DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:30:49 +0530 en 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/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 https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-three-fake-doctors-held-in-medical-fraud-case-651553.html Jaipur Dec 4 The Special Operations Group SOG has busted a major medical fraud exposing a dangerous attempt to illegally enter the healthcare system in Rajasthan Additional Director General of Police SOG Vishal Bansal confirmed the arrest of three individuals who despite failing the mandatory Foreign Medical Graduate Examination FMGE managed to secure internships at government medical colleges using forged documentsAccording to ADG Bansal the racket surfaced after the SOG received intelligence that one of the accused Dr Piyush Kumar Trivedi from Dausa had allegedly obtained a fake FMGE qualification certificate with the help of a criminal networkUsing this forged certificate he secured approval from the National Medical Commission NMC and subsequently obtained an internship placement at Government Medical College KarauliFollowing verification and confirmation of fraud a case was registered and a detailed investigation beganInvestigations revealed that Piyush completed his MBBS from Georgia but failed the FMGE exam thrice â in 2022 2023 and 2024 â which is mandatory for foreign medical graduates to practice in IndiaAfter repeated failures he reportedly approached his acquaintance Dr Devendra Singh Gurjar who along with Dr Shubham Gurjar and other associates facilitated the procurement of fake FMGE clearance and NMC registration in exchange for Rs 16 lakhShockingly the investigation also found that this was not an isolated case The other two accused Dr Shubham and Dr Devendra also allegedly obtained forged FMGE clearance certificates and secured internships at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital Alwar and Government Medical College Dausa respectivelyThe three accused have been produced before the court and remanded to police custody The SOG is now expanding the probe to uncover the wider network behind this certification racketInvestigators are focusing on identifying the masterminds intermediaries and other potential beneficiaries who may have used similar fraudulent means to enter the medical systemThe SOG has reiterated that such offences not only compromise the integrity of the medical profession but also put public health at grave risk and strict legal action will follow against all those involved IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-three-fake-doctors-held-in-medical-fraud-case-651553.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 04:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/brain-eating-amoeba-infection-kerala-reported-170-cases-and-42-deaths-in-2025-651703.html New Delhi Dec 5 Kerala has reported 170 cases and 42 deaths due to amoebic meningoencephalitis commonly known as braineating amoeba infection in 2025 the government informed the Parliament on Friday In a written reply in the Lok Sabha the Union Minister for Health Prataprao Jadhav noted that the state has reported a total of â211 cases and 53 deaths since 2023ââWhile the year 2023 saw two cases and two deaths due to amoebic meningoencephalitis it jumped to 39 cases and 9 deaths in 2024 The cases soared to 170 in 2025 and claimed 42 livesâ Jadhav saidThe Minister noted an investigation on the incidence of amoebic meningoencephalitis conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control NCDC Kozhikode in July last yearâA highlevel meeting was conducted by the Secretary Department of Health ResearchDirector General Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR with National and State experts to review the surge in amoebic meningoencephalitis cases in Kerala National Acute Encephalitis Syndrome AES surveillance was reinforced through 18 Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories VRDLs with emphasis on crossvalidation of tests improved environmental surveillance and evidencebased treatment guidanceâ the Minister saidHe noted the government continues to support Information Education and Communication IEC activities and collaborated with the State of Kerala for research prevention and preparednessIn addition detailed epidemiological assessments were conducted by NCDC reinforcing surveillance and strengthening IEC activities Accordingly a revised Communicable Disease CD alert was issued by NCDC New Delhi on Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis in October 2024 highlighting management preventive and control measuresAmoebic encephalitis is an acute fulminant and rapidly fatal disease of the central nervous system caused primarily by infection with Naegleria fowleriThe disease typically occurs when people swim in bodies of warm freshwater such as lakes streamsrivers where Naegleria fowleri is present IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/brain-eating-amoeba-infection-kerala-reported-170-cases-and-42-deaths-in-2025-651703.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/study-links-common-childhood-virusto-bladder-cancer-651457.html New Delhi Dec 4 UK researchers have found a common childhood virus that can trigger DNA damage leading to bladder cancer later in life Tackling the virus early could open the door to preventing bladder cancer later said the team from the University of YorkThe study published in Science Advances revealed that after being contracted in childhood the BK virus usually lies dormant in the kidneyBK virus infections do not have obvious symptoms but physicians have learned a lot about the virus from the experiences of kidney transplant recipients who have to take immunosuppressants to prevent the immune system from targeting their new kidneyIn laboratory studies using the human tissue that lines the urinary tract urothelium the team observed DNA damage patterns caused by the cells antiviral defences after controlled exposure to BK virus the childhood infection identified earlier as lying dormant in the kidneyIn this fight against the BK virus friendly fire from enzymes meant to damage the virus can cause collateral damage in the cells own DNAThis evidence supports a theory in which an individuals own antiviral response to BK virus infection causes the DNA mutations that can lead to cancerIn other types of virusrelated cancer such as cervical cancer we know that virus DNA combines with our own genetic material to drive tumour development Our results have shown that in the bladder the tissues defensive response to the virus causes DNA changes which can lead to cancerâ said Dr Simon Baker from the UniversityWe found that DNA damage happens not only in infected cells but also in surrounding bystander cells witnessing infection in their neighbours This is important because it might explain why most bladder cancers have no sign of the virus in them when they are diagnosed many years later Baker addedThe BK virus usually lies dormant in the kidney Immunosuppressants can allow dormant BK virus to reactivate damaging the kidneys ureter and bladderCurrent bladder cancer prevention work asks people to stop smoking The findings provide a new opportunity to help prevent bladder cancer through the identification and control of the BK virus earlier IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/study-links-common-childhood-virusto-bladder-cancer-651457.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indianstudyfinds1stevidenceonhownanoplasticsfrom-single-use-pet-bottlesharmbody-651467.html New Delhi Dec 4 Nanoplastics derived from singleuse PET bottles can directly disrupt key biological systems that are vital for human health according to a study led by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology Mohali INST an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology DST on Thursday Nanoplastics found in food and water are a global concern and are increasingly being detected inside the human body But their exact effects remain poorly understoodWhile many studies had focused on how plastics pollute the environment or damage host tissues almost nothing was known about their direct impact on beneficial gut microbes that are central to human healthThe team led by Prashant Sharma and Sakshi Dagariya from the Chemical Biology Unit at INST found the first clear evidence of profound consequences to human healthThe researchers found that longterm exposure reduced bacterial growth colonisation and protective functions while increasing stress responses and sensitivity to antibioticsTogether the findings explain that nanoplastics from everyday plastics are biologically active particles that can interfere with gut health blood stability and cellular function said the researchers in the paper published in the journal Nanoscale AdvancesThe team recreated Nanoplastics from PET bottles in the laboratory and tested them across three key biological modelsA beneficial gut bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus was used to see how nanoplastics affect the microbiomeAt higher concentrations nanoplastics were found to disrupt red blood cell membranes and cause premature destruction of the cellsFurther the team also found that prolonged exposure led to DNA damage oxidative stress apoptosis and inflammatory signalling alongside shifts in energy and nutrient metabolismThe nanoparticles induce DNA damage oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in human epithelial cells during prolonged exposure posing risks to human health that were previously unrecognised the researchers saidBeyond human health the insights can extend to agriculture nutrition and ecosystem studies where microbial balance and plastic pollution intersect they noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indianstudyfinds1stevidenceonhownanoplasticsfrom-single-use-pet-bottlesharmbody-651467.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/fmsitharamantables-health-amp-security-cess-bill-2025in-lok-sabha-651517.html New Delhi Dec 4 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday proposed the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill 2025 which will levy tax on goods like pan masala Speaking in the Lok Sabha Sitharaman noted that the Bill will not be levied on essential commodities and the revenue from the levy will be shared with states for spending on health schemesThis is a cess and it is placed not on any essential commodity The purpose of this Bill is to levy a cess on demerit goods which are associated with significant health risks We wish to impose such a cost so that it is a deterrent so people tend not to use it the minister saidBased on its consumption pan masala will be taxed at the maximum 40 per cent rate under Goods and Services Tax GST There will be no impact of this cess on GST revenues Sitharaman saidThe proposed Bill which will be over and above the GST will be levied on the production capacity of machines in pan masala manufacturing factoriesThe cess liability will be different for every factory depending on their production capacity the Finance Minister saidPart of the revenue from this cess will be shared with states through health awareness or other healthrelated schemesactivities Sitharaman pointed outShe noted that as excise duty cannot be levied on pan masala the government is bringing a separate cess bill to ensure that production of pan masala is taxed along with GST which is levied on consumptionEarlier on Wednesday the Lok Sabha passed a Bill amending the Central Excise Act of 1944 to levy excise duty on tobacco over and above the 40 per cent GSTCurrently pan masala tobacco and related products attract 28 per cent GST plus a compensation cess at a varied rate With the end of the compensation cess levy the GST rate will go up to 40 per cent IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/fmsitharamantables-health-amp-security-cess-bill-2025in-lok-sabha-651517.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/34pcchildren-aged-under-5-stunted-15-pc-underweight-govt-651361.html New Delhi Dec 3 About 34 per cent of children aged under 5 are stunted while 15 per cent are underweight the government on Wednesday informed the Parliament citing its âPoshan Trackerâ data In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur noted significant improvement in the malnutrition indicators in children across the countryAs per data till October more than 644 crore children between 0 5 years enrolled in Anganwadis were measured on growth parameters of height and weightâA total of 3354 per cent of children were found to be stunted and 1441 per cent were underweight Another 503 per cent of children were in the wastedâ Thakur said citing the data from the Poshan TrackerâAs per National Family Health Survey5 201921 stunting among children under 5 was 355 per cent underweight children accounted for 321 per cent and 193 per cent were affected by wastingâ she addedThakur also shared a 2021 survey by the World Bank conducted in 11 priority states Andhra Pradesh Bihar Chhattisgarh Gujarat Jharkhand Karnataka Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra Rajasthan Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh with the highest rates of anaemia and stuntingâThe findings demonstrated that the services delivered through the Poshan Abhiyaan the receipt of relevant messages home visits by the anganwadi worker and attendance at communitybased events were associated with improved nutrition behavioursâ Thakur saidThe survey also found that the programmes nutrition messages reached more than 80 per cent of women and that 81 per cent of women practiced exclusive breastfeeding for the first six monthsUnder the 15th Finance Commission various components like Anganwadi services Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls of 1418 years in Aspirational Districts and NorthEastern region have been subsumed under the umbrella Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 20 Mission Poshan 20 to address the challenge of malnutritionThe âPoshan Trackerâ application was rolled out in March 2021 as an important governance tool The Poshan Tracker facilitates monitoring and tracking of all AWCs AWWs and beneficiaries on defined indicatorsTechnology under Poshan Tracker is being leveraged for dynamic identification of stunting wasting and underweight prevalence among children IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/34pcchildren-aged-under-5-stunted-15-pc-underweight-govt-651361.html Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/govts-commitmenttoinclusivity-and-self-reliancefosteringdisability-rights-in-india-651077.html New Delhi Dec 2 Emphasis on inclusivity and selfreliance for everyone is driving a strong movement for disability rights in India said the government on Tuesday According to the Census 2011 there are 268 crore persons with disabilities in India which constitutes 221 percent of the total population Out of these approximately 150 crore are male and 118 crore are femaleThe Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 defined person with disability as someone who has a longterm physical mental intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with barriers hinders their full and effective participation in society equally with othersâIn India where diversity thrives as the cornerstone of national identity a strong movement for disability rights is growing driven by the governmentâs commitment towards true inclusivity and selfreliance for everyoneâ the government said in an official statementâBacked by forwardthinking policies and dynamic programmes the government ensures that no one is deprived on account of their disability and creates pathways to opportunity and active societal involvement for every individualâ it addedThe government has adopted a wide range of initiatives and schemes to ensure accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities including Sugamya Bharat App Assistance to Disabled Persons for PurchaseFitting of AidsAppliances ADIP scheme Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme DDRS National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation NDFDC Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities UDID and PMDAKSHDEPwD PortalFurther the government is also leveraging technology to build a barrierfree digital and learning ecosystem such as the Indian Sign Language ISL Digital Repository 3189 econtent videos and Channel 31 for ISL TrainingFlagship events like the Divya Kala Mela have also provided market linkages to Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs nationwide showcasing the âVocal for Localâ spiritâThe evolution of disability affairs in India reflects a growing recognition of the rights and potential of persons with disabilities The establishment of dedicated departments and initiatives exemplifies a commitment to fostering inclusivity creativity and resilience within the communityâ the statement saidâBy providing platforms for showcasing talent and facilitating economic opportunities these efforts not only empower individuals but also contribute to a more inclusive society where every individual can thrive with dignityâ it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/govts-commitmenttoinclusivity-and-self-reliancefosteringdisability-rights-in-india-651077.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/nasha-mukt-bharat-abhiyaansensitisesnearly-25crindians-against-drug-abuse-govt-651083.html New Delhi Dec 2 Nearly 25 crore Indians have been sensitised against drug abuse under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan NMBA the government told the Parliament on Tuesday NMBA was launched by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2020 to fight the growing concern of drug addiction in 272 of the most vulnerable districts in the countryThe NMBA is now extended to all districts of the country said Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment BL Verma in a written reply in the Lok SabhaThe national campaign intends to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance use with a focus on higher educational Institutions university campuses and schoolsâTill now through the various activities undertaken onground 249 crore people have been sensitized on substance use including 87 crore youth and 60 Crore Womenâ Verma saidâParticipation of 1215 Lakh educational institutions has ensured that the message of the Abhiyaan reaches children and youth of the countryâ he addedThe Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal Ministry for drug demand reduction in the countryTo tackle the issue of substance use DoSJE has been implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction NAPDDR a centrally sponsored schemeIt provides financial assistance to states NGOs and government hospitals for Addiction Treatment Facilities ATFs Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts among othersUnder the NAPDDR scheme â349 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts IRCAs 45 communitybased peerled Intervention cpLI programmes with children below 18 have been created to build awareness against drugsâOther activities undertaken include 76 outreach and dropin centers oDICs 154 Addiction Treatment Facilities ATFs in Government hospitals and 139 District DeAddiction centresFurther DoSJE has also implemented a tollfree helpline for deaddiction 14446 for providing primary counselling and immediate referral services to persons seeking help through this helplineâMore than 43 Lakh calls have been received so far on the helpline numberâ Verma said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/nasha-mukt-bharat-abhiyaansensitisesnearly-25crindians-against-drug-abuse-govt-651083.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/600districts-in-india-provided-palliative-care-till-october-nadda-651121.html New Delhi Dec 2 A total of 600 districts in the country have been providing palliative care to patients suffering from chronic lifelimiting illnesses the Union Health Minister informed the Parliament on Tuesday The government launched the National Programme for Palliative Care NPPC in 2012 to provide pain relief and symptom management for patients with lifelimiting illnesses like cancer and AIDSâSix hundred districts have been covered under the National Program for Palliative Care NPPC till October 2025â Nadda said in Rajya SabhaThe Minister informed that Madhya Pradesh is leading with 51 functional palliative care centres followed by Gujarat with 41 and Rajasthan with 42 centresFurther over 126 lakh patients availed OPD services at the Palliative care centres in 202526 till October 25 Nadda saidMore than 19 lakh patients were visited at home and another 33 lakh patients availed inpatient inhospital palliative care during the same period the Minister addedApart from the services available under NPPC palliative care is also available at AIIMS Medical Colleges and HospitalsThe basic palliative care training is included in the undergraduate medical education MBBS curriculum in India as a mandatory component Nadda saidThe change was introduced as part of the National Medical Commissions CompetencyBased Medical Education CBME curriculum which became effective in August 2019Palliative care was recognised as a medical subspecialty by the erstwhile Medical Council of India MCI in 2010 Specialist training in Palliative Medicine MD Palliative Medicine is provided as a threeyear supervised postgraduate programme in National Medical Commission NMC recognised institutionsFurthermore the Indian Nursing Council INC has included a 20hour mandatory module on palliative care in the 4th semester second year of the BSc Nursing curriculum to enhance knowledge and sensitivity among nursing studentsPalliative care is also one of the 12 essential services delivered at the Ayushman Arogya Mandir AAM level encompassing preventive promotive curative rehabilitative and palliative care Nadda said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/600districts-in-india-provided-palliative-care-till-october-nadda-651121.