict infection control precautions SMSsanitiser mask and social distancing from infected persons etcâ he saidâHealthcare systems must stay alert for early warning signs which unfortunately can resemble other viral infectionsâ added JayadevanâPatients presenting with features of viral encephalitis and pneumonia in Nipahprone areas must also be evaluated for this infection This is especially important for patients who develop seizures confusion or comaâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/nipah-casesrise-to-5in-bengal-experts-warn-againstintruding-animalhabitats-658652.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pakistancontinues-toimpose40-pc-tax-onmenstrual-padsreport-658660.html New Delhi Jan 16 In Pakistan menstrual pads are a luxury item and the government continues to impose a 40 per cent tax on period products according to a media report While menstrual health has gained significant attention and many countries including Malawi and Ethiopia have worked in the last five years to remove different types of taxes and import duties Pakistan continues to see menstrual pads as a luxury good the NPRorg reportedâPakistan imposes a luxury tax on period products Theyre not taxed as normal sales items and theyre not given the exemption of essential itemsâ the report saidAs per a 2025 UNICEF report there is âno national policy plan or strategy for menstrual health and hygieneâ in PakistanBushra Mahnoor executive director at Mahwari Justice a nonprofit in Pakistan advocating for menstrual health told NPR that the countryâs Constitution âgives an exemption to a lot of products that are considered essential items like medical supplies and for the cattle industry cattle semen is considered essential and period products are not Instead theres almost 40 per cent of tax on padsâIn 2025 Mahnoorâs team got over 10000 signatures for a petition to remove the luxury tax on menstrual products In September a lawsuit was also filed in the country to reclassify menstrual products from luxury products to essential goods But due to the unstable political and judicial nature of the country the petitioners are yet to receive a date for the court hearing the report saidMeanwhile India abolished the menstrual tax in July 2018 making it 100 per cent taxexempt to improve affordability and access for better menstrual hygiene especially for girls educationThe decision removed a 12 per cent tax treating menstrual hygiene items as essential goods rather than luxuries IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pakistancontinues-toimpose40-pc-tax-onmenstrual-padsreport-658660.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/in-death-keralas-17-year-old-ayona-monson-gave-life-and-hope-to-others-658402.html Thiruvananthapuram Jan 15 The hill town of Payyavoor in Kannur district remains enveloped in grief following the tragic death of a Class 12 student who succumbed to injuries sustained after allegedly jumping from a school building Amid the sorrow Ayona Monsonâs family has transformed personal tragedy into a powerful act of compassion through organ donationAyona a student of a school in Payyavoor passed away on Wednesday night while on ventilator support in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in KannurThe incident occurred on Monday morning just days before her laboratory model examinations The police are probing the caseDespite intensive treatment her condition deteriorated leaving her parents to confront an unthinkable lossKnown among teachers and classmates as a bright affectionate student who excelled in academics as well as extracurricular activities Ayonaâs passing has left an emotional void that the school community is struggling to come to terms withIn an extraordinary decision taken at the most painful moment of their lives her parents Monson and Anita consented to organ donationAyonaâs heart kidneys and other vital organs were retrieved allowing multiple patients to receive a second chance at lifeOne of her kidneys was flown to Thiruvananthapuram on a domestic flight marking the first time an internal flight service was used for organ transport in the stateA green corridor was arranged from the airport to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital to ensure swift transplantationHer heart was airlifted to Chennai for a patient undergoing critical treatment while other organs were allocated to recipients across KeralaEven as they mourn their daughter the family finds solace in the belief that Ayona will continue to live on through othersâLet others live through herâ was the quiet resolve of parents who chose generosity over grief Ayona is survived by her siblings Marfin and AngelHer funeral will be held at 230 pm Friday at the cemetery of St Francis of Assisi Church TirurIn a moment when darkness could have prevailed a young life became lightIn choosing donation Ayona and her parents have left behind a legacy far greater than words proof that even in death humanity can endure IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/in-death-keralas-17-year-old-ayona-monson-gave-life-and-hope-to-others-658402.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/extra-5-minutes-of-sleep-2-minutes-of-brisk-walkingcan-add1yearto-your-life-study-658317.html New Delhi Jan 14 Just five more minutes of sleep and two minutes of moderate exercise like brisk walking or climbing stairs can add a year to your life according to a study on Wednesday Adding half a serving of vegetables per day more could also lead to an extra year of life for people with the worst existing sleep physical activity and dietary habits revealed the study that followed 60000 people for eight long yearsThe study published in The Lancet journal eClinicalMedicine suggested that seven to eight hours of sleep per day more than 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day and a healthy diet were associated with over nine years of additional lifespan and years spent in good healthâThe combined relationship of sleep physical activity and diet is larger than the sum of the individual behaviours For example for people with the unhealthiest sleep physical activity and dietary habits to achieve one additional year of lifespan through sleep alone would require five times the amount of additional sleep per day 25 minutes than if physical activity and diet also improved a small amountâ said the international group of researchers from the UK Australia Chile and BrazilIn a separate study published in the journal The Lancet researchers from Norway Spain and Australia showed that adding just 5 minutes of extra walking to the daily routine can cut down the risk of death in the majority of adults by 10 per centIt will also help the least active adults to reduce their risk of death by around 6 per centFurther the study based on data from more than 135000 adults found that reducing sedentary time by 30 minutes per day was associated with an estimatedâ7 per cent reduction in all deathsâif adopted by the majority of adults who spend 10 hours being sedentary per dayAround 3 per cent of all deathsâcan be reduced if adopted by the most sedentary adults who spend 12 hours being sedentary per day on averageâThese estimates provide important evidence on the wide range of public health impacts associated with even small positive changes in physical activity and inactivityâ said corresponding author Prof Ulf Ekelund from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences OsloThe researchers cautioned that the findings should not be used as personalised advice rather they highlighted the potential benefits for the population as a whole IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/extra-5-minutes-of-sleep-2-minutes-of-brisk-walkingcan-add1yearto-your-life-study-658317.html Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/govtlowers-neet-pg-2025cut-offfor-counselling-to-0-percentilefor-reserved-categories-658324.html New Delhi Jan 14 The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences NBEMS an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has lowered the minimum qualifying percentiles for NEETPG 2025 counselling according to official sources from the Ministry It has been slashed to zero percentile for reserved categoriesThe move addresses the large number of vacant postgraduate medical seats over 18000 PG seats after the completion of Round2 counselling in government and private medical colleges across the countryThe previous percentile thresholds had restricted the pool of eligible candidates despite the availability of seatsThe Indian Medical Association IMA had formally requested a revision of the qualifying cutoff on January 12 citing the urgent need to prevent seat wastage and strengthen healthcare servicesâThe revision aims to ensure optimal utilisation of available seats which are vital for expanding Indiaâs pool of trained medical specialists Leaving such seats vacant undermines national efforts to improve healthcare delivery and results in the loss of valuable educational resourcesâ the sources saidNEETPG serves as a ranking mechanism to facilitate a transparent meritbased allocation of seats through centralised counsellingWhile the qualifying cutoff has been lowered NEETPG 2025 ranks will remain unchanged as published earlier as per the NBEMSâEligibility is provisional and will be verified through MBBSFMGE aggregate marks Face ID or biometric checks at the time of admissionâ the board said in its official noticeIt also warned that incorrect or false information provided in the application especially if used in tiebreaking will lead to cancellation of candidatureWith the revision allotments will be made only through authorised counselling mechanisms no direct or discretionary admissions are permitted improving transparency of the processInterse merit and choicebased allocation will continue to guide seat distributionFurther there will be no dilution of academic standards The revised percentile merely expands eligibility among alreadyqualified MBBS doctors IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/govtlowers-neet-pg-2025cut-offfor-counselling-to-0-percentilefor-reserved-categories-658324.html Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/women-and-elderly-more-likely-to-bevaccine-hesitant-says-study-658205.html New Delhi Jan 13 Women and the elderly are more likely to be vaccinehesitant according to a study on Tuesday which analysed data from more than 11 million people The study published in The Lancet analysed hesitancy based on Covid19 vaccine uptake and found that hesitancy against vaccines was rooted in concerns about their efficacy While it reduced over time it persists in some peopleThe researchers from Imperial College London UK found that the likelihood of remaining unvaccinated was higher for older people women people who were unemployed or living in deprived areas those with a history of Covid and people with a lower level of educationThey identified eight categories of vaccine hesitancy including concerns about effectiveness and side effects perception of low risk from Covid and mistrust of vaccine developers and fear of vaccines and reactionsMen were more likely than women to report not feeling Covid was a personal risk 18 per cent vs 10 per cent Women were also more likely to be worried about fertilityrelated consequences 21 per cent vs 8 per cent while those aged 74 years or older were more likely to be against vaccines in general compared with 18â24yearolds 12 per cent vs 25 per centMore than 40 per cent also reported concerns around longterm health effects 39 per cent that they wanted to wait to see whether the vaccine worked and 37 per cent that they had concerns about side effectsWe show that certain types of vaccine hesitancy are more readily addressed than others for example concerns relating to pregnancy or breastfeedingâ said coauthor Professor Helen Ward from Imperial CollegeOur study suggests that as the vaccine was rolled out public confidence increased and the original vaccine scepticism was largely overcome Ward addedThe study followed more than 11 million people in England between January 2021 and March 2022 during the Covid pandemicOverall 33 per cent of participants reported some degree of Covid vaccine hesitancy Hesitancy rates declined over time from an initial high of 8 per cent of those surveyed in January 2021 to a low of 11 per cent at the start of 2022There was a small uptick in hesitancy to over 22 per cent in February and March 2022 during the Omicron wave IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/women-and-elderly-more-likely-to-bevaccine-hesitant-says-study-658205.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/poshan-udaan-2026-gujarats-skies-carry-a-message-of-nutrition-658212.html Gandhinagar Jan 13 As colourful kites fill the skies on Makar Sankranti Gujarat is giving the traditional festival a meaningful twist with Poshan Udaan 2026 a statewide initiative aimed at spreading awareness on nutrition and health Organised by the Department of Women and Child Development on January 12â13 the campaign uses the popularity of the kite festival to highlight the importance of balanced diets hygiene and overall wellbeing among children adolescent girls and mothersLed by Women and Child Development Minister Dr Manisha Vakil activities are being held across the state zonal district project and Anganwadi levels under ICDSThe initiative emphasises dietary diversity reduction of junk food consumption anaemia prevention among adolescents sanitation and access to safe drinking waterAs part of the programme communities including schoolchildren adolescent girls pregnant and lactating women and local leaders have been actively engagedEvents include kitemaking competitions themed around nutrition sloganwriting contests quizzes and sports for adolescent girls demonstrations of winter nutritious recipes awareness on the benefits of drumstick as a superfood and displays of milletbased dishes under the Shree Anna campaignHealthfocused interventions such as haemoglobin testing distribution of IFA tablets BMI checkups and personalised nutrition counselling were also conducted for mothers and childrenAt Anganwadi centres beneficiaries received colourful kites and manjha strings along with distributions of traditional nutritious foods like chikki made from coarse grains peanuts sesame and mamraOn Makar Sankranti these kites carrying nutrition and health messages will send a symbolic public awareness call soaring through Gujarats skiesThe state government has also appealed to citizens to avoid unsafe Chinese manjha and adhere to safety precautions during kite flyingWith Poshan Udaan 2026 Gujarat aims to celebrate the festival not just with joy and colour but with a commitment to building a healthier more aware society IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/poshan-udaan-2026-gujarats-skies-carry-a-message-of-nutrition-658212.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/five-specialties-account-for-over-50-pc-fy25-revenue-in-ncrs-private-hospitals-report-658217.html New Delhi Jan 13 Cardiology oncology neurology gastroenterology and orthopaedics contributed over 50 per cent of revenue in FY25 in private hospitals in the National Capital region NCR according to a report The report by BNP Paribas Research focuses extensively on private hospitals in the NCR Gurgaon Delhi and Noida to understand the positioning of private hospital chains across micromarkets patient mobility to the NCR and other factors that determine a hospitalâs successIt showed that the specialties spiked revenue at 833 per cent CAGR between FY22 and FY25âWe believe the success of private hospitals in NCR is determined by revenue contribution from CONGO mix cardiology oncology neurology gastroenterology and orthopaedics which contributed over 50 per cent of revenue in FY25 for listed hospitalsâ the report saidâWe believe the contribution from NCR from these specialties would be higher than in other regions Over FY2225 revenue from these specialties grew at 833 per cent CAGR vs 1520 per cent overall revenue CAGR over the same period which highlights companiesâ focus on scaling these segmentsâ it addedThe report found that NCR is considered the home market for most listed hospitals in India It is due to the significant number of beds in the region and high revenue exposureBased on the announced expansion c43 per cent of the upcoming bed capacity for the largest 13 listed hospitals is in North India mostly NCRGovernment institutional setup availability of critical treatment and patientsâ mobility also determined the market dynamics in Delhi Gurgaon and NoidaâEach market has a different market leader We expect some disruption in Gurgaon as new players are expected to enter Noida holds great longterm potential for a substantial patient pool from Uttar Pradeshâ the report saidYet Delhi emerged as the most important healthcare market as itâs a preferred destination for patients in North IndiaIt is because Delhi caters to a large volume of patients from nearby states of Uttar Pradesh Haryana Rajasthan and other parts of IndiaWithin Delhi City South Delhi emerged as the most developed micromarket with the presence of several institutions the report saidNorth Delhi although a larger micromarket compared to South Delhi due to large patient inflow from northern districts of Haryana has been relatively underpenetratedNotably the boundaries of the NCR healthcare market have been expanding with new hospitals in Faridabad a district in Haryana and part of the NCR and Manesar a town in Gurgaon and part of the NCR the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/five-specialties-account-for-over-50-pc-fy25-revenue-in-ncrs-private-hospitals-report-658217.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/bis-committed-to-enhancing-quality-safety-in-ayurveda-throughrobuststandardisation-658102.html New Delhi Jan 12 The Bureau of Indian Standards BIS under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing quality and safety in Ayurveda through robust standardisation The BIS successfully organised a nationallevel workshop in collaboration with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education MAHE through its Division of Ayurveda Centre for Integrative Medicine and ResearchThe event exclusively designed for faculty members researchers startups and industry representatives engaged in the Ayurveda sector witnessed the participation of nearly 180 delegates from across the country It marked a significant milestone in the collective journey towards strengthening quality safety and global acceptance of AyurvedaâBIS is committed to strengthening quality and safety in Ayurveda through robust and inclusive standardisation mechanismsâ said Shrishti Dixit Head of the AYUSH Department BIS She highlighted that standards form the foundation of trust which is essential for the international recognition and wider adoption of AyurvedaThe workshop theme inspired by BISâs guiding motto âManakah Patha Pradarshakaâ highlighted the critical role of standards in harmonising classical Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific and regulatory frameworksâThe workshop represents an important step toward bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary requirements through structured and meaningful standardisationâ said Jayant Deopujari Chairperson of the Ayurveda Sectional Committee BISHe underscored the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to position Ayurveda as a globally trusted healthcare systemDr Sharath K Rao Pro ViceChancellor Health Sciences MAHE Manipal stressed the urgent need for standardisation in traditional systems such as Ayurveda He assured full institutional support from MAHE and its various divisions in advancing this national initiative of the governmentThe discussions focused on multidisciplinary collaboration the role of standards in nurturing Ayurveda startups and the responsibility of the industry in driving quality and compliance Participants actively engaged in open discussions sharing innovative ideas and practical insights on advancing standardization in AyurvedaRaghavendra Naik ScientistC BIS emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary research strong academiaindustry partnerships He also called for targeted capacitybuilding initiatives to create a sustainable and collaborative ecosystem involving academia industry and policymakers for Ayurveda standardisation IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/bis-committed-to-enhancing-quality-safety-in-ayurveda-throughrobuststandardisation-658102.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/two-suspected-nipah-cases-detected-in-bengal-both-individuals-hospitalised-658138.html Kolkata Jan 12 Two suspected cases of Nipah virus disease were identified on January 11 at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory VRDL ICMR AIIMS Kalyani in West Bengal Both the affected persons are nurses and are currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and state Health Secretary Narayan Swoop Nigam confirmed on MondayThey said the state health department is keeping a close watch on the situation and is trying to trace the persons who came in contact with the two nurses after they were suspected to have been affected by the Nipah virusBoth the nurses are attached to a hospital at Barasat the district headquarters of North 24 Parganas Both are now admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospitalOne is a resident of Nadia district and the other is a resident of East Burdwan district Hence attempts to trace the persons who came in contact with them after they were suspected to have been affected are mainly concentrated in Nadia East Burdwan and North 24 Parganas districtsImmediately upon receipt of information the Union Health Secretary held discussions with Chakraborty and Nigam to review the situation and ensure swift and coordinated actionA national joint outbreak response team has been deployed to support the state government in containment and public health response measuresThe team comprises experts from the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene Kolkata National Institute of Virology NIV Pune National Institute of Epidemiology NIE Chennai AIIMS Kalyani and the Department of Wildlife Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate ChangeIt is learnt that the Union governmentâs guidelines on Nipah Virus Disease under the Communicable Disease Alert have been shared with the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme IDSP unitIn addition the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre PHEOC at the National Centre for Disease Control NCDC Delhi has been activated to coordinate the national responseUnion Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assuring full support from the Union governmentJP Nadda also spoke to the Chief Minister over the telephone and reiterated the Centreâs commitment to extend all necessary assistance to the state in managing the situation according to a statement issued by the Union health ministry IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/two-suspected-nipah-cases-detected-in-bengal-both-individuals-hospitalised-658138.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 01:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/delhi-lab-gets-certification-for-advanced-tb-drug-testing-658140.html New Delhi Jan 12 Delhiâs Intermediate Reference Laboratory IRL Tuberculosis Centre has achieved a major milestone with its first certification from the Central Tuberculosis Division CTD Government of India to conduct Drug Susceptibility Testing DST for two drugs an official said on Monday Bedaquiline BDQ and Pretomanid Pa which will be tested are two key drugs used globally for the treatment of drugresistant tuberculosis DRTB the official saidThis certification marks a significant advancement for Delhiâs TB response enhancing the stateâs inhouse capacity to diagnose and manage multidrugresistant MDRTB and extensively drugresistant tuberculosis XDRTB said Pankaj Kumar Singh Delhi Health MinisterThis certification is a major boost to our TB elimination efforts By enabling instate DST for Bedaquiline and Pretomanid we are ensuring faster more accurate diagnosis and timely treatment for our patients Delhi remains firmly committed to contributing to the Prime Ministerâs vision of a TB Mukt Bharat and we will continue to strengthen our diagnostic and treatment systems with the highest standards of care he saidUntil now many patient samples requiring advanced DST had to be sent outside the state leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment With this approval patients in Delhi will now benefit from faster results timely treatment initiation and better clinical outcomes he saidThe IRL New Delhi TB Centre is among the countrys most advanced laboratories equipped with cuttingedge technologies such as BSL3 laboratory facility MGIT 960 Line Probe Assay LPA Xpert XDR Whole Genome Sequencing WGS Truenat PathoDetect and RealTime PCRThese highend diagnostic platforms ensure comprehensive accurate and rapid TB detection fully aligned with national and global standardsIn 2025 alone the laboratory processed over 30000 samples demonstrating its crucial role in supporting TB diagnosis and treatment across the stateDelhi has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership in strengthening TB care under the National TB Elimination Programme NTEPThe state has enrolled the highest number of eligible drugresistant TB patients on the new WHOrecommended BPaLM regimen 1065 since December 2024âa shorter more effective treatment noted for higher success rates and significantly reduced mortalitySimultaneously Delhi continues to intensify Active Case Finding ACF drives across highrisk and vulnerable communities Supported by rapid molecular diagnostics these efforts ensure early detection of TB and drug resistance prompt treatment initiation and seamless linkage to care IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/delhi-lab-gets-certification-for-advanced-tb-drug-testing-658140.html Tue, 13 Jan 2026 01:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-study-showsschool-programmes-can-cut-junk-food-intake-by-1-000-calories-daily-658047.html New Delhi Jan 12 Even as India is seeing a rapid rise in childhood obesity diabetes and heartdisease risk a new study showed how schoolbased behavioural interventions can help reduce consumption of ultraprocessed foods UPFs that are rich in salt and sugar among adolescents The scientific study led by researchers from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research PGIMER Chandigarh found that simple schoolbased behaviour programmes can dramatically reduce junk food consumption by over 1000 calories per dayHigher intake of UPFs including fast foods and sugary drinks is a known factor for increasing health issues such as diabetes hypertension obesity and cancers in adolescents and teenagersâThis study demonstrates the potential of schoolbased behavioural interventions to reduce ultraprocessed food UPF consumption among Indian adolescents addressing a critical gap in public health research and practice in lowand middleincome countries LMICsâ said the researchers including those from Imperial College London UK and Public Health Foundation of India in the paper published in the international journal BMJ Global HealthIn the study the team tested a structured nutrition and behaviourchange programme in schools using a controlled scientific trial designA clusterrandomised controlled trial was conducted across 12 public schools in Chandigarh targeting Grade 8 adolescents and their parents About 11 sessions were held for adolescents over six monthsIn addition a single educational session was conducted for parents to enhance their awareness of reducing UPF consumption and encouraging healthier dietary behaviours Dietary intake data were collected at baseline and endline using two nonconsecutive 24hour dietary recallsâStudents who participated consumed more than 1000 fewer calories per day from UPF such as packaged snacks sugary drinks and fast food Intake of other processed foods dropped by about 270 calories per day showing a consistent move away from unhealthy dietsâ the researchers saidWhile junk food fell the study showed that students did not significantly increase fruit or homecooked food intake indicating that cutting unhealthy food is easier than building healthy habitsEven with family involvement parentsâ eating patterns showed little change underlining the unique influence of schools on teenage behaviourThe study suggests that schools could become frontline institutions for preventing future lifestyle diseases using lowcost education and behaviour strategies the team said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-study-showsschool-programmes-can-cut-junk-food-intake-by-1-000-calories-daily-658047.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/aiims-raipurcrosses-100roboticsurgeries-infourmonths-658054.html Raipur Jan 12 AIIMS Raipur has completed 100 roboticassisted surgeries within four months of launching its robotic programme marking an important milestone for advanced surgical care in Central India the institute said on Monday The centre has performed a range of procedures including nephrectomy cystectomy hemicolectomy prostatectomy pyeloplasty hernia repairs gastrectomy hysterectomy reflecting both rapid adoption and growing clinical capabilityâCompleting 100 robotic surgeries in a short time reflects the teamâs disciplined approach to training and our focus on delivering consistent highquality care Our priority is to ensure patients benefit meaningfully from this technology and we are seeing that in practice smaller incisions less pain reduced blood loss shorter hospital stays and quicker recoveryâ said Dr Ashok Jindal Executive Director AIIMS Raipur in a statementâThese improvements make the overall care experience smoother for patients and reaffirm the importance of building a strong wellsupported ecosystem for safe and effective adoption of the technologyâ he addedAIIMS Raipur launched a roboticassisted surgery programme in August 2025 becoming the first government hospital in Central India to offer this technologyThe programme aims to make minimally invasive care more accessible for patients in Chhattisgarh and neighboring states while also creating a structured pathway for surgeon training and academic developmentâThis achievement reflects AIIMS Raipurâs growing strength in roboticassisted surgery Improved operating efficiency is enabling us to manage more cases each day reduce patient waiting times especially for general surgeries and expand access to advanced robotic care across Chhattisgarh and neighbouring statesâ said Dr Debajyoti Mohanty Professor and Head of General Surgery at AIIMS RaipurThis combination has enabled surgeons like Dr Amit Sharma Additional Professor of Urology amp Renal Transplant at AIIMS Raipur to achieve operating times of 154 to 170 minutes for prostate surgeries well below the global average of about 200 minutes the Institute said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/aiims-raipurcrosses-100roboticsurgeries-infourmonths-658054.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/keralas-model-healthcare-under-strain-as-medical-teachers-step-up-protest-658069.html Thiruvananthapuram Jan 12 Keralaâs muchcelebrated public healthcare system is facing one of its gravest crises with government medical college teachers warning that systemic neglect could push the sector towards collapse The Kerala Government Medical College Teachersâ Association KGMCTA on Monday said the stateâs medical education and tertiary care framework is being steadily weakened by staff shortages inadequate infrastructure and policy paralysisIn a strongly worded statement the association noted that medical colleges form the apex of Indiaâs threetier healthcare structure providing advanced treatment training specialists and conducting researchThe strength of the entire public health system depends on the quality of these institutions the KGMCTA said cautioning that continued neglect would undermine Keralaâs health securityDespite the governmentâs claim of raising the number of medical colleges to 14 the association argued that most lack even basic secondarycare facilities while only a few have fullfledged tertiary care and speciality servicesThis shortfall it said has forced patients to increasingly depend on private hospitals driving up outofpocket healthcare expensesOfficial data the KGMCTA pointed out places Kerala among the states where patients spend the most from their own pockets for treatmentThe crisis is compounded by severe faculty shortagesAccording to the association 375 teaching posts including professors associate professors and assistant professors remain vacant across government medical collegesNew colleges in Kasaragod Wayanad Konni and Idukki are operating with acute deficits in manpower and infrastructureDoctors are often compelled to examine 300 to 400 patients a day raising serious safety concernsThe KGMCTA alleged that instead of addressing root causes authorities resort to suspending doctors when errors occur under extreme workload conditionsRecruitment delays due to prolonged court cases and the failure to implement promised pay revisions and allowances have further demoralised facultyThe association said assurances given by the Health Minister during talks on November 10 2025 have not translated into actionAs a result the KGMCTA has announced an escalation of its agitation including indefinite boycotts of outpatient services and nonemergency procedures in phases from January 13However it stressed that emergency care ICUs inpatient services emergency surgeries and postmortem examinations will continue uninterruptedThis is not merely a doctorsâ protest but a struggle to protect the right of ordinary citizens to affordable quality healthcare the association said urging public support while seeking their patience for temporary inconveniences IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/keralas-model-healthcare-under-strain-as-medical-teachers-step-up-protest-658069.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/time-of-day-may-determine-heart-surgery-outcomes-study-657791.html New Delhi Jan 10 Heart surgery that begins late in the morning may raise the risk of cardiovascular deaths when compared to other times of the day according to a study Researchers at The University of Manchester UK suggested that integrating body clock biology into the planning of heart surgery could support a more personalised precision medicine approach as some peopleâs body clock makes them early birds and others make them night owlsThe data based on the analysis of national datasets comprising over 24000 patients in England Wales and Northern Ireland showed latemorning surgery was linked to an 18 per cent higher risk of death almost one fifth from heartrelated causes compared with earlymorning surgeryAnd the most common surgical start time was 0700 am to 0959 am accounting for 47 per cent of all surgeriesThough complication rates and readmissions were unaffected by the time of day the findings still pose questions about the best time to schedule heart surgeryThe study published in the journal Anaesthesia also gives an important insight into the potential influence of the body clock a set of 24hour biological cycles present in our cells and organs on surgery as a wholeâThis research shows that a slightly higher risk of heartrelated mortality is likely to occur when heart surgery starts in the late morning Even small improvements in timingrelated outcomes could have significant benefits to patientsâ said lead author Dr Gareth Kitchen Clinical Senior Lecturer at The University of ManchesterâHowever though the risk is statistically significant it is relatively modest and patients can be reassured that most people will almost certainly be unaffected It is though our duty as clinicians to ensure the best possible outcomes and moderating timings is a potentially inexpensive method to achieve thatâ Kitchen addedâWith more understanding of how body clock biology varies between individuals precision and personalised scheduling of cardiac surgery may one day allow us to achieve better patient outcomesâ the researcher said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/time-of-day-may-determine-heart-surgery-outcomes-study-657791.html Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/documentation-barriers-and-fear-blocking-pakistani-women-from-accessing-healthcare-report-657808.html IslamabadNew Delhi Jan 10 More than poverty lack of proper documents fear marginalisation and gender are holding women in Pakistan away from accessing healthcare according to a media report Writing in Dawn Tahera Hasan a lawyer and founderCEO of Imkaan Welfare Organisation shares that women in Pakistan are more likely than men to lack documentation They are also more dependent on male relatives to obtain or even present itâThe absence of identity documents interacts with restrictive social norms and institutional power imbalances to systematically exclude women from public servicesâ Hasan saidâInsights from a communitybased maternity home reveal that womenâs avoidance of healthcare is less about awareness and more about fear administrative exclusion and the everyday costs financial social and emotional of navigating systems that were not designed with them in mindâ she addedThe report noted that when documents are missing women face humiliation especially in maternity settings where besides being refused care they are âreported questioned or publicly shamed Stories of such encounters circulate quickly within communities reinforcing collective avoidance of formal healthcareâThe reliance on traditional birth attendants or dais and home births remains widespread as institutional healthcare is frequently experienced as punitive rather than protectiveHome births are chosen more due to the fear of mistreatment within formal health facilities particularly in maledominated overcrowded public hospitalsâEven where services are officially free travel repeated visits due to referrals diagnostic tests and the time spent away from household or incomegenerating work can make a single hospital visit a significant burden for lowincome families The cumulative impact of transport lost wages and logistical challenges often makes seeking institutional care a difficult and sometimes untenable choiceâ Hasan saidOn the other hand private healthcare offers little relief with higher costs There is also growing concern about the routine medicalisation of childbirth Families report being pushed toward caesarean sections even when normal delivery is medically viable the report saidâWomen do not avoid healthcare because they are careless or resistant to modern medicine They avoid it because the system exposes them to indignity financial strain and administrative riskâ Hasan saidShe noted that awareness campaigns alone cannot address this the need is to build a âhealth system design that recognises documentation as a barrier addresses gendered power dynamics and treats dignity as integral to careâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/documentation-barriers-and-fear-blocking-pakistani-women-from-accessing-healthcare-report-657808.html Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pakistan-to-vaccinate-over-45-million-children-in-first-2026-anti-polio-campaign-657775.html Islamabad Jan 10 Pakistan will vaccinate more than 45 million children during its first nationwide polio eradication campaign of 2026 scheduled to run from February 2 to February 8 health authorities said on Saturday The countrys emergency operations centre said the weeklong campaign will be conducted across the country with vaccination teams administering oral polio vaccine to children under the age of fiveThe campaign will be held simultaneously in Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan as part of coordinated crossborder efforts to interrupt poliovirus transmission the centre addedMore than 400000 workers will take part in the drive carrying out doortodoor vaccination and related activities nationwide Xinhua news agency reportedThe authorities urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams to protect their children from lifelong disability caused by poliovirus and emphasised the importance of completing routine childhood immunisation alongside polio vaccinationPolio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours The virus is transmitted by persontoperson spread mainly through the faecaloral route or less frequently by a common vehicle for example contaminated water or food and multiplies in the intestine Initial symptoms are fever fatigue headache vomiting stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis usually in the legs Among those paralysed 5â10 per cent die when their breathing muscles become immobilisedPolio mainly affects children under 5 years of age However anyone of any age who is unvaccinated can contract the diseaseThere is no cure for polio it can only be prevented Polio vaccine given multiple times can protect a child for life There are two vaccines available oral polio vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine Both are effective and safe and both are used in different combinations worldwide depending on local epidemiological and programmatic circumstances to ensure the best possible protection to populations can be provided IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pakistan-to-vaccinate-over-45-million-children-in-first-2026-anti-polio-campaign-657775.html Sat, 10 Jan 2026 23:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/study-shows-how-exposure-to-naturaldaylightcanhelp-diabetics-657695.html New Delhi Jan 9 Daylight can help improve metabolic health enabling people with type 2 diabetes to achieve better glycaemic control according to a study Researchers from the University of Geneva UNIGE in Switzerland and Maastricht University in the Netherlands found that people exposed to natural light had blood glucose levels in the normal range for more hours per day with less variabilityIn addition their melatonin level the sleep hormone was a little higher in the evening and fat oxidative metabolism was also improvedThe study published in the journal Cell Metabolism provided the first evidence of the beneficial impact of natural light on people with this conditionIt has been known for several years that the disruption of circadian rhythms plays a major role in the development of metabolic disorders that affect an increasing proportion of the Western population said Charna Dibner associate professor at the UNIGEFor the study the team recruited 13 volunteers aged 65 and over all with type 2 diabetesThey spent 45 days in specially designed living spaces lit either with natural light through large windows or with artificial light After a break of at least four weeks they returned for a second session this time in the other light environmentTo better understand the observed positive changes in the bodys metabolism the scientists took blood and muscle samples from the volunteers before during and after each light treatmentThey analysed the regulation of molecular clocks in cultured skeletal muscle cells together with lipids metabolites and gene transcripts in the bloodTogether the results clearly show that the internal clock and metabolism are influenced by natural lightThis could be the reason for the improved blood sugar regulation and the improved coordination between the central clock in the brain and the clocks in the organs Dibner explained IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/study-shows-how-exposure-to-naturaldaylightcanhelp-diabetics-657695.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 20:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/nasa-postpones-spacewalk-over-medical-concern-with-astronaut-657481.html New Delhi Jan 8 US space agency NASA on Thursday postponed its scheduled spacewalk over a âmedical concernâ with an astronaut Two Expedition 74 NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman were slated for the first spacewalk of 2026 They had planned to exit an airlock aboard the International Space Station for the power upgrade workThe space agency however has not provided details about the medical issue or the name of the astronaut involvedâNASA is postponing the Thursday January 8 spacewalk outside the International Space Station The agency is monitoring a medical concern with a crew member that arose Wednesday afternoon aboard the orbital complexâ the US space agency shared in a blog postâDue to medical privacy it is not appropriate for NASA to share more details about the crew member The situation is stable NASA will share additional details including a new date for the upcoming spacewalk laterâ the post addedDuring the sixandahalfhour spacewalk the Station Commander Fincke and Flight Engineer Cardman aimed to install a modification kit and routing cables for a future rollout solar arrayThe duo also planned to include installing jumper cables taking hardware photos and collecting microorganism samplesThe spacewalk would be a first for Cardman a 38yearold geobiologist who was selected for the astronaut corps in 2017On Wednesday Fincke and Cardman organised their spacewalking tools and supplies inside the Quest airlock where they were intended to exit the orbital outpost They also finished configuring their spacesuits and the associated life support and emergency components NASA saidAt the end of their shift they were joined by Flight Engineers Chris Williams of NASA and Kimiya Yui of JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for a final spacewalk procedures review and a readiness conference with mission controllers on the groundWilliams and Yui will assist the astronauts in and out of their spacesuits pressurise and depressurise the Quest airlock and monitor the spacewalkers as they work outside the orbiting lab it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/nasa-postpones-spacewalk-over-medical-concern-with-astronaut-657481.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/hyderabad-police-seize-chinese-manja-worth-rs-124-crore-arrest-143-persons-657492.html Hyderabad Jan 8 Intensifying its drive against banned Chinese Manja Hyderabad police seized a large quantity of the contraband item worth Rs 124 crore and arrested 143 people Ahead of the Sankranti festival the authorities stepped up enforcement against the banned Chinese Manja syntheticnylon kite string to curb its sale storage and transportation across the cityPolice Commissioner V C Sajjanar told a news conference that as part of the ongoing drive the police registered 103 cases and arrested 143 persons A total of 6226 bobbins of Chinese Manja with an estimated market value of Rs 12452000 have been seizedSajjanar said Sankranti is a festival of joy and kiteflying but celebrations should not endanger lives He reiterated that the government has imposed a complete ban on Chinese Manja due to the serious threat it poses to humans birds and the environmentDespite the ban illegal sales are being carried out clandestinely There will be zero tolerance Anyone found selling storing or transporting Chinese Manja will face immediate criminal action Special teams have been deployed across the city he saidThe Commissioner also pointed out that some traders have shifted to online platforms to evade enforcement We have put in place roundtheclock surveillance on ecommerce platforms and social media Strict legal action will be taken against those involved in the online sale or purchase of Chinese Manja he warnedHe further cautioned parents about the dangers of the metallic coating on Chinese Manja which can cause severe injuries and even electric shocks especially to childrenSajjanar had already warned that there would be zero tolerance for Chinese ManjaHe said that Chinese Manja is a silent killer that has caused serious injuries and even deaths of pedestrians twowheeler riders birds and animalsHyderabad police have formed special teams to curb the illegal manufacture storage transport and saleThe Chinese Manja has left four motorcyclists including a constable and a student injured over the last week They sustained grievous neck injuries IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/hyderabad-police-seize-chinese-manja-worth-rs-124-crore-arrest-143-persons-657492.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/vietnam-warns-of-prolonged-dengue-fever-outbreak-657494.html Hanoi Jan 8 Vietnams Ministry of Health has warned of a complicated dengue situation and the risk of a prolonged outbreak Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday The country recorded more than 181000 dengue fever cases in 2025 including 36 fatalities the ministry saidNguyen Trong Khoa deputy director of the ministrys Department of Medical Service Administration cautioned that the outbreak could extend into 2026He said localities must not be complacent and should prepare dengue prevention and control measures for 2026Dengue breakbone fever is a viral infection that is spread from mosquitoes to people It is more common in tropical and subtropical than in temperate climatesMost people who get dengue do not have symptoms For those who do the most common symptoms are high fever headache body aches nausea and rash Most get better in 1â2 weeks Some develop severe dengue and need care in a hospitalIn severe cases dengue can be fatalYou can lower your risk of dengue by avoiding mosquito bites especially during the dayDengue is treated through pain management as there is no specific treatment currentlyIndividuals who are infected for the second time are at greater risk of severe dengue The symptoms of severe dengue often come after the fever has gone away and may include severe abdominal pain persistent vomiting rapid breathing bleeding gums or nose and fatigueThe incidence of dengue has grown dramatically worldwide in recent decades with the number of cases reported to WHO increasing from 505 430 cases in 2000 to 146 million in 2024 The vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and selfmanaged and hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are underreported The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countriesIn 2024 more cases of dengue were recorded than ever before in a 12month period affecting over 100 countries on all continents During 2024 ongoing transmission combined with an unexpected spike in dengue cases resulted in a historic high of over 146 million cases and more than 12 000 denguerelated deaths reported The Region of the Americas contributed a significant proportion of the global burden with over 13 million cases reported to WHOSeveral factors are associated with the increasing risk of spread of the dengue epidemic including the changing distribution of the responsible vectors chiefly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus especially in previously denguenaive countries climate change leading to increasing temperatures high rainfall and humidity fragile and overburdened health systems limitations in surveillance and reporting and political and financial instabilities in countries facing complex humanitarian crises and high population movements IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/vietnam-warns-of-prolonged-dengue-fever-outbreak-657494.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/mongolia-sees-surge-in-measles-cases-657497.html Ulan Bator Jan 8 Mongolias measles tally surged to 13861 after 8 new local infections were reported in the past 24 hours the countrys National Centre for Communicable Diseases NCCD said on Thursday More than half of new measles infections were among schoolage children who have had only one shot of the measles vaccine the NCCD said in a statementIn this regard the NCCD suggested that parents protect their children from a potentially severe disease by getting them two doses of the measles vaccine Xinhua news agency reportedMeasles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus It spreads easily when an infected person breathes coughs or sneezes It can cause severe disease complications and even deathMeasles can affect anyone but is most common in childrenMeasles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body Symptoms include a high fever cough runny nose and a rash all over the bodyBeing vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virusBefore the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 26 million deaths each yearAn estimated 107 500 people died from measles in 2023 â mostly children under the age of five years despite the availability of a safe and costeffective vaccineSymptoms of measles usually begin 10â14 days after exposure to the virus A prominent rash is the most visible symptomEarly symptoms usually last 4â7 days They include Running nose cough red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeksThe rash begins about 7â18 days after exposure usually on the face and upper neck It spreads over about 3 days eventually to the hands and feet It usually lasts 5â6 days before fading IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/mongolia-sees-surge-in-measles-cases-657497.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/isros-pslv-c62-to-launch-earth-observation-satellite-on-january-12-657505.html New Delhi Jan 8 The Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO is expected to launch the EOSN1 earth observation satellite aboard PSLVC62 rocket on January 12 marking the first mission of 2026 The EOSN1 also called Anvesha is an Earth observation satellite designed to enhance Indiaâs remote sensing capabilities across agriculture urban mapping and environmental monitoringâThe integration of the vehicle and satellites has been completed and prelaunch checks are in progress The PSLVC62 mission is proposed to lift off on January 12 2026 at 1017 am from the First Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikotaâ ISRO saidIn addition the mission will carry 15 copassenger payloads making this a significant multisatellite deploymentâThe PSLVC62 mission will also demonstrate KID or Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator from a Spanish startup which is a smallscale prototype of a reentry vehicle being developed by the startupâ the Indian space agency addedThe KID will be the last copassenger to be injected after which it is slated to reenter the Earthâs atmosphere towards splashdown in the South Pacific OceanThe PSLVC62 EOSN1 Mission is the 9th dedicated commercial mission undertaken by NewSpace India Limited NSIL the commercial arm of ISROThis mission will be the 64th flight of PSLV and the launch will be the fifth to use the PSLVDL variant with two solid strapon motorsPSLV has completed 63 flights including notable missions like Chandrayaan1 Mars Orbiter Mission AdityaL1 and Astrosat Mission In 2017 PSLV set a world record by launching 104 satellites in a single missionISRO undertook the 101st launch endeavour with PSLVC61 mission in May to deploy the 1696 kg EOS09 Earth Observation Satellite into a 505 km SunSynchronous Polar OrbitWhile the initial stages of the flight performed as expected a technical anomaly in the rockets third stage prevented the mission from reaching its intended orbit IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/isros-pslv-c62-to-launch-earth-observation-satellite-on-january-12-657505.