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/no-unusual-surge-of-influenza-well-prepared-to-handle-spikes-govt-651137.html New Delhi Dec 2 Surveillance on respiratory illnesses shows no unusual surge of influenza in the country the government said on Tuesday Union Health Minister JP Nadda chaired a highlevel review meeting in the national capital where he was informed that the country is wellprepared to handle respiratory illnessesHealth Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava explained that India typically experiences two seasonal peaks of influenza during AugustOctober monsoon peak and JanuaryMarch winter peakNadda sought an update on the present situation and enquired whether the currently circulating strains showed any variations from historical trendsInfluenza activity remains low both globally and within India officials from the National Centre for Disease Control NCDC and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme IDSP informed the MinisterSurveillance indicates that the circulating strains continue to be the usual seasonal variants H3N2 and Influenza B Victoria with a small proportion of H1N1 they notedNadda was also apprised of the near realtime surveillance mechanisms including IDSPâs Influenza Like Illness ILI and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness SARI monitoring network AIdriven eventbased surveillance through media scanning and ICMRâs sentinel surveillance for respiratory pathogensAll systems currently show no signs of an unusual surge in influenza cases the Minister was toldDirector NCDC Prof Dr Ranjan Das informed that NCDC will convene a twoday national âChintan Shivir on Influenzaâ later this monthNadda also appreciated the preparedness measures underway and asked to review the influenza preparedness with all state nodal officers and ensure the readiness of all central government hospitalsHe directed that the review of preparedness in all district hospitals and Medical Colleges be completed within the next fortnightThe Minister also advised issuing an advisory to all States and Union Territories in this regard and asked regular mock drills to be conducted at the health facilities IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/no-unusual-surge-of-influenza-well-prepared-to-handle-spikes-govt-651137.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sensex-nifty-open-flat-as-it-and-parma-gain-651197.html Mumbai Dec 3 The Indian stock market opened on a quiet note on Wednesday with both benchmark indices showing minimal movement in early trade The Sensex inched up by just 12 points to 85151 while the Nifty slipped 18 points to 26014Most of the major Sensex stocks were trading in the red dragging the indices sideways Shares of HUL Titan Tata Motors PV NTPC BEL Trent Bajaj Finserv Kotak Bank Ultratech Cement Maruti Suzuki LampT Power Grid and ITC were among the top losers in the morning sessionDespite the broader weakness some heavyweights helped limit the downside TCS Infosys Eternal HCL Tech Axis Bank Tech Mahindra and Adani Ports were trading higher providing support to the indicesIn the broader market mid and smallcap stocks showed resilience The Nifty MidCap index managed to rise 002 per cent while the Nifty SmallCap index gained 008 per cent after erasing early lossesSectorwise IT and pharma stocks outperformed the market The Nifty IT index rose 07 per cent and the Nifty Pharma index added 03 per centThese sectors benefited from the Indian Rupee hitting a record low as many companies in these industries earn a significant part of their revenue in dollars while most of their expenses are in rupeesOn the other hand PSU bank stocks were under pressure with the Nifty PSU Bank index falling 06 per cent in early tradeAnalysts said that the market remained rangebound as mixed global cues and a weak currency influenced investor sentimentThe ideal strategy for investors in this period of uncertainty is to remain invested in high quality growth stocks in the large and midcap segments Smallcaps as a segment continues to be overvalued and are therefore best avoided market watchers added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sensex-nifty-open-flat-as-it-and-parma-gain-651197.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sensex-nifty-open-flat-as-it-and-pharma-gain-651199.html Mumbai Dec 3 The Indian stock market opened on a quiet note on Wednesday with both benchmark indices showing minimal movement in early trade The Sensex inched up by just 12 points to 85151 while the Nifty slipped 18 points to 26014Most of the major Sensex stocks were trading in the red dragging the indices sideways Shares of HUL Titan Tata Motors PV NTPC BEL Trent Bajaj Finserv Kotak Bank Ultratech Cement Maruti Suzuki LampT Power Grid and ITC were among the top losers in the morning sessionDespite the broader weakness some heavyweights helped limit the downside TCS Infosys Eternal HCL Tech Axis Bank Tech Mahindra and Adani Ports were trading higher providing support to the indicesIn the broader market mid and smallcap stocks showed resilience The Nifty MidCap index managed to rise 002 per cent while the Nifty SmallCap index gained 008 per cent after erasing early lossesSectorwise IT and pharma stocks outperformed the market The Nifty IT index rose 07 per cent and the Nifty Pharma index added 03 per centThese sectors benefited from the Indian Rupee hitting a record low as many companies in these industries earn a significant part of their revenue in dollars while most of their expenses are in rupeesOn the other hand PSU bank stocks were under pressure with the Nifty PSU Bank index falling 06 per cent in early tradeAnalysts said that the market remained rangebound as mixed global cues and a weak currency influenced investor sentimentThe ideal strategy for investors in this period of uncertainty is to remain invested in high quality growth stocks in the large and midcap segments Smallcaps as a segment continues to be overvalued and are therefore best avoided market watchers added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sensex-nifty-open-flat-as-it-and-pharma-gain-651199.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-to-launch-100-day-campaign-forchild-marriage-freeindiatomorrow-651211.html New Delhi Dec 3 The Union government is set to launch a 100day intensive awareness campaign for a child marriagefree India the Ministry of Women and Child Development WCD said on Wednesday The Campaign will be formally launched tomorrow at Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi to mark one year of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign initiated by the Ministry of WCD on November 27 2024âMay every daughters dream be fulfilled may every daughter become selfreliant Eradicating evil practices like child marriage is our collective resolve When society becomes aware every daughter of India will smile confidently safe educated and empowered Let us together make India free from child marriageâ said Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi after a year of the campaignThe 100day campaign to be marked from November 27 2025 to March 8 2026 follows a structured threestage plan designed to energise communities and encourage sustained actionThe first phase includes awareness activities in schools colleges and universities such as debates essay competitions interactive sessions and pledge ceremonies while the second phase aims to engage faith leaders community influencers and marriage service providers to amplify messages on child rights safety and empowermentIn the third phase gram panchayats and municipal wards will be mobilised to pass resolutions declaring their jurisdictions childmarriagefreeThe programme will feature the national pledge to end child marriage a specially produced film showcasing inspiring change stories from across the country and testimonies from frontline champions celebrating collective progress and strengthening momentum for the next phase of the missionThe national drive will be implemented in close coordination with the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare Panchayati Raj Rural Development and Education ensuring seamless collaboration and extensive grassroots reachThrough this 100day campaign the Ministry calls upon citizens institutions and community leaders across the nation to join the movement and reaffirm Indiaâs commitment to building a child marriagefree Bharat IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-to-launch-100-day-campaign-forchild-marriage-freeindiatomorrow-651211.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-can-help-tackledigital-inequality-build-an-inclusive-ai-future-for-world-undp-651000.html New Delhi Dec 2 India is wellpositioned to tackle digital inequality and shape an inclusive transition in Artificial Intelligence AI for the world said a new United Nations Development Programme UNDP report released on Tuesday While AI is advancing at a historic pace strong digital ecosystems in some countries and limited connectivity skills and infrastructure in others are widening gapsThe report focussed on the Asia Pacific region warned that without deliberate action AI could widen gaps in income opportunity and governance reversing years of progress in reducing global inequalityHowever it showed that Indiaâs digital public infrastructure expanding AI research ecosystem and large technology workforce provide a strong foundation to scale AI for public valueâIndiaâs digital strengths give it a head start in building an AI future that works for everyone AI is already strengthening public health improving climate resilience and supporting better services The real test is ensuring these gains reach every communityâ said Dr Angela Lusigi Resident Representative UNDP IndiaâThe choices we make now will determine whether AI narrows gaps or widens them India can lead by ensuring its benefits reach rural communities women and young people not only those already connectedâ she addedThe report highlighted India as a country that can demonstrate how AI can be scaled safely and inclusivelyIndia is already applying AI to strengthen major public systems Aadhaar the worldâs largest biometric ID system with over 13 billion residents is the biggest example It has been increasingly paired with AI to reduce fraud improve targeting and ensure benefits reach the right householdsThe countrys health sector is also seeing increasing AI adaptation especially in chest Xray interpretation in tuberculosis screening and to tackle climate change to predict floods and other weather conditionsAI is also being applied in Indias agriculture sector to help authorities identify climatevulnerable districts and guide climatesmart agriculture as well as strengthen biodiversity with AIenabled species identification and realtime alertsAIâs longterm impact will depend on choices made now especially investments in digital governance inclusion and safeguards the report saidIt called for India to continue leading on peoplefirst AI focusing on transparency equitable access and participation of marginalised communities in designing AI systemsâWith the right policies India can help steer the region away from a new era of inequality and toward an inclusive AI future that advances the Sustainable Development Goalsâ it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-can-help-tackledigital-inequality-build-an-inclusive-ai-future-for-world-undp-651000.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/chennai-on-high-alert-for-health-cases-as-cyclone-ditwah-triggers-heavy-downpour-650817.html Chennai Nov 30 With Cyclone Ditwah bringing persistent rain and renewed flooding concerns to Chennai the cityâs health authorities activated an extensive preparedness plan to prevent a surge in monsoonrelated illnesses The sharp rise in waterlogging across neighbourhoods prompted officials to focus on early detection and quick response to seasonal ailments such as fever diarrhoea fungal infections and injuries while also preparing for an increase in snakebite cases State Director of Public Health Dr A Somasundaram said all 424 upgraded primary health centres PHCs across Tamil Nadu including 140 in Chennai have been placed on high alert âDoctors nurses and support staff are on duty in all upgraded PHCs A nurse will remain on call after work hours to ensure uninterrupted serviceâ he said Urban health centres have been instructed to stock supplies such as oral rehydration salts antifungal ointments for waterborne infections paracetamol antisnake venom serum antibiotics and other essential medicines To reach areas affected by flooding five mobile medical units and 15 vans from the governmentâs Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram typically used for school health screenings have been deployed across Chennai to offer first aid and basic medical care Additional vehicles are on standby in Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts should conditions worsen Greater Chennai Corporation GCC officials said families displaced by flooding will be relocated to any of the 215 relief centres where screening for fever and other ailments will be carried outâIf anyone requires advanced treatment they will be immediately referred to the nearest government hospitalâ said city health officer Dr M Jagadeesan He added that electricians and plumbers have been placed on alert to ensure an uninterrupted power supply in all hospitals and urban health centres Authorities have also advised residents particularly pregnant women senior citizens and those with chronic illnesses to store medical records and essential documents in dry secure places to prevent damage during possible evacuations Public health teams are monitoring social media platforms including X to track potential clusters of illness reported by the public Officials said this digital surveillance will help them respond quickly with field teams or virtual medical guidance They added that while the number of cases remains manageable at present the city is likely to witness a gradual increase in monsoonrelated ailments over the coming days as rain continues under the influence of Cyclone Ditwah IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/chennai-on-high-alert-for-health-cases-as-cyclone-ditwah-triggers-heavy-downpour-650817.html Sun, 30 Nov 2025 10:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-scientists-find-genetic-clues-to-tackle-oral-cancer-among-women-650819.html New Delhi Nov 30 A team of Indian scientists has discovered oral cancercausing driver gene mutations in women patients in southern parts of the country The team from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research JNCASR Bengaluru and the BRICNational Institute of Biomedical Genomics NIBMG Kalyani in collaboration with clinicians from Sri Devraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research SDUAHER Kolar conducted a femalecentric study on oral cancer in India with a unique tobacco chewing habitThis study led by Professor Tapas K Kundu JNCASR Bengaluru aimed to understand what makes cancers in women unique how the disease manifests and progresses in female patients and how we can treat them betterThe team also used artificial intelligence deep learning to digitally analyse tumour tissues This revealed two distinct groups of female patients each with a different immune response in their tumoursIndia carries one of the worldâs heaviest burdens of oral cancer with alarmingly high rates witnessed among women in certain regions especially in southern and northeast India due to the widespread habit of chewing tobaccoinfused betel quid gutka and related productsWhile the disease is widely studied in men oral cancer in women has often remained under the radarThe study was performed on paired tumour and blood samples from female OSCCGB patients with a unique regional tobaccochewing habit Kaddipudi commonly observed among women in the Kolar district of KarnatakaAnalysis of this womencentric cohort has revealed a unique driver mutation implicated in oral tumorigenesisThis investigation published in the Clinical and Translational Medicine Journal was specifically designed to uncover the biological underpinnings of the disproportionately aggressive highly recurrent and lifethreatening forms of oral cancer that affect Indian womenUsing cuttingedge wholeexome sequencing the researchers identified ten key genes with significant mutations in the female oral cancer cohort from Kolar KarnatakaAlthough two of the major genes CASP8 and TP53 were found to be highly mutated in these patients uniquely CASP8 seems to be the driver mutation cancercausing which is quite different compared to previously studied mutations in oral cancer patients largely menThe findings suggest that cooccurring TP53 and CASP8 mutations confer a markedly aggressive and lethal phenotype in oral cancerThe team is now focused on delineating the molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis driven by this novel driver mutation within the background of TP53 alterations for the next phase of the research IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-scientists-find-genetic-clues-to-tackle-oral-cancer-among-women-650819.html Sun, 30 Nov 2025 11:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/rsv-infections-in-babies-may-raise-asthma-risk-later-vaccineoffershope-study-650773.html New Delhi Nov 29 An international team of scientists has found compelling evidence that earlyinfancy infection with respiratory syncytial virus RSV significantly increases the risk of developing childhood asthma The risk is especially higher in children with a family history of allergy or asthmaThe study published in the Science Immunology journal suggests that protecting newborns against RSV could substantially reduce asthma cases later in lifeChildhood asthma is a complex disease with many contributing factors said Prof Bart Lambrecht from VIB the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology and Ghent University in BelgiumWe found that earlylife RSV infection and genetic allergy risk interact in a very specific way that pushes the immune system toward asthma The encouraging news is that this process can be prevented Lambrecht addedThe team including researchers from Denmark combined populationwide health registry data from all Danish children and their parents with controlled laboratory experiments They found that early viral infection and inherited allergy risk amplify one anotherInfants who experience severe RSV infections in the first months of life show an increased likelihood of immune cells overreacting to common allergens such as house dust mitesThis effect is dramatically intensified when asthma or allergy runs in the family as allergenspecific antibodies passed from parents to the newborn further heighten sensitivityImportantly the team found that when newborns were protected from RSV in experimental models these harmful immune shifts did not occur and asthma development was preventedWith RSV prevention now becoming widely accessible we have an opportunity to improve longterm respiratory health not just prevent RSV hospitalisations said Prof Hamida Hammad VIBUGentThis is not just a laboratory insight Its a message that should help parents choose RSV prevention with confidence Hammad addedMaternal vaccination during the third trimester of pregnancy and passive immunisation of newborns with longacting antibodies are being introduced in many countries Yet despite their strong ability to prevent RSV hospitalisations uptake remains inconsistentThis is a moment where policy science and paediatricians can come together Lambrecht said If preventing RSV infection also reduces asthma risk the benefits for families and health systems could be enormous IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rsv-infections-in-babies-may-raise-asthma-risk-later-vaccineoffershope-study-650773.html Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/army-jco-dies-of-heart-attack-in-jampks-poonch-650790.html Jammu Nov 29 A junior commissioned officer JCO of the army died of a heart attack on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district Officials said that an army JCO posted in the Khari area of Poonch district passed away after suffering a heart attack todayThe deceased officer has been identified as Captain Ordinary Talib Hussain currently deployed at a post in Khari under the jurisdiction of Police Station Poonch in Haveli tehsilThe officer reportedly suffered a massive heart attack at the post resulting in his onspot deathPolice have taken cognisance of the incident and further investigation is now underway officials saidJammu and Kashmir has a 740kmlong line of control LoC and a 240kmlong international borderThe LoC is guarded by the Army and situated in the Baramulla Bandipora Kupwara districts of the Valley and in Poonch Rajouri and partly in the Jammu district of the Jammu divisionThe international border is guarded by the Border Security Force BSF and is situated in Jammu Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu divisionThe army and the BSF guard against infiltration of terrorists crossborder smuggling and drone activity initiated by terror outfit from across the border with the help of the Pakistan ArmyThe Jammu and Kashmir Police and the security forces are deployed on antiterrorist duties in the hinterlandIn their revised strategy police and the security forces target terrorists their over ground workers OGWs sympathisers drug smugglers and those involved in hawala money rackets and other unlawful financial activities It is believed that the funds generated from these unlawful activities are finally used to sustain terrorism in JampKThe revised strategy is aimed at dismantling the entire support system of terrorism rather than just going after the gunwielding terroristsThe Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while chairing security review meetings has been giving unambiguous directions to the security forces to adopt this holistic approach as the gunwielding terrorists are only the offshoots of the larger antinational ecosystem that breeds harbours and propagates terrorist ideology among the youth IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/army-jco-dies-of-heart-attack-in-jampks-poonch-650790.html Sat, 29 Nov 2025 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/centrereaffirms-commitment-to-boost-cancer-services-across-states-650793.html New Delhi Nov 29 Amid rising cancer cases in India the Union government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening services to fight the deadly disease across states During a twoday national workshop on strengthening cancer care and urban health organised by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from November 2728 a national panel of cancer specialists and programme leaders deliberated on strategies to build an integrated cancer care ecosystemThe experts also called for enhancing multidisciplinary coordination improving early detection and expanding districtlevel capacityDelivering the keynote address Punya Salila Srivastava Union Health Secretary reaffirmed the Governmentâs priority to strengthen cancer services nationwideSrivastava highlighted âthe Union Budget 202526 announcement to establish Day Care Cancer Centres DCCCs in every district to decentralise cancer treatment reduce the burden on tertiary centres and ensure timely chemotherapy and followup careâShe also emphasised the creation of a robust continuum of cancer care from communitylevel screening to districtlevel treatment and advanced care Srivastava further noted that âthe National Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs NPNCD is central to expanding access and improving outcomesâAt the inaugural session the Union Health Secretary also released key policy documents including the NPNCD training modules the FRU Guidelines 2025 and the Operational Guidelines for Strengthening Laboratory Services under the Free Diagnostics InitiativeThe workshop featured detailed presentations on DCCC models standard treatment workflows for common cancers digital platforms for monitoring implementation integration of viral hepatitis screening and quality assurance mechanisms through NQASStates such as Odisha Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh also showcased best practices in cancer screening community engagement and districtlevel service delivery offering scalable models for other StatesUTsThe states and UTs must proactively respond to urban health challenges considering the rapidly growing urban population and the learnings emerging from the deliberations Srivastava saidThe workshop also focused on the urban health agenda under the National Urban Health Mission NUHMAdditional Secretary amp Mission Director NHM Aradhana Pattnaik emphasised the importance of adopting integrated and cityspecific strategies for strengthening urban health systems IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/centrereaffirms-commitment-to-boost-cancer-services-across-states-650793.html Sat, 29 Nov 2025 15:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-delhis-smart-mosquito-repellent-detergents-to-protect-against-malaria-dengue-650591.html New Delhi Nov 27 Amid a rise in mosquitoborne diseases including malaria dengue and chikungunya researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology IIT Delhi on Thursday informed the development of an innovative mosquito repellent detergent Currently the available protective measures against mosquitoes include liquids coils lotions creams rollons sprays and patchesHowever these options come with their limitations in effectively repelling mosquitoes For instance topical formulations like creams and lotions may lose their effectiveness over time which can increase the risk of mosquito bites and the associated diseasesThe new mosquito repellent detergents are available in both powder and liquid forms and maintain comparable washcare properties said the researchersâWe have developed smart detergents to protect people from dangerous mosquitoborne diseases The products have been tested in a commercial laboratory and have proven effective at repelling mosquitoesâ said Prof Javed Nabibaksha Sheikh Dept of Textile and Fibre Engineering from the IIT DelhiThe testing involved a handincage method where volunteers inserted their hands covered with fabrics into a box containing starved mosquitoesThe number of mosquitoes landing on the fabric was then evaluated Fabrics washed with our detergents demonstrated a significant reduction in mosquito landingsSince a mosquitos proboscis can easily penetrate fabric structure it is crucial to deter them from landing on textiles Textiles washed with these smart detergents become unattractive to mosquitoes thus helping to prevent bitesâThe active components of detergents interact with fibers during the washing process making them less attractive for mosquito landing The active components work on both the smell and taste sensors of the mosquitoesâ Prof Sheikh addedAs textiles are frequently washed the mosquitorepellent properties are regenerated with each wash ensuring both efficiency and durabilityA patent has already been filed and commercialisation of these products is expected soon the institute said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/iit-delhis-smart-mosquito-repellent-detergents-to-protect-against-malaria-dengue-650591.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-labour-codes-offer-enhanced-maternity-support-equal-pay-and-flexibility-in-workplace-650600.html New Delhi Nov 27 The recently launched labour codes aim to empower women with enhanced maternity support equal pay and flexibility in the workplace said the government on Thursday Earlier this month the country witnessed a major shift in its labour regulation framework with the implementation of the four consolidated labour codesThe four labour codes include the Code on Wages 2019 the Industrial Relations Code 2020 the Code on Social Security 2020 and the Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code 2020The Codes modernise labour regulations and provide women with equality maternity benefits workplace safety and representation in decisionmaking bodiesBeyond safeguarding the rights of women workers the reforms also expand opportunities by ensuring equal treatment and supporting their participation across all sectors including night shifts and hazardous industriesâWomen constitute a vital and growing segment of Indiaâs workforce and the new labour codes mark a significant step towards creating a more inclusive safe and enabling work environment for themâ said the government in an official statementThe key benefits extended to women span all four labour codesThe Industrial Relations Code 2020 mandates adequate representation of women in the Grievance Redressal Committee GRC not less than their proportion in the total workforce of the establishment It ensures women workers have a fair voice in workplace dispute resolution womenâs perspectives help address issues more comprehensively and sensitivelyUnder the Code on Social Security every woman employee who has worked for at least 80 days in the 12 months before the expected delivery is eligible for equal wages during the maternity leave period of 26 weeksIn addition a woman who adopts a child below 3 months of age or is a commissioning mother a biological mother who uses surrogacy is eligible for 12 weeks of maternity benefit from the date of adoption or when the child is handed overNotably the law provides for work from home nursing breaks for breastfeeding women and creche facilitiesFurther the law has opened the gates for women workers to work in all establishments and do all types of workâThey may also work at night that is before 6 am and beyond 7 pm with their consent and the employer is required to make adequate arrangements for their safety facilities and transportationâ the statement said supporting a âhigher female participation in the workforceâThe Code on Wages 2019 also mandates employers not to discriminate on the grounds of gender in matters relating to recruitment wages or conditions of employmentâTogether these measures strengthen womenâs economic empowerment and contribute to a more resilient and genderbalanced labour ecosystemâ the statement said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-labour-codes-offer-enhanced-maternity-support-equal-pay-and-flexibility-in-workplace-650600.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pakistan-patients-in-sindh-suffer-as-healthcare-centres-lack-essential-facilities-650615.html Islamabad Nov 27 The basic infrastructure of primary and secondary hospitals in Pakistans Sindh continues to remain underdeveloped even after 70 years as hundreds of staff positions remain vacant in district hospitals and trauma centres for treating accident victims still not set up the local media reported In 2000 a notification was issued for affiliating four district hospitals with the Dow Medical College to grant them teaching hospital status Pakistanbased The Express Tribune reported However this notification was not implemented As per the plan Dows faculty would visit district hospitals to provide medical services to patientsDistrict hospitals only conduct routine tests and basic treatments despite receiving medicines budget from the Sindh government These hospitals do not have facility to carry out diagnostic tests like MRI CT scan PETT colour Doppler and other diagnostic procedures resulting in patients forced to visit Civil Hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre JPMC where patient load is already overwhelmingHealth centres and maternity homes in other districts and rural areas of Karachi also lack essential facilities This shortage not only delays timely diagnosis of patients but also causes heavy patient load on major government hospitalsMuhammad Aslam a resident of New Karachi told Express Tribune that he visited the Sindh Government New Karachi Hospital for severe back pain and the doctor advised her an MRI However the MRI facility was unavailable at the health facility and a private diagnostic centre asked for Pakistani Rupees PKR 20000 for MRI He had to borrow money to get the MRI done and said that no government hospital in Karachi conducts spinal cord surgery due to the absence of spine surgeonsDr Agha Amir Medical Superintendent MS of the Sindh Government Saudabad Hospital said that the facility has 180 beds but no MRI and CT scan machines as it has been categorized as a secondary hospitalHe further said A trauma centre and psychiatric unit were announced and machinery worth millions was purchased four years ago but it has not yet been utilised Malir districts population is 24 million and patients needing CT or MRI are referred to the Jinnah or Civil hospitals IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pakistan-patients-in-sindh-suffer-as-healthcare-centres-lack-essential-facilities-650615.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/healthcare-industry-calls-for-a-major-boost-in-union-budget-2026-27-650635.html New Delhi Nov 27 The healthcare industry on Thursday urged the government to invest in robust health systems in the upcoming Union Budget 202627 The Association of Healthcare Providers of India AHPI stated that enhancing healthcare funding in the upcoming Union Budget is crucial to address critical gaps in infrastructure skilled workforce and equitable access to affordable healthcare across the countryLast year the government allocated approximately Rs 90658 crore to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare marking a 125 per cent increase from the previous yearDespite this rise public health expenditure remains below 22 per cent of Indiaâs GDP falling short of the National Health Policy target of 25 per cent and global standards for developing economiesAHPI highlighted that as India faces a rising burden of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases alongside growing demand for specialty and preventive care the next budget must prioritise health system strengthening in rural and underserved areas to ensure universal health coverageâTo secure a healthier future for India it is imperative to invest in robust health systems today We urge the government to substantially enhance healthcare funding in Budget 202627 laying the foundation for worldclass and inclusive care for every citizenâ said Dr Girdhar Gyani Director General AHPIâExpanding infrastructure strengthening the workforce and enabling equitable access to quality services especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities are critical to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the nationâ he addedNATHEALTH Healthcare Federation of India called for reducing cancer care costs allocating proceeds from healthcare CESS and the proposed 35 per cent GST slab on tobacco and sugar products to strengthen public health programmesIndiaâs healthcare sector is at a defining crossroads presenting both complex challenges and transformative opportunities The upcoming Union Budget offers an unprecedented chance to address systemic gaps such as the acute shortage of medical specialists escalating cancer care costs and inadequate hospital infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing populationâ said Abhay Soi President NATHEALTHâExpanding hospital capacity viable reimbursement frameworks reducing treatment costs and advancing medical education will not only address current challenges but also secure Indiaâs position as a global healthcare leader These efforts will ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for allâ he addedSudarshan Jain Secretary General Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance urged the Union Budget to prioritise innovation ease of doing business and policies that strengthen the life sciences ecosystem IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/healthcare-industry-calls-for-a-major-boost-in-union-budget-2026-27-650635.html Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/vmmc-and-safdarjung-hospital-successfully-conducts1stpaediatric-renal-transplant-650276.html New Delhi Nov 25 VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday announced achieving a new milestone a first and successful paediatric renal transplant on an 11yearold boy undergoing regular dialysis âThis is not only a first for Safdarjung Hospital but also the first time that a paediatric renal transplant has been performed in any central government hospitalâ the hospital said in a statementThe surgery was performed on an 11yearold boy who had developed endstage kidney disease due to a rare disorder known as bilateral hypodysplastic kidneys where both kidneys are smaller than usual because they have not fully developed in the wombThe boy hailed from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh His 35yearold mother was the donorâThe condition was diagnosed about one and a half years back when the child was brought in a serious condition to the paediatrics department at Safdarjung Hospital and had to be revived after a cardiac arrestâ said Director Professor and Incharge Paediatric Nephrology Dr Shobha Sharma who led the paediatric team during the surgeryKidney failure was diagnosed at that time and the child had been under the care of the paediatric nephrology division since then and had been undergoing regular dialysisâPaediatric kidney transplant is a surgical challenge and differs from the adult transplant on various counts including the need to anastomose the donor kidney to the larger major vessels in the recipient and also the need to create space for the adult kidney to sit comfortably in the childs bodyâ said Dr Pawan Vasudeva Director Professor and Head of Urology and Renal Transplant who led the surgical transplant teamâThe donor kidney has taken up well with kidney function having normalisedâ Vasudeva informedHe added that the child has had an uneventful recovery is off dialysis and would be discharged soonâSafdarjung Hospital remains committed to providing the highest quality of healthcare free of cost to all citizens without any biasâ said Dr Sandeep Bansal Director at VMMC and Safdarjung HospitalHe noted that it was satisfying to see the child whose father was a daily wage worker now free from dialysis and in good healthâThis was a dream come true for the family who had given up all hope knowing that such a procedure in the private sector would cost close to 15 lakhsâ Bansal saidDr Charu Bamba Medical Superintendent informed that the hospital would provide immunosuppressive drugs which are expensive and which need to be continued in kidney transplant patients free of cost to the child IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/vmmc-and-safdarjung-hospital-successfully-conducts1stpaediatric-renal-transplant-650276.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/dgca-orders-mandatory-fatigue-management-training-for-airline-crew-650302.html New Delhi Nov 25 The Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA on Tuesday issued fresh directions to airlines making annual fatiguemanagement training compulsory for pilots cabin crew and other staff involved in planning crew schedules The move comes amid growing concern over rising duty hours and the impact of fatigue on flight safetyThe new rules will require each airline to provide at least one hour of specialised training every year as part of its regular ground training programmeThe module should cover rules regarding flight hours duty limits and mandatory rest in addition to sleep science disturbing factors for the bodys internal clock and how exhaustion influences performance in the cockpitcabinAirlines have also been asked to train crew in recognising fatigue managing lifestyle and rest effectively and understanding the effects of longhaul operations frequent short flights and crossing multiple time zonesThe programme may also include dispatchers and flight schedulers because of their involvement in roster planningThe DGCA has directed airlines to establish a transparent fatiguereporting mechanism and an independent Fatigue Review Committee to examine the reports and recommend corrective measuresA quarterly update must be sent to the regulator highlighting the number of crew trained the number of fatigue reports raised how many were acceptedrejected and for what reasons When a crew member applies for fatigue leave the rules require at least 24 hours of rest with one local nightThe latest move by the regulator follows a July audit that exposed inconsistencies in how airlines interpreted and applied fatiguerelated rules Pilot associations also have been warning that recent changes permitting more night landings and longer duty periods on some Boeing 787 routes could compromise safetyThe DGCA had earlier increased weekly rest to 48 hours and restricted the number of night landings allowed changes that initially faced resistance from major carriers like IndiGo and Air India before being enforced on the Delhi High Courtâs ordersThis new framework represents a renewed effort by the regulator to make crew wellbeing central in ensuring flight safety and making sure that fatigue risks are managed in a proactive manner across aviation IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/dgca-orders-mandatory-fatigue-management-training-for-airline-crew-650302.