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-dairy-sector-undergoing-digital-transformation-to-enhanceproductivity-and-farmer-welfare-657611.html New Delhi Jan 9 Indiaâs dairy sector is undergoing a remarkable digital transformation that will help not only to enhance its productivity but also boost transparency and inclusiveness with farmer welfare said the government on Friday India is the worldâs largest producer of milk accounting for 25 per cent of global outputThe transformation including the development of digital platforms that connect farmers cooperatives and stakeholders across the dairy value chain is being spearheaded by the National Dairy Development Board NDDBâThese systems are not just enhancing operational productivity but also ensuring that millions of small and marginal dairy farmers are directly linked to a modern techdriven ecosystemâ said an official statementThe integrated digital tools include the Automatic Milk Collection System AMCS which has benefitted over 173 lakh milk producers across 54 milk unions This ensures transparent payments and efficient operationsThe Internetbased Dairy Information System iDIS is being used by around 198 milk unions and 15 federations for datadriven decisionmaking and performance benchmarkingMilk route optimisation using GIS technology has helped cooperatives in several states save significantly on transportation costs and improve delivery efficiencyâThe initiatives aim to modernise operations reduce inefficiencies and enhance traceability ultimately strengthening the worldâs largest dairy ecosystemâ the statement saidFurther the National Digital Livestock Mission NDLM implemented by NDDB in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying DAHD represents a major step toward a unified digital livestock ecosystem called âBharat PashudhanâThe NDLM uses digital tools such as unique animal identification data integration and mobile applications to empower farmers and improve productivity It aims to ensure every animal in India has a digital identity linking it to health records and productivity data NDDB provides both technical and financial support to implement this mission across statesMore than 3568 crore animals have been issued âPashu Aadhaarâ under NDLM enabling traceable livestock managementâBy combining cooperative strength with digital innovation India is setting new standards in sustainable dairy development one where every litre of milk and every animal is part of a connected traceable and efficient value chainâ the statement saidâThe ongoing efforts reflect NDDBâs vision of creating a digitally empowered dairy sector that serves both producers and consumers driving India closer to its goal of being the global leader in safe sustainable and technologydriven milk productionâ it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-dairy-sector-undergoing-digital-transformation-to-enhanceproductivity-and-farmer-welfare-657611.html Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/higher-intake-of-processed-foods-with-preservatives-may-raise-risk-of-cancer-657408.html New Delhi Jan 8 People who eat more industrially processed foods and beverages laced with preservatives widely used to extend shelflife may increase the risk of cancer according to a study The study published in The BMJ showed that higher intakes of several preservatives mostly nonantioxidants including potassium sorbate potassium metabisulfite sodium nitrite potassium nitrate and acetic acid were associated with a higher risk of cancers compared with risks in nonconsumers or lower consumersFor example total sorbates specifically potassium sorbate were associated with a 14 per cent increased risk of overall cancer and a 26 per cent increased risk of breast cancer while total sulfites were associated with a 12 per cent increased risk of overall cancerSodium nitrite was associated with a 32 per cent increased risk of prostate cancer while potassium nitrate was associated with an increased risk of overall cancer 13 per cent and breast cancer 22 per centTotal acetates were associated with an increased risk of overall cancer 15 per cent and breast cancer 25 per cent while acetic acid was associated with a 12 per cent increased risk of overall cancerAmong antioxidant preservatives only total erythorbates and specific sodium erythorbate were found to be associated with a higher incidence of cancerThis study brings new insights for the future reevaluation of the safety of these food additives by health agencies considering the balance between benefit and risk for food preservation and cancer said the research team from the Università Paris Cità FranceAt the individual level public health guidance is already more definitive about the reduction of processed meat and alcohol intake offering actionable steps even as evidence on the carcinogenic effects of preservatives is evolving they addedWhile more studies are needed to better understand these potential risks the researchers noted that several of these compounds can alter immune and inflammatory pathways possibly triggering the development of cancerThe study included 105260 participants aged 15 years and older who were free of cancer A total of 17 individual preservatives were analysed including citric acid lecithins total sulfites ascorbic acid sodium nitrite potassium sorbate sodium erythorbate sodium ascorbate potassium metabisulfite and potassium nitrateDuring the followup period 4226 participants received a diagnosis of cancer comprising 1208 breast 508 prostate 352 colorectal and 2158 other cancers IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/higher-intake-of-processed-foods-with-preservatives-may-raise-risk-of-cancer-657408.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/openais-new-chatgpt-health-to-securely-connect-medical-records-and-wellness-apps-657441.html New Delhi Jan 8 OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Health a dedicated experience to securely connect peopleâs medical records and wellness apps The San Franciscobased artificial intelligence AI giant has developed the new experience with close collaboration from more than 260 physicians practicing across 60 countriesâYou can securely connect medical records and wellness apps to ground conversations in your own health information so responses are more relevant and useful to you Designed in close collaboration with physicians ChatGPT Health helps people take a more active role in understanding and managing their health and wellness while supporting not replacing care from cliniciansâ Open AI said in a blog postOpenAI noted that the feature comes amid heavy demand for health queries on ChatGPT over 230 million people globally ask health and wellnessrelated questions on ChatGPT every weekHowever the company stated that the new feature is just âdesigned to support not replace medical careââIt is not intended for diagnosis or treatment Instead it helps you navigate everyday questions and understand patterns over time not just moments of illness so you can feel more informed and prepared for important medical conversationsâ it saidWith ChatGPT Health individuals can securely connect medical records and wellness apps like Apple Health Function and MyFitnessPal The new feature will help individuals decode test results prepare for appointments with a doctor get advice on how to approach diet and workout routine or understand the tradeoffs of different insurance options based on healthcare patternsOpenAI also mentioned that it is taking several measures to protect sensitive health information beyond basic ChatGPT securityUsers will be able to delete chats from OpenAIâs systems within 30 days and it has been trained not to retain personal information from user chats While conversations and files across ChatGPT are encrypted by default at rest individuals can further strengthen access controls by enabling multifactor authentication MFAâ ChatGPT Health will be initially rolled out to a small group of early users to learn and continue refining the experience The company noted that users with ChatGPT Free Go Plus and Pro plans outside of the European Economic Area Switzerland and the UK are eligibleIn the coming weeks the company plans to expand access and make Health available to all users on the web and iOS It noted that medical record integrations and some apps are available in the US only and connecting to Apple Health requires iOS IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/openais-new-chatgpt-health-to-securely-connect-medical-records-and-wellness-apps-657441.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-tops-dengue-cases-in-2025-death-toll-remains-low-due-to-strong-surveillance-657401.html Chennai Jan 8 Tamil Nadu has reported the highest number of dengue cases in the country in 2025 even as the death toll has remained relatively low due to early detection and prompt medical intervention according to the latest data released by the Union Health Ministry Between January and November 2025 the state recorded 20866 dengue cases and 12 deaths Health officials attributed the high case count not to an uncontrolled outbreak but to the strength of Tamil Naduâs disease surveillance and reporting system which tracks infections from the primary health centre PHC level to secondary and tertiary care hospitalsAmong the southern states Kerala reported the highest number of denguerelated deaths with 49 fatalities and 10239 cases during the same periodAndhra Pradesh reported 2384 cases and five deaths while Telangana recorded 8139 cases with no deaths and Karnataka reported 6759 cases also without any fatalitiesTamil Naduâs dengue trend over the past five years showed a steady rise in reported cases In 2021 the state logged 6039 cases and eight deaths followed by 6430 cases and eight deaths in 2022 In 2023 cases rose to 9121 with 12 deaths and in 2024 the state recorded a sharp spike of 27378 cases and 13 deathsHealth department officials said the consistently low mortality rate reflects the effectiveness of early diagnosis clinical monitoring and immediate treatment protocolsâThe surveillance mechanism in Tamil Nadu is robust and cases are captured accurately across all levels of healthcareâ an official saidAccording to Dr Janani Sankar Medical Director dengue cases have begun declining since the last week of December âWe are now seeing more cases of typhoid diarrhoea dysentery and respiratory infections These are largely linked to winter conditions and travelrelated factorsâ she saidEchoing this view Dr S Chandrasekar Head of General Medicine at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital said dengue cases usually persist until February but began falling earlier this year due to reduced rainfall particularly in ChennaiâMosquito breeding comes down during winter leading to fewer dengue cases However people must continue safe water storage practices as uncovered containers can still become breeding groundsâ he cautionedHealth authorities continue to urge public vigilance stressing that prevention remains key even as case numbers decline IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-tops-dengue-cases-in-2025-death-toll-remains-low-due-to-strong-surveillance-657401.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-first-government-ai-clinicto-boostpublic-health-system-657155.html DubaiNew Delhi Jan 5 Indiaâs first governmentrun artificial intelligence AI clinic launched recently at the Government Institute of Medical Sciences GIMS in Greater Noida marks a major step in integrating advanced technology in the public health system of the country according to a media report The initiative aims to boost early detection of diseases diagnostics and treatment which can be crucial to improving outcomes and survival rates Gulf News reportedThe clinic will reportedly perform genetic screening using AI which can help in faster detection of diseases such as cancer heart disease kidney disease and liver disease AI tools at the centre will also assist in interpreting Xrays ultrasounds CT scans MRI reports and laboratory investigations helping doctors improve accuracy and speed of diagnosisâThe clinic will use artificial intelligence along with genetic screening to analyse blood tests imaging scans and other clinical dataâ Brigadier Dr Rakesh Kumar Gupta Director of GIMS was quoted as sayingHe added that the initiative would also open new opportunities for healthcare startupsTypically an AI clinic works using advanced algorithms and automation They support doctors in diagnosis treatment planning and patient managementThe AI health centres also function as standalone units or integrated hospital departments where AI systems analyse patient data in real time to support clinical decisionmaking the report saidAnother key advantage is that it improves access to quality healthcare particularly in remote and underserved areas where the availability of specialists is limitedWhile AI tools are already used in select private hospitals and diagnostic labs this is the first dedicated government AI clinic The report stated that the AI model could be replicated across government hospitals in other statesAI tools are known to play a significant role in healthcare delivery particularly in labs radiology and cancer screeningIn pathology doctors can use AI for analysing tissues and detecting diseases that can be missed by the human eye This not only reduces processing time but also improves diagnostic precisionAI has shown significant potential in identifying early signs of cancers such as breast and lung cancer by reducing false positives and negatives The early diagnosis improves survival rates and treatment outcomesThe advanced technology has also demonstrated its skill in processing vast genomic datasets to identify diseaselinked biomarkers and predict how patients will respond to treatment It can aid in precision therapy with customised drug dosages and lifestyle changes by analysing medical history lifestyle and genetic data IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-first-government-ai-clinicto-boostpublic-health-system-657155.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-dy-cm-inaugurates-two-day-medical-camp-for-ex-servicemen-657161.html Jaipur Jan 5 In a significant tribute to the spirit of service and sacrifice of Indiaâs veterans Military Hospital Jaipur organised a twoday medical camp for exservicemen on Monday The camp is a part of the leadup to Army Day celebrations which were inaugurated by Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya KumariThe initiative marked a historic step towards ensuring comprehensive freeofcost medical care for veterans and their families The camp offers integrated healthcare services including a Bone and Joint Wellness Clinic with onthespot Xray and BMD testing specialist consultations by eminent orthopaedic surgeons and personalised physiotherapy with live exercise demonstrationsComprehensive cardiac care is also offered through expert cardiologist consultations supported by onsite ECG and ECHO facilities along with sameday availability of prescribed medicines While addressing the august gathering Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh Army Commander Sapta Shakti Command highlighted that within the Command there are approximately 370000 exservicemen and 730000 dependents out of which around 31000 are cardiac and nearly 16000 are orthopaedic patients Recognising this essential need the medical camp was designed to provide targeted highquality healthcare facilities catering specifically to them He also mentioned the previous health care activities organised for exservicemen by Military Hospital Jaipur like cataract surgery eye camp and establishment of a cardiac labThe camp served as a onestop centre for diagnostics medical advice and health guidance reflecting the Indian Armyâs enduring commitment to the welfare of its retired personnel and their families Beyond clinical care the initiative sought to motivate veterans to remain active selfreliant and healthconscious promoting physical fitness and mental wellbeing in their postservice life Military Hospital Jaipur continues to uphold its reputation as one of the premier military medical institutions in the region dedicated to delivering worldclass healthcare to serving and retired personnel alike Mondayâs camp stands out as a testament to its vision of compassionate inclusive and communitydriven medical service IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-dy-cm-inaugurates-two-day-medical-camp-for-ex-servicemen-657161.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-care-economy-to-generate-over-60-million-jobsby-2030-report-657167.html New Delhi Jan 5 Indiaâs care economy is expected to grow 300 billion and generate over 60 million jobs by 2030 with targeted investments in skilling certification formalisation and demand creation according to a report on Monday The report by Primus Partners positions care services currently employing around 36 million workers as one of Indiaâs most underrecognised yet highpotential economic sectorsIt argues that rising demand for childcare eldercare disability support rehabilitation mental health wellness and longterm care is already reshaping Indiaâs labour market yet the sector remains largely outside formal economic planningâWomen form the backbone of Indiaâs care economy yet much of this work remains informal and unprotected Formalisation fair wages and access to social security are essential to recognising care work and building a more equitable care systemâ said Dr Meenakshi Hembram Additional Director HQ and Head of Office DGHS Government of NCT of DelhiUnlike capitalintensive industries care services are labourintensive locally delivered and resilient to automation offering largescale employment opportunities across Tier 1 Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well as periurban and rural regions said the report based on 13 paid care personasâCare is now essential economic infrastructure yet largely invisible in policy By mapping 13 care personas this report shows how formalisation can turn care into a major engine of jobs and growthâ said Nilaya Varma Group CEO Primus PartnersThe care personas were mapped across a skill and formality quadrant spanning entrylevel roles such as domestic help elder sitters and beauty assistants semiskilled roles including childcare assistants rehabilitation aides senior living staff and special needs caregivers and skilled roles such as certified nursing assistants counsellors and palliative care workersThis framework highlights how much of Indiaâs care workforce remains trapped in lowwage informality despite performing skilled economically essential work and demonstrates how structured skilling and certification pathways can enable progression income stability and the dignity of workâThe care economy is no longer a peripheral social issue it is emerging as a significant source of employment and economic value Formalising and upskilling caregivers can unlock productivity gains improve service quality and create a sustainable growth pathway for the economyâ said Prof V K Malhotra Chairman Food Commission of Madhya Pradesh and former Member Secretary Indian Council of Social Science Research IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-care-economy-to-generate-over-60-million-jobsby-2030-report-657167.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-pharma-sector-bullish-on-pushing-up-exports-657185.html New Delhi Jan 5 Indiaâs pharmaceutical exports reached 3047 billion in FY 2024â25 registering a 94 per cent yearonyear growth and are on track to surpass last yearâs performance in the current financial year the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India PHARMEXCIL informed Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on Monday PHARMEXCIL also highlighted Indiaâs position as the thirdlargest pharmaceutical producer globally by volume and a trusted supplier of affordable qualityassured medicines to over 150 countries which reflects the potential for longterm exportled growthThe leadership of PHARMEXCIL held a series of highlevel meetings with senior officials of the Centre to deliberate on strategic priorities policy alignment and growth opportunities for strengthening Indiaâs pharmaceutical exports according to a statement issued by the trade bodyIn a separate meeting with Secretary Department of Pharmaceuticals Manoj Joshi the PHARMEXCIL highlighted the performance and growth trajectory of the pharmaceutical sectorIndiaâs domestic pharmaceutical market currently valued at approximately 60 billion is projected to grow to 130 billion by 2030 the trade body saidDiscussions with Joint Secretary Department of Pharmaceuticals Satya Prakash L focused on strengthening industryâacademia collaboration across key segments including clinical trials biopharmaceuticals vaccines and APIs with an emphasis on innovation skill development and capacity buildingThe delegation also met Director General Foreign Trade Lav Aggarwal to brief him on PHARMEXCILâs key initiatives and to seek continued support for programmes such as Chintan Shivir and iPHEX 2026Commenting on the engagements PHARMEXCIL Chairman Namit Joshi said Indiaâs pharmaceutical sector stands at a pivotal inflection point With strong export momentum a rapidly expanding domestic market and consistent government support we are wellpositioned to scale our global footprint while reinforcing Indiaâs reputation as a trusted pharmacy of the world iPHEX 2026 amp PHARMEXCIL MSME Committee Chairman Nipun Jain added Platforms like Chintan Shivir and iPHEX are critical enablers for MSMEs and exporters They not only facilitate market access but also foster dialogue around quality innovation and global competitiveness IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-pharma-sector-bullish-on-pushing-up-exports-657185.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 19:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-water-tragedy-mp-hc-to-hear-case-tomorrow-cong-delegation-to-visit-bhagirathpura-657224.html Indore Jan 5 The division bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court will hear the case of contaminated water tragedy in Indores Bhagirathpura area on Tuesday The Health and Family Welfare department of Madhya Pradesh government and Indore Municipal Corporation will submit a fresh report in the court including the availability of clean water and health services being provided to the affected peopleDuring the last hearing in the matter on January 2 the Madhya Pradesh government had submitted a status report in the court and had mentioned four deathsThe high court had then fixed the matter for hearing on January 6Indore High Court Bar Association President Ritesh Inani who filed a PIL in the matter told IANS that three petitions related to the incident will be taken up togetherThe state administration on Monday claimed that surveillance and response measures were intensified in Bhagirathpur area where contaminated drinking water had resulted in health crisis and several people including children have died in the past one weekThere has been some improvement in the situation as admission of new patients have been decided in the past two daysThe state administration on Monday launched a reconciliation process a rapid active surveillance exercise in Bhagirathpura areaSample testing of water so far has found contamination in both the Narmada pipeline supply and tube wells and because mixing occurs where these sources connect it is not possible at this stage to attribute contamination to a single specific source Madhya Pradesh State Surveillance Officer Ashwin Bhagwat said on MondayAccording to Indore district administration total 409 people were admitted in hospitals of which 262 patients were discharged till MondayAt present 147 are active and undergoing treatmentThe tragic incident has sparked widespread criticism as it claimed several lives and affected many familiesA delegation of Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders including state unit Chief Jitu Patwari and the Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar will visit Bhagirathpura to meet the affected familiesEarlier on Friday Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had suspended Indore Municipal Corporations Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisonia and Public Health Engineering PHE department Engineer Sanjeev ShrivastavaChief Minister Yadav has transferred the Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav and replaced him with Kshitij Singhal a 2014 batch IAS officer on Saturday IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-water-tragedy-mp-hc-to-hear-case-tomorrow-cong-delegation-to-visit-bhagirathpura-657224.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 23:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-water-tragedy-mp-hc-to-hear-case-tomorrow-cong-delegation-to-visit-bhagirathpura-657225.html Indore Jan 5 The division bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court will hear the case of contaminated water tragedy in Indores Bhagirathpura area on Tuesday The Health and Family Welfare department of Madhya Pradesh government and Indore Municipal Corporation will submit a fresh report in the court including the availability of clean water and health services being provided to the affected peopleDuring the last hearing in the matter on January 2 the Madhya Pradesh government had submitted a status report in the court and had mentioned four deathsThe high court had then fixed the matter for hearing on January 6Indore High Court Bar Association President Ritesh Inani who filed a PIL in the matter told IANS that three petitions related to the incident will be taken up togetherThe state administration on Monday claimed that surveillance and response measures were intensified in Bhagirathpur area where contaminated drinking water had resulted in health crisis and several people including children have died in the past one weekThere has been some improvement in the situation as admission of new patients have been decided in the past two daysThe state administration on Monday launched a reconciliation process a rapid active surveillance exercise in Bhagirathpura areaSample testing of water so far has found contamination in both the Narmada pipeline supply and tube wells and because mixing occurs where these sources connect it is not possible at this stage to attribute contamination to a single specific source Madhya Pradesh State Surveillance Officer Ashwin Bhagwat said on MondayAccording to Indore district administration total 409 people were admitted in hospitals of which 262 patients were discharged till MondayAt present 147 are active and undergoing treatmentThe tragic incident has sparked widespread criticism as it claimed several lives and affected many familiesA delegation of Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders including state unit Chief Jitu Patwari and the Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar will visit Bhagirathpura to meet the affected familiesEarlier on Friday Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had suspended Indore Municipal Corporations Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisonia and Public Health Engineering PHE department Engineer Sanjeev ShrivastavaChief Minister Yadav has transferred the Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav and replaced him with Kshitij Singhal a 2014 batch IAS officer on Saturday IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-water-tragedy-mp-hc-to-hear-case-tomorrow-cong-delegation-to-visit-bhagirathpura-657225.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 23:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/20-000-pregnant-women-visiting-aap-clinics-every-month-says-punjab-minister-657032.html Chandigarh Jan 4 The Punjab government has decentralised maternal healthcare with Aam Aadmi Clinics emerging as the new lifeline for expectant mothers government officials said on Sunday Within four months of launching a specialised protocoldriven pregnancy care model the state has recorded a massive surge in service utilisation with nearly 20000 pregnant women visiting these clinics every month said the State Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh on Sunday He said the programme has already provided free ultrasound services to more than 10000 women through a referral system By empanelling nearly 500 private diagnostic centres the state government has ensured that women can access scans which usually cost between Rs 800 and Rs 2000 free of cost This intervention alone has saved families an estimated Rs 1 crore in outofpocket expenses in a short span of 120 days Official data shows less than 70 per cent of pregnant women in Punjab had received their first antenatal checkup and fewer than 60 per cent had completed the recommended four checkups while the states maternal mortality ratio stood at 90 per one lakh live births higher than the national average These figures underlined the need for a comprehensive accessible pregnancy care model across the state Punjab witnesses nearly 43 lakh pregnancies every year making early detection regular monitoring and timely referral critical for safeguarding the health of mothers and infants Over the past three years the state government has established 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics which have emerged as the backbone of Punjabs primary healthcare system recording more than 46 crore OPD visits and treating nearly 70000 patients daily Leveraging this infrastructure the state government launched an expanded protocoldriven pregnancy care model through Aam Aadmi Clinics around four months ago Under this reform all essential antenatal checkups are now available at Aam Aadmi Clinics themselves These include routine and critical tests such as HIV and syphilis screening complete blood tests sugar thyroid hepatitis fetal heart rate cholesterol and hemoglobin assessments Where ultrasounds are required doctors issue referral slips enabling pregnant women to access free ultrasound services Importantly around 5000 women are being identified monthly as highrisk pregnancies allowing for continuous tracking focused support and timely referral to higher medical facilities for specialist care IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/20-000-pregnant-women-visiting-aap-clinics-every-month-says-punjab-minister-657032.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/study-shows-heart-disease-deaths-surge-in-patients-with-cancer-657102.html New Delhi Jan 5 Patients with cancer are more likely to die from cardiovascular diseases according to a study The study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that the risk may be related to altered expression of inflammationâ and coagulationârelated proteinsThe researchers from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences stressed the need to manage endocrine kidney and inflammationârelated risk factors in people with cancerâOur study found an elevated cardiovascular death in patients with cancerâ said the teamâPatients with cancer need to pay attention to the risk of cardiovascular mortality particularly among younger individuals and those diagnosed at an early stage in clinical practice it is recommended to emphasise the management of endocrine kidney and inflammationârelated risk factors in the population with cancerâ they addedPrevious studies have identified a link between cancer and cardiovascular disease however the underlying genetic and proteomic mechanisms remain unclearTherefore the new study aimed to investigate the association between cancer diagnosis and cardiovascular mortality and to explore the potential mechanisms involvedThe team studied a total of 379944 participants without cardiovascular disease at baseline including 65047 individuals with cancerGenomeâwide association studies phenomeâwide association studies and proteomic analyses were applied to investigate the underlying genetic and proteomic mechanismsThe results revealed only a limited number of shared genetic variations between cancer and cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and cardiac dysrhythmiasThe researchers also identified nine independent risk factors for cardiovascular death including age sex smoking BMI systolic and diastolic blood pressure HbA1c cystatin C and neutrophil countInterestingly the probability of survival from CVD was comparable between participants with and without cancer during the first 10âyears of followâup but declined more sharply thereafter among patients with cancerThis was possibly associated with the reduction in systemic tumour burden and the resolution of inflammation and coagulation disorders following treatment therapies the team said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/study-shows-heart-disease-deaths-surge-in-patients-with-cancer-657102.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/type-2-diabetes-quietly-rewires-heart-raisesriskof-failures-study-657106.html New Delhi Jan 5 Type 2 diabetes quietly changes the heart structure and how it produces energy thus increasing the risk of heart failure according to a study Researchers at the University of Sydney Australia studied donated human hearts and found that diabetes disrupts how heart cells produce energy weakens the muscleâs structure and triggers a buildup of stiff fibrous tissue that makes it harder for the heart to pumpThese effects were most pronounced in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy the leading cause of heart failureThe findings published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine can help explain why people living with diabetes face a much higher risk of developing heart failureWeve long seen a correlation between heart disease and type 2 diabetes but this is the first research to jointly look at diabetes and ischemic heart disease and uncover a unique molecular profile in people with both conditionsâ said Dr Benjamin Hunter from the School of Medical SciencesOur findings show that diabetes alters how the heart produces energy maintains its structure under stress and contracts to pump blood Using advanced microscopy techniques we were able to see direct changes to the heart muscle as a result of this in the form of a buildup of fibrous tissue he addedTo better understand how diabetes affects the heart the researchers studied heart tissue from both transplant recipients and healthy individuals This direct examination allowed them to see how diabetes influences heart biology in real human patients rather than relying solely on animal modelsThe results showed that diabetes is more than a comorbidity for heart disease It actively accelerates heart failure by interfering with essential biological processes and reshaping the heart muscle at the microscopic levelThe metabolic effect of diabetes in the heart is not fully understood in humans said HunterIn healthy hearts energy is mainly generated from fats with glucose and ketones also contributing Previous research has shown that glucose use increases during heart failure However diabetes interferes with this process by reducing how sensitive heart cells are to insulin IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/type-2-diabetes-quietly-rewires-heart-raisesriskof-failures-study-657106.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ujjain-priest-suffers-throat-injury-from-banned-chinese-kite-string-657140.html Ujjain Jan 5 A young priest narrowly escaped death after a banned Chinese manja kite string slashed his throat while he was riding a motorcycle to buy household goods in Madhya Pradeshs Ujjain The victim Vinay Tiwari 21 originally from Jeerapur in Rajgarh district and currently residing in the Jaisinghpura area of Ujjain sustained deep cuts across his throat in the freak accident on Sunday Doctors at a private hospital in Ujjain performed emergency surgery lasting over two hours to save his life Confirming the incident investigation officer of Mahakal police station SL Kanoje told IANS âTiwari received injury and got some sutures to close the severe wound He is now reported to be out of danger though under close observationâ Medical sources described the injury as critical stating that a slight deviation could have proved fatal by severing vital blood vessels or the windpipe Similar incidents have occurred in the past as the use of Chinese manja is a persistent menace known for its glasscoated sharpness despite statewide restrictions on its use and sale The Ujjain district administration had imposed a complete ban on the sale storage and use of the dangerous synthetic string ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival when kite flying peaks Similar prohibitions exist in most urban centres across Madhya Pradesh following multiple fatalities and injuries in previous years A few days ago another resident Yogesh from Pipalia Dhooma village suffered similar lifethreatening throat injuries from Chinese manja near Khilchipur Naka underscoring the recurring threat Acting swiftly the Mahakal Police Station registered a case against a few persons accused of selling and distributing the banned string The prime accused Saif Ali was arrested and paraded by police as a deterrent âOne suspect remains absconding and raids are underway to nab himâ the investigation officer said Authorities have seized quantities of Chinese manja from shops in the vicinity Police officials urged citizens to immediately report any sale or use of the prohibited string warning of strict action under relevant sections Community leaders and religious figures have appealed for responsible celebrations during the upcoming kite festival emphasising the need to use only cotton threads IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ujjain-priest-suffers-throat-injury-from-banned-chinese-kite-string-657140.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-water-crisis-residents-of-bakery-gali-claim-using-contaminated-insect-infested-water-656980.html New Delhi Jan 4 Residents of Bakery Gali near Malwa Mill in Madhya Pradeshs Indore are grappling with a severe drinking water crisis alleging that black foulsmelling and insectinfested water is being supplied through municipal taps posing serious health risks particularly to children According to residents the water supplied is unsafe even after filtering and boiling Many households report frequent illnesses including vomiting diarrhoea and stomach infections which they attribute to consuming the contaminated waterOne resident described the ordeal saying âThe water is very dirty When the tap runs initially the water is filthy which cannot be used at all but after some time it becomes better Another problem is that the tap stops running quickly and the water doesnât flow for long Even though the water line is active dirty water still comes out Red worms also come in the water and nothing is done about itââAnother resident highlighted the impact on daily life and childrenâs health âChildren are falling ill and washing utensils is also causing a lot of problems Children are getting sick from drinking the water Water is essential for life but this water is unsafe You can see the conditions in the homes here no proper arrangements have been made Only the normal tap water the water from Narmada is available The first issue is that the water here is dirty If the water is dirty how can we drink it There is no system for filtration or purification here at allââMeanwhile in response to the broader water contamination crisis Indoreâs Additional Commissioners Ashish Pathak and Akash Singh recently conducted a doortodoor survey in Bhagirathpura where several deaths were reported The inspection focused on monitoring public health conditions ensuring the supply of safe drinking water through tankers and verifying proper water usageOfficials said the exercise was aimed at restoring safety and public confidence even as residents of Bakery Gali continue to demand urgent and lasting solutions to their water woesResidents said the problem is most acute in the early morning hours âEarly in the morning the water is always dirty After some time the water clears a little but it is still not fully clean Sometimes during the rainy season it remains dirty throughout Drinking this water makes people fall sick If the water is dirty children can suffer from vomiting and diarrhoea and everyone faces health problemsâ another resident saidSome accounts are even more alarming âMany worms come in the water including small red worms The water is dirty and pieces of small dead animals also come in it This is the water that comes from our taps We try to filter the water through four layers yet even after filtering these problems persist It causes a lot of difficulties sometimes water doesnât come at all and sometimes it is completely blackâ said a resident IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-water-crisis-residents-of-bakery-gali-claim-using-contaminated-insect-infested-water-656980.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/game-changer-experts-hail-approval-of-1st-oral-pill-for-adults-with-thalassemia-anaemia-656752.html New Delhi Jan 2 The US Food and Drug Administrationâs FDA approval of the firstever oral pill for anaemia in adults with thalassemia marks a historic milestone and can be a game changer in the management of the genetic blood disorder said health experts on Friday The FDA recently approved mitapivat to be marketed under the brand name Aqvesme for the treatment of anemia in adults with alpha or betathalassemiaMitapivat is the first medication indicated for both transfusiondependent and nontransfusiondependent forms of these rare inherited blood disordersWhile thalassemia patients have for decades relied largely on transfusions and chelation therapy the approval of mitapivat will lead to a meaningful shift in disease managementâMitapivat can be a big pathbreaking drug for thalassemia managementâ Dr Satyam Arora Additional Professor of Transfusion Medicine at Postgraduate Institute of Child Health PGICH Noida told IANSâThis new FDAapproved drug can be a game changer as this will help us manage patients with a single oral pill which can be easily taken and their blood transfusion requirements may be reducedâ he addedAccording to experts more than improving haemoglobin levels an oral option has the potential to reduce fatigue treatment burden and longterm complications while opening the door to more sustainable patientcentered careWhat is MitapivatMitapivat is a pyruvate kinase activator a firstinclass medication designed to improve the energy balance within red blood cellsIn patients with thalassemia red blood cells are fragile and break down prematurely leading to chronic anaemia and an ongoing dependence on blood transfusions By activating pyruvate kinase the drug enhances cellular energy production allowing red blood cells to survive longer and function more effectively As a result haemoglobin levels improve and the need for frequent blood transfusions begins to declineâFor the first time a drug has been developed that directly targets the metabolic pathway of red blood cells addressing the disease at its cellular core rather than only managing its consequences This breakthrough has the potential to significantly transform the quality of life for thalassemia patients across the worldand especially in India where the disease burden remains highâ said haematologist Dr Rahul Bhargava Member of the Delhi Haematology SocietyIndia is the thalassemia capital of the world Every eighth thalassemia patient in the world lives in India many of whom will require regular blood transfusions from infancy Blood availability transfusionrelated complications and iron overload remain persistent concernsWhile the Government has made significant progress in expanding access to bone marrow transplantation through public healthcare institutions the majority of patients still depend on lifelong transfusionsâThe new oral therapy offers hope not only for transfusiondependent thalassemia TDT patients but also for those with nontransfusiondependent thalassemia NTDT a group that has historically had limited treatment options By improving red blood cell survival and reducing anaemia the drug may help delay or even prevent the progression to transfusion dependence in some patientsâ Bhargava saidThe experts also expressed hope for the game changer drug to be available soon in IndiaâThese are very hopeful times for our thalassemia patients as well as the blood requirement burden in our country If the blood requirement in the thalassemic patient gets reduced this will significantly help manage the blood requirement in our country more efficientlyâ Arora saidâI see this as a huge ray of hope for patients of thalassemia in India provided expeditious access can be ensured We will also work closely with our doctors to find out the efficacy and suitability for various categories of patients In short this is good newsâ added Anubha Taneja Mukherjee Secretary of the Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/game-changer-experts-hail-approval-of-1st-oral-pill-for-adults-with-thalassemia-anaemia-656752.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ntpc-sanctions-rs-2316-crore-to-upgrade-radiotherapy-services-at-gcri-centre-656833.html Mumbai Jan 3 NTPC Limited has signed a memorandum of agreement MoA with Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute GCRI for the upgradation of radiotherapy services it was announced on Saturday According to a Ministry of Power statement NTPCâs Western RegionâI Headquarters Mumbai signed the MoA Under this CSR initiative NTPC has sanctioned Rs 2316 crore for the upgradation of radiotherapy services at the Siddhpur Satellite Centre of GCRI AhmedabadâThe support will be utilised for the procurement and installation of a highenergy Linear Accelerator LINAC significantly enhancing advanced cancer treatment capabilities and improving access to quality radiotherapy services for patients in the regionâ according to the official statementThis reaffirms NTPCâs commitment to inclusive development and its continued focus on strengthening critical healthcare infrastructure through meaningful CSR interventionsThe MoA was exchanged between Dr Shashank Pandya Director GCRI and E Satya Phani Kumar Regional Executive Director WestâI NTPC in the presence of senior officials from both organisationsLate last month the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Bombay and NTPC completed the drilling of Indias first well for testing the viability of geological carbon dioxide CO2 storage in sedimentary formations such as coal and sandstoneThe collaboration launched under the aegis of NITI Aayog in November 2022 brought together NETRA the RampD wing of NTPC and the Department of Earth Sciences IIT Bombay to build Indias first geological storage atlas for coalbed methanerich coalfieldsThe atlas provided layerbylayer simulation results with experimentally validated inputs for quantifying the potential for geological CO2 storage in four major coalfieldsThe country achieved its first dedicated well reaching a depth of 1200m in September for potential CO2 storage The drilling site in Pakri Barwadih in the vicinity of a coal mining area in Jharkhands Hazaribagh was completed on November 15 IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ntpc-sanctions-rs-2316-crore-to-upgrade-radiotherapy-services-at-gcri-centre-656833.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 17:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/physically-possible-to-restore-full-body-functionality-with-neuralink-elon-musk-656838.html New Delhi Jan 3 Billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday said that his braincomputer interface company Neuralink can possibly restore full body functionality The breakthrough focuses on the motor cortex restoring âfull body functionalityâ for people with severed spinal cordsâI am confident at this point that restoring full body functionality is possible with Neuralinkâ the Tesla and SpaceX founder shared in a post on the social media platform XâNeuralink can essentially help bridge communications from the cortex past the point in the neck or spine where the nerves are damaged It is possible from a physics standpoint to physically restore full body functionalityâ he said in a video postThe motor cortex technology feature was announced by Musk in 2022 and the testing began in humans in the same yearThe device includes a chip that replaces a small piece of bone and is connected to the brain via a series of thin threaded electrodes The companys N1 implant includes 1024 electrodes distributed among 64 threads according to the companys websiteIn September the company announced that it had implanted its device in 12 patientsMeanwhile on January 1 Musks Californiabased neurotechnology firm announced taking major steps toward restoring vision with a brain implant that allows the visually impaired even those blind from birthBlindsight Neuralinkâs brain chip aimed at restoring vision received âbreakthrough deviceâ designation from the US Food and Drug Administration FDA in September 2024 The company is expected to begin highvolume production of the device this yearâNeuralink will start highvolume production of braincomputer interface devices and move to a streamlined almost entirely automated surgical procedure in 2026 Device threads will go through the dura without the need to remove it This is a big dealâ he shared on XAccording to Musk Blindsight will help people who have lost both eyes and they will be able to see He also claimed that provided the visual cortex remains intact the device can restore vision even in people who have been blind since birth IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/physically-possible-to-restore-full-body-functionality-with-neuralink-elon-musk-656838.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/nse-holds-investor-awareness-programme-in-rajkot-to-boost-financial-literacy-656841.html New Delhi Jan 3 Investor awareness is the strongest foundation for Gujaratâs growing investor base said Ashishkumar Chauhan MD amp CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India NSE Speaking at an Investor Awareness Programme IAP in Gujaratâs Rajkot the MD amp CEO of the stock exchange said that the initiative can empower citizens and caution them against fraudAt NSE we believe that informed investors make better decisions which contribute to longterm economic wealth creation Through initiatives like this Investor Awareness Programme we aim to empower citizens with the right knowledge caution them against frauds and help them participate safely in Indiaâs growth storyâ Chauhan saidThe event aimed to enhance financial literacy promote responsible investing and strengthen investor awareness according to a statement from the NSEGujarat has about 11 crore registered investors making it the thirdâlargest state by investor base with an 87 per cent share of Indiaâs total investors and a 10âyear compound annual growth rate of over 17 per cent in the number of investors About 11 lakh new investors were added in 2025 and Rajkot accounted for more than 55 per cent of new registrations in the stateAbout 28 per cent of investors from Gujarat are women higher than the national average of 25 per centThe programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from new and existing investors professionals and students NSE has conducted over 16000 Investor Awareness Programmes in FY2526 so far reaching 83 lakh participants across the countryThese initiatives span students women entrepreneurs rural investors armed forces personnel and firsttime investors the statement saidSessions included the foundation of financial and securities markets suitable financial products rights and responsibilities of investors grievance redressal mechanisms fraud and scam prevention etcRecently SEBI has introduced the âSEBI Checkâ mechanism where investors can either scan a QR code or manually enter the bank details of any SEBIregistered intermediary to check if the UPI ID or bank account is authentic IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/nse-holds-investor-awareness-programme-in-rajkot-to-boost-financial-literacy-656841.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/just-10-mins-of-intensive-workouts-daily-can-help-keep-bowel-cancer-at-bay-study-656852.html New Delhi Jan 3 Short bursts of energetic activity for 10 minutes daily could not only increase your fitness levels but also help fight bowel cancer also known as colorectal cancer according to a study The study by researchers at Newcastle University showed that short and intense exercise activity can trigger rapid molecular changes in the bloodstream shutting down bowel cancer growth and speeding up DNA damage repairThey found that exercise increases the concentration of several small molecules in the blood many linked to reducing inflammation improving blood vessel function and metabolismWhen these exerciseinduced molecules were applied to bowel cancer cells in the lab the activity of more than 1300 genes was altered including those involved in DNA repair energy production and cancer cell growthThe findings published in the International Journal of Cancer help explain one way exercise can protect against bowel cancer by sending molecular signals in the bloodstream that influence the activity of genes that govern tumor growth and genome instabilityWhats remarkable is that exercise doesnt just benefit healthy tissues it sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that can directly influence thousands of genes in cancer cellsâ said Dr Sam Orange Senior Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology at Newcastle University who led the studyIts an exciting insight because it opens the door to finding ways that mimic or augment the biological effects of exercise potentially improving cancer treatment and crucially patient outcomes In the future these insights could lead to new therapies that imitate the beneficial effects of exercise on how cells repair damaged DNA and use fuel for energy Orange addedThe team found that exercise boosted the activity of genes that support mitochondrial energy metabolism enabling cells to use oxygen more efficientlyAt the same time genes linked to rapid cell growth were switched off which could reduce the aggressiveness of cancer cells and exerciseconditioned blood promoted DNA repair activating a key repair gene called PNKPThe study involved 30 volunteers male and female aged 5078 all overweight or obese a risk factor of cancer but otherwise healthyAfter completing a short intense cycling test lasting approximately 10 minutes researchers collected blood samples and analyzed 249 proteins As many as 13 proteins increased after exercise including interleukin6 IL6 which helps repair the DNA of damaged cellsThese results suggest that exercise doesnt just benefit healthy tissues it may also create a more hostile environment for cancer cells to grow Even a single workout can make a difference One bout of exercise lasting just 10 minutes sends powerful signals to the body Its a reminder that every step every session counts when it comes to doing your best to protect your health Orange said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/just-10-mins-of-intensive-workouts-daily-can-help-keep-bowel-cancer-at-bay-study-656852.