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/govt-launches-siddhi-20-to-boost-research-driven-innovation-in-ayurveda-pharma-sector-650408.html New Delhi Nov 26 The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences CCRAS Ministry of Ayush on Wednesday announced the launch of the second edition of its flagship industryresearch interface initiative SIDDHI 20 Scientific Innovation in Drug Development Healthcare and Integration Launched at a twoday national conclave in Vijayawada SIDDHI 20 marks a strategic shift towards researchled product development indigenous technology advancement and accelerated translational pathways and industry partnerships key elements of Indiaâs evolving Ayush innovation agendaâAs lifestylerelated diseases are on the rise Ayurvedaâs wellnesscentric approach is increasingly relevantâ said Prof Rabinarayan Acharya Director General CCRASAcharya appreciated CIIâs support in enabling direct engagement between CCRAS and the pharmaceutical sector through platforms such as SIDDHIK Dinesh Kumar IAS Director Ayush Government of Andhra Pradesh emphasised that SIDDHI 20 brings all key stakeholders onto a single platform and added that while modern science has increased lifespan Ayurveda can ensure a healthier lifespanDr N Srikanth Deputy Director General CCRAS informed that the Council has validated over 150 Ayurvedic formulations including herbomineral preparations He encouraged the industry to utilise CCRASâs extensive data spanning quality safety and toxicity studies and highlighted the organisationâs industryfriendly research policy which includes IPRsharing provisionsHe also mentioned CCRASâs support for Ayurvedabased AIdriven technologyenabled and other innovative startupsIndustry experts stressed the need for modernisation of Ayurvedic herbs and formulations to strengthen their global marketabilityCCRAS scientists also showcased the facilities key research outcomes products and technologies developed and formulations under various stages of development Further the possible areas of collaboration with the industries were also discussedSIDDHI 20 witnessed the participation of over 100 delegates including representatives from more than 25 leading Ayurvedic pharmaceutical companies from Southern IndiaEnvisioned as a national translational accelerator SIDDHI 20 aims to promote wider industry adoption of CCRAS technologies strengthen institutional linkages upgrade quality and regulatory frameworks and support the development of globally competitive Ayurvedic pharmaceuticalsBy advancing scientific innovation and industry collaboration in unison SIDDHI 20 lays the foundation for a modern evidencedriven and scalable future for Ayurveda in alignment with Indiaâs national vision for holistic health IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/govt-launches-siddhi-20-to-boost-research-driven-innovation-in-ayurveda-pharma-sector-650408.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-well-positioned-to-become-innovation-led-pharma-giant-in-next-5-years-cdsco-650419.html New Delhi Nov 26 India is well positioned to evolve from being the pharmacy of the world to an innovationled pharma nation over the next five years said Dr R Chandrashekar Joint Drugs Controller the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization CDSCO He was speaking at the threeday 18th CPHI amp PMEC India being held in Greater Noida from November 25 to November 27âThe government and CDSCO reforms such as streamlined approvals reduced regulatory layers decriminalisation of nonserious offences and the recommendation of RampD projects worth Rs 5000 crore The newly launched hospital finance scheme of Rs 100000 crore further strengthens the countryâs RampD landscapeâ Chandrashekar said while addressing the mediaâIndiaâs pharmaceutical sector is rapidly shifting from a genericsled foundation to an innovationdriven ecosystem with growing emphasis on biosimilars peptides complex generics and nextgeneration biologicsâ he addedNamit Joshi Chairman Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India Pharmexcil urged the need for India to evolve beyond its traditional generics mindset and adopt crossdomain insights and a more innovationled approach to strengthen Indiaâs role in shaping the next era of global healthcareâThe future lies in valuedriven innovation advancing capabilities in peptides complex generics biosimilars biologics targeted drug delivery systems and cell and gene therapies Breakthrough classes such as GLP1 inhibitors are redefining global health outcomes and Indian manufacturers are already preparing to enter these highvalue segments as patents expireâ Joshi addedAnil Matai Director General Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India OPPI said that while India has firmly established itself as the âPharmacy to the Worldâ it is now transitioning toward becoming a true pharma powerhouseâThis shift is supported by enabling regulations improved processes and a growing emphasis on innovation stronger intellectual property protection and the elimination of patent infringements These reforms reflect the governmentâs broader vision to âdiscover in India innovate in India and innovate for the worldâ and the first steps toward that future are already visibleâ Matai added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-well-positioned-to-become-innovation-led-pharma-giant-in-next-5-years-cdsco-650419.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/evidence-based-ayurvedic-products-are-future-of-wellness-prataprao-jadhav-650187.html New Delhi Nov 24 Evidencebased ayurvedic products are the future of wellness said Union Minister for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav He was speaking about the upcoming SIDDHI 20 Scientific Innovation in Drug Development Healthcare and Integration programme organised by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences CCRAS under the Ministry of AyushThe conclave to be held in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh from November 2526 is positioned as one of the most significant national platforms advancing the scientific industrial and commercial ecosystem of AyurvedaâSIDDHI 20 represents our continuous efforts and commitment to boost the traditional medicine sector and transform Ayush into a system that stands firmly on scientific foundationsâ said Jadhav Union Minister of State IC for Ayush and Minister of State for Health amp Family WelfareâCCRAS has created a strong national platform for innovation and its engagement with industry is crucial for transforming research outcomes into highquality Ayurvedic products that meet global expectationsâ he addedSIDDHI 20 marks a decisive shift towards researchled product development indigenous technologies and faster translational pipelines priorities at the heart of Indiaâs current Ayush innovation strategyâAyurvedaâs future lies in its ability to convert validated research into accessible and reliable solutions SIDDHI 20 is a timely initiative that brings together CCRASâ scientific strength and the manufacturing capabilities of Indiaâs Ayush industry enabling faster product development and smoother regulatory pathwaysâ said Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha Secretary Ministry of AyushThe initiative is being driven by the scientific leadership of CCRAS which has articulated a strong national vision for evidencebased Ayurveda CCRAS is poised to outline Indiaâs rapidly evolving Ayurvedic research ecosystem playing a central role in drug development standardisation validation regulatory advancement and commercialisationPositioned as a national translational accelerator SIDDHI 20 aims to expand industry adoption of CCRAS technologies strengthen institutional networks enhance quality and regulatory systems and support the development of globally competitive Ayurvedic pharmaceuticals IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/evidence-based-ayurvedic-products-are-future-of-wellness-prataprao-jadhav-650187.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/long-pepper-compound-may-aid-in-treatment-of-colon-cancernit-rourkela-650194.html New Delhi Nov 25 A natural compound found in long pepper can be an effective and costefficient agent against colon cancer cells said researchers at the National Institute of Technology NIT Rourkela on Tuesday Colon cancer is a disease in which the cells grow uncontrollably in the large intestine of the body forming a tumour It is one of the most common types of cancer globally According to the World Health Organization in 2022 nearly 19 million new cases and almost 900000 deaths occurred due to colon cancerWhile various international cancer research studies have examined natural moleculesâ activity towards a variety of cancers the team at NIT Rourkela conducted a set of laboratory experiments to demonstrate the activity of Piperlongumine a natural compound as an alternative to chemotherapyIt is because conventional treatments such as chemotherapy are painful and have longlasting side effects including hair loss fatigue nerve damage and weakened immunityIn addition the cancerous cells tend to develop resistance to chemotherapy agents making the treatment difficultThe findings published in the prestigious journal BioFactors showed that Piperlongumine selectively kills colon cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmedâThis natural compound from long pepper has shown strong anticancer effects with minimal side effects making it a promising and safer alternative therapy Over time many cancer patients stop responding to chemotherapy meaning the treatment no longer works which can increase the risk of deathâ said Prof Bijesh Kumar Biswal Associate Professor Department of Life Science NIT RourkelaIn the study the team conducted multiple assays including MTT assay apoptotic induction nuclear damage and mitochondrial dysfunction to check the viability of colon cancer cells after treatment with piperlongumine These reported significant cancer cell deathFurther they reported that Piperlongumine increases oxidative stress inside colon cancer cells that they cannot handle causing them to selfdestruct Normal cells however are not affected because they can easily manage this stressSince long pepper pippalithippilimaghaun is an inexpensive easily cultivated plant that already exists in the diet of a large portion of the Indian population the formulation of piperlongumine offers a lowcost green therapeutic alternative especially beneficial for low and middleincome countries due to the exorbitant costs of cancer treatment the team saidâAs a next step our team is investigating the use of piperlongumine alongside chemotherapeutic drugs such as oxaliplatin to help restore patientsâ responsiveness to treatment This discovery opens new possibilities for treating advanced and chemoresistant colorectal cancer where current treatment options are limitedâ Biswal added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/long-pepper-compound-may-aid-in-treatment-of-colon-cancernit-rourkela-650194.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/integrating-palliative-care-into-public-health-system-can-boost-access-study-650226.html New Delhi Nov 25 Integrating palliative care into the public health system can help universalise access and improve healthcare according to a study Palliative care is a branch of medicine that aims to prevent and relieve the physical social and spiritual suffering of patients suffering from chronic lifelimiting illnesses and their caregiversThe World Health Organisation defines palliative care as âan approach that improves the quality of life of patients adults and children and their families who are facing problems associated with lifethreatening illnessâThe study showed that nearly 710 million people require palliative care in India but less than 4 per cent have access to itWith rising burden of chronic diseases in the country and associated suffering there is an urgent need to improve access to palliative care from the public health system Parth Sharma Department of Community Medicine Maulana Azad Medical College New Delhi told IANSThe study led by the Association for Socially Applicable Research ASAR Pune aimed to assess the geographical accessibility of palliative care in India and estimate changes in accessibility based on its delivery from different levels of the public health systemTheir analysis published in ecancermedicalscience showed that in 2022 India had 526 palliative care centres with a density of four per 10 million populationThe highest densities were in Lakshadweep Goa and Kerala The median IQR travel time to the nearest palliative care centers was 118 71 179 minutes and 236 per cent 398 per cent and 71 per cent of people lived within 30 60 and 120 minutes respectivelyRural areas had worse access than urban areas with considerable variation across statesWhile states like Kerala and Chandigarh had nearuniversal access Madhya Pradesh Odisha and Bihar had much lower coverageNotably access improved significantly when palliative care was integrated into all levels of the healthcare system stated the studyThe researchers stated that once the existing public health infrastructure is equipped with palliative care services access to the ones in rural areas can be improvedâAccess to palliative care in India is limited especially in rural areas Expanding integration with the public health system could enhance access ensuring more equitable care nationwideâ the researchers said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/integrating-palliative-care-into-public-health-system-can-boost-access-study-650226.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/bdesh-8-more-people-die-of-dengue-death-toll-crosses-360-650028.html Dhaka Nov 23 The dengue outbreak in Bangladesh is worsening rapidly with infections and deaths rising sharply across the country As many as eight people died due to dengue in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Sunday raising the number of fatalities from the mosquitoborne disease in the country in 2025 to 364 local media reported During the same period 778 new patients were hospitalised in Bangladesh increasing the total number of dengue cases in 2025 to 90264 according to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS United News of Bangladesh reportedThree fatalities were reported in Mymensingh division two in Dhaka South City Corporation DSCC and one each in Barishal Dhaka and Chattogram DivisionsAmong this years dengue patients 623 per cent have been men while 377 per cent are women according to the DGHS report Among the fatalities 519 per cent were male while 481 per cent were femaleAs many as 575 people lost their lives due to dengue in 2024 while 1705 people died of 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 an individual 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 action IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/bdesh-8-more-people-die-of-dengue-death-toll-crosses-360-650028.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/israeli-measles-outbreak-claims-10th-victim-health-officials-urge-vaccinations-650042.html Jerusalem Nov 24 The Israeli Health Ministry said that an 18monthold boy has died of measles raising the death toll from an outbreak that began in early April to 10 Most of the victims were previously healthy unvaccinated infants Tzafon Medical Centre near Tiberias said the child who was not vaccinated arrived at its emergency room in critical condition early Sunday and died despite resuscitation effortsAccording to data from the ministry more than 2000 measles cases have been confirmed in the current outbreak Eleven patients are hospitalised including two under intensive careThe ministry urged parents to vaccinate their children and to seek medical attention immediately if symptoms appear or exposure is suspected It has designated 12 cities and several other localities as outbreak zones and called for additional vaccinations for babies in those areas Xinhua news agency reportedMeasles is a highly contagious virus that causes fever fatigue a runny nose and a rash and can sometimes lead to severe complications or deathMeasles 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/israeli-measles-outbreak-claims-10th-victim-health-officials-urge-vaccinations-650042.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/death-toll-from-ethiopias-marburg-outbreak-rises-to-five-650067.html Addis Ababa Nov 24 The death toll from Ethiopias Marburg virus disease outbreak has risen to five the countrys Ministry of Health has said In its latest update issued late Saturday the ministry said the outbreaks case fatality rate now stands at 50 per cent Two additional infections were confirmed after laboratory testing of seven suspected cases bringing the total number of cases to 10As Ethiopia rolls out coordinated response measures to contain the countrys firstever Marburg virus outbreak health authorities have conducted laboratory investigations on 53 suspected cases so farMinistry data showed that five individuals who have contracted the virus are currently receiving treatment at healthcare facilitiesThe Ethiopian government confirmed the countrys first Marburg virus disease outbreak in Jinka town in southern Ethiopia on November 14 following laboratory testing of samples from a cluster of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever casesOn Thursday the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said that coordinated efforts are currently underway to avert possible crossborder spread to neighboring countries mainly South Sudan and KenyaThe continental public health agency emphasised the urgent need to reinforce regional readiness enhance information sharing and strengthen crossborder surveillance to prevent the potential spread of the virus Xinhua news agency reportedThe Marburg virus a highly infectious pathogen with a high fatality rate causes hemorrhagic fever Symptoms including high fever and severe headache typically appear within a week of exposure It belongs to the same virus family as Ebola According to the World Health Organization Marburg virus disease is a severe disease with a fatality ratio of up to 88 per cent This rate can be lower with good and early patient careMVD was initially detected in 1967 after two simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and in Belgrade Serbia The outbreak was associated with laboratory work using African green monkeys Cercopithecus aethiops imported from Uganda Subsequently outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola the Democratic Republic of the Congo Equatorial Guinea Ghana Guinea Kenya Rwanda South Africa in a person with recent travel history to Zimbabwe Tanzania and Uganda IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/death-toll-from-ethiopias-marburg-outbreak-rises-to-five-650067.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/six-of-a-family-critical-after-consuming-food-cooked-with-acid-in-bengals-ghatal-650090.html Kolkata Nov 24 Six members of a family including two children are in critical condition after accidentally consuming food cooked with acid in Ghatal West Midnapore district police said on Monday They are undergoing treatment at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata Two of them are children The incident took place in Ghatal of the West Midnapore district on SundayThe police said that Panchanan Mandal the health officer of Ghatal Panchayat Samiti rushed to the spot on receiving the informationLocal police and administration officials also went to the area to investigate how this incident took placePreliminary investigation suggests that the incident happened after a meal was prepared using acid mistakenly assumed to be water However the police are also investigating whether it was a deliberate attempt to spike the food with acid in a bid to wipe out the entire familySix members of a family fell seriously ill after consuming food It is believed that acid was used instead of water to make the food All of them including two children have been transferred to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata for treatment Their condition is critical An investigation has started said a senior officer of West Midnapore district policeAccording to local sources Santu Sanyasi a resident of Ratneshwarbati village of Manoharpur I Gram Panchayat in Ghatal keeps acid at home as he is engaged in copper and silver work As a result acid was always kept in the house On Sunday a relative of Sanyasi Babu mistakenly poured the acid kept in the house mistaking it for water The person cooked rice and curry in itShortly after eating the family began to suffer severe stomach pain and vomiting They started experiencing unbearable stomach pain They were immediately admitted to the Ghatal Subdivisional Hospital When their condition deteriorated the hospital authorities referred all six of them to the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/six-of-a-family-critical-after-consuming-food-cooked-with-acid-in-bengals-ghatal-650090.