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-gets-new-municipal-commissioner-district-admin-starts-water-inspection-in-bhagirathpura-656863.html Indore Jan 3 Chief Minister Mohan Yadavled Madhya Pradesh government on Saturday appointed Kshitij Singhal a 2014 batch IAS officer as the new Commissioner of Indore Municipal Corporation A notification for appointment of Kshitij Singhal as the new Municipal Commissioner of Indore was issued by the State Chief Secretary Anurag JainSinghal has replaced Dilip Kumar Yadav who has been transferred from Indore on FridayThe development came a day after the Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered to suspend the Indore Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisoniya and Sanjeev Shrivastava who is the Superintendent Engineer Incharge of the Public Health Engineering departmentMeanwhile Indore district administration on Thursday started a survey to check the water quality being supplied through tankers in Indores Bhagirathpura area where contaminated water killed several people in the past one week and more than 200 were still admitted in multiple hospitals across the cityAlong with an extensive checking of water quality teams of district administration are also making residents of Bhagirathpura area aware about the use of safe drinking water to ensure the safety of people especially children and senior citizens who were the most affected due to the contaminated water supply tragedy in IndoreThe awareness campaign and inspection led by the Indore District Collector Shivam Verma began early morning on Saturday and it will continue till the eveningDuring the doortodoor visit officials are also inspecting water stored in underground and rooftop tanks built in the areaSpeaking to IANS District Collector Verma said that multiple teams of staff members have been deployed to conduct doortodoor inspection in BhagirathpuraA close monitoring is being carried out at the spot where the most number of people have been severly affectedOur team is continuously conducting investigations Wherever cases of food poisoning have been reported and patients have tested positive we have instructed all departments to carry out thorough inspections in the surrounding areas Along with this our water supply lines are also being checked District Collector Verma told IANSVerma also told that people admitted in hospitals are being provided better treatment and are recovering fastHe said that the condition of two out of 27 patients admitted in ICU wards were in critical state till Friday however they have recovered on SaturdayOver 200 people are admitted in more than 30 hospitals both government and private health care institutions in different parts of IndoreOn the other side more than 22 teams of medical staff are conducting health checkup through camps in the Bhagirathpura area IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-gets-new-municipal-commissioner-district-admin-starts-water-inspection-in-bhagirathpura-656863.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ayushman-bharat-universal-immunisation-programme-boosting-healthcare-in-india-govt-656684.html New Delhi Jan 2 The flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat along with the Universal Immunisation Programme is strengthening healthcare in India the government has said Ayushman Bharat comprises four components Ayushman Arogya Mandir Ayushman Bharat PMJAY Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission PMABHIM and Ayushman Bharat Digital MissionABDMâA total of 181873 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs AAM have been operationalised with an expanded package of 12 services and teleconsultation facilities available with footfall of 49471 crore and 4193 crore teleconsultationsâ till November 30 2025 the Ministry of Health said in an official statementâTo date 3950 crore screenings have been done for hypertension and 3670 crore screenings have been done for diabetes Similarly there have been 3240 crore screenings for oral cancer 1523 crore screenings for cervical cancer in women and more than 837 crore screenings for breast cancer in womenâ it addedUnder PMJAY approximately 4248 Crore Ayushman Cards have been created as of December 1 2025 A total of 1098 crore hospital admissions amounting to Rs 160 lakh crores have also been authorised under the schemeA total of 8394 crore Ayushman Bharat health accounts have been created and 747000 healthcare professionals are registered under Ayushman Bharat Digital MissionUnder the Universal Immunization Programme the nation has achieved more than 90 per cent Full Immunization Coverage FIC as per the National Health PolicyâThe National FIC for the period AprOct 2025 is 986 per centâ the Ministry said It added that there has been âa reduction of Measles cases by 28 per cent in the period JanuaryOctober 2025 in comparison to the previous year for the same periodâThe Ministry also listed the governmentâs achievements in tackling the burden of tuberculosis TB and HIVIt stated that India has achieved a 90 per cent success rate in TB treatment while the overall notification of TB cases has improved by 63 per cent over the last 10 years from 2014 to 2024âThe success rate has increased to 83 per cent 855 per cent876 per cent and 89 per cent in 20212022 2023 and 2024 respectively In 2025 Jan to Oct the achievement so far is 90 per centâ the statement saidâIn 2025 January to October 2264 lakh TB patients have been notifiedâ it addedFurther under phaseV of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme NACP around 15 crore persons from highrisk and bridge population groups have been offered prevention services through targeted interventions and Link Worker Schemes in the country in 2025âOverall 529 crore HIV tests have been conducted till October 2025â the Ministry said adding that the tests âincluded around 208 crore HIV tests of pregnant womenâ In 2025 around 209 crore Syphilis tests were also conducted among pregnant womenâAs of October 2025 838 Antiretroviral therapy Centres are operational under the programme There were around 1915 lakh People Living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment including those in the private sectorâ the Ministry saidThe Ministry also shared how different government initiatives have improved maternal child and adolescent health family planning among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ayushman-bharat-universal-immunisation-programme-boosting-healthcare-in-india-govt-656684.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/armys-central-command-promotes-maternal-wellness-mindful-living-656565.html Lucknow Jan 1 As part of an initiative to strengthen maternal care awareness and nurtures future generations with knowledge confidence and care the Central Command of the Indian Army organised a hybrid session for all formations on medical guidance and mindful living an official said on Thursday A hybrid session on Project Garbh Sanskar was conducted at the Shivam Auditorium at the Command Hospital in Lucknow connecting formations across the Armys Central Command and focusing on holistic maternal wellness through medical guidance and mindful living the official said in a social media messageDuring the session expert talks were delivered by Reema Kumari on diet during pregnancy and Varsha Kumari on diet and mind providing practical insights to support healthy motherhood and emotional wellbeing the official addedExpectant mothers spouses and families participated with great enthusiasm reflecting the Indian Armys commitment to informed parenting compassionate care and a strong support ecosystem for families the official saidEarlier the Armys Central Command extended greetings and best wishes to all citizens on the occasion of New Year 2026May the coming year bring peace prosperity strength and new opportunities for every Indian As we step into the new year we salute the indomitable spirit of our soldiers veterans their families and every citizen whose resilience and unity keep our Nation strong the Armys Central Command saidWe reaffirm our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the Nations sovereignty supporting communities and standing steadfast in service of the motherland Together let us continue to move forward with hope courage and national pride it addedThe Army has declared 2026 as the Year of Networking and Data CentricityAs part of the DecadeofTransformation the Indian Army declares 2026 as the Year of Networking amp Data Centricity Driven by indigenisation defence modernisation and digital integration this initiative will enhance connectivity realtime decisionmaking and combat effectiveness thereby strengthening resilience and agility for a futureready force the Army said in a social media message IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/armys-central-command-promotes-maternal-wellness-mindful-living-656565.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 05:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/some-positive-signs-coming-out-of-indications-from-various-tests-says-gilchrist-on-martyn-656576.html Hobart Jan 1 Former Australia batsman Damien Martyn is showing positive signs in coming out of his battle with meningitis his former teammate Adam Gilchrist said Martyn 54 remains hospitalised in Queensland after being placed in an induced coma due to meningitis Martyn fell ill on Boxing Day and is now in a serious condition at the Gold Coast University Hospital âHeâs still in the hospital Thereâll be more details coming out as they come to hand but certainly in the last 24 hours some positive signs are the indications coming out of the various tests heâs havingâThereâs been so much interest and love A fine player terrific fella I just hope he can continue a recoveryâ Gilchrist the former Australia wicketkeeperbatter was quoted as saying by Fox Sports on ThursdayAn elegant righthander batter Martyn scored 4406 runs for Australia in 67 Tests at an average of 4637 including 13 centuries with a best score of 165 He also played 208 ODIs scoring 5346 runs at 4090 with a highest score of 144 not outâOn behalf of Damien Martyn a great friend a former teammate of a few of uson behalf of his family Amanda his partner thank you to everyone for the heartfelt love and wishes and care for Damien as heâs gone through and continues to go through a challenging timeâ added GilchristMartyn was instrumental in Australias 2003 ODI World Cup final victory over India scoring an unbeaten 88 despite batting with a broken finger and sharing a crucial 234run partnership with captain Ricky Ponting He was part of the side that also won the 1999 ODI World Cup and 2006 Champions Trophy After his playing career was over Martyn briefly worked as a commentatorAs per the World Health Organisation WHO meningitis is a devastating disease that is deadly and often results in serious longterm health issues It remains a major global public health challengeMeningitis is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord Though it is not revealed whether the meningitis suffered by Martyn is bacterial or viral WHO notes that it can be infectious or noninfectious in origin can be associated with a high risk of death and longterm complications and requires urgent medical care IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/some-positive-signs-coming-out-of-indications-from-various-tests-says-gilchrist-on-martyn-656576.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-dirty-water-death-toll-remains-uncertain-illnesses-rage-amid-govt-claims-656581.html Indore Jan 1 As residents of Bhagirathpura slum in Indore grapple with a deadly outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea linked to contaminated water the Madhya Pradesh government has yet to release exact data on the number of fatalities Local claims suggest the death toll could be as high as 13 while official acknowledgments remain stuck at just four leaving families in anguish and no authority able to provide a definitive count Meanwhile new cases of illness are still emerging with more than 50 people currently hospitalised and reports of fresh admissions on Thursday The crisis which has unfolded over the past week highlights a stark discrepancy between ground realities and administrative reports Between December 25 and 31 2025 locals reported at least 12 deaths including recent claims from two families on Thursday The deceased include Arvind the son of Hiralal Kulkarni and Shankar both succumbing to symptoms of severe vomiting and diarrhoea local sources said Despite these accounts the district administration insists only four deaths are directly attributable to the outbreak caused by contaminated water This ambiguity has fuelled public outrage and political bickering Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Partyled government saying Indore has consistently voted the BJP MPs and MLAs to power but they have poisoned Indores water The question arises 13 deaths have occurred and the Chief Minister says that only four deaths have occurred Was it the Chief Ministers responsibility to hide the death toll We have formed a committee and a complete investigation is underway We demand that the families of the deceased be given a compensation of one crore rupees each The Chief Minister should punish those responsible for this incident Reacting to State Congress President Patwaris claims against the BJPled state government State Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya who also serves as the local MLA visited the affected families on Thursday to distribute government relief cheques of Rs 2 lakh each However the gesture was met with resistance a victims family refused the aid expressing frustration over the state governments inaction A video of the protest has gone viral on social media capturing the Ministers encounter with angry residents who surrounded him complaining that dirty water has been supplied for the past two years despite repeated complaints If our complaints had been heard earlier so many people would not have died women in the area told Minister Vijayvargiya Vijayvargiya who left the spot on a scooter with BJP Corporator Kamal Waghela later addressed the controversy over the death toll before the media saying The administration officials have informed me that four people have died due to this outbreak but there are reports of eight or nine deaths here in Bhagirathpura We will verify this information and if found to be true the families of the deceased will be provided with financial assistance as announced by the Chief Minister Mohan Yadav He added that around 200 people have been admitted to hospitals with no one currently in immediate danger one patient remains on a ventilator but is stable Our effort is to save peoples lives and provide maximum service We are going to help those who are economically weak We will provide assistance from the government as well as from society The outbreak has prompted urgent interventions from local authorities Following initial reports of three deaths and about 149 hospitalisations the Indore District Magistrate Shivam Verma and District Municipal Commissioner Dileep Kumar Yadav inspected the area The municipal corporation is now supplying clean water directly to homes and ambulances have been stationed for symptomatic residents Minister Vijayvargiya said Minister Vijayvargiya also convened a meeting with the Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav and officials to address the water contamination issue Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered an inquiry directing the Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department Sanjay Dubey with investigating the matterDubey visited the Bhagirathpura slum on Thursday morning to assess the situation Doctors treating the affected note that individuals with weaker immune systems including children and the elderly have been hit the hardest Most cases involve stomach infections manageable with medication but the persistence of new infections underscores the ongoing threat As Indore the cleanest city in India faces this public health scandal residents demand transparency and swift action With no exact death toll forthcoming and illnesses unabated the state governments response remains under scrutiny raising broader questions about water quality management in urban slums IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indore-dirty-water-death-toll-remains-uncertain-illnesses-rage-amid-govt-claims-656581.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/door-to-door-anaemia-prevention-drive-launched-in-jampks-ramban-656598.html Ramban Jan 1 The Health Department on Thursday intensified the Anaemia Mukt Bharat campaign in Jammu and Kashmirs Ramban district by organising a special awareness and training programme involving trained doctors ASHA workers and other female health staff During the programme ASHA workers were sensitised about effective strategies to prevent and manage anaemia among women and children Trained doctors educated participants on the identification prevention and management of anaemia while emphasising the crucial role played by ASHA workers in reaching out to communities at the grassroots levelMedical experts stressed that ASHA workers should regularly visit their assigned areas spread awareness identify anaemia cases at an early stage and ensure proper guidance and followupThe initiative aims to strengthen interventions at the ground level so that through collective and sustained efforts Ramban district can be made anaemiafreeSpeaking to IANS Dr Reyaz said that continuous efforts are being made under the Anaemia Mukt Bharat campaign in the district and gaps are being identified he added that an open discussion was held during the Ramban programme and work on the campaign would now begin at the grassroots levelHe also said that ASHA workers will administer Iron Folic Acid syrup to children aged between six months to five years at a dose of one millilitre per week The intake will be closely monitored and records will be maintained Once mothers are adequately informed they will be encouraged to administer the syrup themselves For children aged between five to nine years pink tablets will be given while blue tablets will be provided to children aged between 10 and 19 yearsDr Ankula said that ASHA workers were thoroughly briefed about the Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme during the event She said that the ASHA workers were trained on how to conduct doortodoor visits and ensure proper distribution of medicines to childrenThe campaign reflects the Health Departments commitment to combating anaemia through awareness early detection and sustained communitylevel intervention across the Ramban district IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/door-to-door-anaemia-prevention-drive-launched-in-jampks-ramban-656598.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/chennai-to-house-free-womens-cancer-screening-centre-by-february-656489.html Chennai Jan 1 Chennai is set to get a dedicated public womens cancer screening centre at Thousand Lights by February The facility being established at a cost of Rs 123 crore will offer free screening services for breast cervical and ovarian cancers affecting women in Tamil Nadu the mostThe threestoreyed centre will be operated by the Greater Chennai Corporations Health Department and will function from 8 am to 5 pm on all days except SundaysIt will be equipped with a mammogram unit for breast cancer screening a laboratory for Pap smear tests to detect cervical cancer and an ultrasound facility for screening abdominal and ovarian cancersA dedicated consultation room will also be part of the facility While government hospitals already provide several diagnostic services free of cost advanced cancer screening tests such as mammograms and specialised scans often require patients to seek private careThe new facility aims to bridge this gap and ensure early diagnosis especially for women from economically weaker backgroundsAnnouncing the initiative Thousand Lights MLA Dr Ezhilan Naganathan said the centre was conceived in response to the growing burden of cancer in Tamil NaduI wanted to establish a free accessible cancer screening facility in the city particularly for women Early detection can significantly improve survival rates We also plan to create a detailed data registry of all women who undergo screening which will help in research and longterm cancer prevention strategies he saidDr J Amalorpavanathan member of the State Planning Commission said the facility was being set up at a crucial time as Tamil Nadu accounts for 64 per cent of Indias total cancer cases despite having only 56 per cent of the countrys populationHe noted that while cervical cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers among women in rural areas urban regions are witnessing a steady rise in breast cancer cases This trend he explained is often linked to lifestyle changes delayed marriages and late childbirth IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/chennai-to-house-free-womens-cancer-screening-centre-by-february-656489.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/oral-bacterium-may-worsen-disability-in-multiple-sclerosis-patients-study-656300.html New Delhi Dec 30 Abundance of severe gum disease periodontitis may worsen disability for people with multiple sclerosis MS a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system Previous studies have shown that periodontitis may contribute to central nervous system disorders through chronic inflammation However its role in multiple sclerosis has been unclearThe new research published in the journal Scientific Reports found that high levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum a bacterium found in the mouth were associated with about tenfold higher odds of severe disability in multiple sclerosis patientsWhile the gut microbiome has been extensively investigated in multiple sclerosis the potential involvement of the oral microbiome has remained largely unexplored Because the oral cavity is a major source of chronic inflammation and represents a potentially modifiable factor clarifying its relationship with multiple sclerosis severity is important for understanding disease mechanisms and developing new preventive strategies said Masahiro Nakamori an associate professor and lecturer at Hiroshima University HospitalThe team noted that nearly twothirds 615 per cent of multiple sclerosis patients with a high relative abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum fell into the moderatetosevere disability range compared with roughly onefifth 186 per cent of those with milder diseaseNo such association was observed in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodyassociated disease MS patients with both Fusobacterium nucleatum and at least one other periodontal pathogen showed even higher disabilityFusobacterium nucleatum may act as a hidden bridge bacterium not only bridging bacterial communities in dental biofilms but also potentially linking oral inflammation to neurological disability said NakamoriMS is a central inflammatory demyelinating disease that targets the myelin sheath the protective layer that wraps around some nerve cellsWhile the specific cause of multiple sclerosis remains unknown viral infections smoking vitamin deficiencies and genetic predispositions are thought to be possible contributing factorsThe team now hopes to conduct larger multicenter studies to validate the association between oral bacteria and multiple sclerosis severity IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/oral-bacterium-may-worsen-disability-in-multiple-sclerosis-patients-study-656300.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/mha-approves-state-of-the-art-forensic-institute-for-jampk-656168.html Jammu Dec 29 After a proposal was submitted by the AIIMS Jammu to the Union Home Ministry MHA the ministry on Monday approved the setting up of a stateoftheart forensic institute in JampK An official statement said today that the MHA has approved a proposal of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS Jammu for a stateoftheart Forensic Institute in JampKThe proposal had been sent to establish an institute to consolidate evidence collection increase conviction rates and help in better investigation and diagnosis in the health sector officials saidâA forensic institute is coming up in JampK AIIMS has submitted a proposal for setting up the institute in JampK to the Ministry of Home Affairs They have approved itâ Executive Director amp CEO AIIMS Jammu Prof Shakti Kumar Gupta saidGupta said the CBI has also been involved in it âThere are only a few forensic institutes in the country This institute will come up in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmirâ he saidHe added that in the future AIIMS will work with the institute helping in early investigation and diagnosis for medical healthJammu and Kashmir which has been battling terrorism for the past 35 years has two forensic science laboratories at Jammu and Srinagar with its headquarters at JammuIt was created in the year 1964 under the Home Department The geographical location of Jammu and Kashmir with its proximity to the International Border and three state borders makes it sensitive to terror narcoterror and gunrelated crimes officials saidâThe possibility of involvement of criminals from different states and different nations is always anticipated This poses a major challenge to the police and defence forces and the same has been well knownâ Professor and Head Forensic Medicine and Toxicology AIIMS Dr Dinesh Rao saidHe said it is essential that JampK is prepared to address this by establishing a stateoftheart forensic institute wherein all the services discussed above are made available under one roofâThis will be a onepoint facility for the investigation agencies This will help secure the evidence examine the evidence and at the same time analyse it through different scientific laboratories available under one roofâ he saidDr Rao said that with the support of the government AIIMS can establish a stateoftheart forensic institute in the region to cater to the needs of the police and defence forces in their efforts to fight the menace in the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/mha-approves-state-of-the-art-forensic-institute-for-jampk-656168.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/researchers-harness-cancer-resistance-mutations-to-fight-tumours-656246.html New Delhi Dec 30 An international team of researchers has discovered a new method to fight cancers that no longer respond to treatment The team led by Israels Weizmann Institute of Science used mutations that make tumours drugresistant Xinhua news agency reportedOne of the biggest challenges in cancer care is when a therapy stops workingIn many metastatic cancers drugs that initially work lose their effect over time as cancer cells mutate and continue to growThe new study published in the journal Cancer Discovery proposed a new way to confront cancer resistance harnessing the very mutations that make tumours resistant in order to fight the cancerThe team introduced a computational tool called SpotNeoMetIt identifies therapyresistant mutations common to many patientsThese mutations produce tiny protein fragments called neoantigens which appear only on cancer cellsThese shared neoantigens may provide the basis for new immunotherapy approaches that prompt the immune system to selectively target cancer cellsOur research demonstrates a broad principle that may change the way we think about treatmentresistant cancer said Prof Yardena Samuels at the WeizmannThe same mutations that allow a tumour to evade a drug can through precise immunotherapy become the cancers weak point Unlike boutique immunotherapies that must be tailored to each individual patient these therapies could be suitable for large groups of patients Samuels addedThe researchers tested their approach on metastatic prostate cancer a disease where most patients eventually become resistant to standard treatmentsThey identified three neoantigens that showed promising results in lab experiments and in mouse modelsThe researchers said the approach differs from highly personalised therapies because it targets resistance mutations shared by many patients This allows the same treatment to be applied more broadly to people with treatmentresistant cancers IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/researchers-harness-cancer-resistance-mutations-to-fight-tumours-656246.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/southern-star-awwa-chief-komal-seth-hails-work-of-armys-artificial-limb-centre-656147.html Pune Dec 29 Komal Seth Regional President Southern Star AWWA visited the Artificial Limb Centre Pune on Monday and appreciated the work being done by it for the amputees an official of the Indian Armyâs Southern Command said âShe commended the dedicated team at ALC for restoring mobility confidence and dignity to the amputees reflecting the spirit of resilience that defines the fraternityâ an official said on XâRegional President Southern Star AWWA felicitated the battle casualties and inaugurated a statue of a Blade Runner on ALC Cross Road The statue is a symbol that celebrates the spirit of amputee Paralympians of the Armed Forces and depicts speed courage and the will to rise higher after every setbackâ the official saidThe visit of the RPA reaffirmed Southern Star AWWAâs mission to stand beside soldiers and families at every stage fostering care capability and confidence through empathy and compassiondriven initiatives it saidArmy Wives Welfare Associationâs AWWA chapter for the Indian Armys Southern Command is a vibrant organisation focused on welfare empowerment and community building for army families in Southern India especially in PuneEarlier as part of the Armyâs commitment to nurturing holistic growth and shaping responsible confident and capable future leaders the Southern Command hosted Naib Subedar Jasmine World Boxing Championship Gold Medallist said an official on X on December 27The boxer interacted with children and their parents from the Agnibaaz Division delivering a powerful motivational session on the value of sports discipline and a healthy lifestyle said the officialShe encouraged the young audience to dream big persevere through challenges and believe in their potential Sharing moving glimpses from her own journey she engaged warmly with the children answering questions offering guidance and inspiring confidenceEarlier the Ministry of Defence in its post shared on social media handle highlighted the power of Archer Subedar Tarundeep Rai Padma Shri awardee of the 58 Gorkha RiflesâAcross his 28yearlong journey as an archer he reveals how military discipline relentless training tough setbacks and a deep sense of service shaped him to dream and achieve big This is not just a sports story itâs a lesson in endurance and commitment to the Tricolourâ said the Ministry in a post on Sunday IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/southern-star-awwa-chief-komal-seth-hails-work-of-armys-artificial-limb-centre-656147.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 23:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-modis-messageonmisuse-of-antibioticstimely-experts-656020.html New Delhi Dec 29 Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs message against the misuse of antibiotics is timely and draws attention to antimicrobial resistance AMR a very important health concern said health experts on Monday PM Modi in his last Mann Ki Baat of the year on Sunday warned people against the misuse of antibiotics and raised the concern of rising levels of AMR in the countryThe Prime Minister cited a recent alarming report by the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR which stated that antibiotics are becoming less effective against diseases such as pneumonia and UTIs in IndiaCalling it âextremely worryingâ he urged people not to take antibiotics casuallyPrime Minister Narendra Modi in Mann Ki Baat has brought the attention of the entire country to a very important issue which is antimicrobial resistance Rajiv Bahl Director General of ICMR told IANSAntimicrobial resistance means that the bacteria that cause infections like pneumonia urinary tract infections or sepsis are now not reacting to or are not getting resistant to the antibiotics that we use to treat them So we all thought earlier that we could treat any infection because we have antibiotics but the bacteria are getting more resistant he addedDr Rajeev Jayadevan ExPresident of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell Kerala called AMR a serious and silent threat that is looming over our healthcare systemâIt is a scary scenario where antibiotics become ineffective against bacteria It is particularly important in the context where no new antibiotics are being added to our armamentarium Since AMR by itself has no obvious symptoms such as pain or cough most people are unaware of it The Prime Ministerâs comments are much needed to bring it to national attentionâ he told IANSA recent report by the World Health Organization WHO showed that about one in three bacterial infections in India were resistant to commonly used antibiotics in 2023 Globally it was one in six confirmed infectionsNational AMR surveillance data also show troubling resistance patterns in pathogens such as E coli Klebsiella pneumoniae Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumanniiAnother recent study published in the Lancet eClinical Medicine journal warned that India is at the epicentre of a superbug explosion as several patients in the country were found to carry multiple highly resistant organisms simultaneouslyIt showed that more than 80 per cent of Indian patients carry multidrugresistant organisms MDROs the highest globallyâPrime Minister Narendra Modiâs message urging citizens to avoid selfmedication and use antibiotics only on a doctorâs advice is a timely and powerful publichealth intervention He has brought national focus to AMR a quiet but catastrophic pandemic India cannot affordâ Dr Neeraj Nischal Additional Professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS Delhi told IANSThe expert explained that AMR does not require new germs it thrives on bad habits like overthecounter access incomplete courses unnecessary prescriptions and use for viral illnessesâIf we treat antibiotics as shortcuts resistance becomes the longterm cost paid in lives Antibiotic misuse today means untreatable infections tomorrow placing our country at a critical crossroads Every avoidable prescription writes a future where easytotreat infections routine surgery childbirth and cancer care become far riskierâ Nischal saidImportantly Jayadevan warned that the public should not assume that all cases of fever or cold require antibioticsThe experts stated that individuals must avoid selfmedication using antibiotics like paracetamol or painkillers They strongly recommend that antibiotics be used only when properly prescribed by a physicianIn cases where doctors recommend antibiotics individuals must complete prescribed coursesâDoctors must practice evidencebased prescribing and stewardship while chemists must strictly enforce prescriptiononly sales Government oversight is essential particularly as quickcommerce platforms enable rapid antibiotic delivery sometimes with hastily generated prescriptionsâ Nischal told IANS adding that combating AMR requires collective responsibility IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-modis-messageonmisuse-of-antibioticstimely-experts-656020.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indiashospital-sector-revenuetogrowup-to-20-pc-in-fy2027-from-18-pc-in-fy2026-report-656090.html New Delhi Dec 29 The business outlook for the Indian hospital industry remains positive with its revenue expected to grow 1820 per cent in FY2027 a report said on Monday According to the report by credit rating agency ICRA the sectorâs growth based on a sample set of 11 leading listed hospital companies is supported by sustained high occupancy and healthy average revenue per occupied bed ARPOBIn FY2026 the Indian hospital sector grew 1618 per cent reflecting expectations of continued robust operating metrics on the back of strong structural tailwindsThe performance of the Indian hospital industry is expected to remain strong in FY2026 on the back of healthy occupancy and ARPOBâ said Mythri Macherla Vice President and Sector Head Corporate Ratings ICRAâICRA expects occupancy of its sample set companies to remain robust at 6264 per cent in FY2026 635 per cent in FY2025 while the ARPOB is expected to expand by 68 per cent she addedThis follows a strong first half where the sample set witnessed a 16 per cent yearonyear revenue growth in H1 FY2026 supported by occupancy of 633 per cent and a 78 per cent increase in ARPOB the report saidThe operating profit margin OPM in H1 FY2026 remained healthy at 237 per cent aided by improved case mix and cost optimisationCost optimisation efforts along with an improving case and payor mix will support operating profit margin OPM of 2224 per cent for the sample set companies in FY2026 236 per cent in FY2025 Macherla saidICRA noted that despite sizeable greenfield and brownfield expansions planned across metros tierII and tierIII cities the credit profile of its sample set is projected to remain healthy given the strong accrual expectationsFor the pharmaceutical sector ICRA affirmed a stable outlook for FY2026 projecting a 911 per cent revenue expansion for its sample set of companiesRevenues of ICRAs sample set of Indian pharmaceutical companies are expected to grow by 911 per cent in FY2026 said MacherlaThis will be supported by healthy growth of 810 per cent in the domestic market and 1517 per cent in the European markets while pricing pressure on certain key drugs such as Lenalidomide will result in moderation in the growth in the US market to 46 per cent she addedThe operating profit margin OPM for the sample set is expected to remain stable at 2425 per cent in FY2026 supported by healthy performance in key markets and stable raw material costs IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indiashospital-sector-revenuetogrowup-to-20-pc-in-fy2027-from-18-pc-in-fy2026-report-656090.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-bjp-attacks-dmk-over-criminal-negligence-after-water-contamination-deaths-in-tiruttani-655904.html Chennai Dec 28 A deadly water contamination incident in Karlambakkam village near Tiruttani Tamil Nadu has triggered a fierce political backlash with BJP spokesperson ANS Prasad accusing the DMK government of âcriminal negligenceâ and administrative collapse The incident which claimed the lives of two residents and left several others hospitalised has once again brought Tamil Naduâs drinking water safety and governance standards under scrutinyThe victims Ezhumalai 65 and Sudha 50 both from Scheduled Caste families reportedly consumed drinking water supplied by the local panchayat that was contaminated with sewage More than ten others suffered severe vomiting and diarrhoea forcing their admission to nearby hospitalsAngered villagers staged road blockades demanding accountability and immediate actionIn a strongly worded statement ANS Prasad said the tragedy exposed the âhollowness of the Dravidian Modelâ and accused the DMK government of failing to ensure even the most basic public service safe drinking waterâThis is not an accident but a consequence of administrative negligence When governance collapses the poor pay with their livesâ he saidPrasad pointed out that the Centreâs Jal Jeevan Mission has invested heavily in Tamil Nadu with official figures showing over 89 per cent rural household tap coverage as of November 2025âDespite receiving thousands of crores in central assistance how are Scheduled Caste families still dying after consuming contaminated waterâ he asked demanding answers from Chief Minister MK StalinCalling for immediate action the BJP leader demanded the suspension of the Tiruvallur District Collector and a highlevel judicial probe into the incidentHe also urged the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to take suo motu cognisance of the deathsPrasad further criticised DMKâs allies accusing them of remaining silent despite projecting themselves as champions of social justiceâTheir silence in the face of such suffering exposes the hypocrisy of their politicsâ he saidAs investigations continue residents of Karlambakkam await accountability and assurance that access to safe drinking water a basic human right will no longer be denied to them IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-bjp-attacks-dmk-over-criminal-negligence-after-water-contamination-deaths-in-tiruttani-655904.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/mouse-births-pups-after-returning-from-space-mission-in-china-paving-way-for-future-research-655836.html Beijing Dec 27 Of the four mice involved in a recent mission aboard Chinas space station one female has now successfully birthed healthy offspring on Earth the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization CSU of the Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS said on Saturday The four mice two male and two female were sent into space aboard the Shenzhou21 crewed spaceship on October 31 and were housed in a specialised habitat on the space station before returning to Earth on November 14 Xinhua news agency reportedAfter their return one female conceived and later delivered nine pups on December 10 Six of the newborns have survived a rate considered normal Researchers have noted that the mother is nursing normally and the pups appear active and healthyThis mission showed that shortterm space travel did not impair the reproductive capability of the mouse said Wang Hongmei a researcher at the Institute of Zoology of the CASIt also provides invaluable samples for the investigation of how the space environment influences early developmental stages in mammals Hongmei addedThe rodents were transported to Chinas space station to be raised in orbit for five to seven days marking the countrys first scientific experiments involving mammalian models in spaceAs a key model animal in the field of life sciences the mice feature several advantages high genetic similarity to humans small body size and short reproductive cycle and a high amenability to genetic modification said Huang Kun an expert from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences CASThese traits make them ideal for studying physiological and pathological processes as well as the growth development and reproduction of living organisms in space he saidThe project jointly led by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics and the Institute of Zoology both under the CAS involved continuous multidimensional video monitoring of the mice throughout their stay in orbitThe lighting inside the mice experiment facility turned on at 7 am and off at 7 pm maintaining the same circadian rhythm as on Earth explained Li Tianda an associate researcher at the Institute of ZoologyThe rodent food was not only nutritionally balanced but also made it relatively hard to reduce crumbs and meet the mices teethgrinding habit A directional air flow within the facility is designed to blow hair faeces and other garbage into a collection container ensuring a clean and hygienic environment for the mice Li saidBy collecting preliminary data on stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in microgravity the scientists aimed to use these observations to decode how weightlessness and enclosed space influence mices behavioursAfter completing their orbital mission the mice astronauts returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou20 spaceship for further analysisPrevious animal experiments conducted in the Chinese space lab involved zebra fish and fruit flies IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/mouse-births-pups-after-returning-from-space-mission-in-china-paving-way-for-future-research-655836.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/community-centric-micro-hospitals-can-help-fight-indias-ncd-crises-say-experts-655848.html New Delhi Dec 27 Micro hospitals which replace fragmented tertiary models with specialistled coordinated care and reduced wait times can play a crucial role in the countryâs fight against the rising epidemic of noncommunicable diseases NCDs said experts on Saturday NCDs which include diabetes hypertension cancer and obesity affect over million in India and are behind 63 per cent of all deaths as per the WHO dataThe rising burden of NCDs is also affecting the healthcare systemHospital bed density lags at just 055 per 1000 population far below the WHOs 3 per 1000 benchmarks leading to overcrowded facilities long wait times and variability in care qualityâIndia has the doctors and the technology but what we truly lack is continuous coordinated care And large tertiary hospitals are often designed for acute crises not the longterm communitycentred management that NCDs requireâ said Dr Jagdish Prasad Former Director General Health Services DGHS while addressing the HEAL OneHealth Connect SeriesâMicrohospitals represent a necessary structural correction bringing consultations diagnostics and followups under one roof to restore the lost trust between patients and providersâ he addedThe âMicroHospitalâ model is emerging as a new blueprint designed to bridge the accessibility and quality gap Unlike smaller nursing homes these are purposebuilt specialistled facilities that offer 360degree care from advanced diagnostics to surgical interventions closer to residential communitiesThis prevents the âpatient shufflingâ that typically occurs when patients are forced to navigate multiple laboratories and clinics for a single diagnosisâPatients today are overwhelmed by the scale and cold complexity of large hospitals Microhospitals bring back the essentials time communication and coordination ensuring that care is not just delivered efficiently but experienced meaningfullyâ said Dr Mohsin Wali Padma Shri Awardee and Senior Consultant at a leading Delhibased hospitalThe microhospital framework can provide patient care in the early stages and provide specialised intervention before it becomes a lifethreatening emergency said the experts IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/community-centric-micro-hospitals-can-help-fight-indias-ncd-crises-say-experts-655848.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indianimmunologicalsdenies-australias-alert-on-fake-antirabies-vaccine-in-india-655862.html New Delhi Dec 27 Hyderabadbased drugmaker Indian Immunologicals Limited IIL on Saturday refuted claims by Australian health authorities over fake doses of its antirabies vaccine in India Earlier this week the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation issued an alert that counterfeit batches of rabies vaccine Abhayrab have been circulating in India since November 2023IIL has been manufacturing Abhayrab in India since 2000In a statement IIL âstrongly refuted the overcautionary and misplaced reference to 2023â adding that the alert âdoes not reflect the current situationââIIL aims to reassure stakeholders that the companyâs pharmacovigilance and quality systems are robust and that the public can continue to place confidence in vaccines supplied directly by IIL and its authorised channelsâ added Sunil Tiwari Vice President and Head of Quality Management at IIL in the statementThe company noted that since the year 2000 more than 210 million doses of Abhayrab have been supplied across India and 40 countries The antirabies vaccine continues to hold a 40 per cent market share in IndiaPeople who have received the counterfeit vaccine may not be fully protected against rabies said the Australian health authorities while advising people vaccinated with Abhayrab from November 1 2023 onwards to see their healthcare provider to check if replacement doses are neededâIn January 2025 IIL proactively identified a packaging anomaly in one specific batch Batch KA 24014 The company immediately notified Indian regulators and law enforcement agencies lodged a formal complaint and worked closely with authorities to ensure swift actionâ IIL saidCalling it an âisolated incidentâ the drugmaker stated that âthe counterfeit batch is no longer available on the shelvesâThe company also reassured healthcare professionals and the public of safe vaccinesâEvery batch of vaccine manufactured in India is tested and released by the Central Drugs Laboratory Government of India before being made available for sale or administration Supplies made through government institutions and authorised distributors remain safe and of standard qualityâ IIL saidRabies is a viral zoonotic disease that affects the central nervous system Infected dogs are responsible for transmitting the virus in the vast majority of rabies cases among humansThe disease is fatal in 100 per cent of cases once it infects the central nervous system and clinical symptoms appearAccording to the World Health Organization WHO India records an estimated 18000â20000 rabies deaths each year most of them following dog bites IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indianimmunologicalsdenies-australias-alert-on-fake-antirabies-vaccine-in-india-655862.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 13:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-ai-model-canpredictblood-loss-in-liposuction-655740.html New Delhi Dec 26 A newly developed artificial intelligence AI model is highly accurate in predicting blood loss in patients undergoing highvolume cosmetic surgery procedures such as liposuction according to a study While liposuction performed in more than 23 million patients per year to remove stubborn fat from the face abdomen thighs arms or neck is generally safe excessive blood loss is a potentially serious complication especially when higher volumes of fat are removedThe study reported in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal called the development of an AI model to predict blood loss in liposuction a groundbreaking advancement with the potential to improve patient safety and surgical outcomesBy leveraging the power of AIdriven predictive models surgeons can tailor their interventions to each patients unique needs ensuring optimal outcomes and minimising the risk of complications such as excessive blood loss said the international research team including those from the Department of Public Health Health Ministry of Ecuador and Mayo Clinic in the USThe team used machine learning technologies to analyse data from 721 patients undergoing largevolume liposuction with a total volume of over 4000 milliliters four liters of fat and fluid removed All procedures were carried out at two clinics one in Colombia and one in Ecuador following identical liposuction protocolsData from a random sample of 621 patients were used to develop a model for predicting estimated blood loss incorporating a wide range of demographic clinical and surgical data The researchers then tested their models performance in predicting the volume of blood loss in the remaining 100 patientsWith 94 per cent accuracy the model was found to help make liposuction saferSuch accuracy reinforces the models potential as a decisionsupport tool in body contouring procedures where anticipating intraoperative blood loss is crucial for patient safety and operative planning the researchers saidSurgeons can use the predicted blood loss estimates to make informed decisions about perioperative management such as the need for blood transfusions fluid management and other critical care measures they added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-ai-model-canpredictblood-loss-in-liposuction-655740.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/disrupted-sleep-cycles-linked-to-aggressive-breast-cancer-study-655780.html New Delhi Dec 26 Women working on the night shift or frequently flying across time zones where they experience an irregular sleep schedule may increase their risk of aggressive breast cancer according to a study The team from the Texas AampM University College of Arts and Sciences explained that circadian disruptions change the structure of mammary glands and weaken the immune systems defenses all the while pointing toward a new way to counteract these effectsCancer keeps time If your internal clock is disrupted cancer takes advantage but now weve found a new way to fight back said Dr Tapasree Roy Sarkar CoDirector of the Center for Statistical Bioinformatics at Texas AampM University College of Arts and SciencesCircadian rhythms our internal 24hour clock do far more than regulate sleep They help coordinate hormone release tissue repair and the immune systems surveillanceWhen disrupted the bodys natural defenses begin to falterThe circadian rhythm orchestrates how our tissues function and how our immune system recognizes danger Sarkar said When that rhythm is disrupted the consequences can be seriously dangerousTo investigate these effects the researchers used two groups of genetically engineered models that develop aggressive breast cancerOne group lived on a normal daynight schedule while the other lived on a disrupted light cycle that threw off their internal clocksThe findings published in the journal Oncogene showed that typical models develop cancer around the 22week marker The circadiandisrupted group however showed signs of cancer much earlier at almost 18 weeksTumours in circadiandisrupted models were also far more aggressive and far more likely to spread to the lungs a key indicator of poor outcomes in breast cancer patientsAt the same time disruption of the models internal clock suppressed immune defenses creating a more hospitable environment for cancer growthIt wasnt just that tumours grew faster Sarkar said The immune system was actively restrained creating more favourable conditions for cancer cells to survive and spreadBut the effects werent just limited to the tumours themselves The researchers also found that longterm circadian disruption changed the makeup of healthy breast tissue making it more vulnerable to cancerWe observed clear changes in the morphology of the mammary glands the milkproducing tissue of the breast Sarkar said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/disrupted-sleep-cycles-linked-to-aggressive-breast-cancer-study-655780.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-steps-up-surveillance-after-bird-flu-outbreak-in-neighbouring-kerala-655637.html Chennai Dec 25 In response to the detection of avian influenza H1N1 in neighbouring Kerala the Tamil Nadu Public Health Department has ordered heightened surveillance and preventive measures in districts along the border between the two states to prevent any possible spread of the disease The directive follows reports from Keralaâs Alappuzha and Kottayam districts where a large number of poultry birds reared in farms died suddenly in recent days Blood samples collected from the affected birds by Keralaâs Animal Husbandry Department were sent to a testing laboratory in Pune where examinations confirmed the presence of H1N1 avian influenzaFollowing the confirmation the Kerala government intensified diseasecontrol and containment measures in the affected areasAs a precautionary step Tamil Nadu authorities have moved swiftly to strengthen monitoring along the interstate border The Public Health Department has instructed district administrations to establish checkposts at key entry points from Kerala and to subject incoming vehicles to inspection Vehicles arriving from Kerala are to be disinfected as part of biosecurity measures aimed at preventing the entry of the virus into the stateAccording to officials special surveillance has been ordered in Coimbatore Nilgiris Theni Kanyakumari and Tenkasi districts all of which share borders with KeralaHealth teams have been directed to closely monitor vehicles including those transporting poultry livestock and agricultural produce entering Tamil Nadu from the neighbouring stateThe Public Health Department has also issued specific advisories in view of the ongoing Sabarimala pilgrimage season Devotees returning from Kerala have been asked to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever respiratory distress or other flulike signsIn districts with a high concentration of poultry farms including Namakkal officials have been told to intensify surveillance in coordination with the Animal Husbandry DepartmentVeterinarians have been instructed to closely monitor poultry health report unusual deaths promptly and ensure that farmlevel biosecurity protocols are strictly followedHealth authorities emphasised that there is no cause for panic at present but stressed the need for strict preventive measures and early detectionOfficials said the situation is being monitored continuously and further action will be taken based on inputs from fieldlevel surveillance and interdepartmental coordinationThe state government reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and the poultry sector stating that all necessary steps are being taken to prevent the spread of avian influenza into Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-steps-up-surveillance-after-bird-flu-outbreak-in-neighbouring-kerala-655637.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sun-pharmas-taro-recalls-over-17-000-units-of-antifungal-shampoo-in-us-fda-655668.html New Delhi Dec 25 Sun Pharmaâs US arm Taro Pharmaceutical Industries has recalled more than 17000 units of antifungal over manufacturing issues the US Food and Drug Administration USFDA has said The Ciclopirox Shampoo an antifungal medication that treats seborrheic dermatitis a condition that causes dry flaky and itchy skin is being recalled due to âfailed impuritydegradation specificationsâ the USFDA said in its latest Enforcement ReportThe Class II nationwide recall of 17664 units of the Ciclopirox Shampoo was initiated by the company on December 9The USFDA defines a ClassII recall as a violative product whose use or exposure to may lead to temporary or medically reversible health consequences or when the likelihood of serious adverse health outcomes is minimalTaro is a private company and wholly owned by Sun Pharma The Israelbased company was acquired by Sun Pharma in a deal valued at 34773 million last yearSun Pharma has been the majority shareholder of Taro since 2010Primarily focused on dermatology Taro produces a wide range of prescription and overthecounter productsIndian pharmaceutical companies supply a substantial proportion of drugs to US residents with four out of ten of all prescriptions filled in the US in 2022 being supplied by Indian companiesSun Pharmaceutical Industries is Indiaâs largest formulation player by market share The pharma giant is also a lead exporter to the US market with revenue of Rs 14478 crore in the second quarter of FY26While the drug majors net profit rose 256 per cent yearonyear to Rs 3118 crore formulation sales in the US declined 41 per cent to 496 millionThe weakness in its generics business was offset by growth in innovative medicines according to the company IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sun-pharmas-taro-recalls-over-17-000-units-of-antifungal-shampoo-in-us-fda-655668.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 17:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/punjab-cm-approves-cashless-treatment-of-rs-10-lakh-to-every-family--655699.html Chandigarh Dec 25 IANS In a New Year bonanza for residents Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday gave the green signal to the Health Department to launch Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna from January to enable cashless treatment of Rs 10 lakh to every family in the statenbspReviewing a meeting of the Health Department here CM Mann said Mukh Mantri Sehat Beema Yojna is a step towards providing universal healthcare facilities to people without spending even a penny on itnbspnbspThis is a step towards providing universal healthcare and ensuring that people get cashless treatment of Rs 10 lakh Punjab will be the first state in the country where every family will be entitled to cashless treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh he saidnbspThe Chief Minister said the yojna is a flagship health assurance initiative of the government aimed at providing financial protection and assured access to quality healthcare to all eligible residents of the statenbspThe scheme is a major step towards universal health coverage under which each enrolled family is entitled to cashless medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per year he addednbspCM Mann said The scheme covers major illnesses critical care surgeries and lifesaving treatments at a wide network of empanelled government and private hospitals across Punjab and Chandigarh ensuring equitable access to healthcare servicesnbspThe key objective is to ensure cashless and paperless healthcare at empanelled hospitals and to reduce outofpocket expenditure on secondary and tertiary healthcarenbspLikewise it will strengthen equitable access to healthcare services across urban and rural areas and provide timely grievance redressal and beneficiary support through digital platforms the Chief Minister saidnbspHe said all the expenses like hospitalisation costs surgeries and medical procedures ICU and critical care services diagnostics medicines and consumables as per approved packages preand posthospitalisation expenses and others will be covered under itnbsp https://dailyworld.in/health/punjab-cm-approves-cashless-treatment-of-rs-10-lakh-to-every-family--655699.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 19:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/yearender-2025-india-takes-key-steps-in-science-research-and-innovation-amid-govt-push-655590.html New Delhi Dec 25 With largescale funding for research and innovation Indiaâs science and technology SampT sector made a significant leap in 2025 The sector saw improvement in global rankings and advances in frontier technologies semiconductor development and AIbased missionsIn 2025 the country rose to the 38th position among 139 economies in the World Intellectual Property Organizations Global Innovation Index GII 2025 India made a big leap from 81st rank in 2015Four Indian cities also featured among the top 100 innovation clusters Bengaluru 21 Delhi 26 Mumbai 46 and Chennai all of which improved rankings this yearIn a significant push to incentivise private sector participation in RampD the government this year launched the Research Development and Innovation Fund in July The fund was launched with a total outlay of Rs 10 Lakh crore over six years out of which Rs 20000 crore was allocated for FY 202526The National Quantum Mission NQM focussed on building Indias quantum tech ecosystem established operational hubs across 43 institutions by mid2025Under the Mission the government has released Rs 45099 crore in FY 202526 and Rs 5544 crore has been utilised till November 2025Further under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary CyberPhysical Systems NMICPS focused on building CyberPhysical Systems CPS capabilities major initiatives undertaken in 2025 include projects like BharatGen Generative AI for Indian languages and bolstering digital infrastructure for cybersecurity and smart applicationsThe LLMbased platform integrates text speech and image modalities offering seamless AI solutions in 22 Indian languagesThe National Supercomputing Mission NSM saw the installation of 37 supercomputers with a total computing power of 40 Petaflops in 2025These systems are set up in leading institutions like IISc IITs CDAC RampD Labs and also in several academic institutions and research organisation in the TierII and TierIII cities across the countryThese supercomputers have supported over 10000 researchers including more than 1700 PhD scholars from over 200 academic and research institutionsNotably the IndiaAI Mission with a budget of over Rs 10300 crore deployed 38000 GPUs as of 2025 to provide affordable computing power to startups and researchersIn 2025 India also rapidly expanded its AI ecosystem with several key Centres of Excellence CoEs focused on sectors like education healthcare agriculture urban governance and clean Energy spurred by the Union Budget 202526With the DHRUV64 Microprocessor India launched its first fully indigenous 10 GHz 64bit dualcore microprocessor in December 2025 Developed by CDAC the chip is designed for 5G IoT and automotive applicationsVIKRAM3201 became the first MakeinIndia 32bit microprocessor specifically qualified for harsh space environmentsThe governments flagship schemes like INSPIRE INSPIREMANAK and WISEKIRAN benefited lakhs of school students researchers and women scientistsIndia also launched its first RampD roadmap for Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage CCUS in December 2025 to accelerate its netzero mission IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/yearender-2025-india-takes-key-steps-in-science-research-and-innovation-amid-govt-push-655590.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-takes-key-steps-in-science-research-and-innovation-amid-govt-push-655593.html New Delhi Dec 25 With largescale funding for research and innovation Indiaâs science and technology SampT sector made a significant leap in 2025 The sector saw improvement in global rankings and advances in frontier technologies semiconductor development and AIbased missionsIn 2025 the country rose to the 38th position among 139 economies in the World Intellectual Property Organizations Global Innovation Index GII 2025 India made a big leap from 81st rank in 2015Four Indian cities also featured among the top 100 innovation clusters Bengaluru 21 Delhi 26 Mumbai 46 and Chennai all of which improved rankings this yearIn a significant push to incentivise private sector participation in RampD the government this year launched the Research Development and Innovation Fund in July The fund was launched with a total outlay of Rs 10 Lakh crore over six years out of which Rs 20000 crore was allocated for FY 202526The National Quantum Mission NQM focussed on building Indias quantum tech ecosystem established operational hubs across 43 institutions by mid2025Under the Mission the government has released Rs 45099 crore in FY 202526 and Rs 5544 crore has been utilised till November 2025Further under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary CyberPhysical Systems NMICPS focused on building CyberPhysical Systems CPS capabilities major initiatives undertaken in 2025 include projects like BharatGen Generative AI for Indian languages and bolstering digital infrastructure for cybersecurity and smart applicationsThe LLMbased platform integrates text speech and image modalities offering seamless AI solutions in 22 Indian languagesThe National Supercomputing Mission NSM saw the installation of 37 supercomputers with a total computing power of 40 Petaflops in 2025These systems are set up in leading institutions like IISc IITs CDAC RampD Labs and also in several academic institutions and research organisation in the TierII and TierIII cities across the countryThese supercomputers have supported over 10000 researchers including more than 1700 PhD scholars from over 200 academic and research institutionsNotably the IndiaAI Mission with a budget of over Rs 10300 crore deployed 38000 GPUs as of 2025 to provide affordable computing power to startups and researchersIn 2025 India also rapidly expanded its AI ecosystem with several key Centres of Excellence CoEs focused on sectors like education healthcare agriculture urban governance and clean Energy spurred by the Union Budget 202526With the DHRUV64 Microprocessor India launched its first fully indigenous 10 GHz 64bit dualcore microprocessor in December 2025 Developed by CDAC the chip is designed for 5G IoT and automotive applicationsVIKRAM3201 became the first MakeinIndia 32bit microprocessor specifically qualified for harsh space environmentsThe governments flagship schemes like INSPIRE INSPIREMANAK and WISEKIRAN benefited lakhs of school students researchers and women scientistsIndia also launched its first RampD roadmap for Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage CCUS in December 2025 to accelerate its netzero mission IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-takes-key-steps-in-science-research-and-innovation-amid-govt-push-655593.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-takes-key-steps-in-science-research-and-innovation-amid-govt-push-in-2025-655594.html New Delhi Dec 25 With largescale funding for research and innovation Indiaâs science and technology SampT sector made a significant leap in 2025 The sector saw improvement in global rankings and advances in frontier technologies semiconductor development and AIbased missionsIn 2025 the country rose to the 38th position among 139 economies in the World Intellectual Property Organizations Global Innovation Index GII 2025 India made a big leap from 81st rank in 2015Four Indian cities also featured among the top 100 innovation clusters Bengaluru 21 Delhi 26 Mumbai 46 and Chennai all of which improved rankings this yearIn a significant push to incentivise private sector participation in RampD the government this year launched the Research Development and Innovation Fund in July The fund was launched with a total outlay of Rs 10 Lakh crore over six years out of which Rs 20000 crore was allocated for FY 202526The National Quantum Mission NQM focussed on building Indias quantum tech ecosystem established operational hubs across 43 institutions by mid2025Under the Mission the government has released Rs 45099 crore in FY 202526 and Rs 5544 crore has been utilised till November 2025Further under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary CyberPhysical Systems NMICPS focused on building CyberPhysical Systems CPS capabilities major initiatives undertaken in 2025 include projects like BharatGen Generative AI for Indian languages and bolstering digital infrastructure for cybersecurity and smart applicationsThe LLMbased platform integrates text speech and image modalities offering seamless AI solutions in 22 Indian languagesThe National Supercomputing Mission NSM saw the installation of 37 supercomputers with a total computing power of 40 Petaflops in 2025These systems are set up in leading institutions like IISc IITs CDAC RampD Labs and also in several academic institutions and research organisation in the TierII and TierIII cities across the countryThese supercomputers have supported over 10000 researchers including more than 1700 PhD scholars from over 200 academic and research institutionsNotably the IndiaAI Mission with a budget of over Rs 10300 crore deployed 38000 GPUs as of 2025 to provide affordable computing power to startups and researchersIn 2025 India also rapidly expanded its AI ecosystem with several key Centres of Excellence CoEs focused on sectors like education healthcare agriculture urban governance and clean Energy spurred by the Union Budget 202526With the DHRUV64 Microprocessor India launched its first fully indigenous 10 GHz 64bit dualcore microprocessor in December 2025 Developed by CDAC the chip is designed for 5G IoT and automotive applicationsVIKRAM3201 became the first MakeinIndia 32bit microprocessor specifically qualified for harsh space environmentsThe governments flagship schemes like INSPIRE INSPIREMANAK and WISEKIRAN benefited lakhs of school students researchers and women scientistsIndia also launched its first RampD roadmap for Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage CCUS in December 2025 to accelerate its netzero mission IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-takes-key-steps-in-science-research-and-innovation-amid-govt-push-in-2025-655594.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/experts-call-for-ramping-upscienceand-techinvestmentin-india-655362.html New Delhi December 23 While India has enormous talent the overall investment in science and technology is very modest said experts here on Tuesday At an event held in the national capital the experts reflected on how scientific research priorities must evolve in response to global uncertainty rapid technological advances and increasingly complex societal challengesProfessor Jack Szostak Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2009 said that increasing investment in science and education can help develop solutions to global problemsâIndia has enormously talented people but overall investment in science and technology remains very modest There are bright spots of worldclass research but they are small compared to what India could achieveâ Szostak said during the event organised by Ashoka UniversitySzostak a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Chicago stated that investment in science is often seen as competing with immediate social needsâOn the contrary the most effective way to address these pressing challenges is to increase investment in science and technology because that will lead to solutions to the pressing problems of todayâ the expert saidFormer Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Professor K VijayRaghavan reiterated the need to expand both the scale and footprint of scientific research in IndiaâWhile India has made significant investments in select missions and institutions the broader challenge lies in widening access to research funding beyond a small set of elite centres and building mechanisms that allow emerging institutions to absorb and utilise resources effectivelyâ he addedPriyamvada Natarajan Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Yale University highlighted the importance of sustained support for fundamental research and increasing investments in scienceâThis is a unique moment for India to step up its investment in science and focus on a few highimpact interdisciplinary areas Much of todayâs most important research is deeply collaborative and by investing strategically in these emerging fields India has the opportunity not just to follow but to define the next frontiers of scienceâ Natarajan addedProfessor Rajesh Gopakumar Director of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences ICTSâTIFR and a leading theoretical physicist stressed the need to boost scientific research and strengthen international collaborationâTo move forward we need to open up our horizons That means internationalising Indian science globalising our benchmarks and having the confidence to see science as an openended activity where new doors are opened through conversations across disciplines and across countriesâ the expert added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/experts-call-for-ramping-upscienceand-techinvestmentin-india-655362.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/govtreaffirmscommitment-tointegratesurveillance-strengthenlabsto-combat-influenza-655368.html New Delhi Dec 23 The government has reaffirmed its commitment to integrate surveillance and strengthen labs to combat influenza said the Health Ministry on Tuesday The National Centre for Disease Control NCDC in collaboration with the World Health Organization WHO organised a twoday influenza Chintan Shivir from December 2223 in New DelhiThe Shivir provided a structured platform for deliberations to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms ahead of the upcoming influenza seasonâThe deliberations reiterated that influenza preparedness must be supported through effective intersectoral convergence with further strengthening of surveillance laboratory capacity and clinical preparedness for early detection and timely response to seasonal and zoonotic influenza outbreaksâ the Ministry saidA key outcome of the Chintan Shivir was the development of a structured influenza preparedness checklist intended to guide the centre states and districts in preparedness planningThe checklist works across four key domains including surveillance early warning and risk assessment laboratory systems strengthening hospital preparedness and clinical response and One Health coordination and risk communication and community engagement RCCEThe deliberations reaffirmed Indiaâs commitment to coordinated national action to prevent detect and respond effectively to influenza and other respiratory viral threatsâThe Chintan Shivir concluded with a consensus on adopting a wholeofGovernment and One Health approach to address seasonal and zoonotic influenza Ministries agreed to strengthen integrated surveillance across human animal and wildlife sectors enhance laboratory and genomic capacities ensure timely data sharing and align sectoral action plans with the national pandemic preparedness frameworkâ the Ministry saidThe Chintan Shivir witnessed participation from around 100 eminent representatives from multiple ministries including health animal husbandry agriculture and environment along with premier research institutions state governments and international partners furthering the One Health and wholeofGovernment approach IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/govtreaffirmscommitment-tointegratesurveillance-strengthenlabsto-combat-influenza-655368.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/multai-to-multapi-mp-cm-announces-name-change-foundation-stone-laid-for-new-medical-college--655381.html Betul Dec 23 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Tuesday that the state government has agreed to rename the town of Multai in Betul district to its historical name Multapi A tribal Museum will also be opened in Betul The tribal museum will be constructed in Betul to preserve and showcase the regions rich cultural heritage Yadav said The announcement was made during the inauguration ceremony of a new medical college in the district under the publicprivate partnership PPP model attended by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda The Chief Minister said that upon receiving a formal proposal from the local administration and leadership the state government will forward it to the Central government for approval Historically Multaiâa tehsil headquarters in Betul districtâwas known as Multapi because the Tapti River originates from there Local MLA Chandrashekhar Deshmukh has already submitted a proposal noting that the name change would restore the towns original identity and promote religious tourism Yadav also unveiled several development initiatives for the Multai area including a jaggery gud manufacturing cluster Kosmi Industrial Area a wooden cluster a Mahi Industrial Cluster community hospitals community centres and other infrastructure projects He performed the Bhoomi Pujan for investment proposals worth Rs 373 crore The event featured the foundation stonelaying for the new medical college in Betul aimed at enhancing healthcare in the tribaldominated region Union Health Minister JP Nadda highlighted significant national health achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi He pointed out that over 40 crore people have been screened for hypertension with 68 crore now receiving medication alongside screenings for diabetes 46 crore on treatment and oral cancer 34 crore screened identifying 2 lakh cases Tuberculosis incidence has dropped by 21 per cent since 2015 surpassing the global average reduction of 12 per cent Nadda emphasised improvements in maternal health with policies ensuring at least five or eight in special cases antenatal checkups and 89 per cent institutional deliveries reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio to around 97 per 100000 live births Under Ayushman Bharat Rs 5 lakh health coverage is provided to 60 crore people Nationally medical colleges have doubled from 387 in 2014 to approximately 780829 with MBBS seats rising from 51000 to over 129 lakh and plans to add 75000 more by 2029 along with increased postgraduate seats Madhya Pradesh is set to get 14 new medical colleges with the Betul facility expected to be fully operational in four yearsYadav reiterated the governments commitment to welfare schemes for the poor women and tribal communities guided by PM Modis vision The new medical college is projected to significantly improve healthcare access in the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/multai-to-multapi-mp-cm-announces-name-change-foundation-stone-laid-for-new-medical-college--655381.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/japan-confirms-avian-influenza-outbreak-in-kyoto-655454.html Tokyo Dec 24 Japans agriculture ministry said on Wednesday that genetic testing has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a farm in Kyoto Prefecture marking the ninth bird flu outbreak in the country this season According to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries the outbreak occurred at a poultry farm in Kameoka City Kyoto Prefecture which raises approximately 280000 egglaying chickensLocal authorities received a report on Tuesday and conducted a rapid avian influenza test on the farms chickens the same day with the results coming back positive Genetic testing carried out on Wednesday confirmed infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virusIn accordance with relevant guidelines all chickens at the farm will be culled incinerated and buried Additionally farms within a 3kilometre radius are banned from moving chickens and eggs while others located within a radius of 3 to 10 kilometres cannot transport poultry products outside the areaDisinfection efforts around the farm have been strengthened to prevent further spread of the virus and an epidemiological investigation team has been dispatched with experts from the ministry to be sent if necessary according to the statement Xinhua news agency reportedJapans avian influenza season typically runs from autumn until the following spring The previous eight outbreaks this season have already led to the culling of nearly 24 million chickens The countrys first case was confirmed in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on October 22Avian influenza also known as bird flu is a type of zoonotic or animal influenza that affects wild birds and poultry and is caused by virus subtypes AH5N1 AH9N2 Avian influenza has occasionally infected humans however it does not easily transmit between humans The majority of human cases of avian influenza have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/japan-confirms-avian-influenza-outbreak-in-kyoto-655454.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/alcohol-smokeless-tobacco-driving62-pc-mouth-cancer-cases-in-india-study-655508.html New Delhi Dec 24 More than six out of 10 people in India are suffering from mouth buccal mucosa cancer due to frequent consumption of alcohol with locally brewed drinks associated with the greatest risk along with chewing of smokeless tobacco products such as gutkha khaini paan according to a large study published on Wednesday The study authored by a team of researchers from the Center for Cancer Epidemiology and Homi Bhabha National Institute in Maharashtra showed that as little as under 2 g a day of beer was associated with a heightened risk of buccal mucosa cancer while 9 g a day of alcohol equivalent to around one standard drink was associated with an approximately 50 per cent increased risk of mouth cancerWhen combined with chewing tobacco it likely accounted for 62 per cent of all such cases in the countryThe findings detailed in the openaccess journal BMJ Global Health suggest that more than one in 10 cases nearly 115 per cent of all buccal mucosa cancers in India are attributable to alcohol rising to 14 per cent in some of the states with a high prevalence of the disease such as Meghalaya Assam and Madhya PradeshâAlcohol was a contributory factor to the heightened risk of mouth cancer irrespective of how long tobacco had been used Ethanol might alter the fat content of the inner lining of the mouth increasing its permeability and therefore its susceptibility to other potential carcinogens in chewing tobacco productsâ explained the research team led by Grace Sarah GeorgeâPossible contamination with toxins such as methanol and acetaldehyde in locally brewed alcohol might help explain the higher risk associated with these drinks the manufacture of which is largely unregulatedâ they saidMouth cancer is the second most common malignancy in India with an estimated 143759 new cases and 79979 deaths every year Rates of the disease have risen steadily and now stand at just under 15 for every 100000 Indian men noted the researchersThe primary form of mouth cancer in India is that of the soft pink lining of the cheeks and lips buccal mucosa Less than half 43 per cent of those affected survive five or more yearsIn the study the researchers compared 1803 people with confirmed buccal mucosa cancer and 1903 randomly selected people free of the disease controls from five different study centres between 2010 and 2021 Most of the participants were aged between 35 and 54 nearly half around 46 per cent of cases were among 25to 45yearoldsCompared with those who didnt drink alcohol the risk was 68 per cent higher for those who did rising to 72 per cent for those favouring internationally recognised alcohol types such as beer whiskey vodka rum and breezers flavoured alcoholic drinks and to 87 per cent for those opting for locally brewed drinks like apong bangla chulli desi daru and mahuaOur study demonstrates that there is no safe limit of alcohol consumption for buccal mucosa cancer risks Our findings suggest that public health action towards prevention of alcohol and tobacco use could largely eliminate buccal mucosa cancer from India the team said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/alcohol-smokeless-tobacco-driving62-pc-mouth-cancer-cases-in-india-study-655508.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/whostronglyrecommends-cd4-testing-toidentifyadvanced-hiv-disease-655352.html New Delhi Dec 23 CD4 tests is strongly recommended as the preferred method to identify advanced HIV disease amongâpeople living with HIV said the World Health Organization WHO The new recommendation is part of the 2025 guidelines on advanced HIV diseaseThe WHO defines advanced HIV disease in adults adolescents and children five years and older as a CD4 cell count less than 200 cellsmm3Advanced HIV disease is the major cause of AIDSrelated deaths among people living with HIV It is a serious public health issue including in settings with good coverage of HIV testing and treatment and despite having achieved or made good progress towards the 95â95â95 targets the WHO saidAt presentation all children living with HIV younger than five years should be considered as having advanced HIV disease unless they have received ART for more than a year and are considered clinically stableâThe 2025 guidelines respond to the need for better approaches to identify advanced HIV disease improve the poor outcomes of people living with HIV being discharged from hospitalâ the WHO saidIn the new guidelines the WHO recommended CD4 testing for identifying advanced HIV diseaseHowever âin settings in which CD4 testing is not yet available WHO clinical staging can be used to identify advanced HIV diseaseâ the global health body saidCD4 testing can be used to identify advanced HIV disease among people living with HIV who are initiating or reinitiating ART reengaging in care following disengagement have treatment failure or clinically identified treatment failure and hospitalised or seriously ill or are considered clinically unstableThe WHO noted that CD4 testing can also be used to support the identification of treatment failure when viral load testing is unavailable CD4 testing can also help assess eligibility to stop cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and to assess eligibility for fluconazole prophylaxisThe WHO noted that hospitalised people with HIV may be provided with interventions to support transitions to outpatient care and reduce avoidable readmissionsThe interventions may include predischarge goal setting medication review transitional care planning telephone followup home visits by healthcare providers andor peer supporters and individualised supportThe UN Healthy body also suggested paclitaxel or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for pharmacological treatment for people living with HIV with Kaposiâs sarcoma a rare type of cancer that forms in the lining of blood vessels and lymph vesselsThese guidelines also emphasised early detection rapid ART initiation and optimised clinical management to reduce morbidity and mortalityâBy implementing these recommendations countries can reduce progression to severe illness and mortality improve treatment outcomes and advance global HIV elimination goalsâ the WHO said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/whostronglyrecommends-cd4-testing-toidentifyadvanced-hiv-disease-655352.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-delhi-develops-ai-lab-assistant-that-autonomously-runs-scientific-experiments-655357.html New Delhi Dec 23 Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Delhi on Tuesday announced an Artificial Intelligence Lab Assistant AILA an AI agent that is capable of designing scientific experiments and analysing results without human intervention The AILA developed in collaboration with partners in Denmark and Germany can operate an Atomic Force Microscope make realâtime decisions and analyse results autonomously and perform tasks in 7 to 10 minutes that previously required a full dayThese advancements accelerated experimental cycles and microscope optimisation said IIT Delhi in a statementUntil now AI models such as ChatGPT have primarily served as digital assistants for drafting documents answering questions and analysing dataThe Institute noted that AILA extended these capabilities by stepping into real laboratories and carrying out scientific experiments from start to finish much like a human scientistâAILA helps me with my daily experimental tasks and speeds up my research progress significantly Previously it would take a full day to optimise microscope parameters for highâresolution noiseâfree images Now the same task is completed in just 710 minutesâ said Indrajeet Mandal a PhD scholar at the School of Interdisciplinary Research IIT DelhiâPreviously AI could only help you write about science Now it can do science designing experiments running them on real equipment collecting data and interpreting resultsâ said Prof N M Anoop Krishnan Civil Engineering and Yardi School of AI IIT DelhiOperating an Atomic Force Microscope requires a deep understanding of nanoscale physics surface interactions and realâtime feedback control skills that typically take researchers years to master added Prof Nitya Nand Gosvami Materials Science and Engineering IIT DelhiAILA autonomously performing these tasks represents a paradigm shift in experimental science Gosvami added noting that the breakthrough aligns with Indiaâs ambitious AI for Science initiativeMeanwhile the government has recently announced major funding through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation ANRF to accelerate AIdriven research across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-delhi-develops-ai-lab-assistant-that-autonomously-runs-scientific-experiments-655357.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gold-silver-hit-record-highs-amid-usvenezuela-tensions-easing-dollar-655276.html New Delhi Dec 23 The rates of gold and silver surged by over 1 per cent to hit fresh record highs on Tuesday driven by safehaven demand notably due to escalating USVenezuela tensions MCX gold February futures rose 12 per cent to an allâtime high of Rs 138381 per 10 grams and were up 101 per cent as of 1048 amMCX silver surged 17 per cent to a record high of Rs 216596 per kilogram and was up 130 per cent as of 1048 am The dollar index had declined 020 per cent during the session making gold cheaper in overseas currenciesHeightened geopolitical uncertainty notably escalating USâVenezuela tensions has underpinned the rally analysts saidThe US Coast Guard this month seized a super tanker under sanctions carrying Venezuelan oil and tried to intercept two more Venezuelaârelated ships over the weekend heightening tensions according to multiple reportsâSafe haven bidding is featured to start a holidayâshortened trading week amid heightened geopolitical tensionsâ Rahul Kalantri VP Commodities Mehta Equities Ltd saidIntensifying USVenezuela tensions and the killing of a Russian army general in a bomb attack on Monday increased geopolitical risk and supported gold and silver Kalantri saidBoth precious metals also gained after coolingoff US inflation and no bigger surprise from the Bank of Japan policy meetings last week he addedGold has support at the Rs 135550134710 zone while resistance is at the Rs 137650138470 levelsSilver has support at Rs 211150210280 zone while resistance is at Rs 213810 214970 levels the analyst saidAggressive central bank buying expectations of US Fed rate cuts concerns over the impact of US tariffs geopolitical tensions and robust inflows into gold and silver ETFs drove the gold and silver prices this yearDomestic spot gold prices have surged 76 per cent yearâtoâdate and international gold prices almost 70 per cent in 2025 on track for their strongest annual performance since 1979Both domestic and international prices of silver have gained about 140 per cent YTD IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gold-silver-hit-record-highs-amid-usvenezuela-tensions-easing-dollar-655276.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-at-forefront-of-digital-health-innovative-technologies-anupriya-patel-655179.html New Delhi Dec 22 India is at the forefront of digital health and innovative technologies said Anupriya Patel Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare on Monday Addressing the seventh annual convocation ceremony of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College amp Safdarjung Hospital the Minister urged the new doctors to hold onto the touch of humanity during medical practiceâToday India is at the forefront of digital health and innovative technologies because we want to fulfil the larger goal of universal healthcareâ the Union Minister saidâAs doctors you have entered into a social contract so that touch of humanity should not go anywhereâ she addedPatel congratulated the graduating students and emphasised the pivotal role of public medical institutions in strengthening Indiaâs healthcare systemâThe degrees that you will receive today are more than certificates of merit They are the qualities and traits of compassion dedication and perseverance that you will follow from now onwards in your medical professionâShe urged the young doctors to uphold ethical medical practice compassion and a strong commitment to serving underserved and marginalized communitiesNotably the Minister also highlighted the transformation achieved in Indiaâs Healthcare landscape in the last 11 yearsâAt the primary level there are more than 182 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs operational in the country which are providing comprehensive primary care services to the people The government is fixing up the critical gaps in secondary healthcare facilities like CHCs and district hospitals and we are also expanding the network of tertiary care facilities and reimagining medical educationâ Patel saidâIn the last 11 years the number of medical colleges in the country has increased from 387 to 819 The number of AIIMS has increased from 7 to 23 Undergraduate medical seats have risen from 51000 to 128000 and postgraduate seats from 31000 to around 82000 todayâ she addedThe Union Minister further informed that more than 62 crore people accounting for over 40 per cent of Indiaâs population are being provided with free health coverage up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat â PMJAY scheme the largest health coverage scheme in the worldâThere are also schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana and Amrit Pharmacies which are providing medicines medical devices and surgical implants at discounted ratesâ she addedOn the occasion more than 217 postgraduate students 136 undergraduate students and 40 superspecialty students were awarded degrees and 43 students were awarded medals in recognition of their outstanding performance and dedication IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-at-forefront-of-digital-health-innovative-technologies-anupriya-patel-655179.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/use-weight-reducing-drugs-judiciously-union-minister-jitendra-singh-654865.html New Delhi Dec 20 Even as weightreducing or antiobesity drugs are gaining popularity in India Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Saturday urged for their judicious use Addressing the inaugural session of the 2day Asia Oceania Conference on Obesity the Minister called for a wholeofsociety approach to effectively combat obesity which has emerged as one of Indiaâs most pressing public health challengesObesity is a complex chronic and relapsing disorder and not merely a cosmetic or lifestyle concern said Singh also a noted Diabetologist and Professor of MedicineThe Minister cautioned against the growing commercialisation and misinformation surrounding obesity management warning that unscientific claims and socalled quickfix solutions often mislead people and distract them from evidencebased careSingh highlighted that India is witnessing a worrying rise in noncommunicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers are linked to obesity in one way or another These account for nearly 63 per cent of overall mortalityHe also pointed out central or visceral obesity which is particularly prevalent among Indians and poses independent health risks even beyond overall body weightObesity is too serious a subject to be left to a physician or epidemiologist alone as it has deep social cultural and environmental roots Singh saidHe also shared how the government under the leadership of Narendra Modi is working to combat obesity and lifestylerelated diseasesThe Prime Ministerâs emphasis on small sustainable changes in food habits and daily routines reflects a clear recognition of obesity as a national priority closely aligned with initiatives such as FIT India Khelo India and the broader vision of preventive healthcare Singh saidEmphasising the need to reach younger generations the Minister said public awareness must go beyond medical conferences and expert discussionsâWe must talk not only to those who know but also to those who do not know that they do not knowâ he said adding that safeguarding the health and energy of Indiaâs youth is essential to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047 IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/use-weight-reducing-drugs-judiciously-union-minister-jitendra-singh-654865.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-poshan-scheme-serving-fresh-food-to-children-in-government-schools-in-mps-damoh-654897.html Damoh Dec 20 The Union governments Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman PMPOSHAN scheme aimed at providing hot and fresh cooked meal for students upto class 8 in Anganwadi centres and governmentrun schools are serving their purpose in the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPled government in Madhya Pradesh The expression of children at a governmentrun Sandipani earlier known as CM RISE school located in Tendukheda village of Damoh district in Madhya Pradesh was an evident of it IANS reported on SaturdayStudents sitting in long queues were eating pudisabzi and dal in their platesYahan achha khana milta hai Isliye hum roj school aate hain we get good meal here so we come to school everyday said a class 5 student Shikha Lodhi adding that Aaj hum poodisabzi aur dal kha rahein hain today we are eating poodisabji and dalSeveral other students on this occasion at Damohs Sandipani Vidyalaya spoke to IANS were happy that they are getting different hot meals every day as per the menu under the Midday Meal MDM scheme which is mandatory to follow at every governmentrun schools in the state for students upto class 8Madan Singh Lodhi a teacher at Sandipani school in Tendukheda said that children are getting meal every day on school day as per the menu fixed by the state governmentHe said Saturdays menu is poodi sabji and tur dal We ensure that the food menu decided under the Midday meal is followed every day hereLodhi also told IANS that whenever there is some issue the school management shares it with the district administrationMidday meal is being cooked by women from a selfhelp group We also ensure children are not only being given hot meals every day but that also should be fresh and hygienic and it is served at a clean area in the school premisesPrime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the PM POSHAN scheme along with Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar during his visit to Madhya Pradeshs Dhar district on his birthday on September 17 this yearThe Central welfare scheme aims at providing nutritional support and enhancing school participation of studentsPM Modi had then also laid the foundation stone for Indias first PM MITRA Park in Dhars Bhainsola villageThe textile hub PM MITRA Park is part of the Prime Ministers 5F Vision Farm to Fibre Fibre to Factory Factory to Fashion and Fashion to Foreign which seeks to integrate Indias textile value chain IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-poshan-scheme-serving-fresh-food-to-children-in-government-schools-in-mps-damoh-654897.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/key-demands-of-contract-nurses-under-consideration-tn-health-minister-ma-subramanian-654961.html Chennai Dec 21 Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Sunday said that the state government has already informed protesting contract nurses that several of their demands are under consideration even as he appealed to them to ensure that their agitation does not jeopardise healthcare delivery Addressing the ongoing stir Subramanian in a statement said that while the nurses have every right to protest such demonstrations must be conducted responsiblyThey certainly have the right to protest But doing so without prior intimation is not appropriate Those participating as well as those encouraging them must remember that this is a profession where lives are at stake he said in the statementThe minister also pointed out that many of the contract nurses currently agitating were appointed during the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaaâs tenure in 2014These appointments he said were made on the condition that the recruits would serve for two years after which they would be regularised based on seniority and the creation of new posts However he pointed out that for four to five years thereafter no new batches were regularisedAccording to him it was only after the DMK assumed office under Chief Minister MK Stalin that vacancies began to be filled on a yearly basisSo far 3783 nurses have been regularised On Tuesday another 169 nurses will receive their appointment orders he saidResponding to the protestersâ demand for the creation of additional posts Subramanian said policy decisions must be guided by factors such as the structure of the medical sector patient load and financial feasibility New jobs cannot be sanctioned without considering these aspects he addedHighlighting the governmentâs efforts he said that 18000 posts have been created 35000 employees regularised and 45000 personnel transferred under a transparent counselling process since the DMK government assumed office Subramanian further hinted at political motives behind the agitation particularly in the context of elections Some people are influencing them during election time They must understand the realities he said Reaffirming the governmentâs commitment to engage constructively he said officials have already met protest representatives While asserting that legitimate demands will be addressed he urged nurses to balance their right to protest with their responsibility towards patients and public health IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/key-demands-of-contract-nurses-under-consideration-tn-health-minister-ma-subramanian-654961.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 15:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-bird-flu-case-reported-at-duck-farm-in-south-korea-654966.html Seoul Dec 21 South Korea on Sunday reported another highly pathogenic avian influenza infection at a duck farm in South Jeolla Province marking the 16th such case at a poultry farm this season The latest case was detected at a farm in Naju 285 kilometers south of Seoul which raises 23000 ducks according to the central disaster management headquarters reports Yonhap news agencyAuthorities said they are implementing special quarantine measures at the affected farm and strengthening monitoring of related facilities and vehicles to prevent further spread of the diseaseThey also plan to conduct intensive inspections at more than 200 duck farms in the region starting MondayMeanwhile the prices of major imported agricultural goods in South Korea have risen sharply in recent years outpacing global price increases due to the weakening of the South Korean won against the US dollar data showed SundayAccording to the Bank of Korea the import price index for coffee came to 30712 in November in US dollar terms and 37971 in Korean won terms with 2020 set as the base year at 100The figures indicate that global coffee prices have risen about threefold over the past five years but increased nearly fourfold when converted into the Korean wonThe data showed that the price of imported beef increased 30 per cent over the period in US dollar terms but surged 606 per cent in Korean won termsOver the same period the price of imported pork rose 55 per cent in US dollar terms but jumped 305 per cent in Korean won termsThe Korean won traded at around the 1100won level in 2021 before weakening into the upper 1200won range in 2022 In the fourth quarter of 2025 the average exchange rate stood at 1450 won per dollarThe price of imported fresh seafood fell 11 per cent in terms of US dollars but rose 10 per cent in Korean won reflecting the impact of currency depreciation the data also showed IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-bird-flu-case-reported-at-duck-farm-in-south-korea-654966.html Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/health-minister-nadda-urges-new-doctors-to-work-towards-society-654848.html New Delhi Dec 20 The government spends Rs 3035 lakh for every MBBS student said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Saturday while urging new doctors to work towards society Addressing the 21st annual convocation ceremony of King Georgeâs Medical University KGMU in Lucknow Uttar Pradesh the Minister highlighted the remarkable progress achieved in Indiaâs healthcare and medical education sector over the past decadeâThe government spends between 3035 lakh for every MBBS student said Nadda while urging âthe graduating students to actively contribute to academics and researchand shoulder more responsibilities towards societyââFrom just one AIIMS at the end of the past century today there are 23 AIIMS institutions across India reflecting the governmentâs commitment to expanding quality healthcare and medical training to every regionâ the Health Minister saidHe further informed that in the last 11 years the number of medical colleges in the country has increased from 387 to 819Similarly undergraduate medical seats have risen from 51000 to 119000 and postgraduate seats from 31000 to 80000Nadda added that till 2029 under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi an additional 75000 seats will be added across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of which more than 23000 seats have already been added in one yearNadda highlighted that currently there are more than 182 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs operational in the country which are providing comprehensive primary care services to the peopleHe also informed that more than 62 crore people accounting for over 40 per cent of Indiaâs population are being provided with health coverage up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY scheme the largest health coverage scheme in the worldThe Union Minister also congratulated the graduating students and commended KGMU for its contribution towards advancing medical science education and patient care in IndiaâKGMU is ranked 8th in the 2025 NIRF rankings and 12 of its faculties have been listed in the top 2 per cent scientists by Stanford University which is a remarkable achievementâ he statedThe Minister also encouraged the students to remain lifelong learners and innovators committed to advancing medical science and serving society with compassion IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/health-minister-nadda-urges-new-doctors-to-work-towards-society-654848.