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/govt-to-ensure-uniform-safety-and-health-standards-for-workers-649845.html New Delhi Nov 22 The newly launched labour laws will ensure uniform safety and health standards for workers said the government on Saturday The country has witnessed a major shift in its labour regulation framework with the implementation of the four consolidated labour codesThe four Labour Codes include the Code on Wages 2019 the Industrial Relations Code 2020 the Code on Social Security 2020 and the Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code 2020The Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code OSH 2020 is enacted to consolidate and simplify the existing complex web of labour laws It replaces 13 Central Labour laws with a single comprehensive legislation thereby reducing multiplicity and bringing uniformity across industries and States UTsâThe Code was enacted as a part of the broader labour laws reforms to improve transparency enhance worker welfare and promote ease of doing business in Indiaâ according to an official statementUnder the code every factory employing 500 or more workers employers employing 250 or more Building and Other Construction Workers BOCW and employers employing 100 or more mine workers will constitute a safety committee which will consist of representatives from employers and workersâThis code provides health safety and welfare of workers in all sectors which was previously limited to seven sectors viz factories mines plantations beedicigar dock workers BOCW and motor transportâ the statement saidEvery employee will be eligible for free annual health checkups Also the plantation employer can now avail the ESI facility for medical servicesâThis will enable early detection of diseases reduce medical costs and improve workforce health and productivityâ the statement said It will also promote preventive healthcare reduce longterm occupational risk and provide industry benefits in terms of lower absenteeism and improved productivityFurther the National Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board will set national standards for occupational safety health and working conditions that will be mandatory for states to follow ensuring compliance with stringent quality standards for occupational safety health and working conditions across the country for all workersThe Social Security fund aims to safeguard worklife balance ensure fair compensation for extra work encourage transparent overtime practices with worker consent and provide an opportunity to earn more by doing overtime and get paid at a higher wage double the normal wage rate IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/govt-to-ensure-uniform-safety-and-health-standards-for-workers-649845.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/yogi-govt-unveils-major-action-plan-to-curb-air-pollution-in-ncr-up-649917.html Lucknow Nov 22 The Yogi Adityanath government has rolled out a comprehensive action plan to tackle worsening air pollution in the Uttar Pradesh region of the National Capital Region NCR The plan finalised under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary identifies road dust as the single biggest contributor to pollution and outlines targeted measures to mitigate itThe action strategy prioritises the redevelopment of road stretches dust control and improved cleanliness across urban areasThe state government has appointed the Principal Secretary of the Environment Forest and Climate Change Department as the nodal officer for the campaignA Project Monitoring Unit PMU headed by the departmentâs Secretary has also been set up to oversee implementationSenior officials from the Urban Development PWD Housing and Urban Planning and Industrial and Infrastructure Development departments are part of the Project Monitoring UnitAuthorities in Noida and Greater Noida have already begun deploying antismog guns water sprinklers and mechanical sweepers to suppress road dustOfficials say the measures will offer significant relief to people living in the NCRUP regionTo further reduce vehicular emissions district administrations through the Transport Department have imposed strict restrictions on diesel autorickshawsDiesel autos will be completely banned in Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad In Baghpat the ban will take effect by December 31 this year In Meerut Hapur Bulandshahr Muzaffarnagar and Shamli diesel autos will be phased out by December 31 2026The Meerut Regional Transport Authority has also halted the issuance and renewal of permits for these banned vehiclesThe action plan comes as DelhiNCR witnessed another alarming spike in air pollution on SaturdayAccording to AQI data most Delhi monitoring stations recorded readings between 300 and 430 while pollution levels in Noida and Ghaziabad crossed even higher thresholdsSeveral areas including Loni in Ghaziabad registered AQI levels above 450 triggering widespread complaints of breathlessness and eye irritationExperts warn that prolonged exposure to such toxic air can lead to asthma chronic lung disease cardiac complications and severe health risks for children and the elderly IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/yogi-govt-unveils-major-action-plan-to-curb-air-pollution-in-ncr-up-649917.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/technology-essential-to-achieve-universal-health-coverage-in-india-nha-official-649933.html New Delhi Nov 22 Vikram Pagaria Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ABDM Director National Health Authority NHA said on Saturday that technology is essential to achieving universal health coverage in India He was speaking at the Regional Open Digital Health Summit 2025 in the national capitalThe threeday event brought together leaders from government departments and experts from international organisations and the health technology sector to put in motion a framework for Digital Health and artificial intelligence AI collaboration across the SouthEast Asia regionPagaria focused on the importance of digital health as an investmentDigital health is an investment not a cost and is essential in achieving universal health coverage he saidHe underscored technologys potential to overcome critical challenges such as doctor shortages and reach underserved rural communities the NHA official saidTechnology alone does not equal transformation True impact comes from addressing realworld needs empowering frontline workers protecting rights and ensuring equity said Meredith Dyson Regional Health Specialist Health Systems Strengthening UNICEFShe underlined the importance of interoperability by design and countryspecific blueprints aligned with Digital Public Infrastructure principlesAbhishek Singh Additional Secretary Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and CEO IndiaAI Mission called for building a safe inclusive and globally relevant AIenabled health system through collaboration between government states hospitals technologists academia World Health Organisation and the Global SouthKarthik Adapa Regional Advisor for Digital Health World Health Organisation SouthEast Asia Region emphasised the distinction between integration and interoperabilityHe highlighted essential components of a robust digital health system infrastructure Digital Public Infrastructures applications governance and capacity buildingThe experts also deliberated a sustainable financing model as a critical prerequisite for digital health transformation especially in the face of shrinking fiscal space rising health costs and declining global aid flowsIndia Bangladesh Maldives Nepal Sri Lanka Bhutan Thailand and TimorLeste list common challenges like fragmented financing channels donor dependence and insufficient longterm budgeting that threaten to undermine digital health progress IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/technology-essential-to-achieve-universal-health-coverage-in-india-nha-official-649933.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 02:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/community-participation-foundation-of-early-disease-detection-and-surveillancedr-v-k-paul-649732.html New Delhi Nov 21 Community participation is the foundation of early disease detection surveillance and can ensure pandemic preparedness said Dr VK Paul Member Health NITI Aayog on Friday Speaking at the twoday National One Health Mission Assembly 2025 at Bharat Mandapam Paul called the One Health mission a Jan andolan and called for âcommunity participationâ He stated that with a wholeofsociety approach and grassroots preparedness the mission will be a successâIndiaâs progress in One Health relies on a strong wholeofgovernment approach that advances a healthier and more resilient future Community participation remains central to this effort The media plays a crucial role in shaping public understanding and addressing misinformation while our lawandorder systems serve as vital force multipliers during emergencies Strengthening these partnerships will ensure timely trusted and coordinated action when it matters mostâ said PaulâCommunity engagement is the foundation of early disease detection surveillance and rapid response and highlighted that communityled mobilisation was one of Indiaâs greatest strengths during the Covid19 pandemicâ he addedPaul stressed the need to extend One Health preparedness to the grassroots where frontline workers local governments and communities form the first line of defenceDr Rajiv Bahl Secretary Department of Health Research and Director General ICMR urged the need to âbuild diagnostics therapeutics and vaccines for future outbreaksâ with speedâWe need science technology and development to work in unison By bringing together experts from across sectors the National One Health Mission platform is helping shape a more agile prepared and responsive ecosystem for managing current and future public health threatsâ he saidThe deliberations concluded with a shared recognition that One Health is essential to achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat By advancing scientific excellence enabling crosssectoral cooperation and strengthening preparedness across all levels of the system India continues to move towards a safer and more resilient future IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/community-participation-foundation-of-early-disease-detection-and-surveillancedr-v-k-paul-649732.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indiaremainsfirmly-on-track-in-its-fight-against-tb-govt-649723.html New Delhi Nov 21 India remains firmly on track in its fight against tuberculosis TB cases said official sources in the Central TB Division on Friday In the wake of certain reports suggesting a rise in TB cases in India they cited the latest report by the World Health Organization WHO which confirms that the country has achieved a significant decline in both TB incidence and mortality in the last decadeAccording to the WHOs Global TB Report 2025 India has recorded a 21 per cent reduction in TB incidence dropping from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024 During the same period TB mortality decreased by 25 per cent from 28 deaths per lakh in 2015 to 21 in 2024Treatment coverage has remarkably improved from 53 per cent in 2015 to 92 per cent in 2024 significantly reducing disease progression and transmissionThese can be attributed to strengthened surveillance early detection and expanded treatment coverage by the government the officials saidThe Ministry of Health has reaffirmed that India remains firmly on track in its fight against TB with the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan expected to deliver further gains in reducing incidence and preventing mortality they added Launched in December 2024 the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a flagship mission to eliminate the worlds deadliest infection in the countryAs per WHO estimates India had nearly 15 lakh âmissingâ TB cases in 2015 posing a serious challenge in controlling transmissionIn 2024 this number was brought down by 93 per cent to under one lakh reflecting a major breakthrough in case detectionThe governmentâs renewed focus on identifying unreported and asymptomatic cases which were previously missed due to limited surveillance practices has been key to the achievement said the Central TB Division responsible for keeping a watch over the TB MUKT Bharat AbhiyanThe officials indicated that the increase in notifications is often misinterpreted as a rise in TB cases whereas it actually reflects improved detection and faster treatment initiation preventing further spread of infectionIdentifying cases earlier before symptoms worsen has contributed to both reduced transmission and better treatment outcomes ultimately lowering TBrelated deaths they addedThe TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan marked a strategic shift towards proactive and technologydriven disease surveillance The campaign deployed AIenabled handheld Xrays digital screening tools upfront molecular diagnostics NAAT and focused outreach in highrisk areasUnder the initiative 2489 lakh cases were notified out of which 87 lakh were asymptomatic cases that would likely have gone undiagnosed under conventional methods IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indiaremainsfirmly-on-track-in-its-fight-against-tb-govt-649723.html Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/national-one-health-missionisindias-significant-step-toward-pandemic-preparedness-nadda-649517.html New Delhi Nov 20 The National One Health Mission NOHM is Indiaâs most significant step toward pandemic preparedness said JP Nadda Union Health Minister on Thursday Addressing the National One Health Mission Assembly 2025 through a video message Nadda stated that the theme of the Assembly âOne Earth One Health One Futureâ looks at strengthening health security and enhancing preparedness against future pandemicsâNOHM is one of Indiaâs most significant steps toward pandemic preparednessâ said NaddaThe Mission integrates 16 different Central and State MinistriesDepartments spanning human health animal health environment agriculture pharmaceuticals defence earth sciences space sciences and disaster managementâThe National One Health Mission is a unique example of wholeofgovernment and wholeofsociety collaboration For the first time we have brought together all relevant ministries and departments to work collectively for the health of humans animals plants and the environmentâ he statedNadda highlighted how the Mission has already begun implementing key activities including integrated surveillance across slaughterhouses bird sanctuaries zoos and wastewater systems in major cities to monitor antimicrobial resistance and infectious pathogensThe Minister further highlighted the establishment of a national network of 23 BSL3 and BSL4 laboratories under the MissionâThese highcontainment labs are our first line of defence against emerging or mutating pathogens They will significantly enhance our ability to detect threats early and respond swiftlyâ he saidThe Minister emphasised that the One Health approach will enable early warning systems for epidemics and pandemics support integrated interventions and help India remain futurereadyDr V K Paul Member Health NITI Aayog underlined that as the world continues to confront zoonotic diseases and climatesensitive illnesses coordinated and collective responses across sectors are requiredâNOHM is a longterm commitment aimed at building surveillance networks and mechanisms that connect ministries institutions and academia through technologyenabled systemsâ Paul saidCalling for a âunified and swift responseâ he stated that outbreak investigation risk communication and coordinated action must be synchronised across all levels Ensuring availability of medical countermeasures vaccines diagnostics and therapeutics at scale is equally critical for preparednessOn the occasion the BSL3 Laboratory Network SOP Compendium was released to ensure that laboratories adhere to harmonised protocolsâIndiaâs national network of BSL3 and BSL4 laboratories is now wellequipped to support early detection and response to One Health threats and future pandemicsâ Paul noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/national-one-health-missionisindias-significant-step-toward-pandemic-preparedness-nadda-649517.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-7-firms-and-40-medicines-banned-in-2025-649562.html Jaipur Nov 20 Rajasthan Medical and Health Department intensifying its focus on strengthening healthcare quality and ensuring better services for the public is adopting a zerotolerance policy toward negligence or irregularities The department has taken unprecedented action to guarantee the supply of quality medicines under the Chief Ministers Free Medicine SchemeThe Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation RMSC has debarred 7 firms and 40 medicines this year after they failed to meet quality standards during inspectionsâthe largest action since the Corporationâs establishment Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar stated that while the smooth functioning of the Free Medicine Scheme is important supplying only standardquality medicines remains the top priority He added that strict action is being taken against firms failing to meet quality requirements resulting in 7 firms and 40 products being banned in 2025 a record since the corporationâs inception Principal Secretary Gayatri Rathore noted that from 2011â12 to 2024â25 only 26 companies were banned In contrast seven pharmaceutical companies have already been banned in the financial year 2025â26 for supplying or failing to supply substandard medicines In addition 40 medicines have been banned this year aloneâagain the highest in any financial year Penalties have also been imposed in six casesRMSC Managing Director Pukhraj Sen explained that the Corporation has developed a robust qualitytesting mechanism to prevent substandard medicines from reaching hospitals All medicines procured from suppliers are first stored in quarantine at district drug stores Each batch is tested by RMSCauthorised laboratories Only batches that meet quality standards are released for hospital distribution through the emedicine software Batches found substandard by authorised labs are immediately rejected When a drug sample fails initial testing it is sent to the State Drug Testing Laboratory for confirmation A letter is also sent to the Drug Controller who collects independent samples from district drug stores and has them tested at the state laboratory Apart from RMSC testing district drug control officers also collect random samples After a substandard report is confirmed the case is presented to the Disciplinary Committee The concerned firm is issued a notice and allowed to be heard Based on the findings the Committee then debars or penalises the firm or product as per guidelines related to tender violations blacklisting and debarment In 2025 the corporation debarred five firms for five years for supplying substandard or adulterated medicines which include Ms Arien Healthcare producing Ciprofloxacin and Dexamethasone EyeEar Drops Ms Agron Remedies Pvt Ltd making Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets Tobramycin Eye Drops Ms Effi Parenterals for making Calcium and Vitamin D3 Tablets Jpee Drugs for Calcium and Vitamin D3 Suspension Sai Parenterals Ltd for Heparin Sodium Injection and two additional firms were banned for three years for violating service conditions which are Ms Biogenetic Drugs Pvt Ltd and Ms Smilex Healthcare Drug CompanyA total of 40 medicines have been banned from sale and marketing after testing confirmed they were substandard These include Primaquine Tablets from Ms Maxwell Life Sciences Pvt Ltd and Ms Scott Edil Pharmacia Ltd Heparin Sodium Injection and Calcium amp Vitamin D3 Suspension from Ms Yakka Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd banned for 3 years Fexofenadine Tablets from Ms Santlife Pharmaceuticals Ltd Levetiracetam Tablets and Clopidogrel Aspirin Tablets from Ms Life Max Cancer Laboratories and Calcitriol Capsules from Ms Titanium Technologies India Pvt Ltd among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-7-firms-and-40-medicines-banned-in-2025-649562.