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-railways-slapped-rs-28-crore-fine-over-food-complaints-in-last-4-years-minister-654858.html New Delhi Dec 20 Indian Railways serves about 58 crore meals every year on average and receives only 00008 per cent complaints on average according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Based on inquiry on these complaints a fine of Rs 28 crore was imposed over the last four years the minister informed the Rajya SabhaIt is the continuous endeavour of Indian Railways IR to provide good quality and hygienic food to travelling passengers Necessary steps are accordingly taken by Indian Railways from time to time to improve the quality of food and services to passengers he saidIn order to take passenger feedback the complaint management system over Indian Railways has been strengthened simplified and made more accessible over the last few years through the introduction of the RailMadad PortalWith the launch of the RailMadad Portal Indian Railways provided passengers a single window system to register complaints and suggestions In case any passenger complaint related to food quality in trains is reported prompt and appropriate punitive action is taken against the service providers for deficiency in service Vaishnaw saidAmong measures to improve quality hygiene and food safety are the supply of meals from designated base kitchens commissioning of modern base kitchens at identified locations installation of CCTV cameras in base kitchens for better monitoring of food preparation and shortlisting and use of popular and branded raw materials like cooking oil atta rice pulses masala items paneer dairy products etc for food productionAmong other measures are the deployment of food safety supervisors at base kitchens to monitor food safety and hygienic practices deployment of onboard IRCTC supervisors on trains introduction of QR codes on food packets enabling display of details like name of kitchen date of packaging etcRegular deep cleaning and periodical pest control in base kitchens and pantry cars is also carried outIn order to ensure compliance with food safety norms Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI certification for designated food safety officers of each catering unit has been made mandatory said the minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-railways-slapped-rs-28-crore-fine-over-food-complaints-in-last-4-years-minister-654858.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/kashmiris-await-rain-and-snow-as-40-day-long-chillai-kalan-begins-tomorrow-654770.html Srinagar Dec 20 As Kashmiris awaited rain and snow on Saturday as forecast by the Meteorological Department the 40daylong period of intense winter cold called the Chillai Kalan is also set to begin The weather office has forecast rain in the plains and moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of JampK from Saturday nightAuthorities in Baramulla Kupwara and Bandipora districts have issued advisories asking people living in the higher reaches not to move out of their homes during the expected heavy snowfallRain and snow are likely to break the over twomonth long dry spell that has resulted in widespread chest ailments across JampKThe number of pollutants in the air has substantially increased due to an increase in suspended particulate matter SPM caused by the continued dry spellRain and snow will wash away the SPM thereby improving the air quality in the region said pulmonologistsAbsence of snowfall in the ski resort of Gulmarg so far this season has adversely affected the prospects of tourists coming to the ski resort for Christmas and New Year celebrationsDuring the 40daylong period of intense winter cold beginning on December 21 and ending on January 30 traditionally heavy snowfall would replenish the water reservoirs in the higher reachesThis would sustain the various rivers streams and lakes in JampK during the summer months Winter without sufficient snowfall would cause drought during the summer months and for this reason a good snowfall has always been a welcome event in KashmirMost of the local rivers streams springs and lakes are flowing at very low discharge at present due to the extended dry spellAs far as minimum temperatures were concerned Srinagar recorded minus 04 degrees Celsius Pahalgam minus 1 degree and Gulmarg 2 degreesJammu city recorded 93 degrees Celsius Katra the base camp for the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine 10 degrees Batote 93 Banihal 38 and Bhaderwah 44 as the minimum temperatures IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/kashmiris-await-rain-and-snow-as-40-day-long-chillai-kalan-begins-tomorrow-654770.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-national-ai-olympiad-2026-registrations-open-to-nurture-school-level-ai-talent-654775.html New Delhi Dec 20 ACM India the Indian arm of the Association for Computing Machinery on Saturday announced the launch of the Indian National AI Olympiad 2026 a nationwide initiative to identify and nurture exceptional schoollevel talent in Artificial Intelligence Registration for the INAIO 2026 test for Indian students pursuing Classes IX to XII to be conducted online on January 18 2026 is open until December 31 2025Test results will help candidates born after August 2 2006 qualify for IOAI 2026 in Abu Dhabi from August 2â8 2026 ACM India said in a statementThe Indian National AI Olympiad to be proctored live and administered by assessment technology platform HireMee will serve as an accredited gateway to the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence IOAIIOAI will offer students global exposure advanced innovation skills and worldâclass academic opportunities it addedToppers of related Olympiads such as INMO Indian National Mathematical Olympiad INOI Indian National Olympiad in Informatics PLO Panini Linguistics Olympiad and Bebras will receive direct entry into Stage 2 of INAIOThe multiâstage structured evaluation model of INAIO is designed to strengthen conceptual understanding of machine learning and develop realâworld modelling abilities with the Olympiad selecting students to represent India at IOAIKey benefits include international recognition potential scholarships from top universities and enhanced higherâeducation pathways in globally recognised universities the statement saidFurther the top three national rankers will receive attractive prizes as all participants will be awarded digital certificates the statement notedThe first 500 applicants to the programme will receive access to HireMeeâs Career Navigation Assessment worth Rs 1599 it addedDemand for AI and machine learning engineers data scientists and AI governance specialists is set to surge in 2026 while cybersecurity is being reshaped by AIdriven threatsAround 74 per cent of corporate leaders in India ranked artificial intelligence AI among their top three technology adoption choices according to a recent report IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-national-ai-olympiad-2026-registrations-open-to-nurture-school-level-ai-talent-654775.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/common-air-pollutantsmay-impair-mood-memory-in-adolescents-study-654787.html New Delhi Dec 20 Exposure to air pollution may have serious implications for a childs developing brain and cause damage to language development memory and mood regulation according to a study Air pollution causes harmful contaminants such as particulate matter nitrogen dioxide and ozone to circulate in the environmentThe study led by physicianscientists at Oregon Health amp Science University in the US warned that exposure to air pollution is associated with structural changes in the adolescent brain specifically in the frontal and temporal regions the areas responsible for executive function language mood regulation and socioemotional processingWhat we discovered was a slow and subtle effect happening on the brain and while it might not be causing symptoms immediately it could be shifting developmental trajectories and outcomes over time said lead author Calvin Jara resident in otolaryngologyhead and neck surgeries in the OHSU School of MedicineFor the study the team analysed data from nearly 11000 childrenThe results published in the journal Environmental Research showed that baseline exposure to specific air pollutants in the early phase of adolescence or the onset of puberty generally ages 9 to 10 was associated with both persistent and developmental changes in cortical thickness a measurement of the structural maturation of the outer layer of the brainAtypical cortical thinning especially thinning that is accelerated can be an indication of an underlying neurological disruption and result in associated cognitive impairmentResearchers warn that these structural changes in the brain could have impacts on a childs overall health wellbeing and life trajectoryAlterations in the development of these critical brain regions could impair attention memory and emotional regulation potentially leading to academic difficulties and behavioural concerns Future research should continue to examine these broader longterm consequences researchers said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/common-air-pollutantsmay-impair-mood-memory-in-adolescents-study-654787.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/satna-hiv-case-multiple-teams-probing-nothing-conclusive-yet-says-chmo-dr-manoj-shukla-654791.html SatnaBhopal Dec 20 Chief Health and Medical Officer CHMO of Satna district Dr Manoj Shukla on Saturday said that multiple teams are investigating the case of six thalassaemic children who tested positive for HIV but no concrete findings have emerged so far Dr Shukla a senior surgeon who has been issued a showcause notice by the state administration told IANS that the matter is complex and will take time to reach definitive conclusionsâMultiple investigation teams have arrived and each is conducting inquiries according to its specific mandate As of now nothing conclusive has come to light The investigation will take time as this is a lengthy and complex matterâ he saidHe added that tracing blood donors is proving to be a major challenge âThe list of donors is very long and tracing calling examining and investigating so many people is a difficult taskâ Dr Shukla saidOn Friday the state administration suspended a doctor and two laboratory technicians at Satna district hospital based on the findings of a preliminary inquiry conducted by a sevenmember investigation committee Those suspended include Dr Devendra Patel in charge of the blood bank and laboratory technicians Ram Bhai Tripathi and Nandalal PandeyDeputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla told IANS on Friday that CHMO Dr Manoj Shukla has been issued a showcause notice and has been asked to submit his reply within a weekAccording to officials six children aged between three and 15 years all suffering from thalassaemia tested positive for HIV between January and May 2025 However the matter came to light only on December 16 Officials also said that the parents of one of the children were already HIVpositiveMeanwhile Public Health and Medical Education Commissioner Tarun Rathi held a review meeting with officials on Friday and issued instructions on the functioning of government and private blood banks across the state He also directed an audit of all blood centres and asked that a report be submitted to the Drug Controller within five daysAll six children had received blood transfusions at the Satna district hospital while some had also been given blood at private centres including in Jabalpur All of them are currently undergoing treatment at the district hospital IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/satna-hiv-case-multiple-teams-probing-nothing-conclusive-yet-says-chmo-dr-manoj-shukla-654791.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/hpv-vaccinecanhelp-preventprecancerous-lesionsin-girls-women-654796.html New Delhi Dec 20 The Human papillomavirus HPV vaccine known for preventing cervical cancer can also help safeguard against precancerous lesions of the vulva and vagina in girls and women according to a study The study published in the journal JAMA Oncology showed that women who received at least 1 dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine had a 37 per cent lower incidence of highgrade vulvovaginal lesions than those unvaccinatedThe incidence reduction of highgrade vulvovaginal lesions was statistically significant among women vaccinated at 10 to 16 years as their rate of vaginal or vulvar precancers was 57 per cent lower compared to unvaccinated womenâThe findings emphasise the critical role of HPV vaccination initiated at an early age The enhanced risk reduction in younger women may be attributable to the reduced probability of prior HPV exposure before vaccinationâ said researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in SwedenThe team conducted a cohort study of 778943 women born from 1985 to 1998 and living in Sweden from 2006 to 2022During the followup 98 cases of highgrade vulvovaginal lesions were found in vaccinated women and 547 cases were found in unvaccinated womenCompared with unvaccinated women the fully adjusted incidence rate ratio of highgrade vulvovaginal lesions was 063 in vaccinated womenVulvar and vaginal lesions are diverse skin changes bumps sores cysts discoloration around the genitals ranging from benign infections cysts skin conditions like lichen sclerosus to precancerous VIN or cancerous These often cause itching pain burning or dischargeFinding vulvar and vaginal lesions at the precancerous stage before they transform into lifethreatening cancer is important because early detection increases the odds of being curedHPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally and is responsible for more than 690000 new cancer cases annually It is the primary cause of cervical cancer along with several other genital and head and neck cancers in both women and menA recent study showed that the HPV vaccine may not only prevent cervical cancer but also provides significant herd immunity effects offering protection even to young women who were not vaccinated IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/hpv-vaccinecanhelp-preventprecancerous-lesionsin-girls-women-654796.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-icmr-study-unravelsbreast-cancer-risk-factors-among-indian-women-654804.html New Delhi Dec 20 A new study conducted by scientists at the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR has decoded the specific risk factors for breast cancer among women in India Breast Cancer is among the top three cancers amongst women in India The incidence of breast cancers in the country is expected to rise by about 56âper cent annually translating to an estimated increase of 005 million new cases per yearThe team from ICMRâs National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research NCDIR Bengaluru conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis on 31 studies covering a total of 27925 participants with 45âper cent being diagnosed with breast cancerThe findings published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology showed that âreproductive timing hormonal exposure central obesity and family history influence breast cancer risk primarily among Indian womenâWomen with late menopause more than 50years first pregnancy after 30 years of age higher age at marriage multiple abortions and central obesity with waisttohip ratio more than 85 cm are at significant risk the researchers said in the paperAmong lifestyle factors poor sleep quality irregular sleep patterns sleeping in a lighted room and elevated stress levels were also positively associated with risk in individual studies In contrast higher levels of physical activity showed an inverse associationThe analysis found that women over 50 years had a threefold higher risk and women aged 3550 years had a 163fold increase in risk highlighting the importance of early screening for women in their fortiesHowever variations in age group classifications across studies may explain the observed heterogeneity In highincome countries breast cancer incidence rises significantly after the age of 50 with the majority of cases occurring in postmenopausal womenIn contrast India exhibits a relatively higher incidence of breast cancer in younger women typically between their 40s and 50sGenetic susceptibility earlier reproductive transitions and distinct lifestyle factors may contribute to this disparity These findings highlight the importance of early screening programmes for women in this age group to enable timely detection and intervention said the researchers led by Saravanan Vijayakumar from the ICMRNCDIR in the paperThe study stressed that it is important to consider low BMI as a potential risk factor for breast cancer prognosis and treatment outcomes as these findings highlightAs India has a high prevalence of abdominal obesity lifestyle interventions aimed at reducing waist circumference may be beneficial for preventing breast cancerNotably the review also highlighted the critical need for large extensive populationbased prospective cohort studies in India to define breast cancer prevention and early detection strategies with greater precision IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-icmr-study-unravelsbreast-cancer-risk-factors-among-indian-women-654804.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/eggs-safe-for-consumption-cancer-risk-claimsmisleading-not-scientific-says-fssai-654809.html New Delhi Dec 20 Amid the ongoing concerns of carcinogenic substances being found in eggs the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI on Saturday categorically stated that eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption Refuting the contamination claims as âmisleadingâ the regulator in a statement noted that âthese are not supported scientifically and capable of creating unnecessary public alarmâThis comes as in recent days several media reports and social media posts alleged the presence of nitrofuran metabolites AOZ carcinogenic substances in eggsThe FSSAI officials clarified that âthe use of nitrofurans is strictly prohibited at all stages of production of poultry and eggs under the Food Safety and Standards Contaminants Toxins and Residues Regulations 2011âAccording to FSSAI an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit EMRL of 10 micrograms per kg has been prescribed for nitrofuran metabolites solely for regulatory enforcement purposes This limit represents the minimum level that can be reliably detected by advanced laboratory methods and does not indicate that the substance is permitted for useâDetection of trace residues below the EMRL does not constitute a food safety violation nor does it imply any health riskâ an official notedFSSAI further emphasised that Indiaâs regulatory framework is aligned with international practicesNotably the European Union and the US also prohibit the use of nitrofurans in foodproducing animals and employ reference points for action or guideline values only as enforcement tools Differences in numerical benchmarks across countries reflect variations in analytical and regulatory approaches not differences in consumer safety standardsOn public health concerns FSSAI cited scientific evidence indicating that âthere is no established causal link between tracelevel dietary exposure to nitrofuran metabolites and cancer or other adverse health outcomes in humansâNo national or international health authority has associated normal egg consumption with increased cancer risk the authority reiteratedAddressing reports related to the testing of a specific egg brand officials explained that such detections are isolated and batchspecific often arising from inadvertent contamination or feedrelated factors and are not representative of the overall egg supply chain in the countryâGeneralising isolated laboratory findings to label eggs as unsafe is scientifically incorrectâ the regulator statedThe FSSAI also urged consumers to rely on verified scientific evidence and official advisories reiterating that âeggs remain a safe nutritious and valuable component of a balanced diet when produced and consumed in compliance with food safety regulationsâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/eggs-safe-for-consumption-cancer-risk-claimsmisleading-not-scientific-says-fssai-654809.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/us-researchers-find-gut-bacteria-that-can-help-lose-weight-boost-metabolic-health-654846.html New Delhi Dec 20 US researchers have found a gut bacterium that may help people lose weight and enhance their metabolic health This comes amid several weightloss injections and medications that have proved their ability to help people lose weightIn studies on mice the team from the University of Utah found that a specific type of gut bacteria called Turicibacter can improve metabolic health and reduce weight gainPeople with obesity tend to have less Turicibacter suggesting that the microbe may promote healthy weight in humans as well The results could lead to new ways to control weight by adjusting gut bacteria said the team in the paper published in the journal Cell MetabolismTuricibacter a rodshaped bacterium was found to singlehandedly reduce blood sugar levels of fat in the blood and weight gain for mice on a highfat dietTuricibacterâs effects are unlikely to be unique many different gut bacteria probably contribute to metabolic health And results based on animal models may not apply to peopleâWe have improved weight gain in mice but I have no idea if this is actually true in humansâ Round saidBut the researchers remain hopeful that Turicibacter could provide a starting point for developing treatments that promote healthy metabolism and prevent excessive weight gainTuricibacter appears to improve metabolic health by affecting how the host produces a fatty molecule called ceramides the researchers foundCeramide levels increase on a highfat diet and high levels of ceramides are associated with many metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes and heart disease But the fats produced by Turicibacter can keep ceramide levels low even for mice on a highfat dietâWith further investigation of individual microbes we will be able to make microbes into medicine and find bacteria that are safe to create a consortium of different bugs that people with different diseases might be lackingâ said first author Kendra Klag from the varsity IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/us-researchers-find-gut-bacteria-that-can-help-lose-weight-boost-metabolic-health-654846.html Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/cdsco-labs-flag-205-drug-samples-as-not-of-standard-qualityinnovember-654606.html New Delhi Dec 19 The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation CDSCO on Friday declared 205 drug samples tested by the Central and state drugs regulatory authorities as âNot of Standard Quality NSQ in its monthly drug alert for November While the Central Drugs Laboratories identified 64 drug samples as NSQ the State Drugs Testing Laboratories identified 141 drug samples as NSQAs per routine regulatory surveillance activity the list of Not of Standard Quality NSQ and Spurious drugs is being displayed on the CDSCO portal on a monthly basisâFor the month of November 2025 Central Drugs Laboratories have identified 64 Drug Samples to be Not of Standard Quality NSQ and State Drugs Testing Laboratories have identified 141 Drug Samples as Not of Standard Quality NSQâ the alert saidIdentification of drug samples as NSQ is done based on failure of the drug sample in one or the other specified quality parameters The failure is specific to the drug products of the batch tested by the government laboratory and it does not warrant any concerns on the other drug products available in the market the health officials saidFurther in November âtwo drug samples from North Zone Ghaziabad were identified as spurious drugs which were manufactured by unauthorised manufacturers using brand name owned by other companyâ they added The matter is under investigation and action will be taken as per the Act amp RulesThis action of identifying NSQ and Spurious medicines is taken regularly in collaboration with state regulators to ensure that these drugs are identified and removed from the marketIn October the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation CDSCO had declared 211 drug samples tested by the Central and state drugs regulatory authorities as NSQWhile the Central Drugs Laboratories identified 63 drug samples as NSQ the State Drugs Testing Laboratories identified 148 drug samples as NSQ IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/cdsco-labs-flag-205-drug-samples-as-not-of-standard-qualityinnovember-654606.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/108-emergency-service-has-saved-over-18-lakh-citizens-in-gujarat-654610.html Ahmedabad Dec 19 Gujaratâs flagship 108 Emergency Service has emerged as a lifeline for millions standing firm as a protective shield for citizens in times of medical and accidentrelated emergencies Launched in 2007 by then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi the pioneering healthcare initiative has today evolved into a benchmark model for other states across the countryThe 108 Emergency Service now operates roundtheclock free of cost reaching every city district taluka and even the most remote villages of the state Its consistent and committed service has made it a blessing for crores of Gujaratis Since its inception and up to November 2025 the 108 service has attended to a recordbreaking 186 crore emergency calls ensuring timely medical intervention in critical situationsOf these more than 6023 lakh cases were related to maternity emergencies while over 2255 lakh road accident victims received urgent medical assistance In lifeanddeath situations the service has helped save the lives of over 18 lakh citizens The impact of the service is especially evident in maternal healthcare Ambulancebased and onsite assistance has enabled the successful delivery of over 157 lakh babies including 97295 deliveries conducted inside ambulances and 59903 at emergency locations significantly strengthening maternal and neonatal care outcomes across the state In addition to the 108 service Gujarat has expanded its emergency response ecosystem through multiple complementary initiativesThe Khikhilat Van service operational since September 2012 has benefited over 137 crore beneficiaries through its 434 mobile units Similarly the 181 Women Helpline launched in 2015 has attended to over 1740 lakh calls with 59 vans providing onthespot assistance to more than 347 lakh women in distress The stateâs healthcare outreach was further strengthened with the launch of the 104 Health Helpline in 2017 which has attended to over 5229 lakh calls by 2025 offering medical guidance and support Gujarat also introduced the 108 Boat Ambulance Service in 2018 which has so far provided emergency assistance to 758 citizens with two boat ambulances currently operationalMoreover the integrated 112 Emergency Service operational since 2025 in seven districts has attended to over four lakh emergency calls related to police fire medical and disaster response As per EMRI Green Health Services the agency managing these operations Gujaratâs multilayered emergency response framework reflects the stateâs sustained commitment to citizen safety timely healthcare access and effective emergency managementâmaking it one of the most robust emergency service models in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/108-emergency-service-has-saved-over-18-lakh-citizens-in-gujarat-654610.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/silent-dengue-infections-may-hold-clues-to-future-vaccine-design-study-654668.html New Delhi Dec 19 A team of researchers has found evidence that people who quietly clear the dengue virus without ever developing symptoms may hold important clues to developing new vaccines for the mosquitoborne disease While such patients remain difficult to examine directly the team from Mahidol University in Thailand and the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK provided a uniquely detailed singlecell map based on a fiveyear household surveillance study that followed close contacts of confirmed dengue patientsThe first singlecell immune atlas of asymptomatic dengue published in Science Translational Medicine offers a rare look at how the immune system can defeat the virus without triggering illnessThe work could help guide the design of safer and more effective dengue vaccinesThe detailed celllevel data revealed sharp differences between immune responses in those who became sick and those who did not said Dr Waradon Sungnak an immunologist and computational biologist at Mahidol UniversityThose without symptoms showed distinct patterns in key immune cell types including CD8 T cells natural killer cells and antibodyproducing cells such as those making IgA which set them apart from symptomatic cases Sungnak addedAsymptomatic dengue is practically invisible to medical systems People feel perfectly healthy rarely seek care and the window of detectable viruses in the blood is shortIn the five yearsurvey only eight true asymptomatic dengue infections were captured while the virus was still in the bloodThese cases are incredibly rare and valuable Without them we might not understand why some people clear dengue without any symptomsThese eight cases along with others with mild and severe symptoms became the foundation for a highresolution immune map built from over 134000 individual immune cells profiled using singlecell RNA sequencing and immune receptor sequencing said Assoc Prof Ponpan Matangkasombut an immunologist at Mahidol UniversitySymptomatic dengue by contrast displayed immune hallmarks associated with more harmful processes The features present in asymptomatic cases were largely absent in symptomatic dengue which instead showed signs of antibodymediated viral uptake and inflammation the researchers saidOther biological signals helped distinguish asymptomatic cases from more severe diseasesIn addition cytokinerelated signals were also found to be more pronounced in symptomatic dengue offering clues to why some infections escalate while others resolveThe findings collectively paint a clearer picture of the pushandpull between protective antiviral responses and inflammatory pathways that drive symptoms IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/silent-dengue-infections-may-hold-clues-to-future-vaccine-design-study-654668.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-modi-to-address-2nd-who-global-summit-on-traditional-medicine-today-654476.html New Delhi Dec 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the closing ceremony of the second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine on Friday The threeday programme being held at Bharat Mandapam New Delhi underscores Indiaâs growing leadership and pioneering initiatives in shaping a global sciencebased and peoplecentred traditional medicine agendaâPrime Minister Modi has constantly emphasised for mainstreaming traditional medicine and the Indian Knowledge System through research standardisation and global collaborationâ said the PMO on ThursdayDuring the programme the Prime Minister will launch several landmark Ayush initiatives including My Ayush Integrated Services Portal MAISP a master digital portal for the Ayush sector He will also unveil the Ayush Mark which is envisioned as a global benchmark for the quality of Ayush products and servicesFurther PM Modi is expected to release the WHO technical report on training in Yoga and the Book âFrom Roots to Global Reach 11 Years of Transformation in AyushâSymbolising the global resonance of Indiaâs traditional medicinal heritage he will also release a commemorative postal stamp on AshwagandhaPM will felicitate the recipients of the Prime Ministerâs Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Promotion and Development of Yoga for the years 20212025 recognising their sustained dedication to Yoga and its global promotionThe awards reaffirm Yoga as a timeless practice for balance wellbeing and harmony contributing to a healthier and stronger New IndiaPrime Minister will also visit the Traditional Medicine Discovery Space an exhibition which showcases the diversity depth and contemporary relevance of traditional medicine knowledge systems from India and across the worldThe Summit being held from December 17 to 19 is jointly organised by the World Health Organization WHO and the Ministry of Ayush It is themed as âRestoring balance The science and practice of health and wellbeingâThe summit witnessed intensive deliberations among global leaders policymakers scientists practitioners Indigenous knowledge holders and civil society representatives on advancing equitable sustainable and evidencedriven health systems IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-modi-to-address-2nd-who-global-summit-on-traditional-medicine-today-654476.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 07:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/two-arrested-after-abduction-bid-on-bihar-doctor-police-recover-weapons-654496.html Patna Dec 19 The police apprehended two accused involved in an alleged attempted abduction of a doctor in Bihars Chhapra following an encounter in the Revelganj area of the district The arrested men have been identified as Ranjan Yadav and Sonu RaiBoth accused sustained gunshot injuries to their legs during police action late Thursday night and were immediately admitted to Sadar Hospital Chhapra where their condition is reported to be stableConfirming the incident Saran Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Kumar Ashish said that a Special Investigation Team SIT was formed promptly considering the seriousness of the caseAccording to the SSP the incident occurred on Wednesday night around 1020 pm when five accused attempted to abduct prominent doctor Sajal Kumar as he was returning home along with his driver and assistantâThe doctor showed presence of mind and managed to jump out of the moving vehicle He immediately informed the policeâ Ashish saidFollowing the complaint police scanned CCTV footage from the surrounding areas and successfully identified the suspectsActing on intelligence inputs police teams tracked the accused to a garden near BN Singh CollegeâWhen the police team reached the location and attempted to search the suspects weapons were recovered The accused then tried to flee by firing on the police team In retaliation the police used force and apprehended themâ SSP Ashish addedThe SSP further stated that raids are ongoing to arrest the remaining accused involved in the crimeâStrict action will be taken against anyone involved in criminal activities Our teams are continuously conducting raids to nab the remaining accusedâ he saidThe accused revealed that professional rivalry was the reason for the kidnapping We are making efforts to reach the main accused All the accused will be put behind bars soon We have already registered an FIR following a written complaint lodged by the victimâ Ashish saidThe incident has raised concerns about the safety of medical professionals and police have assured swift action to prevent such crimes IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/two-arrested-after-abduction-bid-on-bihar-doctor-police-recover-weapons-654496.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/aiimsconductsindias1stdeep-brain-stimulationworkshop-forparkinsons-movementdisorders-654529.html New Delhi Dec 19 The All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS here is hosting Indiaâs first workshop on advanced Deep Brain Stimulation DBS to enhance doctors expertise in deviceassisted therapies for Parkinsonâs disease and other movement disorders The workshop to be held from December 19 to 20 is dedicated exclusively to DBS in movement disorders and was endorsed by the International Movement Disorders SocietyDBS is a wellestablished and highly effective treatment that significantly improves motor symptoms and quality of life in carefully selected patientsâDeep Brain Stimulation has transformed the management of Parkinsonâs disease and building expertise in advanced imaging surgery and programming is essential to deliver optimal and equitable care for patients across Indiaâ said Dr Elavarasi A and Dr Animesh Movement Disorders Faculty AIIMS New DelhiOver 1 million people suffer from Parkinsonâs in India in which brain cells producing dopamine die leading to movement issues like tremors stiffness and slow movement When the condition is no longer optimally controlled with standard medical management it can be effectively treated using deviceassisted therapiesWhile DBS is available in India its successful delivery requires advanced technical expertise for surgical implantation as well as sophisticated postoperative programmingThe workshop aims to highlight recent advances in DBS including imageguided programming and emerging closedloop approaches enabling tailored patientspecific management and improved clinical outcomesThe programme provides structured training to over 200 registered delegates and faculty members from across the countryFive international faculty members also shared their expertise through focused lectures handson sessions and casebased discussions facilitating an indepth understanding of advanced DBS programming strategiesDedicated sessions were also conducted for clinicians new to DBS supporting skill development among beginnersâThe workshop reinforced AIIMS New Delhiâs commitment to advancing cuttingedge neurological care fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and building national capacity to improve outcomes for patients with Parkinsonâs disease and other movement disordersâ the hospital said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/aiimsconductsindias1stdeep-brain-stimulationworkshop-forparkinsons-movementdisorders-654529.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-scientists-findmissing-linkin-bodys-cellsto-boost-therapiesforalzheimers-cancer-654542.html New Delhi Dec 19 Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research JNCASR have uncovered a surprising player in autophagy or the âselfeatingâ process that removes damaged parts of cells that can pave the way for developing therapies for diseases such as Alzheimerâs Parkinsons and cancer Autophagy is a key biological process where cells clear out damaged and unwanted materials When a cell fails to clear waste its health suffers especially in longlived neurons The autophagy pathway which removes damaged material and defends against infections is disrupted in diseases like Alzheimerâs and HuntingtonâsIn cancer autophagy plays dual roles Autophagy initially prevents cancer but later supports tumour growth Autophagy also acts as a tumour suppressor by maintaining genome integrity and cellular homeostasis by clearing cellular junk such as protein aggregates and damaged mitochondriaBut it is also a doubleedged sword as certain types of cancer cells hijack autophagy for their own survival and propagation Understanding its regulation is crucial for the development of effective therapiesThe team from JNCASR an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology DST found that a group of proteins called the exocyst complex which normally helps move important molecules to the cell surface also plays a key role in autophagyThis complex comprises a team of 8 proteins interestingly 7 of the 8 proteins are required to help the cell grow the trash bag so that it can completely wrap up the waste When this complex is missing the cellâs bagmaking factory stops working properly and even starts producing faulty nonfunctional factoriesThe researchers led by Prof Ravi Manjithaya used simple yeast cells to elucidate the formation of autophagosomes cellular âtrash bagsâ thereby providing insights into how this vital process operates in higher organismsThey elucidated the mechanism by which a protein complex exocyst previously recognised for its role in secretion also contributes to the autophagy pathway which is crucial for maintaining cellular healthSince defects in autophagy are linked to several neurodegenerative diseases and cancers the findings published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences will open new avenues for modulating this pathway to restore cellular balance and develop potential therapeutic IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-scientists-findmissing-linkin-bodys-cellsto-boost-therapiesforalzheimers-cancer-654542.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-modi-to-address-2nd-who-global-summit-on-traditional-medicinetomorrow-654390.html New Delhi Dec 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the closing ceremony of the second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine the Prime Ministers Office said on Thursday The threeday programme being held at Bharat Mandapam New Delhi underscores Indiaâs growing leadership and pioneering initiatives in shaping a global sciencebased and peoplecentred traditional medicine agendaâPrime Minister Modi has constantly emphasised for mainstreaming traditional medicine and the Indian Knowledge System through research standardisation and global collaborationâ said the PMODuring the programme the Prime Minister will launch several landmark Ayush initiatives including My Ayush Integrated Services Portal MAISP a master digital portal for the Ayush sector He will also unveil the Ayush Mark which is envisioned as a global benchmark for the quality of Ayush products and servicesFurther PM Modi is expected to release the WHO technical report on training in Yoga and the Book âFrom Roots to Global Reach 11 Years of Transformation in AyushâSymbolising the global resonance of Indiaâs traditional medicinal heritage he will also release a commemorative postal stamp on AshwagandhaPM will felicitate the recipients of the Prime Ministerâs Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Promotion and Development of Yoga for the years 20212025 recognising their sustained dedication to Yoga and its global promotionThe awards reaffirm Yoga as a timeless practice for balance wellbeing and harmony contributing to a healthier and stronger New IndiaPrime Minister will also visit the Traditional Medicine Discovery Space an exhibition which showcases the diversity depth and contemporary relevance of traditional medicine knowledge systems from India and across the worldThe Summit being held from December 17 to 19 is jointly organised by the World Health Organization WHO and the Ministry of Ayush It is themed as âRestoring balance The science and practice of health and wellbeingâThe summit witnessed intensive deliberations among global leaders policymakers scientists practitioners Indigenous knowledge holders and civil society representatives on advancing equitable sustainable and evidencedriven health systems IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-modi-to-address-2nd-who-global-summit-on-traditional-medicinetomorrow-654390.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sun-pharma-slips-as-usfda-classifies-gujarat-plant-under-oai-status-654391.html Mumbai Dec 18 Shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries fell sharply on Thursday after the US drug regulator flagged one of the companyâs manufacturing units in Gujarat The stock dropped nearly 3 per cent to Rs 1738 per share hitting a onemonth low after the US Food and Drug Administration classified Sun Pharmaâs Baska facility in Gujarat as âofficial action indicatedâ OAI following an inspectionAn OAI classification means the regulator has found issues during inspection and may take regulatory or administrative actionAccording to the USFDA this status can lead to a delay or withholding of approvals for any pending product applications or supplements linked to the affected facility until the company addresses the observations related to manufacturing complianceThe inspection at the Baska plant was carried out between September 8 and September 19 Sun Pharma said in a filing to stock exchangesAt the closing bell Sun Pharma shares were the biggest loser on the Sensex The shares closed at Rs 1746 down by Rs 4910 or 274 per centThe company clarified that it continues to manufacture and supply already approved products from the Baska facility to the US marketSun Pharma said it is working closely to resolve the issues and aims to achieve full compliance with USFDA normsâThis is to inform that the US FDA conducted an inspection at the Companyâs Baska facility from September 8 to September 19â it said in its filingâThe US FDA has subsequently determined that the inspection classification status of this facility is Official Action Indicated OAIâ they addedIn terms of performance Sun Pharma shares have fallen over 325 per cent in the last five trading sessions and are down around 073 per cent over the past one monthHowever the stock is still up nearly 6 per cent over the last six months On a yeartodate basis the shares have declined by more than 76 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sun-pharma-slips-as-usfda-classifies-gujarat-plant-under-oai-status-654391.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-researcherstap-ai-model-toshow-how-h5n1canjump-to-humans-654412.html New Delhi Dec 18 Even as the bird flu virus H5N1 is evolving rapidly with the potential to become a significant threat to human health a team of Indian researchers using an Artificial Intelligence AIbased model has decoded how the deadly virus can actually spillover to humans In the study published in the BMC Public Health journal the team used BharatSim an ultralargescale agentbased simulation framework for infectious diseases that was originally built for Covid19 modelling to describe the sequential stages of a zoonotic spilloverâWe modelled the possibility of initial spillover events of H5N1 from birds to humans followed by sustained humantohuman transmissionâ said Philip Cherian and Gautam I Menon from the Department of Physics at the Haryanabased Ashoka University in the paperâOur model describes the twostep nature of outbreak initiation showing how crucial epidemiological parameters governing transmission can be calibrated given data for the distribution of the number of primary and secondary cases at early timesâ they addedAvian flu which first emerged in China in the late 1990s has since occasionally infected humansAs South and SouthEast Asia have the worldâs fastestgrowing poultry markets the region is predicted to be the likely location for an initial outbreakNotably the World Health Organization WHO has reported 990 human H5N1 cases across 25 countries including 475 deaths with a 48 per cent fatality rate between 2003 and August 2025The computational model showed that culling birds is the most effective measure to curb H5N1 outbreaks both in the case of a farm outbreak or a wet market However this will work only when no primary infection has occurredâIn our study of the tertiary attack risk we found that even if an infection of a primary case occurs onward infections are limited if cases are isolated and their household contacts quarantined However once tertiary contacts are infected establishing control becomes impossible unless far more stringent measures are applied including a total lockdownâ the experts notedThey stressed that it is in the very early stages of an outbreak that control measures make the most differenceOnce community transmission takes over cruder publichealth measures such as lockdowns compulsory masking and largescale vaccination drives are the only options leftâ the researchers addedThe study shows how such models allow for the systematic realtime exploration of policy measures that could constrain disease spread as well as guide a better understanding of disease epidemiology for an emerging infectious disease IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-researcherstap-ai-model-toshow-how-h5n1canjump-to-humans-654412.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/andhra-pradesh-ageing-faster-mulls-second-child-onwards-incentive-654424.html Amaravati Dec 18 With Andhra Pradesh ageing faster than India the state government is considering a second child onwards incentive similar to models implemented in France and Hungary to avoid future demographic collapse a top official said on Thursday Andhra Pradesh is ageing faster than India with a median age of 325 years compared to the national average of 284 yearsThe states Total Fertility Rate TFR has declined to 15 well below the replacement level of 21 placing Andhra Pradesh on a trajectory similar to developed economies facing a demographic crisisThe state has only a demographic window until 2040 before the dependency ratio skews heavily towards the elderly populationThe alarming demographic trends were highlighted by state Health Medical amp Family Welfare Secretary Sourabh Gaur at the 5th Collectors Conference hereHe presented Andhra Pradeshs transformative approach to Population Management and Human Resource Development as the third âsutraâ in âPadi Sutraluâ 10 points under Swarna Andhra Vision 2047 and underlined the need to shift from population control to population sustainabilityChief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu emphasised the urgent need to address the states declining fertility rate and improve overall health outcomesOnce a champion of family planning initiatives he underlined the dramatic shift in policy priorities required to address current demographic challengesWe are now facing the same problem that developed nations are experiencing a growing nonworkingaged population Our focus must shift to enabling and incentivising families to have children Saurabh Gaur stated suggesting a second child onwards incentive principle similar to models implemented in France and Hungary to arrest the TFR decline and avoid future demographic collapseIn a groundbreaking initiative he presented the plans for the establishment of Fertility Colleges as Centres of Excellence for Reproductive Medicine This firstofitskind public sector initiative will train professionals and provide statesupported IVF treatment for couples facing infertility challenges addressing a critical barrier to sustainable population growthGaur also outlined a comprehensive lifecycle approach to population management encompassing five strategic pillars Supportive Fertility Ecosystem Preventive Healthcare through the Sanchara Chikitsa concept Augmenting Lifelong Skilling through a Skill Passport System starting from Grade 6 Incentivising Women Workforce Participation through safe mobility and mandatory crÃches and Active Ageing amp Community through the establishment of Elderly Clubs at the Mandal levelThe Secretary told the Collectors that closing the female workforce participation gap from the current 31 per cent to match the male participation rate of 59 per cent can boost the states GSDP by 15 per cent To achieve this the government will implement womenfriendly transport systems and mandatory crÃches in major workplaces to reduce the motherhood penalty on careersOn healthcare outcomes the Secretary set ambitious targets to reduce Maternal Mortality Ratio from the current 30 to global best standards below 5 matching Norway Poland and Belarus and Infant Mortality Rate from approximately 17 to below 2 matching Singapore and Iceland IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/andhra-pradesh-ageing-faster-mulls-second-child-onwards-incentive-654424.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/rs-507-crore-sanctioned-for-panchayat-level-disaster-risk-reduction-project-654428.html New Delhi Dec 18 The national project for strengthening communitybased disaster risk reduction initiatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions in 20 states has been approved with an outlay of Rs 50737 crore said an official on Thursday The project jointly implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj MoPR and the National Disaster Management Authority NDMA will cover 81 disasterprone districts with 20 Gram Panchayats each said an official statementAdditionally the project will develop 20 Gram Panchayats focused on major hazardspecific risks as replicable models for locallevel Disaster Risk Reduction DRRUnder the innovative concept of Model Gram Panchayat one model Gram Panchayat GP for each of the 20 states will be developedTherefore 20 Model Gram Panchayats will be identified by states exclusively for six different hazards one GP for each hazard themes for implementation of a longterm mitigation strategy for an endtoend model to showcase the effectiveness of longlasting mitigation measures on disaster proofing said the statementThe learnings in the identified 20 Gram Panchayats can be scaled up by the states through their SDMF for replicating as a disasterresilient Gram Panchayat model for other Gram PanchayatsDepending on the size of the State and intensity of the disasters the number of Districts has been taken All these Gram Panchayats and model Gram Panchayats have to be located in a close cluster so that the impact of the mitigation measures is visible The initiative seeks to integrate disaster risk reduction into local governance through a bottomup approach positioning Panchayati Raj Institutions as the backbone of disaster preparedness mitigation and resilience at the grassroots level The National Project for Strengthening CommunityBased Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives builds upon the institutional foundation laid by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in the area of communitybased disaster management said the statementThe Disaster Management Plan of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj DMPMoPR was released on March 17 2022The Plan aims to strengthen disaster resilience at the grassroots by aligning rural disaster management with the national framework while promoting peopleâs participation and community ownershipIt calls for the preparation of Panchayat and villagelevel Disaster Management Plans and their integration with local development processes including Gram Panchayat Development Plans GPDPs This initiative will reinforce ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and State Governments to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions and mainstream disaster risk reduction in local planning said the statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rs-507-crore-sanctioned-for-panchayat-level-disaster-risk-reduction-project-654428.