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-germany-advance-collaboration-on-traditional-medicine-649641.html New Delhi Nov 21 India has advanced cooperation with Germany in the field of traditional and integrative healthcare the Ministry of Ayush said The countries engaged during the third Joint Working Group JWG Meeting on Alternative Medicine between the Ministry of Ayush Government of India and the Federal Ministry of Health Germany held from November 18 to 20 in BerlinâThe discussions centered on three key pillars integrating traditional medicine into public health systems establishing reimbursement pathways for patient access and strengthening regulatory approval mechanismsâ the Ministry saidThese themes reflect the shared commitment of both nations to foster evidencebased and peoplecentered traditional medicine practicesKey engagements of the visit included the Competence Center forTraditional and Integrative Medicine Charità University to explore collaborative research opportunities and advance the proposed MoU with the Ministry of AyushOthers include Community Hospital HavelhÃhe Clinic for Anthroposophic Medicine reviewing integrative care and research practices and the Federal Joint Committee GBA for detailed discussions on insurance and reimbursement mechanisms relevant to traditional medicineThe mission reflects the Ministry of Ayushâs strategic efforts to globalise Ayush systems create robust frameworks for evidencebased integration and strengthen highvalue international partnerships that enhance Indiaâs footprint in the global traditional medicine landscapeThe Ministry affirmed that sustained collaboration with Germany will help accelerate research regulatory harmonisation and patient access to integrative healthcare solutions rooted in safety quality and scientific validationThe AYUSH Ministry has signed about 25 countrytocountry MoUs to promote traditional medicineIndias traditional medicine sector witnessed a remarkable transformation expanding nearly eightfold in less than 10 yearsâManufacturing sector revenues have grown from 21697 crore in 201415 to over Rs 137 lakh crore currently while the services sector has generated Rs 167 lakh crore in revenueâ said Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav recently on the growing relevance of traditional medicineExports of Ayush and herbal products have risen worth 154 billion to more than 150 countries Jadhav added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-germany-advance-collaboration-on-traditional-medicine-649641.html Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/316mnwomen-125mnadolescent-girls-faced-sexual-violence-in-last-12-months-who-649478.html Geneva Nov 20 A whopping 316 million women and 125 million adolescent girls worldwide faced sexual violence in the last 12 months according to a report released by the World Health Organization WHO on Thursday The report released ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and girls observed on November 25 noted that violence against women remains one of the worldâs most persistent and underaddressed human rights crises and has made little progress in the last two decadesNearly one in three women estimated 840 million globally have experienced partner or sexual violence during their lifetime a number that has hardly changed since the year 2000In the last 12 months 316 million women 11 per cent of those aged 15 or older were subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partnerAbout 125 million adolescent girls 1519 years of age or 16 per cent have experienced physical andor sexual violence from an intimate partnerProgress on reducing intimate partner violence has been painfully slow with only a 02 per cent annual decline over the past two decades stated the reportFor the first time the report also includes national and regional estimates of sexual violence by someone other than a partnerIt found 263 million women have experienced nonpartner sexual violence since age 15 a figure experts caution is significantly underreported due to stigma and fearViolence against women is one of humanityâs oldest and most pervasive injustices yet still one of the least acted upon said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus WHO DirectorGeneralNo society can call itself fair safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear Ending this violence is not only a matter of policy it is a matter of dignity equality and human rights he addedThe report also highlighted the lack of funding for initiatives against sexual violence warning that humanitarian emergencies technological shifts and rising socioeconomic inequality are further increasing risks for millions of women and girlsIt called for decisive government action and funding to scale up evidencebased prevention programmes to strengthen survivorcentred health legal and social services investing in data systems to track progress and reach the most atrisk groups and enforcing laws and policies empowering women and girls IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/316mnwomen-125mnadolescent-girls-faced-sexual-violence-in-last-12-months-who-649478.html Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/leveraging-aicantransformindiashealthcarelandscape-report-649222.html New Delhi Nov 18 Artificial Intelligence AI can reshape Indian healthcare by bridging systemic gaps and driving measurable outcomes according to a report The report by KPMG in collaboration with FICCI provides a strategic roadmap for objectivedriven and responsible AI adoption in Indian healthcareWhile AI has hundreds of applications across the healthcare value chain the report reflects on more than 25 realworld use cases of the technology from Indian healthcare providers across selfcare and health management primary care and care navigation hospital care and operations management posthospitalisation and rehabilitation remote care and telehealth public health system and policy levelCiting NITI Aayog projections it noted AI could contribute to a threefold increase in Indiaâs GDP by 2035 with healthcare as a priority sectorIt also addressed critical challenges such as data fragmentation ethics governance and workforce readiness offering a blueprint for integrating AI across clinical operational and public health domainsâThis paper explores the transformative role of AI in connecting the dots between vast untapped data disconnected systems into a unified intelligent network that delivers personalised and effective careâ said Lalit Mistry Partner and Cohead Healthcare KPMG in IndiaâProviders across the public and private sector can unlock huge value and efficiency by adopting AIdriven transformation to deliver better care and outcomesâ Mistry addedFuture healthcare success demands a new level of crossfunctional collaboration across healthcare care settings and the healthcare workforceTomorrowâs healthcare will be intelligent not just artificially but seamlessly integrated With AI at the core people services and providers unite to reimagine care uplifting and not replacing the human capabilities to deliver smarter more connected healthcare outcomes the report saidThis report can enable healthcare administrators across public and private sectors to explore the potential of AI in healthcare across value chains with critical enablers and guardrails that enable a successful AIdriven transformation it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/leveraging-aicantransformindiashealthcarelandscape-report-649222.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/brain-fever-karnataka-govt-releases-guidelines-for-sabarimala-pilgrims-649248.html Bengaluru Nov 18 The Karnataka government has issued guidelines for Sabarimala pilgrims following cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis or brain fever caused by the Naegleria fowleri microorganism commonly known as the âbrain eating amoebaâ The guidelines aim to protect public health and ensure preventive measures The Commissioner of the Health Department stated on Tuesday that Naegleria fowleri is a freeliving amoeba typically found in warm freshwater and sand such as stagnant water puddles and swimming pools The infection does not spread from one person to another nor does it occur by drinking contaminated waterNaegleria fowleri is a highly virulent microorganism and when water containing the amoeba enters the nose it can reach the brain and cause the rare and often fatal condition of amoebic meningoencephalitis During the pilgrimage pilgrims are advised to ensure that water does not enter the nose while bathing The use of nose clips is also recommendedAfter exposure to water if an individual develops symptoms such as fever severe headache nausea vomiting neck stiffness altered mental status or behavioural disturbances they should immediately seek medical attention at the nearest government hospital without delay the Health Department statedAs Sabarimalas annual pilgrimage season began Keralas Health Department issued an advisory to the devotees emphasising that devotees must ensure that water does not enter the body through the nose while taking a bathThe notice has been issued in the wake of a spike in amoebic meningoencephalitis cases in the stateA large number of devotees from Karnataka visit the shrine as it is one of the states with many Ayyappan templesNearly two lakh devotees arrived at the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta on Tuesday within 48 hours of the temple opening for the annual mandalamakaravilakku pilgrimage season Large crowds of devotees packed the pilgrimage route from Pamba the foothills of Sabarimala to the Sannidhanam with many facing hourslong delays in climbing the pathAccording to an official statement on November 16 the day on which the temple opened 53278 pilgrims visited the shrine Heavy rush at Sabarimala is leading to chaos as queues for darshan stretch up to 10 hours according to local authorities IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/brain-fever-karnataka-govt-releases-guidelines-for-sabarimala-pilgrims-649248.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/four-more-people-die-of-dengue-in-bangladesh-2025-death-toll-crosses-340-649256.html Dhaka Nov 18 Four more people have died due to dengue in Bangladesh in 24 hours till Tuesday morning increasing the number of fatalities from the mosquitoborne disease in the country to 343 in 2025 the local media reported During the same period 920 more patients were admitted to hospital with viral fever raising the total number of dengue patients to 86924 in 2025 according to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS the United News of Bangladesh UNB reportedAccording to the DGHS new dengue cases were reported in Dhaka North City Corporation DNCC 211 Dhaka South City Corporation 151 Dhaka Division 147 Barishal Division 146 Chattogram Division 116 Khulna Division 72 Myemnsingh Division 65 Sylhet Division 10 and Rangpur Division 2As many as 575 people lost their lives due to dengue in 2024 while 1705 people died of dengue in 2023On October 9 DGHS Director General Abu Jafor noted that the number of dengue cases in 2025 is higher than last year however the death rate is lowerSpeaking at a press briefing held over the âTyphoid Vaccination Campaign2025â at the Health Ministry Abu Jafor said This year the number of dengue infections is higher than last year but the death rate in proportion to infections is lower the UNB reportedHe called breeding of mosquitoes and the destruction of their larvae important for preventing dengue People must use mosquito nets and take protective measures These are mostly individual responsibilities If we neglect these it will be very difficult to eliminate dengue he saidHe stated Our data shows that over 50 per cent of dengue deaths in hospitals are occurring on the very first day of admission This suggests that patients are seeking care too We are doing our best to ensure proper management in hospitalsAbu Jafor called early diagnosis important and mentioned that dengue if detected in the initial stage can be treated at home with proper medical care He said that lack of awareness negligence and delay in seeking medical care as the main reasons for the increasing dengue death rate IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/four-more-people-die-of-dengue-in-bangladesh-2025-death-toll-crosses-340-649256.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/south-sudan-intensifies-preventive-measures-after-marburg-outbreak-in-ethiopia-649297.html Juba Nov 19 South Sudans government said it has stepped up vigilance along its borders following an outbreak of the Marburg virus in neighbouring Ethiopia Minister of Health Sarah Cleto Rial said the government together with the World Health Organization and other partners has intensified surveillance preparedness and response measures to prevent any importation and spread of the virusThe Ministry of Health reassures the public that no confirmed cases have been reported in South Sudan Cleto said on Monday evening during a press conference in Juba the capital of South SudanShe urged citizens to remain calm and promptly report any suspected symptoms of the hemorrhagic disease to the nearest health facilityThis development came after the Ethiopian government declared a Marburg virus outbreak on November 14 in the southern town of Jinka near the border with South SudanThe South Sudanese government has reactivated the Public Health Emergency Operation Centre PHEOC in the capital to strengthen surveillance screening risk assessment and identification of priority areas while monitoring at national and state levels Cleto saidMabior Kiir Kudior chief of planning and information at the PHEOC said a rapid response team has already been deployed to highrisk counties such as Kapoeta East Akobo Pochala and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area Xinhua news agency reportedWe have made swift decisions including developing a 72hour response plan We have also developed the travel advisory to assure the public and the travelers on the precaution measures to be taken for our safety Kudior saidMarburg virus disease is a severe disease with a fatality ratio of up to 88 per cent This rate can be lower with good and early patient careMarburg virus disease was initially detected in 1967 after two simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and in Belgrade Serbia The outbreak was associated with laboratory work using African green monkeys Cercopithecus aethiops imported from Uganda Subsequently outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola the Democratic Republic of the Congo Equatorial Guinea Ghana Guinea Kenya Rwanda South Africa in a person with recent travel history to Zimbabwe Tanzania and Uganda IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/south-sudan-intensifies-preventive-measures-after-marburg-outbreak-in-ethiopia-649297.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ultra-processed-foodsales-surge-40xin-india-driveobesity-diabetescases-the-lancet-649323.html New Delhi Nov 19 India is undergoing the fastest ultraprocessed food UPF sales growth and the resulting dietary transition is surging obesity and diabetes cases leading to poor health according to a new threepaper Series published in The Lancet on Wednesday UPFs can be defined as food products mostly high in fat sugar andor salt HFSS full of unwanted and harmful ingredients such as cosmetic additives like stablisers emulsifiers colorants flavouring substances etc These are strongly linked to an increased risk of obesity type 2 diabetes cardiovascular diseases depression and premature death among othersThe papers by 43 global authors showed that retail sales of UPFs in India surged from 09 billion in 2006 to nearly 38 billion in 2019 a fortyfold riseRetail shop shelves are now dominated by prepackaged food and beverage products such as namkeens noodles biscuits sugarsweetened beverages chips breakfast cereals exposing children and youth through advertisingAs a result obesity has doubled in India in both men from 12 per cent to 23 per cent and women from nearly 15 per cent to 24 per cent showed the studyThe Series called out the aggressive marketing and advertising campaigns which the UPF companies use to drive consumptionâOur regulations are ineffective to restrict marketing India must act immediately to take action and cut the consumption of UPFs and aim for a halt in obesity and diabetes in the coming years Given that India is the fastestgrowing in UPF sales growth and the evidence of poor health outcomes India needs to frame UPF as a priority health issueâ said Dr Arun Gupta a pediatrician and a coauthor of the Series papersThe authors urged decisive public health action to tackle UPFs and improve diets globallyMore than relying on consumer behaviour change they called for coordinated policies to reduce UPF production marketing and consumption alongside improving access to healthy foodâIndia needs to adopt strong regulatory measures directed at their production marketing and public disclosure of their constituents Front of pack warning labels must clearly communicate the harmful levels of salt sugar and fat to the consumers said Prof Srinath Reddy Chancellor of PHFI University of Public Health SciencesâUPF advertised as an addiction can lead to many marketed maladies A ban on their advertising and sponsorship is needed especially due to the pervasive danger of celebrity endorsementsâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ultra-processed-foodsales-surge-40xin-india-driveobesity-diabetescases-the-lancet-649323.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/vmmc-safdarjung-hospital-ccras-cari-partner-to-boost-ayurveda-based-menopause-care-649340.html New Delhi Nov 19 Vardhman Mahavir Medical College VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital have tied up with the Central Ayurveda Research Institute CARI under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences CCRAS to advance scientific evidencebased Ayurveda research focused on improving menopause care Women going through menopause commonly experience symptoms such as hot flushes insomnia fatigue vaginal dryness mood fluctuations anxiety and memory concerns Growing interest in safe and supportive treatment options has led many to seek holistic approaches including AyurvedaThe Memorandum of Understanding MoU marks a major step toward developing validated integrative protocols that blend traditional wisdom with modern medical practiceâAyurvedabased therapies when used judiciously alongside allopathic treatment can offer transformative benefits to menopausal womenâ said Dr Sandeep Bansal Director VMMC amp Safdarjung HospitalHe however noted that certain Ayurvedic medicines containing metals must be taken strictly under expert supervision to ensure safety and efficacyDr Hemanta Panigrahi Institute Incharge CARI highlighted that CCRAS as the apex research body of the Ministry of Ayush has been committed to promoting scientific research in Ayurveda for decadesâEvidencebased Ayurveda is gaining global acceptance and this partnership will further strengthen integrative research methods and enhance public careâ he addedPanigrahi noted that the Ayurveda Unit at Safdarjung Hospital has been functional since 1996 contributing significantly to patient care and collaborative researchThe collaboration aims to design scientifically validated safe and effective Ayurvedic interventions that complement modern menopausal care The initiative is expected to improve patient outcomes expand research capacity and support wider access to holistic health solutionsThe MoU reflects a shared commitment by VMMCâSafdarjung Hospital and the Ministry of Ayush to advance collaborative patientcentric healthcare and to set new benchmarks in integrative research for womenâs health IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/vmmc-safdarjung-hospital-ccras-cari-partner-to-boost-ayurveda-based-menopause-care-649340.