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tripura-govt-committed-to-ensure-healthcare-for-all-cm-saha-654449.html Agartala Dec 18 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday described the establishment of the stateâs first and only government dental college as a historic milestone that has fulfilled the longcherished aspirations of the people of the state Addressing the third foundation day celebration of Agartala Government Dental College at the Muktadhara Auditorium the Chief Minister said the institution has rapidly emerged as a key centre for education medical training and healthcare services within a short span since its inceptionOn the occasion Saha also inaugurated the earthquakeresistant renovation and restoration work of the old Indira Gandhi Memorial IGM Hospital building and later participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building of Agartala Government Dental College and IGM HospitalHighlighting the governmentâs commitment to expanding healthcare infrastructure the Chief Minister said no previous government had established a dental college in such a short timeHe emphasised that the BJPled government is working to ensure there is no discrimination in medical services and that quality healthcare reaches every section of societyâThe journey of this government dental college began in 2023 With the proactive initiatives of the state government and the sincere support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the college is moving steadily on the path of successâ said Saha who himself is a dental surgeonHe added that students from the state are now able to pursue advanced dental education locally while people are benefiting from improved medical servicesRecalling that the present government assumed office in 2018 the Chief Minister said the dental college was established keeping in mind public needs studentsâ futures and the overall development of the healthcare systemâFrom the academic session 202324 the college started its BDS course with 50 seats which has now increased to 63 Today the institution is being appreciated across the countryâ he notedSaha also said the state government is continuously working towards infrastructural development and reforms across TripuraâWhile the old IGM hospital will be renovated its historical significance will be preservedâ he assuredThe original building of the hospital will be renovated in line with preservation works of Ujjayanta Palace and Pushpabanta Palace constructed by the erstwhile kings in 1900 and 1917 respectivelyErstwhile king Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya Bahadur started the hospital formerly known as Victoria Memorial with 30 beds way back in 1873In the early 1900s the British government took the initiative to build grand memorials in the name of Queen Victoria in different parts of the country with donations from princely rulersStressing the importance of the foundation day the Chief Minister said it is a matter of pride for students teachers and staff while also reminding them of their responsibility to uphold the dignity and reputation of the institutionHe urged doctors to work with a spirit of service and reiterated that healthcare must reach people from all walks of lifeSecretary of the Health Department Kiran Gitte Dental College Principal Shalu Rai Director of Health Services Debashree Debbarma Director of Medical Education HP Sharma Director of Family Welfare and Disease Prevention Anjan Das and State Health Mission Director Saju Wahid A were among those present at the programme IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tripura-govt-committed-to-ensure-healthcare-for-all-cm-saha-654449.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 22:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-pharma-exports-up-over-9-pc-in-2024-25-govt-654241.html New Delhi Dec 17 Indiaâs pharmaceutical exports stood at 3047 billion in 2024â25 registering a growth of 94 per cent over the previous year supported by a strong manufacturing base and expanding global outreach Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Wednesday Inaugurating a oneday Regional Chintan Shivir on Pharmaceutical Exports the Commerce Secretary highlighted that Indiaâs domestic pharmaceutical market is currently estimated at around 60 billionThe market is expected to double to approximately 130 billion by 2030 reflecting the sectorâs scale depth and innovation potential he addedThe Commerce Secretary underlined that India is today the worldâs thirdlargest pharmaceutical producer by volume and fourteenth by value with more than 3000 companies 10500 manufacturing units and over 60000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic areasIndian medicines reach over 200 markets worldwide with more than 60 per cent of exports going to stringent regulatory destinations The United States accounts for about 34 per cent while Europe accounts for around 19 per cent of Indiaâs pharmaceutical exports These strengths combined with Indiaâs role as a reliable supplier of qualityassured and affordable medicines were recognised as a strong foundation for the next phase of export growthDeliberations during the Chintan Shivir focused on sensitising exporters especially MSMEs to Indiaâs evolving international trade and cooperation framework and on strengthening industry awareness of policy regulatory and capacitybuilding initiatives relevant to pharmaceutical exportsDiscussions centred on the identification of nontariff barriers and regulatory challenges expansion of regulatory cooperation and mutual recognition mechanisms to enable faster and more predictable approvals and building a robust life sciences innovation ecosystem encompassing research and development clinical trials biologics vaccines and biosimilarsThe Commerce Secretary also underlined the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to position India as a trusted global trade partner and to expand Indiaâs share in global pharmaceutical trade thereby enabling wider access to quality and affordable healthcare across the worldParticipants were apprised of recent developments in Indiaâs international trade framework including the IndiaâUK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement CETA signed on July 24 2025 and the IndiaâEuropean Free Trade Association EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement TEPA which became effective on October 1 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-pharma-exports-up-over-9-pc-in-2024-25-govt-654241.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/crpf-trooper-dies-of-suspected-cardiac-arrest-in-jampks-anantnag-654324.html Srinagar Dec 18 A trooper of the Central Reserve Police Force CRPF posted at Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag railway station died of suspected cardiac arrest during the night officials said on Thursday Officials identified the CRPF trooper as Lakhwinder Singh 55 son of Ajaib Singh and a resident of PunjabSingh was posted with 90 Battalion E Company at Anantnag Railway Station when he diedâHe reportedly lost consciousness while on duty and was immediately shifted to the Government Medical College GMC Anantnag for treatment Doctors at GMC Anantnag said he had died of suspected cardiac arrest Further investigation and inquest proceedings have been initiated by policeâ officials saidSecurity forces discharge their duties in extreme winter cold conditions in the Kashmir Valley and despite heating arrangements inside their living barracks most of the time the security forces are deployed on roadside dutiesSecuring roads and highways for the passage of VIPs convoys of the Army and the passage of civilians protecting VIPs sensitive installations and discharging duties alongside the local police during antiterrorist operations are included in the duties of the security forcesPeriodic leaves to rejoin families providing avenues of entertainment including sports etc are made for the deployed security forcesIn the hinterland operations against terrorists their overground workers OGWs and their sympathisers are carried out by JampK Police and the CRPF in coordination with each otherThe Army and the Border Security Force BSF are deployed at the Line of Control LoC and the international border respectively to guard against infiltration exfiltration drug smuggling and drone activities initiated from the Pakistan side of the LoC and the international borderThe CRPF also organises sports competitions and tournaments for the local youth to engage them in gainful healthy activities so that they donât fall prey to the allurement of terrorists and their handlers IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/crpf-trooper-dies-of-suspected-cardiac-arrest-in-jampks-anantnag-654324.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/is-high-fat-cheese-healthy-for-your-brain-654325.html New Delhi Dec 18 While cheese high in saturated fat and sodium is known to raise the risk of high cholesterol or blood pressure a new study has linked it to a lower risk of developing dementia The study published in the journal Neurology showed that some highfat dairy products such as cheddar Brie and Gouda as well as whipping cream double cream and clotted cream may actually lower the risk of dementia The findings challenge some longheld assumptions about fat and brain healthHowever researchers from Lund University Sweden clarified that âthe study does not prove that eating highfat cheese and highfat cream lowers the risk of dementia it only shows an associationâResearchers analysed data from 27670 people in Sweden with an average age of 58 at the start of the study They were followed for an average of 25 years During the study 3208 people developed dementiaThe results showed that people who ate more highfat cheese had a 13 per cent lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who consumed less When looking at specific types of dementia they found people who ate more highfat cheese had a 29 per cent lower risk of vascular dementiaIn addition a lower risk of Alzheimers disease was also found among those who ate more highfat cheese but only among those not carrying the APOE e4 gene variant a genetic risk factor for Alzheimers diseaseSimilarly people who consumed highfat cream daily had a 16 per cent lower risk of dementia compared to those who drank noneHowever no associations were found between dementia risk and eating lowfat cheese lowfat cream high or lowfat milk butter or fermented milk which includes yogurt kefir and buttermilkThese findings suggest that when it comes to brain health not all dairy is equal said Emily Sonestedt from Lund UniversityWhile eating more highfat cheese and cream was linked to a reduced risk of dementia other dairy products and lowfat alternatives did not show the same effect she added The team urged for more research to confirm the results IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/is-high-fat-cheese-healthy-for-your-brain-654325.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/state-ledreformskey-to-strengtheninghighereducationin-india-cea-anantha-nageswaran-654147.html New Delhi Dec 17 The next phase of higher education reform in India must be led by states said Dr Anantha Nageswaran Chief Economic Adviser to the government on Wednesday Speaking at the CII Global Higher Education Summit in New Delhi Nageswaran outlined key priorities for states including a shift from control to stewardship and the need to urgently address faculty shortages through mechanisms such as professors of practiceHe noted that moving from inputbased to outcomebased regulation adopting an entrepreneurial approach in public administration and financing institutions based on differentiated roles and outcomes can help scale the reformsNageswaran also called for deeper industry engagement in curriculum design research and governanceâIndustry can codesign curricula offer creditbearing internships support applied research share infrastructure and participate meaningfully in governanceâ he saidâCollaboration between government states industry and citizens can help India move from scale to leadership and emerge as a global hub for learning research and ideasâ the CEA addedNageswaran shared that Indiaâs demographic and economic inflection point structural shift in global higher education landscape AIenabled pedagogy and the change in policy with National Education Policy NEP 2020 and evolving regulatory thinking are the four converging factors that show that the present time is uniquely suited for ambitious reformAt the event Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe Chairman National Education Technology Forum highlighted how recent reforms in higher education are creating a futureready studentcentric ecosystem anchored in quality flexibility and innovationHe noted that the proposed new regulatory framework will bring all higher education regulators under a single umbrella with a singlewindow approval system enabling institutions to offer multidisciplinary programs with greater easeDr Naushad Forbes Past President CII amp Chairman highlighted that the deepest source of longterm resilience for any economy or institution lies in the quality of its human capital which is built through a combination of education and accumulated skillsEconomic transformation depends not only on the creation of knowledge but on the ability of skilled individuals to translate ideas into practical outcomesEmphasising the central role of higher education in innovation he called for a substantial increase in public research funding within universitiesThe expert argued that universities must primarily be seen as creators of talent and advocated a shift from prescriptive regulation towards greater autonomy and competition IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/state-ledreformskey-to-strengtheninghighereducationin-india-cea-anantha-nageswaran-654147.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/punjab-drug-seizures-near-217-lakh-kg-in-five-years-centre-654169.html New Delhi Dec 17 Punjab continues to battle a severe narcotics challenge with data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday revealing that law enforcement agencies seized nearly 217 lakh kilograms of narcotic substances between 2019 and 2023 alongside crores of tablets and thousands of litres of illicit drugs This information came in as a written response from Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai while replying to a question from MP Swati MaliwalThe MoS cited figures compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau NCRB showing narcotics seizures in Punjab stood at 44239 kg in 2019 dipped to 37364676 kg in 2020 rose to 3878170 kg in 2021 peaked at 49421858 kg in 2022 and remained high at 4760938 kg in 2023Narcoticsrelated criminal cases show a similar upward pressure on the justice system While 11536 cases were registered in 2019 registrations dropped sharply to 6909 in 2020 during the pandemic year before rising again to 12442 in 2022 and 11589 in 2023The number of cases pending trial climbed steadily from 23671 in 2019 to 45962 by the end of 2023 indicating a growing backlogNotably conviction rates have improved consistently From 648 per cent in 2019 the conviction rate increased to 672 per cent in 2020 779 per cent in 2021 792 per cent in 2022 and reached 827 per cent in 2023Drug overdose deaths remain a serious concern Data shows 78 deaths in 2021 rising sharply to 144 in 2022 before declining to 89 in 2023On the rehabilitation front the Centre supports 10 deaddiction and outreach facilities in PunjabCentral funding for these centres rose from Rs 101 crore in 2022â23 to Rs 296 crore in 202425 with over 11000 persons rehabilitated annually IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/punjab-drug-seizures-near-217-lakh-kg-in-five-years-centre-654169.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/need-robust-one-health-approach-effective-preparedness-to-combat-future-pandemicsdr-rajiv-bahl-654199.html New Delhi Dec 17 India needs a robust One Health approach and effective measures to combat future pandemics said Dr Rajiv Bahl Director General Indian Council of Medical Research ICDR amp Secretary Department of Health Research DHR He said this while speaking at VIROCON 2025 a threeday international conference organised recently by the ICMRNational Institute of Virology NIV Pune in collaboration with the NIV Research Foundation and the Indian Virological Society IVSThe event themed âChanging Landscapes in Human Animal and Plant Viruses Bridging Basic Science Innovation and Public Healthâ brought together experts to address emerging viral threats and innovations in virologyâVIROCON is a very important meeting where I believe that academia institutes of national importance the National Institute of Virology as well as industry together deliberate on how to do surveillance and contribute to the development of countermeasures so that we are better prepared for any future outbreak or pandemicâ Bahl saidâMost pandemics over the past 100 years have been viral and zoonotic in nature underscoring the need for a coordinated onehealth approachâ he added while calling for the development of effective countermeasures for future pandemic preparednessVIROCON 2025 saw a strong commitment to advancing viral research fostering collaboration and strengthening public health preparednessThe event focused on emerging viral threats advances in virological research and pandemic preparednessThe conference saw the participation of over 650 delegates including scientists clinicians public health experts industry partners and students from India and abroadRepresentatives from four countries the US Canada Thailand and India attended the event along with delegates from premier Indian institutions such as IISc IISERs IITs Central Universities ICAR ICMR DRDO DBT CSIR and several State UniversitiesScientific sessions were held across three major tracks One Health and pandemic preparedness development of countermeasures and fundamental virology with 13 keynote lectures 44 lead talks 154 oral presentations and 251 postersPrestigious recognitions including the IVS Oration Awards 2025 and IVS Young Scientist Awards were presented along with VIROCON 2025 oral and poster awards IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/need-robust-one-health-approach-effective-preparedness-to-combat-future-pandemicsdr-rajiv-bahl-654199.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-blood-test-can-detect-monitorlung-cancer-in-real-time-654049.html New Delhi Dec 17 A team of UK researchers has developed a pioneering blood test that could enable doctors to detect and monitor lung cancer in real time which will help reduce diagnostic delays and improve patient outcomes Using the technique Fourier Transform Infrared FTIR microspectroscopy the team detected a single lung cancer cell in a patients bloodThe technique combines advanced infrared scanning technology with computer analysis focusing on the unique chemical fingerprint of cancer cells said researchers from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust UHNM Keele University and Loughborough UniversityThis approach has the potential to help patients receive earlier diagnoses personalised treatments and fewer invasive procedures and it could eventually be applied to many types of cancer beyond lung cancer said lead author Professor Josep SulÃSuso Associate Specialist in Oncology at UHNMCirculating tumour cells CTCs are a type of cancer cell that can break away from a tumour and travel in the bloodstream They can provide vital clues about how the disease is progressing and how well treatment is working CTCs are also the cells that can lead to the spread of cancer metastasesCurrent methods for detecting CTCs can be complicated expensive and timeconsuming and they can sometimes miss cancer cells altogether as the cells often change their characteristics while circulating in the bloodThe research teams method detects CTCs in a blood sample by shining an infrared beam onto it similar to the light in a TV remote control but far more powerfulDifferent chemicals absorb infrared light in different ways and CTCs have a distinct absorption pattern or chemical fingerprintComputer analysis of the infrared absorption data can quickly identify whether circulating tumour cells are presentThe technique published in the journal Applied Spectroscopy is simpler and more affordable than existing approaches and uses standard glass slides already found in pathology labs to prepare blood samples for analysis under the infrared instrument making it easier to adopt into everyday clinical practiceThe team now aims to test this method in larger patient groups aiming to develop a rapid automated blood test that could be integrated into cancer care pathways IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-blood-test-can-detect-monitorlung-cancer-in-real-time-654049.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indialaunchesai-drivencommunityscreeningfordiabeticretinopathy-654052.html New Delhi Dec 17 In a bid to curb the rising vision loss cases due to diabetes India has launched the first Artificial Intelligence AIdriven community screening programme for Diabetic Retinopathy DR The initiative is launched by the Armed Forces Medical Services AFMS in collaboration with the Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences RPC AIIMS and the eHealth AI Unit of the Health MinistryIt marks a significant step towards strengthening early detection of diabetic eye disease and building a realtime national health intelligence framework said the Ministry of Defence MoDTrained medical officers nursing staff and healthcare assistants will conduct screening using MadhuNetrAI the webbased AI tool developed by RPCThe platform facilitates automated screening grading and triaging of retinal images captured using handheld fundus camerasThe system also generates realtime data on disease prevalence and geographic distribution supporting evidencebased planning and policy formulationâAs part of the pilot phase the Armed Forces Medical Services AFMS will implement the initiative at seven locations Pune Mumbai Bengaluru Dharamshala Gaya Jorhat and Kochi covering metropolitan rural hilly coastal and remote regions Personnel from each site will undergo intensive training at RPC AIIMS followed by largescale community screeningâ the Ministry saidPatients identified with diabetic retinopathy will be referred for optimal diabetic management And cases of visionthreatening diabetic retinopathy will be referred to vitreoretina specialists at designated district hospitalsDistrict health administrations will coordinate referral mechanisms and integrate DR management within existing noncommunicable disease programmes to ensure continuity of careAccording to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey 2019 conducted by RPC nearly 12 per cent of the population aged 50 years and above had diabetesAmong them approximately 17 per cent had diabetic retinopathy Alarmingly only about 10 per cent of people with diabetes had ever undergone a retinal examination for diabetic retinopathy reflecting a significant gap in early detection and preventive careThe new initiative is envisaged as a scalable and replicable model demonstrating effective integration of AIenabled solutions into public health systems through the combined efforts of AFMS AIIMS and the Ministry of Health amp Family Welfare the MoD said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indialaunchesai-drivencommunityscreeningfordiabeticretinopathy-654052.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/google-offers-8mnfor-indias-aicentersfor-health-agriculture-education-and-sustainable-cities-653859.html New Delhi Dec 16 In a bid to support Indiaâs research ecosystem Googleorg the philanthropic arm of Google on Tuesday announced a funding of 8 million for four AI Centres of Excellence for health agriculture education and sustainable cities The centres were established by the Government aligning with the vision to Make AI in India and Make AI work for IndiaThe centres include TANUH at IISc Bangalore which will focus on developing scalable AI solutions for effective treatment of noncommunicable diseases Airawat Research Foundation at IIT Kanpur which will focus on pioneering research on AI to transform urban governanceThe AI Centre of Excellence for Education at IIT Madras will focus on developing solutions to enhance learning and teaching outcomes while ANNAMAI at IIT Ropar will focus on developing datadriven solutions for agriculture and farmer welfareIn addition Google announced a 2 million founding contribution to establish the new Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT BombayThe hub set up in memory of Professor Pushpak Bhattacharyya a pioneer in Indic language technologies and a Visiting Researcher at Google DeepMind will aim to ensure that global AI advancements serve Indiaâs linguistic diversityâIndia is approaching artificial intelligence as a strategic national capability not as a shortterm technology trend The four AI Centres of Excellence have been conceived as a coordinated national research mission advancing foundational research responsible AI and applied solutions that serve public purpose and contributing to our larger aspiration of Viksit Bharat 2047â said Dharmendra Pradhan Minister of EducationâBuilding a globally competitive AI ecosystem requires not only public investment but also strong institutional leadership and longterm partnerships with industry This effort is supported by Google and Googleorg through their 8 million contribution to the AI Centres of Excellence and a 2 million founding contribution to the Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombayâ he addedAt Googleâs âLab to Impactâ dialogue supported by the India AI Impact Summit 2026 the company also committed 400000 to support the development of Indiaâs Health Foundation model using Googleâs MedGemma the specialised AI model designed for healthcareAs a first step Ajna Lens will work with experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS to build models that will support Indiaspecific use cases in Dermatology and OPD TriagingThe resulting models will contribute to Indiaâs Digital Public Infrastructure and their outcomes will be made accessible to the ecosystemGoogle is also working with Indiaâs National Health Authority NHA to deploy its advanced AI to convert millions of fragmented unstructured medical records such as doctors clinical and progress notes into the international machinereadable FHIR standardFrom foundational research to ecosystem deployment to scaled impact our fullstack approach is equipping the country to lead a global AIpowered future with innovations from Indiaâs labs benefiting billions across the world said Dr Manish Gupta Senior Research Director Google DeepMind IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/google-offers-8mnfor-indias-aicentersfor-health-agriculture-education-and-sustainable-cities-653859.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/global-leaders-adopt-political-declaration-to-combat-diabetes-highbpand-mental-health-by-2030-653881.html New Delhi Dec 16 In a first leaders from across the world adopted a political declaration to combat noncommunicable diseases NCDs such as diabetes high BP and mental health challenges by 2030 the World Health Organization WHO said on Tuesday NCDs including obesity and cancers are the leading causes of death These chronic conditions claim 18 million lives prematurely each year while mental health conditions affect over a billion people globallyAs both NCDs and mental health conditions are increasing in every country these require urgent action not only for better public health but also for productivity and sustainable economic growth said the WHOThe new political declaration adopted at the 80th United Nations General Assembly UNGA aims to accelerate global progress with a set of specific global targets for 2030It established three firstever global fasttrack outcome targets to be achieved by 2030 150 million fewer tobacco users150 million more people with hypertension under control and 150 million more people with access to mental health careTo ensure countries can reach these goals the declaration also set ambitious measurable process targets for national systems by 2030This includes having at least 80 per cent of countries with policy legislative regulatory and fiscal measures in place at least 80 per cent of primary health care facilities with access to affordable WHOrecommended essential medicines and basic technologies for NCDs and mental health at least 60 per cent of countries implementing financial protection policies or measures that cover or limit the cost of essential NCD and mental health servicesThe adoption of these bold targets to control noncommunicable diseases and promote mental health is a testament to the commitment of Member States to protect the health of their peopleâ said WHO DirectorGeneral Dr Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusâTogether we can change the trajectory of NCDs and mental health and deliver health wellbeing and opportunity for all he addedThe political declaration is the most comprehensive to date integrating lessons from the Covid19 pandemic and responding to new global challengesIt also addresses many pressing issues such as oral health lung health childhood cancer liver disease kidney disease and rare diseases air pollution clean cooking lead exposure and hazardous chemicals and evolving risk of digital harms social media exposure excessive screen time harmful content and the risks of mis and disinformation the WHO said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/global-leaders-adopt-political-declaration-to-combat-diabetes-highbpand-mental-health-by-2030-653881.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-delhi-aiimss-new-ingestible-device-can-collect-microbial-samples-from-small-intestine-653888.html New Delhi Dec 16 Researchers at IIT Delhi on Tuesday announced the development of an ingestible device that can sample bacteria directly from the small intestine opening a new window into the human gut microbiome While not all bacteria are harmful nearly half of all cells in the human body are microbial These organisms line our gut and help us digest food regulate mood and build immunityYet studying them has remained difficult Existing tools are invasive such as endoscopy or ileostomy or indirect relying on stool samples that do not truly reflect conditions higher up in the digestive tractThe device a tiny pill once swallowed stays shut in the stomach It opens only in the intestine to collect bacteria then seals itself again to keep the sample safe while moving through the gut revealed the study conducted in collaboration with the AIIMS Delhi and funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMRâTo say there is a hidden universe of living microbes in our body is no exaggeration but a scientific reality we call it the human microbiome Just as we send rovers to explore outer space we need miniaturised devices to explore the inner space of the human bodyâ explained Prof Sarvesh Kumar Srivastava Principal Investigator at the Medical Microdevices and Medicine Laboratory 3MLab CBME IIT DelhiâThe prototype microdevice once swallowed can autonomously collect microbes from specific regions of the upper GI tract allowing specieslevel identification of the residing microbes among other biomarkersâ Srivastava addedThe device comprises an entericcoated gelatin cap that protects it in gastric pH 115 and disintegrates at intestinal pH 35 allowing luminal fluid via an inlet connected to activation and sampling chambersThe gutsampling technology publishing in the journal Small has been validated in an animal model using a microdevice no larger than a grain of rice The results showed promise without tissue injury or inflammationâThe small intestine plays a crucial role in health and disease Understanding the microbes and chemicals being released there could be key to early disease detection monitoring of chronic diseases and developing more targeted treatmentsâ said cosenior author Dr Samagra Agarwal from the Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit at AIIMS New DelhiThe researchers noted that they aim to advance this platform technology to help Indian patients in the clinic after necessary approvals IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-delhi-aiimss-new-ingestible-device-can-collect-microbial-samples-from-small-intestine-653888.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/inst-researchers-develop-new-nanoparticle-basedmultifunctional-therapy-for-alzheimers-653926.html New Delhi Dec 16 Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology INST Mohali have identified a new pathway involving nanoparticles to treat Alzheimerâs Disease AD said the Ministry of Science amp Technology on Tuesday Conventional Alzheimerâs therapies often target only a single pathological feature such as amyloid aggregation or oxidative stress yielding limited clinical benefitHowever the new therapy involves nanoparticles that integrate polyphenol with antioxidant properties found in green tea a neurotransmitter and an amino acidIt has the potential to treat Alzheimerâs Disease by changing the path of the progression of the disease slowing it improving memory and supporting thinking skills said the researchers in the paper published in the journal SmallThe therapy works by integrating epigallocatechin3gallate EGCG an antioxidant found in green tea dopamine a neurotransmitter important for mood and tryptophan an amino acid involved in many cellular functions into a nanoparticle called EGCGdopaminetryptophan nanoparticles EDTNPsThis enables it to simultaneously target amyloid aggregation oxidative stress inflammation and neuronal degeneration four key pathological hallmarks of AlzheimerâsâIncorporation of BrainDerived Neurotrophic Factor BDNF a protein crucial for the survival growth and function of neurons onto EDTNPs BEDTNPs creates a dualaction nanoplatform that not only clears neurotoxic Amyloid Beta aggregates protein clumps that disrupt neural function and drive Alzheimerâs disease pathology but also enhances neuronal regenerationâ said the team led by Dr Jiban Jyoti Panda from INST an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology DSTâThis is a rare approach in Alzheimerâs therapeutics which uniquely combines antioxidant antiamyloid and neurotrophic actions for the therapyâ they addedThe research conducted with support from Dr Ashok Kumar Datusalia NIPER Raebareli and Dr Nisha Singh Gujarat Biotechnology University involves the synthesis of EDTNPs using biocompatible assembly techniques like pressureassisted hydrothermal and electrostaticbased coincubation methods to combine antioxidant neurotransmitter and amino acid componentsThese nanoparticles were then functionalised with BDNF producing BEDTNPs with enhanced neuroprotective potentialIn lab experiments and mouse models these nanoparticles disassembled toxic plaques reduced inflammation restored balance inside brain cells and even improved memory and learning Computer simulations further confirmed that the nanoparticles latch onto harmful Amyloid beta fibrils and pull them apart at the molecular levelâThe research could help people with Alzheimerâs disease by offering a treatment that works on multiple levels The nanoparticles not only remove harmful protein plaques but also reduce brain stress inflammation and help nerve cells grow through BDNFâ said the researchers IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/inst-researchers-develop-new-nanoparticle-basedmultifunctional-therapy-for-alzheimers-653926.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indiarecords1-13-440-dengue-cases-94-deathstill-november-govt-653935.html New Delhi Dec 16 India has recorded 113440 dengue cases and 94 deaths from January till November this year the government informed the Parliament on Tuesday In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel revealed the statewise incidence and deaths due to the vectorborne disease during 2025âIndia reported a total of 113440 cases of dengue and 94 deaths till November in 2025â Patel saidTamil Nadu 20866 reported the highest number of cases Maharashtra 13333 and Kerala 10239The highest number of deaths due to the mosquitoborne disease was reported from Kerala 49 followed by Maharashtra 13 and Tamil Nadu 12The Minister also shared the total number of dengue cases reported nationwide during the last five years as per the report submitted by the States UTs to the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control NCVBDCWhile the reported number of dengue cases in 2020 stood at 44585 it has since consistently risen to 193245 in 2021 to 233251 in 2023In 2024 the country reported 233519 in 2023 The cases in 2025 are the lowest since 2021Further Patel also shared the measures taken by the Centre to assist States in controlling vector breeding before the next transmission cycleThe government has been reviewing the situation and preparedness of states at a higher level before the transmission season for timely action It provides technical guidelines for integrated vector management case management prevention and control to the States for implementationIn addition to trainings being imparted to entomologists on integrated vector management ASHAs are also being engaged in sourcereduction and IEC activities to help the community protect itself from mosquito bites and Domestic Breeding Checkers DBCs are also involved in sourcereduction activitiesAdvisories and technical guidance are provided to StatesUTs for sensitisation and to enhance preparedness to deal with any future outbreakFree diagnosis for Dengue is provided to all including the poor and vulnerable patients Patel said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indiarecords1-13-440-dengue-cases-94-deathstill-november-govt-653935.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ayush-expo-to-anchorsecond-who-global-traditional-medicine-summit-653942.html New Delhi Dec 16 The Ayush Expo will be a central feature of the second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit GTMC to be held this week and will showcase Indiaâs ancient medicine systems alongside global practices the Ministry of Ayush said on Tuesday GTMC being organised by the Ministry of Ayush in association with the World Health Organization WHO will be held from 17 to 19 December at Bharat Mandapam New DelhiThe Ayush Expo will present a comprehensive and curated showcase of Ayurveda Yoga Naturopathy Unani Siddha SowaRigpa and Homoeopathy using immersive exhibits scientific explanations and digital interfacesThe exhibition seeks to translate Indiaâs traditional knowledge systems into globally relevant narratives aligned with contemporary public health prioritiesâThe Ayush Expo at the Second WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit is designed to present Indiaâs traditional medicine systems in a scientifically grounded and globally relevant mannerâ said Prof Dr Tanuja Manoj Nesari Director Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda ITRAâBy bringing together classical knowledge evidencebased practices and emerging technologies on one platform the Expo seeks to foster informed dialogue strengthen research collaboration and support the responsible integration of traditional medicine into contemporary health systemsâ she addedAmong the major attractions is the Medicinal Plants and Seeds Pavilion displaying nearly 40 live medicinal plants and rare seeds highlighting Indiaâs botanical heritage and the ecological foundations of traditional medicineThe Spices of India Pavilion will present the scientific basis of commonly used culinary herbs and their role in preventive health while the Metallotherapeutics Zone will explain classical purification methods bhasma preparation processes and safety validation practicesThe Expo will also feature exhibits on Dinacharya Ritucharya and Panchakarma illustrating preventive care principles seasonal regimens and therapeutic practices through traditional instruments and explanatory formatsIndiaâs Traditional Knowledge Digital Library TKDL will be showcased as an internationally recognised initiative for protecting traditional knowledge and preventing biopiracy the Ministry saidIn addition the Expo will also host a dedicated WHO Zone featuring traditional medicine systems from across WHO Member States Countries from different regions will present their healing traditions communitybased health models and Indigenous knowledge systems The global exhibits will reflect the diversity of traditional medicine practices presented through WHOcurated zones focusing on healthy ecosystems social innovation and naturebased health solutions IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ayush-expo-to-anchorsecond-who-global-traditional-medicine-summit-653942.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-three-years-of-cm-patels-governance-healthcare-reaches-the-last-mile-653707.html Gandhinagar Dec 15 As Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel completes three years in office Gujaratâs public health deliveryâespecially for childrenâhas emerged as a defining pillar of his governance Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of the state health department healthcare schemes have expanded their reach to the most remote and vulnerable sections of society translating policy intent into measurable outcomes on the groundA flagship example is the School HealthâRashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram RBSK under which more than 45 crore children across Gujarat have benefited over the past three years Annually an average of 189 crore children undergo health screening with onthespot treatment provided wherever possible Children requiring advanced care are referred to PHCs CHCs subdistrict and district hospitals medical colleges and superspeciality hospitalsâentirely free of costThe scale and impact of the programme are reflected in the outcomes over 45000 children received cardiac surgeries and treatments 4149 kidney treatments 2336 clubfoot corrections 1408 cleft lip and palate surgeries and treatment for 692 cancer cases In addition 751 cochlear implant surgeries 42 kidney transplants 23 bone marrow transplants and 12 liver transplants were facilitated during this period marking a significant intervention in lifethreatening and chronic childhood conditions To strengthen early diagnosis and timely intervention 28 District Early Intervention Centres DIEC are operational across Gujarat supported by 992 RBSK mobile health teamsThese teams conduct regular health checkups for anganwadi children up to six years of age students from Classes 1 to 12 newborns and outofschool children up to 18 years Further all delivery points in the state now conduct birth defect screening for every newborn while systematic screening under the â4Dâ frameworkâBirth Defects Developmental Delays Diseases and Deficienciesâis carried out for children up to 18 years This structured statewide approach underscores the Patel governmentâs focus on preventive healthcare and early treatment IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-three-years-of-cm-patels-governance-healthcare-reaches-the-last-mile-653707.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-govt-announces-new-initiatives-for-medical-and-health-sector-653709.html Jaipur Dec 15 Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that the state government is working with full commitment to realise the vision of âHealthy Rajasthanâ ensuring that every citizen remains healthy fit and happy He stated that worldclass medical infrastructure is being developed across the state and that access to quality healthcare services is steadily improving in villages and remote hamlets Sharma released the Heal in Rajasthan Policy 2025 to promote medical tourism He said the policy would play a key role in establishing Rajasthan as a reliable accessible and affordable medical value travel destinationThe Chief Minister was addressing the launch ceremony of the statelevel health camp blood donation camp and various health programs organised at the RUHS Hospital Complex on Monday marking the completion of two years of the state government He said that over the past two years the government has functioned with service dedication and transparency placing the common citizen at the centre of every policy decision development effort and welfare scheme to ensure good governance and holistic developmentOn the occasion of the state governmentâs second anniversary several significant initiatives were launched to strengthen healthcare services The Chief Minister inaugurated a Critical Care Block at RUHS constructed for Rs 20 crore The facility is equipped with ICU beds emergency care units advanced ventilator systems modular operating theatres and dialysis facilities Health camps are being organised across the state from medical colleges to subcentres At these camps individuals above 30 years of age are being screened for BMI blood pressure blood sugar levels and common cancers with appropriate treatment provided Patients are also receiving free medicines and free diagnostic tests The Chief Minister emphasised that there is no substitute for blood and commended those who have pledged to save lives through blood donation calling it a noble act of service Blood donation camps are being organised at district headquarters and tehsil levels throughout the state The Chief Minister said that the doubleengine government at the Centre and the State is committed to the welfare and dignity of persons with disabilities He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi enhanced social respect by referring to them as DivyangThe state government has pledged in its two budgets to provide artificial limbs and assistive devices worth up to Rs 20000 to 15 lakh persons with disabilities a commitment that is being rapidly fulfilled Under the National Health Mission a Hub and Spoke model is being implemented to provide free diagnostic tests More than 100 specialised testsâincluding Troponin cancer markers biopsy vitamins thalassemia haemophilia hepatitis and thyroid testsâwill be available free of cost in government hospitals The state has identified 42 mother labs 137 hub labs and 1333 spokesOn this occasion 11 mother labs and 400 spokes were inaugurated The entire process from sample collection to reporting will be digitised enabling patients to access reports online from their homes To mark the completion of two years of the state government an FCM injection campaign has been launched statewide to free pregnant women from anaemia Additionally an eyeexamination program for students in all government schools has been initiated under which free spectacles will be provided Screening for thalassemia and sickle cell disease will also be conductedThe Chief Minister said the government is making rapid progress toward transforming Rajasthanâs healthcare system Over the past two years 35000 posts have been filled in the Medical and Health Department and recruitment for an additional 15000 posts is currently underway He added that 132 new treatment packages have been included under the Chief Ministerâs Ayushman Arogya Yojana benefiting over 35 lakh people through cashless medical services IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-govt-announces-new-initiatives-for-medical-and-health-sector-653709.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ready-to-eat-nutrition-giving-new-life-to-mothers-and-children-in-chhattisgarhs-dhamtari-653726.html Dhamtari Dec 15 The Women and Child Development Department is providing nutritious food to pregnant women and lactating mothers through Anganwadi centres under the ReadytoEat RTE scheme in Chhattisgarhâs Dhamtari The objective of this initiative is to ensure adequate nutrition for expectant mothers so that the child growing in the womb is born healthyThe government is spending crores of rupees on this scheme to build a healthy and strong future for the nationLactating mothers in Dhamtari district said they are receiving nutritious food regularly through Anganwadi centresAccording to them this government initiative is extremely beneficial for the poor and needy families as financial constraints often make it difficult to purchase nutritious food from the marketThe ReadytoEat food provides essential nutrients such as protein vitamins calories calcium and iron leading to visible improvements in the health of both mothers and childrenHealth experts have also termed the scheme beneficial Speaking to IANS Dr Avadh Pachori said that ReadytoEat food is precooked and packed before being distributed to pregnant and lactating women through Anganwadi centres by the Women and Child Development Department It is easy to consume and rich in nutrientsHe added that ReadytoEat food helps reduce malnutrition especially among mothers and children who need supplementary nutrition or are suffering from anaemia and protein deficiencyConsuming this food two to four times a day results in significant health improvements He described it as a highly beneficial government schemeLactating mother Nandini Yadav shared that her child had a very low weight at the time of birth After that she began receiving porridge and other nutritious items under the ReadytoEat scheme from the Anganwadi centre which led to rapid weight gain in her childShe expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai for launching the schemeAnother lactating mother Savita Dhruv said her babyâs weight was extremely low after delivery She learned about the ReadytoEat food available at Anganwadi centres from a relative After receiving nutritious food regularly her childâs development has improved significantlyAnganwadi worker Damyanti Sahu said that 11 children are registered at her centre The children are served sweet halwa and savoury porridge for breakfastAlong with this they are engaged in various activities In the afternoon as per the fixed menu green vegetables soybean nuggets and mixed lentils are servedShe added that this system is leading to continuous improvement in the health and development of the children IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ready-to-eat-nutrition-giving-new-life-to-mothers-and-children-in-chhattisgarhs-dhamtari-653726.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/aiadmk-leader-attacks-dmk-over-vacancies-crisis-in-govt-hospitals-653577.html Chennai Dec 15 Former Tamil Nadu Health Minister and AIADMK organising secretary C Vijayabaskar launched a sharp attack on the DMK government accusing it of failing to fill critical vacancies in government hospitals across the state and attempting to mask what he described as a deepening crisis in the public healthcare system Responding to Health Minister Ma Subramanianâs recent assertion that all posts in the Public Health Department had been filled Vijayabaskar termed the claim âcompletely falseâ and alleged that it was intended to divert attention from systemic shortcomings under the present regimeIn a statement he said the ground reality in hospitals across the state stood in stark contrast to the governmentâs official statementsAccording to Vijayabaskar government healthcare institutions ranging from Primary Health Centres PHCs to Government Medical College Hospitals are facing an acute shortage of manpowerHe claimed that posts of doctors nurses medical officers pharmacists laboratory technicians and health workers remain vacant in large numbers severely affecting patient care particularly in rural and semiurban areasâThe public health system which once served as a model for the country is now struggling due to administrative neglect and poor human resource planningâ he alleged adding that overburdened doctors and staff were being forced to manage services far beyond their sanctioned capacityThe former minister also pointed to infrastructure issues alleging that several government hospitals constructed at a cost of crores of rupees remain nonfunctional in districts such as Krishnagiri Namakkal Theni Tiruchy and CuddaloreHe claimed that despite the completion of buildings and procurement of equipment in some cases the absence of adequate staff had rendered these facilities largely unusable for the publicVijayabhaskar further questioned what he described as a contradiction in the governmentâs standWhile the Health Minister maintained that there were no vacancies in the department the government had simultaneously issued notifications calling for applications to fill around 1100 doctor posts he pointed outâIf there are no vacancies why is there a recruitment drive for doctorsâ he askedHe urged the state government to acknowledge the staffing gaps expedite recruitment and ensure that newly built hospitals are made fully operational at the earliestâHealthcare is not about announcements but about doctors on duty nurses at bedsides and functioning hospitalsâ he said calling for immediate corrective measures to safeguard public health services in Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/aiadmk-leader-attacks-dmk-over-vacancies-crisis-in-govt-hospitals-653577.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gross-enrollment-under-atal-pension-yojana-surpasses-845-crore-till-nov-653665.html New Delhi Dec 15 Gross enrollment under the Atal Pension Yojana APY has reached 84517419 as on November 30 2025 the Parliament was informed on Monday The scheme aims to create a universal social security system for all especially the poor the underprivileged and the workers in the unorganised sector APY scheme offers flexible minimum guaranteed pension of Rs 1000 Rs 2000 Rs 3000 Rs 4000 or Rs 5000 per month said Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in Lok SabhaAccordingly the subscription amount per month presently varies from Rs 42 to Rs 1454 based on age of joining and pension amount chosen Any increase in pension amount is likely to increase the subscription amount substantially and put further burden on the subscriberThe enrolments in the lower pension slab suggest that the APY is reaching the poorest of poorThe minister further stated that presently it has been decided to continue the scheme with same terms and conditions and not to further increase the pension and consequential subscription amountAPY was launched in 2015 with the objective of creating a universal social security system for all Indians It is open to all citizens of India between 18 and 40 years of age who have a savings account in a bank or post office As per the Scheme the subscriber will receive pension benefits on attaining the age of 60 yearsAs on October 31 the female gross enrolment under APY was 40441135 which was 48 per cent of the total enrolment Further in Bihar the female gross enrolment under APY was 4207233 which was 57 per cent of the total enrolment in the stateThe government and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority PFRDA have taken several steps to increase awareness and coverage of APY across the country including rural and remote areas of Bihar IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gross-enrollment-under-atal-pension-yojana-surpasses-845-crore-till-nov-653665.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-to-develop-dedicated-software-to-streamline-organ-transplant-registrations-653485.html Ahmedabad Dec 14 In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and trust in the organ transplant system the Gujarat government is developing a special registration software for patients awaiting kidney liver skin heart valve and tissue transplants The state has a long waiting list of patients in need of organ transplants many of whom have spent years in uncertainty due to the lack of information about their position on the cadaver braindead donor waiting listThe proposed digital platform will allow registered patients to access realtime details of their status on the transplant waiting list addressing a longstanding concern among recipientsPranjal R Modi Director of the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre IKDRC at Ahmedabad said the initiative would bring muchneeded clarity to the system and empower patients with accurate informationAt IKDRC the states largest organ transplant centre patients have welcomed the state governments decision noting that the software will enable them to check their waiting list number from home reducing anxiety and repeated hospital visitsThis will make the process far more patientfriendly said Sanjaybhai Patil a kidney patient undergoing treatment at IKDRCThe decision follows a meeting held on November 22 under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary Raj Kumar where measures to make Gujarats organ donation and transplant programme more transparent and reliable were discussed in detailOnce operational the new registration software is expected to bring greater transparency to procedures involving skin heart valve tissue kidney liver and bone transplants while ensuring that patients receive timely and accurate information marking a significant step forward in strengthening the states organ transplant frameworkGujarat has steadily emerged as Indias pharmaceutical capital driven by a robust manufacturing base policy support and a strong ecosystem of research talent and infrastructureThe state accounts for a significant share of the countrys pharmaceutical production and exports hosting major pharma hubs such as Ahmedabad Vadodara Ankleshwar Vapi and Sanand along with Asias largest common effluent treatment facilities that support sustainable manufacturingHome to leading Indian and global pharma companies Gujarat benefits from seamless connectivity portled logistics skilled manpower and proactive governance making it a preferred destination for bulk drugs formulations vaccines and medical devicesWith continued investments innovationled growth and export orientation Gujarat plays a pivotal role in ensuring affordable medicines for India and the world IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-to-develop-dedicated-software-to-streamline-organ-transplant-registrations-653485.