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-apex-hospitals-buckle-under-their-own-success-649361.html Indias flagship medical institutionsthe AllIndia Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS New Delhi and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research PGIMER Chandigarhare pillars of Indias healthcare system and symbols of national pride Yet beneath their shining reputations lies an uncomfortable reality overstretched infrastructure chronic staff shortages and governance bottlenecks that now threaten their very excellenceWhat began as centres of excellence for tertiary care and research are today struggling under the weight of their own success Designed for specialized referrals these hospitals have become de facto primary and secondary care providers for millions seeking affordable quality treatment1 The Human Resource Crisis The Hidden FracturePersistent understaffing remains the Achilles heel of Indias premier public hospitals Thousands of sanctioned posts for doctors nurses and support staff remain vacant overburdening existing teams eroding morale and compromising patient safetyAt AIIMS Delhi nearly 462 of 1306 faculty positions are unfilled At PGIMER Chandigarh about 1874 nonfaculty posts lie vacantnearly a quarter of the total sanctioned strength Across the newer AIIMS campuses vacancy rates are as high as 60 especially for nurses and paramedical staffProlonged recruitment cycles administrative delays and the lure of privatesector opportunities have triggered a steady exodus of talent While the Union Health Ministry has launched drives and contractual hiring retention and motivation remain unresolvedIndias leading hospitals cannot sustain excellence on exhausted human capital Closing the staffing gap is no longer an administrative issueit is a national health imperative2 Overcrowding When Excellence Meets ExcessAIIMS Delhi handles over 15000 OPD patients daily while PGIMER sees nearly 10000 far beyond designed capacities Patients travel from distant states often bypassing local facilities due to weak referral systems and limited specialist careThe consequence is predictableLong queues and delays with appointments booked months in advanceICUs operating at 110 nursepatient ratios against the ideal 12Resident doctors doubling as clerks or attendants leaving little room for learning or restThis relentless overload dilutes postgraduate education and weakens the research output that once defined these institutions3 Infrastructure Fatigue Cracks Beneath the SurfaceAging infrastructure and delayed maintenance have led to what administrators call infrastructure fatigue Elevators HVAC systems and imaging units often break down under continuous useAt PGIMER 13 of critical equipment is nonfunctional at any given time A CAG audit recently found maintenance spending at less than 5 of actual needs Equipment failures and power disruptions in ICUs and operation theatres compromise both safety and efficiencyWhile government allocations2400 crore for PGIMER and similar support for AIIMSsignal intent reactive repairs must give way to preventive maintenance and datadriven asset management4 Funding Gaps Big Budgets Small ImpactDespite incremental budget increases public health spending remains just 1315 of GDP far below the global average of 56In 202526 health received 99858 crore with 20 directed to AIIMS campuses Yet underutilization persistsonly 81 of last years outlay was spent Salaries consume over 90 of budgets leaving little for modernization maintenance or researchExperts argue that unless at least 10 of institutional budgets are ringfenced for maintenance and innovation Indias apex institutions will continue to face periodic crises5 Digital Fragility The Cyber Threat WithinThe 2022 ransomware attack on AIIMS Delhi exposed the digital fragility of even the nations best hospitals Operations were paralyzed for days compromising millions of patient recordsAt PGIMER outdated Hospital Information Systems HIS continue to limit data integration and digital efficiency Less than 5 of health budgets are allocated to cybersecuritya critical vulnerability as digital health expands under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ABDMA zerotrust security model and dedicated cyber training for healthcare workers are urgently needed to prevent another AIIMSlike digital paralysis6 Governance and Corruption Weak Links in a Strong ChainProcurement irregularities administrative inertia and misuse of welfare funds have marred governance across several AIIMS campuses and at PGIMERFrom inflated glove purchases and rigged tenders to fraudulent PMJAY claims such lapses erode morale and public trust Despite egovernance efforts systemic transparency and accountability remain weakThirdparty audits realtime fund tracking and performancelinked leadership reforms could restore integrity to these institutions7 Infection Control AMR and Patient SafetyOvercrowding and staff shortages have led to rising hospitalacquired infections and antimicrobial resistance AMRRecent audits show 30 noncompliance in hand hygiene at PGIMER and MRSA outbreaks at AIIMS Delhi Nearly 70 of inpatients receive antibioticsdouble the WHO recommendationdriving drug resistancePatient safety is a paramount priority for hospitals in India Building a strong safety culture ensuring robust surveillance and advancing antimicrobial stewardship are vital to safer care with leading institutes like AIIMS and PGI continuing to set benchmarks of excellence8 Ayushman Bharat Expanding Access Intensifying PressureThe Ayushman BharatPMJAY scheme has expanded access for millionsoffering up to 5 lakh annual coverage per familybut also amplified the load on apex hospitalsAt AIIMS Delhi and PGIMER PMJAY admissions have grown 2030 annually stretching infrastructure and delaying reimbursements Fraudulent claims and administrative overload have added new challengesWhile the scheme democratizes healthcare without strong primary and districtlevel systems it risks turning tertiary centres into overburdened safety netsThe Way Forward Restoring BalanceIndias premier institutionsAIIMS and PGIMERrepresent the pinnacle of medical education and care But excellence cannot survive on exhausted manpower decaying infrastructure and weak governanceReforms must be systemic and sustainedFill sanctioned posts and rationalize recruitmentDecentralize care through strong referral systemsReserve 10 of budgets for maintenance modernization and cybersecurityImplement transparent datadriven governanceStrengthen infection control and patient safety frameworksExcellence in healthcare is not defined by technology or buildings alone but by the systems and people that sustain themUnless urgent reforms are enacted Indias most respected hospitals risk collapsing under the weight of their own successturning symbols of national pride into symptoms ofnbspsystemic neglect The writer is the former President AIIMS Bathinda Dean R Medical Superintendent amp Professor PGIMER Chandigarh https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-apex-hospitals-buckle-under-their-own-success-649361.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/encouraginggainswho-lauds-india-fornarrowingtbdetection-gaps-reducingmortality-649161.html New Delhi Nov 18 The World Health Organization WHO on Tuesday lauded India for making âencouraging gainsâ to end tuberculosis TB with narrowing detection gaps and reducing mortality According to the recently released WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 Indiaâs TB incidence fell by 21 per cent from 237 TB cases per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh population in 2024 almost double the pace of decline observed globally at 12 per centThe countryâs TB mortality rate decreased from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 21 per lakh population in 2024 reflecting significant progress in reducing deaths due to TBThe flagship TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan launched in December 2024 has achieved extensive reach screening over 19 crore vulnerable individuals for TB across the country leading to the detection of over 245 lakh TB patients including 861 lakh asymptomatic TB cases the report saidGlobally 107 million people developed TB and 123 million died from the disease in 2024The WHO stated that India along with other countries in the South East Asia Region reported improvement in TBIn absolute numbers India had an estimated 271 million people with TB followed by Bangladesh 384000 Myanmar 263000 Thailand 104000 and Nepal 67000âSeveral countries demonstrated encouraging gains Bangladesh India and Thailand notified a large proportion of estimated cases narrowing detection gapsâ the WHO saidâTBrelated mortality though substantial has shown signs of improvement in several Member States Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal and Thailand reported declines in estimated deaths due to TB compared to 2015 supported by recovery of essential TB services in the postCovid19 eraâ it addedYet the global health body stated that the overall pace of decline across South East Asia remains insufficient to meet the 2025 End TB milestonesThe SouthEast Asia Region home to less than a quarter of the global population disproportionately accounts for more than one in every three new TB cases worldwide emerging annually the WHO saidDrugresistant TB continues to pose a serious threat with 150000 new cases estimated in 2024While the Region has reduced TB incidence by 16 per cent since 2015 but deaths are not falling fast enough Moreover the Regionâs TB incidence rate of 201 per 100000 people remains well above the global average of 131 the UN health body saidâTuberculosis continues to threaten health security and development across the SouthEast Asia Region hitting the poorest the hardestâ said Dr Catharina Boehme OfficerinCharge WHO SouthEast AsiaâWe know what works early detection rapid treatment prevention and strong primary health care Whatâs needed now is speed scale and sustained political and financial commitmentâ she addedTB burden in 2024 continued to vary across the Region Myanmar and TimorLeste continued to record high TB incidence rates at around 480500 per 100000 population placing them among the higherincidence settings globallyBangladesh Bhutan India Nepal and Thailand reported incidence levels between 146 and 269 per 100 000 reflecting steady but tooslow declinesSri Lanka and the Maldives remained relatively lowincidence settings with incidence ranging from 5099 and 1049 cases per 100000 population respectively IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/encouraginggainswho-lauds-india-fornarrowingtbdetection-gaps-reducingmortality-649161.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-committed-to-reduceburden-of-copdjp-nadda-649172.html New Delhi Nov 18 India is committed to reducing the burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD a lung and airway disease that affects breathing said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on World COPD Day on Tuesday COPD is a common lung disease that restricts airflow and is sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitisWorld COPD Day is an annual global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the preventable and treatable lung diseaseIn a post on social media platform X Nadda stated that through the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NonCommunicable Diseases NPNCD the government is working for early detection and treatmentâToday on World COPD Day we are reminded of the platform it provides to spread awareness about preventing and managing chronic respiratory conditions India is committed to reducing the burden of COPD by prioritising early screening and diagnosis through the NPNCD programmeâ Nadda saidâAyushman Arogya Mandirs are helping people aged 30 and above get easy screening and timely guidance With stronger frontline services and better referrals we aim to ensure early diagnosis and proper treatment for allâ the Minister addedAccording to data from the World Health Organization WHO COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide causing 35 million deaths in 2021 approximately 5 per cent of all global deathsIn people with COPD the lungs can get damaged or clogged with phlegm Symptoms include cough sometimes with phlegm difficulty breathing wheezing and tirednessSmoking and air pollution are the most common causes of COPD People with COPD are also at higher risk of other health problemsAccurate and timely diagnosis of COPD can improve quality of life and health outcomesâDo not ignore the symptoms of asthma and other chronic lung diseases COPD Consult a doctor at the right time and take steps towards a healthy lifeâ said the Health Ministry on XIt also lists risk factors for COPD These include âsmoking passive smoking and smoke from crackers occupational dust and chemicals frequent lung Infections as a child indoor smoke from wood coal cow dung crop residues used for cookingâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-committed-to-reduceburden-of-copdjp-nadda-649172.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/mp-cabinet-approves-50-bedded-ayush-hospitals-in-12-districts-649184.html Bhopal Nov 18 In a major push towards promoting traditional Indian systems of medicine the Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to establish 50bedded Ayush hospitals in 12 districts across the state The cabinet in its meeting approved the creation of 373 permanent posts and 806 oncall manpower positions to ensure smooth operations of these new Ayurvedic and integrated healthcare facilitiesDeputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla addressing mediapersons after the cabinet meeting announced that the new hospitals will come up in Bhopal Balaghat Panna Sheopur Guna Amarkantak Anuppur district Shujalpur Shajapur district Indore Mandleshwar Khargone district Narsinghpur Bhind Sehore and Barwani Barwani district already operates a 30bedded Ayush hospital which will now be upgraded under the expansion planThe initiative aims to provide accessible holistic treatment options based on Ayurveda Yoga Unani Siddha and Homoeopathy Ayush systems particularly in underserved areasThe creation of 373 regular posts including doctors nurses paramedics and support staff will entail an annual financial burden of Rs 2597 crore on the state exchequerMeanwhile the 806 oncall manpower services designed for flexible and emergency support will be fully funded by the Central governments National Ayush Mission incurring no additional cost to the stateThis decision will significantly promote Ayurvedic treatment and traditional healing practices across Madhya Pradesh The state already has Ayush hospitals in 21 districts Shukla emphasisedThese hospitals will offer affordable preventive and curative care reducing reliance on allopathic medicine for many ailments while creating employment opportunities for Ayush professionals he saidThe move aligns with the Centres broader vision under the National Ayush Mission to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream healthcareIt comes at a time when public interest in natural immunityboosting therapies has surgedThe government has directed the Ayush Department to fasttrack land allocation infrastructure development and recruitment processesOnce operational these facilities are expected to benefit lakhs of residents by bringing specialised Ayush services closer to home fostering wellness and preserving Indias ancient medical heritageThis expansion adds to Madhya Pradeshs ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure building on previous approvals for Ayurvedic colleges and integrated wings in district hospitals IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/mp-cabinet-approves-50-bedded-ayush-hospitals-in-12-districts-649184.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/govt-launchesnationalaction-plan-on-antimicrobial-resistance-20-649203.html New Delhi Nov 18 Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday launched the second version of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 202529 with key strategies to contain antibiotic resistance The NAPAMR 20 was released by Health Minister JP Nadda on the first day of the WHOâs World AMR Awareness Week November 1824 in the national capital The first NAPAMR was launched in 2017The NAPAMR 20 is a significant step in tackling AMR through a One Health approach With participation from over 20 ministries and clear timelines and budgets stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to protecting public health the Ministry of Health saidAMR poses significant risks particularly in surgical procedures cancer treatment and other critical healthcare interventions The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have unfortunately become common practice underscoring the urgency of corrective measuresâ Nadda said during the launchThe NAPAMR 20 addresses the gaps identified in the first NAPAMR by increasing the ownership of AMRrelated efforts strengthening intersectoral coordination and ensuring stronger engagement with the private sectorThe updated NAPAMR includes specific action plans of each key stakeholder ministrydepartment with timelines and budget to enable effective monitoring of progress in implementation of the national action plan It also includes welldefined mechanisms for coordination and collaboration within and across the sectors the Ministry saidThe One Health approach in this action plan has sectoral action as the foundation of intersectoral collaboration and coordination among human animal agriculture environmental and other relevant sectors over the next five years Nadda saidIt includes six strategic objectives with subobjectives and key activitiesThese include focus on improving awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication education and training strengthening laboratory capacity for AMR detection surveillance and targeted surveillance of antibiotic residues reducing the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention and control optimising the use of antimicrobial agents in humans animals and food through uninterrupted access and judicious use of antimicrobials promoting research and innovations by identifying priorities for basic and operational research relevant to AMR and focus on strengthening governance intra and inter sectoral coordination and collaborations on AMRAfter its launch each stakeholder ministry department is expected to develop their implementation roadmap ensuring engagement of the private sector technical institutions professional groups industry cooperatives NGOs International partners and other relevant organisations the Ministry said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/govt-launchesnationalaction-plan-on-antimicrobial-resistance-20-649203.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/preventable-cervical-cancer-kills-a-woman-every-two-minutes-un-649066.html New Delhi Nov 17 One woman worldwide dies every two minutes due to cervical cancer a treatable and preventable disease said the UN on Monday on the first official World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day The day November 17 was designated by the Seventyeighth World Health Assembly WHA788 to raise awareness of the disease and to expand access to HPV vaccination highperformance screening and treatment servicesâEvery two minutes a woman dies from cervical cancer Access to screening vaccination and treatment is key to ending this preventable diseaseâ the UN shared in a post on the social media platform XâCervical cancer can be prevented In addition to vaccination regular screening of women and treatment of precancerous lesions protect from cancerâ added the World Health Organization WHOAccording to the WHO cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally with around 660000 new cases and around 350000 deaths in 2022Notably nine in 10 of these deaths occur in the poorest countries with inadequate access to vaccination screening and treatmentCervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus HPV Women living with HIV are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women without HIVHowever cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptlyProphylactic vaccination against HPV and screening and treatment of precancer lesions are effective strategies to prevent cervical cancer and are very costeffectiveThe theme this year is âAct Now Eliminate Cervical Cancerâ It calls for bold united action to build on existing progress and accelerate impact toward the 907090 targets by 2030The target is to vaccinate 90 per cent of girls against HPV by age 15 screen 70 per cent of women with a highperformance test by age 35 and again at 45 and provide treatment to 90 per cent of women with cervical diseaseElimination is within reach if we act now together ensuring every girl is protected through HPV vaccination and every woman has access to prevention screening and careâ the WHO said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/preventable-cervical-cancer-kills-a-woman-every-two-minutes-un-649066.html Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/five-people-die-of-dengue-in-bangladesh-2025-death-toll-crosses-330-648949.html Dhaka Nov 16 As many as five people died of dengue in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours till Sunday increasing the number of fatalities from the mosquitoborne disease in the country in 2025 to 336 media reported During the same period 1139 new patients were rushed to hospitals increasing the total number of dengue cases in 2025 to 84997 according to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS United News of Bangladesh reportedThe new deaths were reported in Dhaka North City Corporation DNCC Dhaka North City Corporation DSCC and Mymensingh DivisionAt present 3219 patients are undergoing treatment at hospitals across the countryThe DGHS report said that 624 per cent of dengue patients were men while 376 per cent were womenThe deceased comprised 527 per cent were male and 473 per cent were femaleAs many as 575 people died due to dengue in 2024On October 9 DGHS Director General Abu Jafor noted that the number of dengue cases in 2025 is higher than last year however the death rate is lowerSpeaking at a press briefing held over the Typhoid Vaccination Campaign2025 at the Health Ministry he said This year the number of dengue infections is higher than last year but the death rate in proportion to infections is lower United News of Bangladesh reportedHe called breeding of mosquitoes and the destruction of their larvae important for preventing denguePeople must use mosquito nets and take protective measures These are mostly individual responsibilities If we neglect these it will be very difficult to eliminate dengue he addedHe said Our data shows that more than 50 per cent of dengue deaths in hospitals are occurring on the very first day of admission This suggests that patients are seeking care too We are doing our best to ensure proper management in hospitalsAbu Jafor called early diagnosis important and mentioned that dengue if detected in the initial stage can be treated at home with proper medical careHe said that lack of awareness negligence and delay in seeking medical care as the main reasons for the increasing dengue death rateDengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoesDengue is found in tropical and subtropical climates across the world mostly in urban and semiurban areas according to the World Health Organisation WHO statementPrevention and control of dengue depend on vector controlThere 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/five-people-die-of-dengue-in-bangladesh-2025-death-toll-crosses-330-648949.