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-to-develop-software-to-streamline-organ-transplant-registrations-653486.html Ahmedabad Dec 14 In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and trust in the organ transplant system the Gujarat government is developing a special registration software for patients awaiting kidney liver skin heart valve and tissue transplants The state has a long waiting list of patients in need of organ transplants many of whom have spent years in uncertainty due to the lack of information about their position on the cadaver braindead donor waiting listThe proposed digital platform will allow registered patients to access realtime details of their status on the transplant waiting list addressing a longstanding concern among recipientsPranjal R Modi Director of the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre IKDRC at Ahmedabad said the initiative would bring muchneeded clarity to the system and empower patients with accurate informationAt IKDRC the states largest organ transplant centre patients have welcomed the state governments decision noting that the software will enable them to check their waiting list number from home reducing anxiety and repeated hospital visitsThis will make the process far more patientfriendly said Sanjaybhai Patil a kidney patient undergoing treatment at IKDRCThe decision follows a meeting held on November 22 under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary Raj Kumar where measures to make Gujarats organ donation and transplant programme more transparent and reliable were discussed in detailOnce operational the new registration software is expected to bring greater transparency to procedures involving skin heart valve tissue kidney liver and bone transplants while ensuring that patients receive timely and accurate information marking a significant step forward in strengthening the states organ transplant frameworkGujarat has steadily emerged as Indias pharmaceutical capital driven by a robust manufacturing base policy support and a strong ecosystem of research talent and infrastructureThe state accounts for a significant share of the countrys pharmaceutical production and exports hosting major pharma hubs such as Ahmedabad Vadodara Ankleshwar Vapi and Sanand along with Asias largest common effluent treatment facilities that support sustainable manufacturingHome to leading Indian and global pharma companies Gujarat benefits from seamless connectivity portled logistics skilled manpower and proactive governance making it a preferred destination for bulk drugs formulations vaccines and medical devicesWith continued investments innovationled growth and export orientation Gujarat plays a pivotal role in ensuring affordable medicines for India and the world IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gujarat-to-develop-software-to-streamline-organ-transplant-registrations-653486.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/aiims-led-trial-onmost-advanced-brain-stentshows-promise-for-stroke-patients-653312.html New Delhi Dec 13 The Supernova Stent a new and advanced brain treatment device has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for stroke patients said experts at AIIMS Delhi on Saturday who led the first clinical trial AIIMS Delhi was the national coordinating centre and the lead enrolling site of the GRASSROOT trial for the Supernova StentâThis trial is a turning point for stroke treatment in Indiaâ said Dr Shailesh B Gaikwad Professor amp Head Department of Neuroimaging amp Interventional Neuroradiology AIIMS Delhi and National Principal Investigator of the GRASSROOT TrialâThe Supernova stent has shown excellent safety and efficacy outcomes in the treatment of severe strokes according to the preliminary trial resultsâ revealed the preliminary findings published in the reputed Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery JNISIn the first prospective multicentre thrombectomy procedure to physically remove a blood clot from a blocked artery trial the Supernova stent retriever achieved high successful restoration of blood flow with brain bleed 31 per cent mortality 94 per cent and 50 per cent functional independence at 90 daysDeveloped by Gravity Medical Technology Supernova is designed for Indiaâs diverse patient population where strokes often strike patients younger than in the WestEarlier this year data from the GRASSROOT trial were accepted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation CDSCO and the Supernova stentretriever was approved for routine use in IndiaThe GRASSROOT India trial which confirmed the deviceâs safety and efficacy in treating lifethreatening strokes was conducted across eight centres The trial marks a milestone for the MakeinIndia initiative and positions India as a global player in advanced stroke care the experts saidâThe device has already treated more than 300 patients in Southeast Asia and will now be manufactured and is available in India at affordable prices offering new hope to the 17 million Indians who suffer strokes each yearâ said Dr Dileep Yavagal Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery University of Miami part of the global trial IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/aiims-led-trial-onmost-advanced-brain-stentshows-promise-for-stroke-patients-653312.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/cholera-outbreak-kills-eight-in-pakistan-653345.html Islamabad Dec 13 At least eight people including six children have died in a cholera outbreak in Pakistans southwest Balochistan province this week raising the death toll to 12 over the past three weeks local health officials said on Saturday The latest deaths were reported from the Cheena Khundi area of Musakhel district where six children and two adult men lost their lives District Health Officer Abdul Ghaffar Khetran told Xinhua news agency He said medical teams from Quetta Loralai and Barkhan have reached the affected area while medicines were dispatched on the instructions of the provincial director general of healthA government school has been converted into a temporary hospital to provide emergency treatment to patients the official addedAccording to health authorities at least 14 cholera patients are currently undergoing treatment in the affected areaHealth officials have also collected water samples to determine the source of the outbreakEarlier this year Pakistans Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation WHO launched the National Cholera Control Plan 2025â2028 targetting a 90 per cent reduction in mortality by 2030 and preparing the country to prevent detect and respond to cholera outbreaks in a context marked by severe climate changeinduced disastersBetween January 2023 and July 2025 Pakistan reported an annual average of more than 21000 suspected and 250 confirmed cases of choleraAccording to the WHO Cholera is an acute infection caused by ingesting the bacteria Vibrio cholerae present in contaminated water or food resulting in lifethreatening diarrhoea that requires urgent medical treatmentIn Pakistan cholera is a notifiable endemic illness The majority of cases are detected in heavily populated metropolitan areas with poor access to clean drinking water sanitation and hygiene the WHO stated in July this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/cholera-outbreak-kills-eight-in-pakistan-653345.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/no-link-between-covid-19-vaccines-and-sudden-deaths-in-young-adults-aiims-653432.html New Delhi Dec 14 A yearlong autopsybased study conducted by AIIMS New Delhi on Sunday found no scientific evidence linking COVID19 vaccination to sudden deaths among young adults reaffirming that the vaccines are safe and effective The study titled âBurden of Sudden Death in Young Adults A OneYear Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Centre in Indiaâ has been published in the âIndian Journal of Medical Researchâ the flagship journal of the Indian Council of Medical ResearchResearchers closely examined sudden death cases of people aged between 18 and 45 years using verbal autopsy postmortem imaging conventional autopsy and detailed histopathological testsAccording to the findings there was no statistically significant association between COVID19 vaccination status and sudden deaths in the young populationThe researchers found that most of the deaths were caused by wellknown medical conditions with cardiovascular diseases emerging as the leading reasonRespiratory illnesses and other noncardiac causes were also identified in several casesThe study also noted that both COVID19 infection history and vaccination status were similar across younger and older age groups and no causal link between vaccination and sudden deaths was foundThese results the researchers said are in line with global scientific evidence that supports the safety of COVID19 vaccinesDr Sudheer Arava Professor at AIIMS New Delhi said the study is particularly important at a time when misleading claims and unverified reports are circulating about a possible link between COVID19 vaccines and sudden deathsHe stressed that the findings clearly do not support such claims and highlighted the need for scientific and evidencebased research to guide public understandingHealth experts said that sudden deaths among young individuals though tragic are often linked to underlying and sometimes undiagnosed health issues especially heartrelated conditionsThey underlined the importance of early health screening lifestyle changes and timely medical intervention to reduce such risksDr Arava also advised people to trust credible scientific sources and avoid misinformation that could weaken public confidence in proven public health measures including vaccination IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/no-link-between-covid-19-vaccines-and-sudden-deaths-in-young-adults-aiims-653432.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/barc-plans-3-000-acre-rampd-campus-in-andhra-pradesh-653460.html New Delhi Dec 14 The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre BARC is planning to set up a large new research and development campus in Andhra Pradesh as part of Indiaâs broader push to strengthen nuclear science and advanced reactor technology The proposed campus will come up in Anakapalli district and will spread across nearly 3000 acresAccording to documents reviewed by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change BARC has approached the Andhra Pradesh government seeking approval to divert 14815 hectares of forest land for the projectAn Expert Appraisal Committee under the ministry has examined the proposal earlier this month and has recommended it for âinprincipleâ approval which would allow the diversion of the first parcel of land for the new campusOfficials said that more than 1200 hectares or around 3000 acres of revenue land has already been acquired for the BARC projectThe forest land proposed for diversion is located next to the acquired area and lies between the project site and the coastline making it crucial for completing the layout of the planned campusThe new facility is expected to support BARCâs expanding role in nuclear research reactor development and advanced energy technologiesThe development comes at a time when the government is placing strong emphasis on indigenous nuclear innovation and clean energy solutionsEarlier this month the government informed Parliament that BARC has already begun design and development work on small modular reactors including the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor a 55 MWe small modular reactor and a hightemperature gascooled reactor aimed at hydrogen generationThese reactors are proposed to be built initially at Department of Atomic Energy sites for technology demonstration with construction likely to begin after project approvalsThe Centre has also highlighted growing international cooperation in the nuclear sectorDiscussions have taken place between Indiaâs Department of Atomic Energy and Russiaâs Rosatom to explore collaboration on both large and small nuclear power projects including the possibility of constructing Russiandesigned small modular reactors in India and localising equipment manufacturing IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/barc-plans-3-000-acre-rampd-campus-in-andhra-pradesh-653460.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 23:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/candidate-voter-die-in-telangana-panchayat-polls-653476.html Hyderabad Dec 14 A candidate in the Panchayat elections in Telangana died a few minutes before the polling began on Sunday while a voter collapsed and succumbed soon after casting his vote A candidate for the Sarpanchs post died in Khammam district a few minutes before the polling began at 7 amD Nagaraju was the independent candidate from Anasagar village in Nelkonapalli mandal He was under stress due to the election campaignAccording to his family members he took ill on Saturday night He was admitted to the hospital where he succumbed on Sunday morningIn another tragic incident a voter collapsed after casting his vote in Ranga Reddy district The incident occurred at a polling centre in Aluru village of Chevella mandalSolipeta Butchaiah 70 collapsed after coming out of the polling centre He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him deadButchaiahâs daughter Ramulamma is a candidate for the Ward Members post in Venkannaguda villageIn another incident the husband of a Sarpanch candidate in Medak district climbed on a mobile phone tower to protest against the alleged distribution of money by other candidates The incident occurred in Peddatanda Gram PanchayatShankar Naiik whose wife is the Sarpanch candidate from the same Gram Panchayat climbed on the mobile phone tower He alleged that his wifeâs rivals were distributing Rs 2000 each among voters to lure themThe second phase of polls was held on Sunday for 3911 Sarpanch posts and 29917 Ward Member posts in 193 mandalsA little over 5722 lakh voters 2926 lakh female and 2796 lakh male would decide the fate of 12782 candidates for Sarpanch posts and 71071 for Ward Member postsMeanwhile in an interesting incident a Sarpanch candidate who lost the election in Nalgonda district started collecting money from the voters which he had distributedThe incident was reported from Auravani village of Narkatpally mandal Kalluri Balaraju who contested as a sarpanch candidate with the support of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi BRS had distributed money to the voters However the Congress candidate Jakkala Paramesh won the election with a majority of 450 votesFollowing this Balaraju went from house to house in the village holding a picture of a deity and crying If you voted for me swear on God and tell me Otherwise return the money I gave youHe collected the money from many voters His wife said that they would not have asked for the money back if they had lost by a margin of 50 or 60 votes IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/candidate-voter-die-in-telangana-panchayat-polls-653476.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 23:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-has-potential-to-become-global-leader-in-ai-supported-stroke-management-experts-653284.html New Delhi Dec 13 With proper training and increasing digital infrastructure India has the potential to become a global leader in artificial intelligence AIbased stroke care said health experts here on Saturday Speaking at the Stroke amp AI 2025 conference at the India Habitat Centre the experts discussed the integration of AI in modern stroke care and its significance in the country especially in rural areasâFor a country like India where access to stroke specialists remains uneven AIenabled systems can play a transformative role by extending expertise beyond tertiary centres and ensuring timely lifesaving interventionsâ Dr Dhiraj Khurana DM Neurology PGIMER Chandigarh told IANSâIndia has the potential to be a global leader in AIsupported stroke management provided we invest in structured training digital infrastructure and rapidresponse systemsâ added Dr P Vijaya President of the Indian Stroke Association ISAThe experts also highlighted the increasing relevance of telestroke models and cloudbased AI platforms that make specialist guidance accessible even in remote locationsâArtificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an essential ally in stroke care From faster interpretation of brain imaging to smarter triage in emergency settings AI is helping clinicians make critical decisions when every minute countsâ Khurana saidStressing the importance of nationallevel adoption and training the experts noted that AI has the potential to bridge critical gaps in imaging interpretation emergency triage and treatment planning particularly in resourcelimited settingsâBy empowering clinicians with faster and more accurate tools AI can help save countless lives and significantly reduce the longterm burden of stroke on families and communitiesâ Vijaya saidThe conference aimed to advance discussions on how AIpowered tools ranging from predictive algorithms and automated imaging interpretation to workflow optimisation and personalised rehabilitation can accelerate treatment timelines improve diagnostic accuracy and significantly reduce strokerelated mortality and longterm disabilitySessions on mechanical thrombectomy advanced neurointervention perfusion imaging emergency workflow triage robotic support and AIbased predictive modelling captured strong interest among attendeesâStroke care is at the threshold of a major transformation and artificial intelligence is at the heart of this change The discussions clearly show that AI is no longer a future possibility but a presentday tool that can reduce treatment delays sharpen clinical decisions and support precisiondriven procedures like thrombectomy and advanced imagingâ said Dr Kameshwar Prasad a Delhibased neurologist and Padmashree Awardee IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-has-potential-to-become-global-leader-in-ai-supported-stroke-management-experts-653284.html Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/17-610-janaushadhikendrasopened-across-india-till-november-30-govt-653266.html New Delhi Dec 13 A total of 17610 Jan Aushadhi Kendras JAKs have been opened across India till November 30 the government told the Parliament In a written reply in the Lok Sabha the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel shared the statewise number of JAKs opened across the country and the districtwise number of JAKs as well as details of the funds allocated and utilised under the scheme during the last five yearsâUnder the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana PMBJP scheme a total of 17610 Jan Aushadhi Kendras JAKs have been opened across the country as on 30112025â Patel saidâAcross the country total sales of Rs 629023 crore MRP value have been made under the scheme during the last five financial yearsâ she addedUttar Pradesh 3731 accounted for the highest number of JAKs followed by Kerala 1685 Karnataka 1543 and Tamil Nadu 1483The flagship scheme the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana PMBJP was launched in 2014 with just 80 centresThe JAKs provide essential medicines more accessible to people and reduce the outofpocket expenditure These government pharmacies provide generic medicines which are available at lower prices but are equivalent to expensive branded drugs in quality and effectivenessFrom Rs 65 crore funds sanctioned and utilised in 202021 Patel noted that in 202425 the amount sanctioned for JAKs rose to Rs 28450 crore Of these Rs 18273 crore was utilisedUnder the PMBJP scheme an incentive to JAK owners is given at a rate of 10 per cent of monthly purchases subject to a ceiling of Rs 10000 per monthIn addition JAK owners are also provided an incentive of up to Rs 10000 per month for maintaining the requisite stock of 200 highdemand productsWith a view to further expanding the coverage of the scheme the Government has set a target to open 25000 JAKs by March 2027JAKs are opened by inviting applications from individual entrepreneurs nongovernmental organisations societies trusts firms private companies etc IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/17-610-janaushadhikendrasopened-across-india-till-november-30-govt-653266.html Sat, 13 Dec 2025 23:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/thalassemia-patientgroupshail-introduction-of-national-blood-transfusion-bill-in-parliament-653087.html New Delhi Dec 12 Thalassemia patients on Friday hailed the introduction of the National Blood Transfusion Bill in Parliament and urged members to pass the lifesaving bill at the earliest Earlier this month during the Winter session of the Parliament the National Blood Transfusion Bill 2025 was proposed by MP Parshottambhai Rupala in Lok Sabha and by Dr Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade in Rajya SabhaThe Bill aims to regulate the collection testing processing storage distribution issuance and transfusion of human blood and blood components to ensure health protection and prevention of transfusiontransmissible diseases It also calls for establishing national standards for safe blood collection transfusion and management and imposing penalties for noncompliance and for matters connected therewith or incidental theretoThe main objective is to establish a National Blood Transfusion Authority with statutory powers to prescribe national standards for blood collection processing storage and transfusionâFor Indiaâs thalassaemia community which depends on safe uninterrupted and qualityassured blood transfusions for survival this legislation marks a historic and longawaited step forwardâ said the Thalassaemia Patients Advocacy Group TPAGâIt reflects a coherent and serious parliamentary commitment to reforming one of Indiaâs most underregulated yet critical public health areasâ TPAG said while urging the MPs to immediately pass the BillFor lakhs of patients who rely on blood as their lifeline this reform offers hope for a safer more accountable and more efficient blood ecosystemA unified national framework will play a pivotal role in strengthening safety quality assurance accountability and public trustâStrengthening the governance of blood transfusion services is essential for ensuring safety and public trust I hope the proposed bill provides a muchneeded sciencebased framework to streamline standards and improve patient outcomesâ said Prof NK Ganguly former Director General ICMRAnubha Taneja Mukherjee Member Secretary of TPAG noted that the advocacy group will submit detailed comments on the Bill and strongly urged for the inclusion of patient representation in any body constituted under this frameworkThe Federation of Indian Blood Donors Organizations FIBDO also commended the efforts made by the MPs to propose the critical Bill in the ParliamentâWe call upon all parliamentarians to unite in passing this bill which holds the promise of saving countless lives and fortifying the very foundation of Indiaâs healthcare systemâ the FIBDO said in a statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/thalassemia-patientgroupshail-introduction-of-national-blood-transfusion-bill-in-parliament-653087.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/nit-rourkelashuman-like-airobot-can-understand-everyday-language-recognise-emotions-652848.html New Delhi Dec 11 Researchers at the National Institute of Technology NIT Rourkela have developed a robotic system designed to interact with people in the most humanlike manner Developed using Artificial Intelligence AI and Large Language Models LLMs the social robot can understand everyday language follow spoken commands answer questions and engage in realtime conversations beyond precoded responsesIt is also capable of recognising usersâ emotions by interpreting facial expressions such as happy neutral or sad It can greet users provide instructions and reply using naturalsounding speechThe system which can be used in homes classrooms offices hospitals and community spaces can also detect simple gestures such as waving and raising a hand and react appropriatelyâThe indigenously developed robotic system significantly aligns with the Government of Indiaâs Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives In contrast to existing systems available globally NIT Rourkelaâs social robot introduces a uniquely integrated framework that combines gesture emotion speech and LLMbased conversational abilities within a costeffective platform suitable for Indian contextsâ said Dr Anup Nandy Associate Professor Department of Computer Science and Engineering NIT RourkelaThe Institute has also secured a patent for the developed innovation and systemThe robot uses the Raspberry Pi system to process user inputs such as spoken commands or textbased queriesThe LLM analyses the input determines the context and produces an appropriate humanlike response This output is then delivered through the robotâs speech system using Google TexttoSpeechThe robot is equipped with a wheelbased platform and navigation system for easy movement The builtin distancesensing module allows it to avoid obstacles and ensure safe movement in a crowded setupThe developed robot detailed in the paper published in the Computers and Electrical Engineering journal is expected to cost between Rs 80000 and Rs 90000 based on manufacturing scale and component optimisation said the researchers IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/nit-rourkelashuman-like-airobot-can-understand-everyday-language-recognise-emotions-652848.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/weight-loss-drugozempiclaunchedin-india-priced-atrs-8-800a-month-653124.html New Delhi Dec 12 Novo Nordisk on Friday launched its blockbuster weightloss drug Ozempic in India beginning at Rs 8800 a month or four weeks Ozempic a onceweekly injectable formulation of semaglutide is approved in India for adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes along with diet and exerciseThe drug is available in three dosage forms 025mg 05 mg and 1mg in a singleuse prefilled pen called Novofine Needles designed for painless subcutaneous injection the drug maker saidThe 025 mg which is the initial dose is priced at Rs 8800 followed by Rs 10170 for 05 mg and Rs 11175 for 1 mg Each pen contains four weekly dosesâBringing Ozempic to India is a major milestone Backed by global trust proven clinical excellence and worldclass quality reinforced by a robust supply chain Ozempic offers Indian doctors an effective treatment choiceâ said Vikrant Shrotriya Managing Director Novo Nordisk IndiaâOur goal is to provide patients with an innovative and accessible therapy that offers improved glycaemic control meaningful weight management and longterm heart and kidney protection all delivered through a simple easytouse pen device This onceweekly treatment demonstrates Novo Nordiskâs ongoing commitment to better health outcomes and chronic disease careâ Shrotriya addedOzempic was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration FDA in 2017 for type 2 diabetes Since then it has been widely used offlabel for weight loss due to its appetitesuppressing effects It also protects patients from the risk of cardiovascular events and kidney issues Novo saidThe company noted that Ozempic is a GLP1 receptor agonist that helps improve glycaemic control and reduce HbA1c a measure of glucose control regulate appetite and food intake by acting on areas of the brain that control hunger support weight loss in people with type2 diabetes and reduce risks of cardiovascular and kidney complications associated with diabetes IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/weight-loss-drugozempiclaunchedin-india-priced-atrs-8-800a-month-653124.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 23:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/un-warns-17-million-children-at-risk-due-to-severe-malnutrition-in-afghanistan-652875.html Kabul Dec 11 The United Nations UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has warned that 17 million children in Afghanistan are at risk of death due to severe malnutrition and termed the situation as shocking In his remarks during a United Nations Security Council UNSC briefing on Wednesday Fletcher stated that food insecurity has further exacerbated this winter with many lifesaving food distributions suspended He further said that 11 million children do not have access to vital aid leaving them extremely vulnerable Afghanistans leading news agency Khaama Press reportedThe UN official stated that 303 nutrition service centres have been shut due to funding shortage further restricting emergency care for malnourished children He said that ending restrictions on women and girls is critical for aid operationsFletcher also criticised Taliban restrictions on women working in UN offices terming them as unacceptable warning that the restrictions impact essential humanitarian services He called on the international community to provide additional funding to operate aid programmesOn December 7 the World Food Programme WFP warned that hunger levels in Afghanistan are increasing at an alarming rate as the winter season is approachingIn a statement the WFP stated that malnutrition among children and women could reach levels not seen in recent years Khaama Press reportedWFP Executive Director Carl Skau said the agency has been forced to reduce food assistance from 10 million people to two million due to funding shortages He warned that many children could face lifethreatening conditions and possibly die due to malnutrition and exposure during the winter monthsThe agencys statement comes as the United Nations previously said that around 35 million children in Afghanistan aged below five years suffer from acute malnutritionHumanitarian workers have said that Afghanistan remains one of the worlds most foodinsecure nations with drought economic collapse and restrictions on aid further deteriorating the situation IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/un-warns-17-million-children-at-risk-due-to-severe-malnutrition-in-afghanistan-652875.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/over-25-000-govt-staff-join-nutrition-campaign-in-gujarat-653154.html Ahmedabad Dec 12 More than 25000 government employees in Kheda district have pledged support to the new âGaam No Nirdhaar Sahkaarey Saakaarâ campaign an initiative launched by the district administration to eliminate malnutrition âGaam No Nirdhaar Sahkaarey Saakaarâ translates to the idea that a villageâs resolve can be truly achieved only through collective support and participation It reflects a spirit of communitydriven development where shared determination cooperation and responsibility come together to turn goals into realityThis phrase essentially captures the belief that meaningful progress happens when everyone contributes Rooted in the Prime Ministerâs call of âSahi Poshan Desh Roshanâ the campaign aims to turn the National Nutrition Mission into a true peopleâs movement in Kheda with a special focus on improving nutrition levels among children and mothers The administration had urged all district officers and government staff to join the initiative framing it as both a moral duty and an expression of gratitude towards their karmabhoomiOfficials were also instructed to mobilise their teams across all subordinate offices ensuring that participation is formally recorded through a âConsent for Participationâ pledge A dedicated link has been opened for three days for Khedaâs officials and employees in Phase 1 Phase 2 will extend participation to citizens Marking the 150th birth anniversary of Vallabhbhai Patel officials and employees from his home district have taken on a solemn commitment no child in Kheda should suffer from malnutrition As part of this they have vowed to become Poshan Mitrasâcontributing to child nutrition on family birthdays weddings and other auspicious occasions On Friday over 25000 officers and staff across Kheda district had voluntarily joined the campaignTheir emotional and wholehearted participation has set a strong example of collective responsibility The district administration and Amul Dairy expect this combined effort to set new benchmarks in nutritiondriven governance With officials employees and soon citizens stepping in âGaam No Nirdhaar Sahkaarey Saakaarâ is on track to become a transformative model for holistic development in Kheda district IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/over-25-000-govt-staff-join-nutrition-campaign-in-gujarat-653154.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 23:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gender-equity-community-participationkeyto-fightdiabetes-high-bp-in-india-experts-653157.html New Delhi Dec 12 Gender equity and community participation are essential to combat the rising cases of noncommunicable diseases NCDs like diabetes high BP in India said experts here on Friday NCDs including cancer cardiovascular diseases chronic respiratory diseases and obesity are responsible for 65 per cent of deaths in IndiaâCommunity participation has helped improve infrastructure service delivery and health awareness even in remote regions where challenges are many We have seen that empowering local leaders and women to take part in planning and monitoring creates ownership and lasting changeâ said Dr Thomas Keppen Nagaland Deputy Director Department of Health and Family Welfare at an event held in the national capitalKeppen suggested boosting communitybased approaches and documenting progress regularly to make systems more transparent and sustainableThe annual Evidence2Policy dialogue organised by The George Institute for Global Health India sparked conversations around bridging the knowdo gap in public health policy implementationâEquity in NCD care is not only about women but it is also about reaching men and every section of the community When healthcare is taken closer to people women come forward to seek care but we must also find ways to engage menâ said Dr Sumit Malhotra Professor Centre for Community Medicine AIIMS New DelhiMalhotra stressed the need to strengthen community health workers with regular medicine supplies and improve linkages between different levels of care to make the health system more responsive and fairerThe health officials also underscored the importance of datadriven decisionmaking equityoriented health policies and strengthening health systems to ensure universal access without financial hardshipMeanwhile the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NonCommunicable Diseases NPNCD a populationbased initiative for prevention control and screening for common NCDs has been rolled out in the country under the National Health Mission NHM and also as a part of CPHCâPopulationbased screening helps in better management of diseases by the way of early stage of detection followup and treatment adherenceâ the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav shared in the ParliamentâA total of 3979 crore screenings for hypertension 3960 crore for diabetes 3357 crore for oral cancer 1572 crore for breast cancer have been carried out at all health facilities till November 30â he added citing data from the NPNCD portal IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gender-equity-community-participationkeyto-fightdiabetes-high-bp-in-india-experts-653157.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 23:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pakistans-deepening-hiv-crisis-exposes-failure-to-enforce-basic-health-standards-report--652917.html Islamabad Dec 11 The deepening HIV crisis in Pakistan is not only a medical emergency but also demonstrates institutional rot and showcases the consequences of years of neglect the failure to implement basic health standards and the human cost of corruption According to regional data Pakistan with a sharp increase in HIV cases is ranked second among nations in the AsiaPacific a report has stated The shocking statistics highlight the use of contaminated syringes unregulated blood transfusions fake doctors and violations of medical rules Health officials have reported 3995 registered HIVpositive children in Sindh a figure that only represents documented cases according to a report in European TimesExperts fear that the total number of cases are far more in number particularly in rural and marginalised areas where testing is rare and stigma keeps many people from seeking medical assistance Recently Sindhs Health Minister was briefed on what was described as an extremely alarming spread of HIV infections especially among children as per the reportAccording to the data more than 600000 fake doctors practice in Pakistan with 40 per cent of them based in Karachi The figure demonstrates the deepening medical malpractice crisis in Pakistan With insufficient oversight these fake doctors operate freely reusing syringes mishandling blood and conducting unsafe procedures that further increase the spread of HIVPakistanâs healthcare system long burdened by underfunding and mismanagement has repeatedly failed to uphold global standard operating procedures SOPs for infection prevention and control The World Health Organisation WHO and UNAIDS have established clear protocols for safe blood transfusions syringe disposal and patient management the European Times report stated The few HIV treatment centres that are present in Pakistan face shortages of testing kits antiretroviral medicines and trained staff resulting in diagnosis and treatment delay Patients often suffer as they have to move from one hospital to another in search of basic carePakistanâs deepening HIV crisis is more than a medical emergency it is a reflection of institutional rot It exposes the consequences of years of neglect the failure to enforce basic health standards and the human cost of corruption The tragedy of nearly 4000 HIVpositive children in Sindh the epidemic of quack doctors and the routine use of contaminated medical tools together form a damning indictment of the stateâs indifference This is not a story of a virus spreading silently it is a story of systemic failure that allows the virus to thrive the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pakistans-deepening-hiv-crisis-exposes-failure-to-enforce-basic-health-standards-report--652917.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/whorefutes-uscdcsclaimson-vaccines-and-autism-reaffirms-there-is-no-link-653032.html New Delhi Dec 11 Reaffirming that there is no link between vaccines and autism the World Health Organization WHO has refuted the recent claims made by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC The WHO conducted a new analysis after the CDC under President Donald Trump last month changed its longheld stance and claimed that the consensus that vaccines donât cause autism is not âan evidencebased claimââThe WHO global expert committee on vaccine safety has found that based on available evidence no causal link exists between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders ASD The conclusion reaffirms WHOâs position that childhood vaccines do not cause autismâ the global health body said in a statementAs per the CDC âstudies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autismâ It added that âstudies supporting a link have been ignored by health authoritiesâTo counter this the WHOâs Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety GACVS established in 1999 analysed evidence based on 31 primary research studies published between January 2010 and August 2025The experts focused on the relationship between thiomersalcontaining vaccines and ASD and the association between vaccines in general and ASDâThe data from multiple countries strongly supported the positive safety profile of vaccines used during childhood and pregnancy and confirms the absence of a causal link with ASDâ the WHO saidThe Committee also assessed the review of potential health risks associated with vaccines with aluminium adjuvants drawing on studies conducted from 1999 through March 2023In addition it reviewed a recent large cohort study analysing nationwide registry data of children born in Denmark between 1997 and 2018âThe available highquality evidence shows no association between the trace amounts of aluminum used in some vaccines and ASD supporting the ongoing use of vaccines with aluminium adjuvantsâ the UN health body saidâFollowing its review GACVS reaffirms its previous conclusions from 2002 2004 and 2012 vaccines including those with thiomersal andor aluminium do not cause autismâ the statement addedThe WHO meanwhile advised all national authorities to rely on the latest science and ensure vaccine policies are grounded in the strongest available evidenceâGlobal childhood immunisation efforts represent one of the greatest achievements in improving lives livelihoods and the prosperity of societies During the past 50 years childhood immunisation has saved at least 154 million livesâ the WHO said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/whorefutes-uscdcsclaimson-vaccines-and-autism-reaffirms-there-is-no-link-653032.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/slow-taperingcombined-withtherapycaneffectively-helpstop-antidepressants-study-653044.html New Delhi Dec 12 Gradual reduction of antidepressants together with psychological support can be an effective strategy to stop medication among adults who have recovered from depression according to a study on Friday Antidepressants are typically recommended to be taken for six to nine months after a first episode of moderatetosevere depression and anxiety disorders to prevent relapseBut there are concerns about overprescribing longterm use and withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation which underscore the need for evidencebased deprescribing strategiesTo understand researchers from the University of Verona in Italy conducted a systematic review and network metaanalysis of 76 randomised controlled trials involving 17379 adultsThe findings published in The Lancet Psychiatry do not suggest that antidepressants are unnecessary or that psychotherapy alone is adequate Instead it highlighted that the results underscore the importance of tailoring deprescribing to each individual with a gradual individualised tapering of antidepressants alongside structured psychological supportBy incorporating a substantially larger evidence base a broader range of deprescribing strategies and direct headtohead comparisons our new review clarifies the scientific evidence about the most effective way to come off antidepressants for individuals successfully treated for depression and could change how coming off antidepressants is managed globally said lead author Professor Giovanni Ostuzzi from the University of Verona in ItalyWe encourage anyone considering coming off antidepressants to discuss the process with their doctor first to jointly find the best strategy for them he addedThe researchers estimated that slow tapering of antidepressants plus psychological support could prevent one relapse in every five individuals compared with abrupt stopping or fast tapering the two least effective strategies offering a clinically meaningful benefitContinuing with reduced antidepressant doses was also found to be better than abruptly stopping and fast tapering for reducing relapse but the evidence for this was less strongNotably no significant differences in reported side effects or in the number of dropouts were observed between the deprescribing strategies IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/slow-taperingcombined-withtherapycaneffectively-helpstop-antidepressants-study-653044.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indiatooutpaceglobalaveragewith-2026medicaltrendat-115pc-report-652807.html New Delhi Dec 11 The employee medical plan costs in India are expected to rise by 115 per cent in 2026 down from 13 per cent projected for 2025 according to a report on Thursday The report by global professional services firm Aon showed that this moderation signals a stabilisation after two years of sharp increases It also aligns with a broader trend across the Asia Pacific where the average medical trend rate is expected to be 113 per centMedical trend rates represent the annual percentage increase in medical plan costs per employee both insured and selfinsured These figures help organisations budget and adapt their benefits strategies to ensure sustainability in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscapeThe countryâs medical trend rate remains above the global average of 98 per cent but the pace of growth is slowing due to moderated utilisationNotably the report showed that cardiovascular diseases gastrointestinal conditions and cancer will continue to be the top drivers of medical costs with hypertension high cholesterol and poor nutrition as leading risk factorsâIndiaâs healthcare landscape is evolving with employers increasingly adopting flexible benefit plans cost containment strategies and wellbeing programmes to manage rising costsâ said Ashley DâSilva head of Health Solutions India at AonâBy leveraging data and partnering with insurers businesses can better anticipate risks and support a healthier more productive workforceâ DâSilva addedThe trends impacting medical trend rate in India include advanced prescription and specialty medications innovations in medical technology particularly biologics and upward pressure from chronic disease burden increased healthcare utilisation and adoption of technological advancementsShortage of quality infrastructure and skilled professionals also contributes to higher medical service costs making healthcare less accessible Rising insurance premiums fueled by higher claims and escalating medical expenses are further exacerbating the issueFurther the report highlighted that employers in India are placing greater emphasis on flexible benefits plans that allow employees to tailor their healthcare options to better suit their individual needsThey are also adopting datadriven costcontainment strategies leveraging analytics to optimise healthcare spending and achieve improved outcomesThe report recommended businesses invest in preventive wellbeing strategies and prioritise real impact over traditional approaches as the medical insurance market in India is transitioning into a new phase IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indiatooutpaceglobalaveragewith-2026medicaltrendat-115pc-report-652807.html Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/23-pc-womenin-india-faced-intimate-partner-violence-in-2023-the-lancet-652562.html New Delhi Dec 10 An estimated 23 per cent of women aged 15 and above faced intimate partner violence IPV which includes physical and sexual abuse by current or former partners in India in 2023 according to a new report published in the journal The Lancet on Wednesday More than 30 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men aged 15 and above are also estimated to have experienced sexual violence as a child in the countryGlobally the number of women aged 15 and older exposed to sexual violence during childhood surged to more than a million An estimated 608 million females aged 15 and older also experienced IPV revealed the reportThese experiences are strongly associated with a range of longterm health conditions including depression and anxiety chronic illnesses and increased risk of premature death revealed the global report including authors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi Gorakhpur and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research PGIMER Chandigarh ICMRNational Institute for Research in Tuberculosis ChennaiâThese startling figures underscore an urgent need for preventive measures including strengthening legal frameworks promoting gender equality and expanding support services for survivors to reduce the health toll caused by exposure to violenceâ the researchers saidâAddressing violence against women and children is not only a matter of human rights but also a crucial public health priority that can save millions of lives improve mental health outcomes and build resilient communitiesâ they addedThe research noted that the highest prevalence rates of IPV and sexual violence are concentrated in subSaharan Africa and South Asia where high rates of HIV and other chronic conditions compound the health impacts of violenceâRegions with weaker healthcare systems and limited legal protections for women and children exposed to violence face even greater challenges in addressing and preventing these harmsâ the researchers saidWhile highincome countries HICs tend to have lower overall prevalence rates they still face substantial challenges with IPV and sexual violence ranking among the top risk factors for disease burden especially among young adults aged 1549Factors such as substance use disorders and noncommunicable diseases in wealthier nations contribute to the significant health impacts of violence said the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/23-pc-womenin-india-faced-intimate-partner-violence-in-2023-the-lancet-652562.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/dengue-cases-in-manipur-mounts-to-5-502-despite-declining-outbreak-intensity-652590.html Imphal Dec 10 Even as the intensity of the dengue outbreak in Manipur has declined four more people in the two Imphal Valley districts tested positive for the vectorborne disease taking the total number of cases to 5502 so far this year officials said on Wednesday As per the report released by S Priyokumar Singh State Malaria Officer National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme four fresh dengue cases were reported from Imphal West 3 and Imphal East 1 districtsAccording to the report at least 5502 people have tested positive for dengue in the state this year since January 1 while a patient died in the states Bishnupur districtThe State Malaria Officer in his report said that they have been following the guidelines of the central National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme NVBDCP in dealing with dengue in the state for the past more than 11 monthsAccording to the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control under the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry Manipur reported 2463 dengue cases last year 2024 and five people died due to the viral diseaseThe report of the State Malaria Officer stated that 5502 positive cases were detected out of around 11700 people tested for the diseaseAccording to the latest report of Manipurs 16 administrative districts comprising valley and mountainous regions Imphal West reported the highest number of cases at 3706 followed by Imphal East 1206 Bishnupur 148 Thoubal 127 Senapati 68 Kakching 61 and Ukhrul 57 and Chandel 32Out of the most affected districts Imphal West Imphal East Bishnupur and Thoubal districts fall within the heavily populated Imphal Valley region while Senapati Kakching Ukhrul and Chandel districts are located in the hilly regions of the Northeastern stateThe mixedpopulated district of Jiribam along southern Assam reported only one positive dengue case while no case has been reported in the mountainous Pherzawl district so far The only denguerelated death was reported in Bishnupur district in the Manipur valley region the report saidAnother official of the Health and Family Welfare Department said that according to the guidelines of the NVBDCP the department in collaboration with other agencies has been working to curb the spread of the diseaseRising number of dengue cases especially in the Imphal valley region highlights growing concerns over the spread of the disease the official said and attributed the surge to prolonged monsoon rain and stagnant water accumulation that led to ideal breeding conditions for the Aedes mosquitoThe Health and Family Welfare Department has intensified vector control measures including fogging operations and public awareness campaigns across affected areasVarious authorities including Municipal bodies and Urban Development Department have urged people to keep their surroundings clean remove stagnant water and use mosquito repellents and nets to curb further transmissionOfficials have also advised people showing symptoms such as high fever body aches and rashes to seek immediate medical advice to prevent complications IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/dengue-cases-in-manipur-mounts-to-5-502-despite-declining-outbreak-intensity-652590.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/dengue-cases-in-manipur-mount-to-5-502-despite-declining-outbreak-intensity-652591.html Imphal Dec 10 Even as the intensity of the dengue outbreak in Manipur has declined four more people in the two Imphal Valley districts tested positive for the vectorborne disease taking the total number of cases to 5502 so far this year officials said on Wednesday As per the report released by S Priyokumar Singh State Malaria Officer National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme four fresh dengue cases were reported from Imphal West 3 and Imphal East 1 districtsAccording to the report at least 5502 people have tested positive for dengue in the state this year since January 1 while a patient died in the states Bishnupur districtThe State Malaria Officer in his report said that they have been following the guidelines of the central National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme NVBDCP in dealing with dengue in the state for the past more than 11 monthsAccording to the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control under the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry Manipur reported 2463 dengue cases last year 2024 and five people died due to the viral diseaseThe report of the State Malaria Officer stated that 5502 positive cases were detected out of around 11700 people tested for the diseaseAccording to the latest report of Manipurs 16 administrative districts comprising valley and mountainous regions Imphal West reported the highest number of cases at 3706 followed by Imphal East 1206 Bishnupur 148 Thoubal 127 Senapati 68 Kakching 61 and Ukhrul 57 and Chandel 32Out of the most affected districts Imphal West Imphal East Bishnupur and Thoubal districts fall within the heavily populated Imphal Valley region while Senapati Kakching Ukhrul and Chandel districts are located in the hilly regions of the Northeastern stateThe mixedpopulated district of Jiribam along southern Assam reported only one positive dengue case while no case has been reported in the mountainous Pherzawl district so far The only denguerelated death was reported in Bishnupur district in the Manipur valley region the report saidAnother official of the Health and Family Welfare Department said that according to the guidelines of the NVBDCP the department in collaboration with other agencies has been working to curb the spread of the diseaseRising number of dengue cases especially in the Imphal valley region highlights growing concerns over the spread of the disease the official said and attributed the surge to prolonged monsoon rain and stagnant water accumulation that led to ideal breeding conditions for the Aedes mosquitoThe Health and Family Welfare Department has intensified vector control measures including fogging operations and public awareness campaigns across affected areasVarious authorities including Municipal bodies and Urban Development Department have urged people to keep their surroundings clean remove stagnant water and use mosquito repellents and nets to curb further transmissionOfficials have also advised people showing symptoms such as high fever body aches and rashes to seek immediate medical advice to prevent complications IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/dengue-cases-in-manipur-mount-to-5-502-despite-declining-outbreak-intensity-652591.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-scientistsengineer-crispr-protein-toboostgene-editingto-treatgenetic-diseases-cancer-652595.html New Delhi Dec 10  Scientists from Kolkatabased Bose Institute have created GlowCas9  a CRISPR protein that lights up while performing gene editing to help boost treatment of genetic diseases and cancer said the Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday While CRISPRCas9 had been designed to cut and correct DNA with accuracy scientists could not observe Cas9 the molecular surgeon in living cells in real time as traditional detection methods relying on fixing or breaking open cells make it impossible to track the process as it unfoldsWith the newly engineered CRISPR protein scientists could observe the Cas9 enzyme as it enables them to edit genomes using the CRISPRCas9 system for treating genetic diseases including cancerâGene therapy could be a permanent cure for many lifethreatening hereditary diseases Developing effective affordable and safe gene therapy methods remained a challenge for decadesâ said the MinistryâTracking gene editing as it happens or watching the molecular machinery as it works cutting repairing and rewriting DNA inside living cells can help monitor CRISPR operations in living cells and tissues without destroying themâ it addedThe finding led by Dr Basudeb Maji from the Bose Institute an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology DST opens a new chapter in the visualisation and tracking of genome engineeringArkadeep Karmakar a PhD researcher in Majiâs lab designed GlowCas9 a bioluminescent version of Cas9 that glows inside cells by fusing Cas9 with a split nanoluciferase enzyme derived from deepsea shrimp proteinsâThese inactive enzyme pieces reconnect when Cas9 folds correctly producing light This is because when the pieces are brought to close proximity they can reassemble to restore enzymatic activity and produce a visible signal akin to the gentle light of firefliesâ stated the researchers in the study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International EditionThe glowing activity allows scientists to monitor CRISPR operations in living cells tissues and even plant leaves without harming themThe team found that GlowCas9 is very stable and maintains its structure and activity at higher temperatures compared to the conventional enzymeSuch sturdiness is important for gene therapy where stable Cas9 delivery can greatly increase treatment successGlowCas9 also increases the precision of homologydirected repair HDR a DNA repair process crucial for fixing hereditary mutations that are linked to genetic diseases like sickle cell anaemia and muscular dystrophyGlowCas9 can also be tracked in plant systems hinting at safe nontransgenic applications in crop improvement the researchers said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-scientistsengineer-crispr-protein-toboostgene-editingto-treatgenetic-diseases-cancer-652595.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indians-gettingpoor-qualityprotein-nearly-50pcisfrom-cerealsstudy-652657.html New Delhi Dec 10 Nearly half of Indiaâs athome protein intake now comes from cereals such as rice wheat suji and maida according to a study on Wednesday Protein supports the bodyâs growth repair and immune function and Indians consume an adequate average of 556 g of protein per day at homeHowever the study by nonprofit policy research think tank the Council on Energy Environment and Water CEEW showed that cereals supply nearly 50 per cent of this protein despite their lowquality amino acid profile and poor digestibilityThe study also found underconsumption across major food groups such as vegetables fruits and pulses and overuse in cooking oil salt and sugar intakeâThis study spotlights a silent crisis in Indias food system overreliance on lowquality proteins excess calories from cereals and oils and stark underconsumption of diverse nutrientrich foodsâ said Apoorve Khandelwal Fellow CEEWâIn a week a person in the poorest decile consumes just 23 glasses of milk and fruits equivalent to just 2 bananas compared to 89 glasses and 810 bananas for those in the richest decile These consumption gaps mirror broader inequities in access to balanced diets At the same time the countrys heavy dependence on a narrow crop base for nutrition and income reduces its climate resilience Diversification from fork to farm must be a national priorityâ she addedThe study analyses Indian dietary trends based on the latest 202324 NSSO Household Consumption Expenditure Survey HCES datasetIt showed that Indiaâs diet remains heavily skewed toward cereals and cooking oils with both contributing to significant nutritional imbalanceNearly threefourths of all carbohydrates come from cereals and direct cereal intake continues to be 15 times the RDA reinforced by the widespread availability of subsidised rice and wheat through the PDS in lowerexpenditure decilesNotably coarse grains such as jowar bajra and ragi have seen the steepest athome decline nearly a 40 per cent drop in per capita consumption in a decade resulting in Indians meeting barely 15 per cent of the recommended intakeâAt the same time the proportion of households consuming more than 15 times the recommended fat intake has more than doubled in the last decade with higherexpenditure households consuming almost twice as much fat as lowerexpenditure groupsâ the study showedThe study recommended reforming major public food programmes including the PDS PM POSHAN and Saksham Anganwadi amp POSHAN 20 to shift away from cerealdominant provisioning and expand access to coarse grains pulses milk eggs fruits and vegetables IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indians-gettingpoor-qualityprotein-nearly-50pcisfrom-cerealsstudy-652657.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/rs-4-322-croresdisbursedto-135crtb-patients-since-2018for-nutritional-support-govt-652293.html New Delhi Dec 9 A total of Rs 4322 crores has been disbursed to 135 crore patients with tuberculosis TB since 2018 under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana to strengthen nutritional support the government informed the Parliament on Tuesday In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel shared the steps taken to strengthen the TBMukt Bharat Abhiyan programme National TB Elimination Programme implemented under the aegis of National Health Mission NHM across the countryâUnder Nikshay Poshan Yojana since April 2018 Rs 4322 crores have been disbursed to 135 crores TB patientsâ Patel saidLaunched on April 1 2018 Nikshay Poshan Yojana aims to provide nutritional support to TB patients during treatment with financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month up from Rs 500 earlier to improve their nutrition and treatment The scheme is for all notified TB patients with the money transferred directly to their bank accountsâIn addition under the Nikshay Mitra Initiative since September 2022 a total of 4566 lakh food baskets has been distributed to 203 lakh TB patientsâ Patel saidThe Nikshay Mitra Initiative launched under Indias Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is a communitydriven programme where individuals NGOs and organisations Nikshay Mitras adopt TB patients to provide crucial extra support including nutritional like foodsupplements diagnostic and vocational aid supplementing the free treatment provided by the government to help patients complete their treatment reduce outofpocket expenses and ultimately end TB in India by 2025The Minister noted that a renewed approach is being implemented under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to identify undiagnosed TB cases reduce TBrelated deaths and prevent new infections across the countryThis includes identification of vulnerable population screening with Chest Xray upfront Nucleic Acid Amplification Test NAAT for all presumptive TB cases prompt and appropriate treatment initiation differentiated TB care for managing highrisk TB cases nutrition support and preventive treatment to household contacts and the eligible vulnerable population IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rs-4-322-croresdisbursedto-135crtb-patients-since-2018for-nutritional-support-govt-652293.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/a-personal-choice-ktaka-govt-to-intervene-only-if-done-intentionally-health-minister-rao-on-cesarean-deliveries-652051.html Belagavi Karnataka Dec 8 Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Monday that the state health department cant intervene unless its found that cesarean deliveries are being done intentionally across the state Minister Gundu Rao responded to a query from JDS Legislative Council member Govindaraju about the increase in cesarean deliveriesHe also added that malnutrition is not the only reason for increase in number of cesarean deliveries in the stateMLC Govindaraju said that doctors are allegedly misguiding patients in this regardIn Kolar Government Hospital 36 per cent of deliveries are cesarean whereas in private hospitals it is more than 76 per cent My demand is that the state government should take cognisance of the issue he addedAccording to doctors malnutrition is the main reason for cesarean deliveries in the Kolar region This percentage is higher in the KalyanaKarnataka region he saidI appeal to the state government to curb the increasing number of cesarean deliveries in the state and to regulate private hospitals in this regard he appealedMinister Gundu Rao said A pilot project was conducted in Tumkur on cesarean deliveries and the report is with us In some hospitals cesarean deliveries are as high as 7580 per cent We need to review this carefully This is a sensitive issue and the choice between normal delivery and cesarean delivery is personalThe department cant intervene unless its found that cesarean deliveries are being done intentionally We need to create medical and social awareness among pregnant women and their families the Minister addedHe also said Its not possible to say that malnutrition is the sole reason for the increase in cesarean deliveries Its one of the factors but educated middleclass women in urban areas are more likely to opt for cesarean deliveries due to fear social beliefs and the inability to bear labor painThere are multiple reasons for this Private hospitals also have reasons like higher billing and reduced risk Normal delivery requires more attention and care whereas cesarean delivery is sometimes unavoidable due to medical reasons which only doctors can decideMinister Gundu Rao responded to another query from BJP Legislative Council member HS Gopinath about whether the state government is aware of the issues of long waiting times and shortage of doctors nurses and paramedical staff at hospitals like Victoria Bowring and KC General hospitals in Bengaluru cityThe Minister said At KC General Hospital the waiting time has been reduced through QR codebased ticket system Victoria Hospital under Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute receives patients from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and necessary measures are being taken Currently there is no long waiting time at Victoria Hospital There are no issues at Bowring Lady Curzon Ghosha Hospital and Shivajinagars Charaka Hospital and treatment is being provided smoothlyAt Victoria Hospital doctors and paramedical staff are being hired on contract basis There is no shortage of doctors and paramedical staff at Bowing Hospital he clarifiedIn Bengaluru city district separate NCD units have been set up in nine hospitals under the noncommunicable diseases programme Screening for noncommunicable diseases is being done at all primary health centres in Bengaluru city Medicines supplied to hospitals are tested at the Karnataka State Medical Services and Supplies Corporation Limited quality control department through the Aushada QC module The Central and state government drug controllers regularly test random samples of medicines IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/a-personal-choice-ktaka-govt-to-intervene-only-if-done-intentionally-health-minister-rao-on-cesarean-deliveries-652051.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ayushman-bharat-a-lifesaving-support-system-for-poor-families-in-chhattisgarhs-dhamtari-652052.html Dhamtari Dec 8 In Chhattisgarhâs Dhamtari district the Ayushman Bharat scheme has proven to be nothing less than a blessing for the poor and common people With the cost of treatment in private hospitals rising rapidly it has become increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens to afford quality healthcare In such a situation the Central governmentâs Ayushman Bharat scheme has provided major relief in the field of health servicesUnder this scheme beneficiaries receive free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh through the Ayushman card directly benefiting families in need The scheme is being effectively implemented in Dhamtari district as well and a large number of people are availing its benefits and saving their livesLocal Ayushman cardholders told IANS that earlier even thinking about treatment for a serious illness in private hospitals caused anxiety Many times the lack of timely treatment worsened patientsâ conditions and in some cases even resulted in loss of lifePoor families often had to spend their entire savings when admitted to private hospitals However the Ayushman Bharat scheme launched on the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greatly reduced these challenges enabling people to receive treatment without financial stressAyushman cardholder Dhalvendra Sahu told IANS that now he receives free treatment for any illness through his Ayushman card This has brought great relief to poor and lowerincome familiesHe said that Prime Minister Modi understood the healthrelated problems of the poor and launched this ambitious scheme which has given a new life to millions Sahu expressed gratitude toward Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai for the benefits received under this schemeSimilarly beneficiary Khemraj Sahu shared his experience saying that he was seriously injured in a road accident some time ago At that time he did not have the financial means for treatment in a major hospital Later he learned about the Ayushman card and immediately applied for one With the card he received complete and quality treatment in a good hospital Today he is fully healthyKhemraj said that without the Ayushman scheme receiving proper treatment would not have been possible Expressing gratitude towards the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister he said this scheme saved his life IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ayushman-bharat-a-lifesaving-support-system-for-poor-families-in-chhattisgarhs-dhamtari-652052.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/s-korea-confirms-8th-highly-contagious-bird-flu-case-of-season-652330.html Seoul Dec 9 South Korea on Tuesday reported another highly pathogenic avian influenza infection at a duck farm in South Jeolla Province marking the eighth such case at a poultry farm this season The latest case was detected in Yeongam 380 kilometers south of Seoul and marks the first from a duck farm this season according to agricultural authorities reports Yonhap news agencyAuthorities issued a 24hour standstill order on all duck farms and related facilities and vehicles nationwideThe government added it plans to conduct intensive inspections at all duck farms in the regionIt also advised farmers to avoid visiting migratory bird habitats and follow basic prevention procedures including changing shoes before entering barnsMeanwhile last month Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea will bolster quarantine efforts to prevent further spread of avian influenza AI during the cold seasonThe Central Disaster Management Headquarters CDMH said six cases of highly contagious AI have been confirmed at poultry farms and 10 AI cases among wild birds since the cold season started The first case was detected at a poultry farm in Paju about 40 kilometers northwest of Seoul in SeptemberIn November alone four cases of highly pathogenic AI were detected at poultry farms and seven such cases were reported from wild birdsThe CDMH said it has conducted a detailed examination of soil and wild bird feather samples collected from migratory bird habitats rivers and areas near affected farms and the findings indicate substantial contamination across such placesAccording to a survey on winter migratory birds conducted by the environment ministry 133 million birds migrated into the country in November marking a 1114 percent increase from the previous monthIn light of the situation authorities plan to strengthen quarantine measures across poultry farms across the country by deploying all available disinfection vehicles to carry out intensive disinfection operations and conducting special inspections in highrisk cities and counties where poultry density is high and past outbreaks have occurred IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/s-korea-confirms-8th-highly-contagious-bird-flu-case-of-season-652330.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ab-pmjay202-crore-claims-amounting-to-rs-28-73218-crore-settled-in-fy25-says-govt-652356.html New Delhi Dec 9 A total of 202 crore claims under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme amounting to Rs 2873218 crore have been settled till October the government informed the Parliament on Tuesday Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ABPMJAY is a flagship scheme of the government which provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore families constituting the economically vulnerable bottom 40 per cent of Indiaâs populationAs of October 31 âmore than 4231 crore Ayushman cards have been created under the schemeâ said Prataprao Jadhav Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in a written reply in the Rajya SabhaâTill October 31 a total of 202 crore claims amounting to Rs 2873218 crore have been settled in the last financial yearâ he addedThe Minister noted that in March 2024 the eligibility criteria were expanded to include 37 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists ASHA Anganwadi Workers AWW Anganwadi Helpers AWH and their familiesThe scheme was also expanded to cover 6 crore senior citizens of age 70 years and above belonging to 45 crore families irrespective of their socioeconomic status through the Ayushman Vay Vandana cardâMore than 4134 lakh Ayushman cards have been created for the ASHAAWWAWH categories and 8951 lakh cards have been issued under the Ayushman Vay Vandana category for senior citizensâ Jadhav saidMeanwhile the Minister noted that a total of 180906 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs AAMs the erstwhile Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres ABHWCs have been operationalised in the country till OctoberKey services provided at these centres include comprehensive screening services for five common noncommunicable diseases that is hypertension diabetes oral cancer breast cancer and cervical cancerâAs per the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NonCommunicable Diseases NPNCD portal 3879 crore screenings for hypertension 3605 crore screenings for diabetes 3188 crore screenings for oral cancer 1498 crore screenings for breast cancer and 815 crore screenings for cervical cancer have been conducted at SubHealth Centres SHC Primary Health Centres PHC in rural and urban areas including AAMs till October 31â Jadhav saidIn addition the teleconsultation services are also available at all operational AAMs across the country enabling people to access the specialist services closer to their homes addressing concerns of physical accessibility shortage of service providers and facilitating the continuum of careâTotal teleconsultations conducted at AAM are 4114 crore as on October 31â the Minister said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ab-pmjay202-crore-claims-amounting-to-rs-28-73218-crore-settled-in-fy25-says-govt-652356.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/bangladesh-dengue-claims-three-more-lives-death-toll-crosses-400-652390.html Dhaka Dec 9 The dengue outbreak in Bangladesh is worsening rapidly with infections and deaths rising sharply across the country As many as three people died of dengue in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Tuesday raising the death toll from the mosquitoborne disease to 401 in 2025 local media reported During the same period 421 more people were admitted to hospital with viral fever increasing the total number of infected people to 98705 in 2025 according to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS United News of Bangladesh reportedNew dengue cases were reported in Dhaka North City Corporation 75 Dhaka Division 73 Dhaka South City Corporation 72 Barishal Division 64 Chattogram Division 63 Myemnsingh Division 31 Khulna Division 30 Rajshahi 12 and Rangpur Division 1A total of 575 people lost their lives due to dengue in 2024 while 1705 people died due to dengue in 2023On November 6 Bangladeshs Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued an advisory amid an increase in infections by the Aedes mosquito and a subsequent rise in dengue fever patients across the countryIn its advisory the ministry said that people at the onset of fever should immediately seek medical help including dengue detection tests at the nearest healthâservice centre as per the advice of a qualified doctor The ministry stated that early detection and prompt treatment can help in avoiding serious complications United News of Bangladesh reportedThe ministry urged households building sites schools and other establishments to remove and clean all accumulated water in and around premises It further asked people to use mosquito nets during the day or night while sleeping due to the daytime biting habits of the Aedes mosquitoIt stated that a person must immediately consult a doctor and not ignore any remaining signs even if the symptoms of dengue fever seem to subside The ministrys advisory comes at a time when dengue cases continue to rise in Bangladesh showcasing an urgent need for increased public vigilance and preventive actionDengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus DENV which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes Dengue is found in tropical and subtropical climates across the world mostly in urban and semiurban areas according to the World Health Organisation WHO statement Prevention and control of dengue depend on vector control There is no specific treatment for dengue however early detection and access to proper medical care lower fatality rates of severe dengue IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/bangladesh-dengue-claims-three-more-lives-death-toll-crosses-400-652390.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/2-501-new-confirmed-mpox-cases-12-deaths-reported-from-44-countries-in-october-who-652202.html New Delhi Dec 9 A total of 2501 new confirmed cases including 12 deaths due to mpox were reported from 44 countries in October said the World Health Organization WHO on Tuesday The latest situation report for the multicountry outbreak of mpox showed that all clades of the monkeypox virus MPXV continue to circulateWhen mpox outbreaks are not rapidly contained and humantohuman transmission is not interrupted there is a risk of sustained community transmissionâIn October 2025 44 countries across all WHO regions reported a total of 2501 new confirmed mpox cases including 12 deaths case fatality ratio CFR 05 per centâ the WHO report saidTwentyone countries in Africa reported active transmission of mpox in the last six weeks from October 12 to November 23 with 1734 confirmed cases including 10 deathsDemocratic Republic of Congo Liberia Ghana Kenya and Uganda reported the highest number of cases with Mali reporting mpox for the first timeNew imported cases of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV were reported among travellers in Belgium Germany Greece and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandA total of 43 new confirmed cases of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV have been reported across six WHO regions between September 5 and November 24 outside areas where sustained community transmission of this virus strain has been occurringIn four of these regions the Americas Southeast Asia Europe and the Western Pacific 24 cases reported no recent international travel suggesting local transmissionBased on this Italy Malaysia the Netherlands Portugal Spain and the US are now considered to be experiencing community transmission of clade Ib MPXVIn addition travelrelated cases continue to be reported in many countries Among the 43 cases half 22 were documented among men who have sex with men while other cases were linked to travel to countries with known community transmission of clade Ib MPXV or secondary to travelrelated cases household contacts andor sexual partnersHowever the âWHO assesses the public health risk posed by clade Ib MPXV as moderate for men who have sex with men with new andor multiple partners and the risk to the general population as lowâ the global health agency saidMpox also known as monkeypox is a viral infectious disease that spreads through close contact Symptoms include fever swollen lymph nodes sore throat muscle aches skin rash and back pain It spreads primarily through skintoskin contact IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/2-501-new-confirmed-mpox-cases-12-deaths-reported-from-44-countries-in-october-who-652202.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/gravely-concerned-for-khaleda-zia-says-bdesh-ex-pm-sheikh-hasina-652203.html New Delhi Dec 9 Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating health of Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP Chairperson and former PM Khaleda Zia wishing her a speedy recovery In an email interview with IANS Hasina was asked about Ziaâs critical medical condition and reports that security forces had been deployed at the hospital where she is being treated Responding to the query she said âI am gravely concerned to hear that Begum Khaleda Zia is ill and will pray she can make a recoveryâKhaleda Zia 79 has been battling multiple longstanding ailments including cardiac complications diabetes arthritis liver cirrhosis and kidney problems She remains under intensive observation in the Coronary Care Unit CCU of Dhakaâs Evercare Hospital where both local and international specialist doctors are overseeing her treatmentAccording to medical sources Zia was admitted to Evercare on the night of November 23 on the advice of her medical board after being diagnosed with infections affecting her heart and lungs As her condition worsened she was shifted to the CCU on November 27 for roundtheclock monitoringMeanwhile plans to airlift her to London for advanced medical treatment have faced delays Local media quoting BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reported on Friday that the special air ambulance arranged through the Emir of Qatar could not land in Dhaka due to technical issues âThe air ambulance is not arriving today because of a technical issue If everything goes well it may reach Dhaka on Saturdayâ Fakhrul told UNBHe added that the decision on whether Khaleda Zia can travel will depend entirely on her medical condition âA medical procedure will be done today after which the doctors will decide whether she is fit to fly Everything depends on her health If Madam is fit for the journey and the medical board gives approval then she will fly on Sunday December 7â he saidEarlier on Thursday Khaleda Ziaâs personal physician and BNP Standing Committee member A Z M Zahid Hossain had said she was initially expected to fly to London on Friday for advanced treatment subject to medical clearance IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/gravely-concerned-for-khaleda-zia-says-bdesh-ex-pm-sheikh-hasina-652203.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/mp-three-die-of-food-poisoning-in-chhatarpurs-resort-probe-underway-652218.html Chhatarpur Dec 9 In a shocking incident at least three employees of a resort in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh died due to food poisoning after taking a meal Soon after having the meal they complained of stomachache and uneasiness sources saidWhile five others who were earlier admitted at Chhatarpur district hospital have been referred to Gwalior district hospital due to their critical health The incident occurred at a resort late on Monday night as per the initial informationThose killed have been identified as Girja Rajak 35 Roshani Rajak 35 Hardik Soni 25 and Ramshwaroom Kushwaha 47The condition of five others admitted to hospitals in Jhansi and Gwalior was said to be critical the police saidChhatarpur district administration has announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the kin of each deceasedChhatarpur District Collector Parth Jaiswal has ordered an investigation into the matter Food samples have been collected and sent for testing the district administration wrote on X on TuesdayConfirming the report Dr Roshan Dwivedi head of Chhatarpur district hospital said that nine people were brought to the hospital for treatment They all were suffering from food poisoningTheir health condition deteriorated during treatment and four of them died While five patients have been referred to Jhansi and Gwalior district for advanced treatment Dr Dwivedi told IANS on TuesdayUpon receiving information Chhatarpur district police swung into action and started an investigation after collecting food samples from the resortSenior officials from the district administration have also joined the investigationThe shocking incident occurred when the entire team of the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was camping in Khajuraho Chhatarpur district for a special review of the departments in view of the completion of two years of the government IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/mp-three-die-of-food-poisoning-in-chhatarpurs-resort-probe-underway-652218.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/philippines-bans-pork-imports-from-spain-amid-asf-outbreak-651856.html Manila Dec 8 The Philippines has imposed a temporary ban on all pig and pork imports from Spain following a confirmed African Swine Fever ASF outbreak in the European country the countrys Department of Agriculture said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the import freeze which covers live pigs pork meat skin and semen used for artificial insemination will not tighten supply or trigger a price spike during the Christmas seasonCold storage is full Tiu Laurel told reporters stressing that inventories remain more than sufficient to meet the expected surge in holiday demandThe agency issued the ban after Spains veterinary authorities reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health on November 28 that ASF cases had been detected among wild pigs in Sabadell Valles Occidental in BarcelonaTiu Laurel said the moratorium is necessary to prevent the entry of the ASF virus and protect both domestic and wild pig populationsAll sanitary and phytosanitary permits for hog shipments from Spain have been automatically revoked to safeguard food security and public health he addedUnder the directive only frozen pork products produced on or before November 11 and loaded in transit or accepted at port on or before December 4 may enter the Philippines Shipments produced after November 11 will be returned to Spain Xinhua news agency reportedASF is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs whose mortality rate can reach 100 per centIt is not a danger to human health but it has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economyThe virus is highly resistant in the environment meaning that it can survive on clothes boots wheels and other materials It can also survive in various pork products such as ham sausages or bacon Therefore human behaviours can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not takenPigs are a primary source of household income in many countries The spread of ASF across the world has devastated familyrun pig farms often the mainstay of peopleâs livelihoods and a driver of upward mobility It has also reduced opportunities to access healthcare and educationMoreover pork meat is one of the primary sources of animal proteins accounting for more than 35 per cent of the global meat intake Hence this disease poses a serious problem for food security worldwideThis disease is also a concern for biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems as it affects not only domestic farmed pigs but also wild boars including native breeds IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/philippines-bans-pork-imports-from-spain-amid-asf-outbreak-651856.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/over-30-minutes-ofinstagram-snapchatuse-may-impair-childrens-attention-study-651878.html New Delhi Dec 8 Children who spend more than 30 minutes on social media platforms like Facebook Instagram and Snapchat are likely to experience a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate according to a study of more than 8000 children from around age 10 through age 14 Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Oregon Health amp Science University in the US investigated a possible link between screen habits and symptoms related to AttentionDeficitHyperactivity Disorder ADHDThey followed 8324 children aged 914 in the US for four years with the average time children spent on social media watching TVvideos and playing video games from approximately 30 minutes a day for 9yearolds to 25 hours for 13yearoldsChildren who spent a significant amount of time on social media platforms such as Instagram Snapchat TikTok Facebook X formerly Twitter or Messenger gradually developed inattention symptoms revealed the findingsIn the study the average time spent on social media rose from approximately 30 minutes a day for 9yearolds to 25 hours for 13yearolds despite the fact that many platforms set their minimum age requirement at 13The study published in Pediatrics Open Science however found no such association among children watching television or playing video gamesâOur study suggests that it is specifically social media that affects childrenâs ability to concentrateâ said Torkel Klingberg professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Department of Neuroscience Karolinska InstitutetâSocial media entails constant distractions in the form of messages and notifications and the mere thought of whether a message has arrived can act as a mental distraction This affects the ability to stay focused and could explain the associationâ Klingberg addedThe association was not influenced by socioeconomic background or a genetic predisposition towards ADHDIn addition children who already had symptoms of inattentiveness did not start to use social media more which suggests that the association leads from use to symptoms and not vice versaThe researchers found no increase in hyperactiveimpulsive behaviour While the effect on concentration was small at the individual level At a population level however it could have a significant impact they said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/over-30-minutes-ofinstagram-snapchatuse-may-impair-childrens-attention-study-651878.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-antibody-therapyshowspromise-fordeadly-blood-cancertreatment-651907.html New Delhi Dec 8 An immune and cancer celltargeting antibody therapy has shown potential to eradicate residual traces of deadly blood cell cancer multiple myeloma according to interim results from a clinical trial The trial included 18 patients who underwent up to six cycles of treatment with the antibody linvoseltamab On highly sensitive tests none of the patients had detectable disease revealed the study presented at the American Society of Hematology ASH annual meeting in Orlando USThe preliminary success suggests linvoseltamab a bispecific antibody could allow patients to avoid bone marrow transplants which involve intense highpotency chemotherapyIt also points to the longterm potential to improve patientsâ odds against this diseaseâThese patients received modern and effective upfront treatment that eliminated 90 per cent of their tumourâ said lead researcher Dickran Kazandjian from the University of Miamiâs Miller School of MedicineâUsually patients like these would receive highdose chemotherapy and transplant Instead we give them a treatment with the drug linvoseltamabâ Kazandjian addedThe researchers called the results so far âextremely impressiveâ and said the disappearance of the lingering myeloma cells bodes well for patientsâ futures While the new therapy can keep the disease away for years the possibility of it returning cannot be eliminatedMultiple myeloma arises from antibodyproducing immune cells called plasma cells These cancerous cells build up interfering with normal blood cells and causing damage There is no established cureThe researchers noted that linvoseltamab binds to CD3 a protein on the T cells that destroy cancerous cells and to a second target BCMA a protein on multiple myeloma cellsBy bringing these two types of cells into contact the antibody invigorates the bodyâs immune response to the cancerIn the study a few patients experienced side effects including decreases in white blood cells called neutropenia and upper respiratory infections but all these events fell within an acceptable safety profile according to KazandjianBased on its performance so far researchers hoped that linvoseltamab could offer patients more durable responses than transplants perhaps providing longterm control over the disease a âfunctional cureâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-antibody-therapyshowspromise-fordeadly-blood-cancertreatment-651907.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/fake-medicines-valued-at-rs-373-crore-seized-in-jaipur-651766.html Jaipur Dec 6 The Rajasthan Medical and Health Department has intensified its crackdown on counterfeit drug manufacturing and distribution in the state official said In a major operation conducted late Friday night the Food Safety and Drug Control Directorate seized medicines worth Rs 373 crore from a Jaipurbased firm officials added on SaturdayRajasthan Food Safety Commissioner T Shubhamangala confirmed that the seizure was made from GK Enterprises located in JaipurDrug Controller Ajay Pathak said the firm was found involved in the sale of counterfeit and substandard medicines including WinsetL and AlgivinM tablets falsely labelled as being manufactured by YL Pharma Baddi Himachal PradeshDuring inspection Drug Control Officer DCO Komal Rupchandani learned from former firm partner Giriraj Ajmera that he had exited the partnership in 2019Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945 any change in partnership requires the firm to apply for a new license within three monthsHowever the remaining partner Khemchand reportedly continued operations without obtaining the mandatory licenseFollowing these findings DCOs Komal Rupchandani and Ashok Kumar Meena registered a case against Khemchand for running pharmaceutical operations without authorisationOfficials said that legal action and further investigation are underwayThe Rajasthan government recently in late 2025 banned nearly 40 specific medicines after they were found to be substandard and halted the distribution of all 19 medicines from Kaysons PharmaThese actions were primarily a result of quality control failures and incidents involving contaminated cough syrups that led to child deathsThe Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation RMSC has debarred seven firms and 40 medicines this year after they failed to meet quality standards during inspections the largest action since the Corporations establishment officials had confirmed in November this yearState Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar said that while the smooth functioning of the Free Medicine Scheme is important supplying only standardquality medicines remains the top priorityHe added that strict action is being taken against firms failing to meet quality requirements resulting in seven firms and 40 products being banned in 2025 a record since the corporations inception IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/fake-medicines-valued-at-rs-373-crore-seized-in-jaipur-651766.html Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ai-based-diagnostic-tools-boosting-tb-diabetes-care-govt-651734.html New Delhi Dec 6 The government is leveraging artificial intelligence AI to drive transformative change in public health services especially to tackle the burden of tuberculosis and diabetes across the country said the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav In a written reply in the Lok Sabha Jadhav said that the Ministry of Health has designated AIIMS Delhi PGIMER Chandigarh and AIIMS Rishikesh as âCentre of Excellence CoE for Artificial Intelligenceâ to promote the development and use of AIbased solutions in HealthâThe Ministry has developed AI solutions including the Clinical Decision Support System CDSS in eSanjeevani a Diabetic Retinopathy DR identification solution and the Abnormal Chest Xray Classifier Model among othersâ he addedMadhuNetrAI DR identification solution is an AI solution developed to enable nonspecialist health workers to conduct screenings for Diabetic Retinopathy It automates DR detection by analysing retinal fundus images using artificial intelligence ensuring standardized accessible and efficient triageIt classifies DR across standard grades enabling optimised resource allocation by prioritising urgent cases for specialist referralâThe solution has been implemented across 38 facilities in 11 states and provided AI assistance during screening of more than 14000 retinal images benefiting 7100 patientsâ Jadhav saidUnder the Tuberculosis elimination programme âCough against TBâ CATB AI solution is used for screening for pulmonary TB in the community settings In the deployed geographies the solution has shown an additional yield of 1216 per cent in TB reported over patient screenings using conventional methodsâBetween March 2023 and November 30 2025 the CATB solution has been utilised to screen more than 162 lakh individualsâ the Minister saidThe âClinical Decision Support Systemâ CDSS AI solution has been integrated into the national telemedicine platform eSanjeevani to enhance consultation quality by streamlining patient complaints entry and providing AIbased differential diagnosis recommendationsâSince CDSS integration in April 2023 till November 2025 282 million eSanjeevani consultations have benefited from standardised data capture ensuring consistency across health and wellness centresâ Jadhav saidStrict adherence to applicable standards and government policies including AI Governance Guidelines by MeitY Ethical Guidelines for Application of AI in Biomedical Research and Healthcare by ICMR Information Technology Act 2000 Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and Rules framed thereunder and Information Security Policy for Healthcare by the Department of Health and Family Welfare are ensuring high operational reliability the MoS said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ai-based-diagnostic-tools-boosting-tb-diabetes-care-govt-651734.html Sat, 06 Dec 2025 12:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/biocon-tofullyintegrate-biologicsunitin-55-bn-deal-651755.html Bengaluru Dec 6 Biopharmaceuticals company Biocon on Saturday announced to fully integrate its biosimilar unit Biocon Biologics as a wholly owned subsidiary in a 55 billion deal The company in a statement noted that it will acquire the remaining stake in Biocon Biologics from Serum Institute Life Sciences Tata Capital Growth Fund II and Activ Pine LLP through a share swap of 7028 Biocon shares for every 100 Biocon Biologics shares at a share price of Rs 40578 per Biocon share The deal values Biocon Biologics at 55 billionKiran MazumdarShaw Executive Chairperson Biocon Limited called the integration âthe next chapter in our evolutionââStrategically Biocon will be one of the few companies offering both biosimilars and generics at a global scale As the only company with biosimilar insulins and generic GLP1 peptides Biocon is uniquely positioned to comprehensively address the needs of patients living with diabetesâ MazumdarShaw said in the statementâTogether with our combined oncology and immunology portfolios this creates a differentiated offering addressing the worldâs most pressing healthcare needsâ it addedMazumdarShaw also announced that Shreehas Tambe will take over as the CEO and Managing Director of the combined businessâHis 28 years of experience with the Biocon Group will be invaluable as we advance our mission to make lifesaving medicines affordable and accessible to patients worldwideâ she saidThe integration process is expected to be completed no later than March 31 2026 the company saidFurther Biocon noted that it will acquire the residual stake held by Mylan Viatris for a total consideration of 815 million of which 400 million will be payable in cash and 415 million through a share swap of 6170 Biocon shares for every 100 Biocon Biologics shares at a share price of Rs 40578 per Biocon shareIt also approved raising additional capital of up to Rs 4500 crore USD 500 million through Qualified Institutional Placement QIP The proceeds of the QIP will be largely utilised towards the cash component payable to Viatris the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/biocon-tofullyintegrate-biologicsunitin-55-bn-deal-651755.html Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/jp-nadda-meets-russian-counterpart-discusses-bilateral-ties-in-health-sector-651523.html New Delhi Dec 4 Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Thursday met with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Murashko The Ministers discussed bilateral ties in the health sector and reaffirmed their commitment to provide accessible affordable and quality healthcareâUnion Health Minister JP Nadda met Mikhail Murashko Health Minister of the Russian Federation today The discussions focused on key health sector priorities with both sides agreeing to further enhance bilateral cooperationâ the Ministry of Health shared in a post on the social media platform XâIndia and Russia reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing accessible affordable and quality healthcare for allâ the post addedThe meeting comes amid Russian President Vladimir Putins twoday State visit to IndiaEarlier in the day Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov They cochaired the 22nd IndiaRussia InterGovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation ministerial meeting in New DelhiDefence Ministry in a statement said the two leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries in the field of defence during the meeting They will also exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interestThis marks Putins first trip to India since Russias war with Ukraine started in 2022On Friday he will be accorded a ceremonial welcome before formal talks begin Following the talks PM Modi and President Putin will make a statement to the media Putin will lay a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial on FridayAccording to Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov Putin will discuss important issues of bilateral ties and the international situation with Prime Minister Narendra ModiKey aspects of trade and economic cooperation will be discussed and several agreements will be signed during Putins visit to India The visit is also expected to yield multiple agreements including one to facilitate the movement of Indian workers to Russia IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/jp-nadda-meets-russian-counterpart-discusses-bilateral-ties-in-health-sector-651523.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/toxic-gas-leak-from-closed-coal-mine-in-dhanbad-kills-two-mass-evacuation-underway-651527.html Dhanbad Jharkhand Dec 4 Two women have died and around 20 others have fallen ill after inhaling toxic gas leaking for the past two days from an underground fire at a closed coal mine in Kenduadih in Jharkhands Dhanbad district officials said on Thursday The leak has affected nearly 10000 residents in Rajput Basti Masjid Mohalla Officer Colony and the surrounding areas of DhanbadAs the situation worsened several families fled their homes while Bharat Coking Coal Limited BCCL made repeated public announcements urging residents to evacuate The company has set up temporary relief camps at two locations for displaced familiesThe leak began on Wednesday from the abandoned mine near the Childrenâs Park in Kenduadih Residents complained of severe eye irritation breathlessness and other symptoms leading to multiple hospitalisationsThe administration has taken note of the issue and said a solution will be found soonPriyanka Devi died on Wednesday evening while Lalita Devi succumbed on ThursdayOfficials suspect that carbon monoxide or another toxic gas from the underground colliery may be the reason behind the deaths though the exact cause will be confirmed only after the postmortem examinationTension escalated on Thursday as locals staged a protest accusing the BCCL of negligence They blocked the DhanbadRanchi main road burned tyres and raised slogans against the district administration and the company Protesters said they would continue the blockade until affected families are relocated to safer areas and compensatedBCCL Project Officer Lakhan Lal Barnwal said the gas had been trapped under pressure in the mine which has been closed for nearly 15 years and is now escaping through cracks impacting an estimated 400foot radiusPutkiBalihati Colliery Area General Manager GC Saha said the locality had already been classified as fireaffected and added that a permanent solution would require complete evacuation The safe relocation of residents is currently underway he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/toxic-gas-leak-from-closed-coal-mine-in-dhanbad-kills-two-mass-evacuation-underway-651527.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/delhi-health-minister-reviews-tb-campaign-as-screening-touches-878-lakh-651534.html New Delhi Dec 4 Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Thursday reviewed the implementation of the Central Governmentâbacked TB Elimination Programme under which 878 lakh individuals have been screened across the city The review meeting held at the Delhi Secretariat brought together senior officials from the Health Department and doctors from the TB cell to assess the progress made under the ongoing national campaignThe Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta the Delhi Government successfully implemented the 100day TB campaign now known as TB Mukt Bharat AbhiyanApart from 878 lakh screenings almost 38 lakh chest Xrays have been done to date which has helped significantly in the identification of new TB cases and initiating them promptly on treatmentAs part of this nationwide campaign Delhi continues to remain at the forefront of this mission underlining the essence of Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision for Health for All he saidThe Delhi government has set a target of screening 50 lakh people Notably there are 190 diagnostic centres and 365 treatment centres across the national capital that provide quality and free care to all TB patientsIt is worth noting that Delhi has achieved 99 per cent of the National TB Elimination Programme target for the months of JanuaryNovember 2025In recognition of its impactful efforts and high public participation Delhi received the Jan Bhagidari Award from Union Minister JP Nadda this year he saidThe Delhi Governmentâs commitment to communitydriven participation is further reflected in the success of the Nikshay Mitra Initiative designed to support TB patients with nutrition vocational and diagnostic assistance and psychological careSince its inception Delhi has registered 4313 Nikshay Mitras who have collectively contributed to the distribution of 223457 food baskets supporting 103593 TB patients he saidThe Health Minister said âDelhi is firmly committed to achieving the goal of a TBfree nation The progress we are witnessing is a result of strong teamwork public cooperation and the tireless dedication of our healthcare workersââWe will continue to strengthen our screening support systems and community participation to ensure that every TB patient receives timely care nutrition and encouragement Our mission is clearâDelhi will play a leading role in making TB Mukt Bharat a realityâ he saidThe Delhi government remains committed to intensifying TB elimination efforts through continuous monitoring strong community engagement and enhanced patient supportWith sustained collaboration between departments healthcare workers and citizens Delhi aims to set a national example in achieving a TBfree future The government will continue to work with renewed determination to fulfil the vision of TB Mukt Bharat he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/delhi-health-minister-reviews-tb-campaign-as-screening-touches-878-lakh-651534.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 04:00:00 +0530