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 02:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/frequent-ministerial-turnovercrippling-pakistans-healthcaresector-648838.html New Delhi Nov 15 An evershifting governance framework has suspended Pakistanâs healthcare sector in a perpetual instability according to a media report The country has in the last decade seen an alarming rate of ministerial turnover in the health sector which has not only disabled the implementation of meaningful policy but also the delivery of consistent services Islam Khabar reportedIt noted that more than âresource shortages a lack of medical expertise or population pressuresâ the absence of administrative continuity has led to the crumbling of the healthcare sectorAs a result public health programmes have been discontinued and funding allocations have been inconsistentâThe country boasts a considerable pool of skilled doctors nurses and allied health professionals Yet their ability to deliver quality care is continuously undermined by an evershifting governance frameworkâ the report saidâHospitals are overburdened rural clinics remain chronically underequipped and public health initiatives falter before they can gain traction These failures are not the result of incompetence at the individual level but of structural dysfunction at the topâ it addedThe report cited that patients are bearing the brunt of the inefficiency with long queues delays in treatment and inconsistent quality of careChildren pregnant women and the chronically ill are disproportionately affected the report saidIt added that immunisation campaigns are faltering rural birthing centres remain understaffed or underresourced contributing to preventable maternal and infant deathsThe fragmented leadership and inconsistent policy enforcement have been exacerbating health emergencies such as outbreaks of dengue measles or polio It will also increase the challenges posed by climate change and widen rural health disparitiesThe absence of governance will continue to overburden hospitals and underequipped rural health centres said the report Millions of patients in the country have been denied the simple dignity of reliable care in the last decadeâThe human cost of this instability is immediate tangible and unforgiving and it grows with every ministerial shuffleâ the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/frequent-ministerial-turnovercrippling-pakistans-healthcaresector-648838.html Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/maha-govt-to-launch-statewide-drive-against-leprosy-from-november-17-648751.html Mumbai Nov 15 The Maharashtra government will launch a statewide leprosy case detection campaign from November 17 to December 2 during which health teams will visit households for inspections Following the Central Governments guidelines the state is continuing its annual initiative to identify leprosy patients through an extensive doortodoor survey across all districtsThis year a population of 866 crore people and 17325000 households has been selected for screeningA total of 65832 teams and 13166 supervisors have been deployed for the campaignEach team comprising one ASHA worker and one male volunteer will visit 20 houses in rural areas and 25 to 30 houses in urban areas daily to conduct physical examinationsThe teams will survey for 14 consecutive days said the government release The decision was taken at a meeting of the Statelevel Public Awareness Committee for the leprosy detection campaign on FridaySuspected patients identified during the survey will be examined and those diagnosed with leprosy will immediately be started on multidrug therapyThe campaign aims to detect hidden or undiagnosed cases bring patients under treatment to break the chain of transmission increase public awareness about leprosy and strengthen efforts toward achieving the goal of zero leprosy transmission by 2027To ensure effective implementation training workshops and coordination committee meetings are being conducted at the state district and block levels along with team training sessions at primary health centres according to the government releaseTo prevent the spread of leprosy and ensure timely treatment the Maharashtra Government has recently declared leprosy a Notifiable DiseaseAll doctors and health institutions are now required to report every confirmed case of leprosy to the respective District Health Office Assistant Director of Health Services Leprosy and local civic health authorities within two weeks of diagnosisPublic Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar has written to all district guardian ministers district collectors and village sarpanches urging them to ensure the success of this campaignHe has appealed to all administrative bodies to diagnose the maximum number of leprosy patients in their respective districts and to implement the campaign effectively under their leadershipSecretary of the Health Department Nipun Vinayak has also reviewed the campaign and issued directives to district collectors to ensure its successful executionCitizens have been urged to cooperate and the Health Department has reiterated that treatment for leprosy is free effective and available at all government health centres said the government releaseThe state governments announcement comes days after the World Health Organisations Global TB Report 2025 said that Indias TB incidence new cases emerging each year reduced by 21 per cent â from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh population in 2024 â over almost double the pace of the decline observed globally at 12 per centThis is one of the highest declines in the TB incidences globally outpacing reductions noted among other highburden countriesSince its launch in December 2024 Indias flagship TB elimination mission the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan has achieved extensive reach screening over 19 crore vulnerable individuals for TB across the country leading to the detection of over 245 lakh TB patients including 861 lakh asymptomatic TB casesThis proactive approach draws on both global and local evidence underscoring the prevalence of asymptomatic subclinical TB in highburden settings a release issued by the Union Ministry of Health said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/maha-govt-to-launch-statewide-drive-against-leprosy-from-november-17-648751.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ethiopia-reports-9-cases-of-marburg-virus-disease-in-first-ever-outbreak-who-648757.html New Delhi Nov 15 Ethiopia has reported the firstever outbreak of Marburg virus disease a rare and deadly viral haemorrhagic fever with lab reports confirming nine cases said the World Health Organization WHO The disease caused by the Marburg virus is from the same family of viruses that cause Ebola virus disease It has a case fatality ratio of up to 88 per cent and has no antiviral treatment or vaccineIt is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads among people through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materialsThe symptoms include high fever severe headache muscle aches and fatigue and many patients develop severe bleeding within a week of onsetâEthiopiaâs Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Ethiopia Region the first of its kind in the country following laboratory testing of samples from a cluster of suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic feverâ the WHO saidâA total of nine cases have been reported in the outbreak that has affected Jinka town in the South Ethiopia Regionâ it addedMarburg and Ebola viruses are the two members of the Filoviridae family filovirus Though caused by different viruses the two diseases are clinically similarBoth diseases are rare and have the capacity to cause dramatic outbreaks with high fatality ratesRousettus aegypti fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be natural hosts of Marburg virusAs per genetic analysis the Marburg virus in Ethiopia is of the same strain as the one that has been reported in previous outbreaks in other countries in East AfricaSporadic cases of the disease have been previously reported in Angola Congo Ghana Kenya Equatorial Guinea Rwanda South Africa Tanzania and UgandaRousettus aegypti fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be natural hosts of Marburg virusThe WHO reported that the national authorities are scaling up response including communitywide screening isolation of cases treatment contact tracing and public awareness campaigns to curb the spread of the Marburg virusThe WHO and partners are also supporting the government as it intensifies its response to halt the spread of the virus and end the outbreakA team of responders with expertise in viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak response has been deployed along with medical supplies and equipmentCurrently there is no licensed therapeutic or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus diseaseEarly access to supportive treatment and care rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival said the WHO IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ethiopia-reports-9-cases-of-marburg-virus-disease-in-first-ever-outbreak-who-648757.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 11:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-launches10-new-amritpharmacies-648796.html New Delhi Nov 15 The Union government on Saturday launched 10 new AMRIT Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment pharmacies to increase access to affordable medicines and strengthen healthcare in the country Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched the pharmacies at an event held in the national capital to mark the 10th anniversary of the programmeâLaunched in 2015 the AMRIT network has grown to over 255 outlets across 24 States and four Union Territoriesâ said Nadda while expressing happiness for the decade of AMRITâs transformative journey in making quality medicines affordable and accessible across the countryThe new centres will begin operations at PGI Neuroscience Centre in Chandigarh GMCH UnitII in Jammu State Cancer Institute in Jammu AIIMS Deogarh Dental Hospital Srinagar SCTIMST in Trivandrum Mumbai Port Trust IIT Jodhpur AIIMS Gorakhpur and AIIMS Kalyani Unit 3âIn 2014 the government launched AMRIT and Jan Aushadi Centres with an aim to provide accessible affordable and equitable healthcare facilities to all people in the countryâ Nadda saidâThese centres are taking care of essential medicines along with those ranging from oncology to cardiac care to orthopaedic care and specialised interventions for both medicines and medical devicesâ he addedThese outlets provide essential medicines lifesaving drugs and medical devices at significantly reduced prices often up to 50 per cent less than the maximum retail price MRPThe Minister said the â50 per cent discount offered on branded medicines covering oncology cardiology orthopaedics and endocrinology at AMRIT without compromising on quality is commendableâMore than 6500 drugs and medical products are available through the network benefitting more than 685 crore patients across the countrySo far over 17000 crore medicines have been dispensed through these outlets Cumulative patient savings can amount to more than Rs 8500 croreâ he addedAMRIT pharmacies are present on all AIIMS campuses and other institutes of national importance across the countryNadda also urged HLL Lifecare Limited HLL a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare âto double the number of AMRIT outlets to âat least 500ââAll private government medical colleges and District Hospitals must have AMRIT It must expand at a rapid rateâ he said and called for raising awareness on AMRITAt the event Nadda also launched the upgraded Ecogreen 20 digital platform and released a Customised My Stamp with India Post IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-launches10-new-amritpharmacies-648796.html Sat, 15 Nov 2025 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-asks-insurance-firms-to-speed-up-settlement-of-health-claims-648519.html New Delhi Nov 14 The Centre has asked insurers and hospitals to take measures such as expediting the onboarding on National Health Claims Exchange devising standardised treatment protocols common empanelment norms and seamless cashless claims processing to make healthcare affordable and accessible according to an official statement issued on Friday Secretary Department of Financial Services DFS M Nagaraju chaired a meeting to discuss the issues of medical inflation and rising premium costsThe meeting was attended by representatives from General Insurance Council Association of Healthcare Providers in India AHPI healthcare industry representatives from Max Healthcare Fortis Healthcare Apollo Hospitals and insurers like New India Assurance Company Limited Star Health Insurance and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company along with several othersFurther he emphasised that having standardised hospital empanelment norms across all insurers would ensure consistent cashless access for policyholders streamline the service terms improve operational procedures and reduce administrative burden on hospitalsHe stressed that the insurance companies should ensure that the policy holders are provided with the highest standards of service and better turnaround time especially during hospitalisation process and while providing approvals for settlement of claimsDuring the meeting the Secretary also advised that while medical inflation is interconnected with various cost drivers greater collaboration between hospitals and insurers through cost control and standardization is necessary to bring transparency and efficiency to ensure better value for health insurance policyholdersInderjeet Singh Secretary General General Insurance Council Dr Suneeta Reddy MD Apollo Hospitals Shivakumar Pattabhiraman MD Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals Abhay Soi CMD Max Healthcare Dr Girdhar J Gyani Director General AHPI Krishnan Ramachandran CEO Niva Bupa Health Insurance Amitabh Jain ED amp COO Star Health Insurance Meera Parthasarathy General Manager Oriental Insurance Company participated in the discussions along with several other stakeholders IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-asks-insurance-firms-to-speed-up-settlement-of-health-claims-648519.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/measles-alert-issued-for-sydney-cbd-airport-648521.html Sydney Nov 14 Health authorities in the Australian state of New South Wales NSW have issued a measles alert for central Sydney and the citys airport NSW Health said on Thursday that it has been notified that a confirmed measles case from the neighbouring state of Queensland visited several Sydney locations while infectious between November 8 to 10 including a concert attended by around 70000 peopleAnyone who visited a list of locations including the Sydney Airport central business district the concert and trains in the citys innerwest between November 8 to 10 has been advised to monitor for measles symptoms until November 28 Xinhua news agency reportedJeremy McAnulty Executive Director of Health Protection NSW said in a statement that it can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure to measlesHe advised anyone who develops symptoms including fever sore eyes and a cough followed by a rash to call ahead to their doctor or hospital to avoid spending time in a waiting room with other patientsQueensland Health said that the case also spent time in central Brisbane and at the Brisbane Airport while they were unknowingly infectiousAccording to the latest data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System there have been 153 confirmed cases of measles in Australia so far in 2025 more than the 115 cases reported in the previous five years combinedOf the 153 cases in 2025 30 have been in Queensland and 28 in NSWMeanwhile it was reported last month that the United States has registered 1618 measles cases with three deaths so far this year the highest number since 1992Among them 1595 cases were reported by 42 domestic jurisdictions and 23 cases were among international visitors to the United States the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC said on October 22 The total represents the most US infections since 1992 when the CDC recorded 2126 measles casesOf the confirmed cases this year 198 cases or 12 per cent of the total have required hospitalization including 95 children under the age of five Three people have died from measlesAccording to the CDC 92 per cent of measles cases in the United States occurred among people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknownPublic health experts said the figures reflect a sharp resurgence of measles in the United States and underscore the importance of vaccination coverage IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/measles-alert-issued-for-sydney-cbd-airport-648521.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/govt-advancing-key-initiatives-aimed-at-achieving-national-health-goals-648627.html New Delhi Nov 14 The government is advancing several key initiatives aimed at achieving national health goals and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs a senior official said on Friday Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava inaugurated the ministryâs Health Pavilion at the 44th India International Trade Fair IITF at Bharat Mandapam here encouraging visitors to explore it to enhance public awarenessâThe pavilion offers insights into Indiaâs health system and a range of ongoing programmes Several services including CPR awareness sessions and anaemia testing are being provided I urge everyone to visit and make full use of these facilitiesâ she addedâThe Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan recently launched aims to reach 11 crore people Alongside this initiatives such as the Tobacco Control for Youth Programme the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and the national campaign for organ donation are progressing simultaneouslyâ Srivastava notedThis yearâs pavilion highlights the Ministryâs central role in shaping health policies and delivering comprehensive healthcare services to build a healthier and stronger nationThe Ministry is participating in the India International Trade Fair IITF2025 organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation ITPO at Bharat Mandapam New DelhiThe Health Pavilion features a total of 37 stalls These exhibitions will showcase the Ministrys various schemes and achievementsA key highlight will be the recent achievement of three Guinness World Records titles under the nationwide campaign âSwasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaanâ SNSPA which demonstrates Indiaâs unwavering commitment to preventive and womencentric healthcareMass campaigns like the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan Healthy Woman Empowered Family help to empower and transform the lives of women said Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this monthHe also lauded the creation of three Guinness World Records titles under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar AbhiyaanâThis is very commendable Such mass movements add impetus to our women empowerment efforts and have a transformative impact on the lives of our Nari Shaktiâ the Prime Minister said in a post on social media platform X IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/govt-advancing-key-initiatives-aimed-at-achieving-national-health-goals-648627.html Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/philippines-steps-up-tb-fight-targets-12-million-screenings-by-2026-648333.html Manila Nov 13 The Philippines has been intensifying its fight against tuberculosis TB with an ambitious goal to screen 12 million Filipinos nationwide by 2026 the countrys Department of Health DOH said on Thursday To expand and accelerate TB services the agency said on social media that it has proposed a 42billionpeso about 71 million budget for 2026 nearly double the 26 billion pesos 44 million earmarked in 2025In the Philippines we are already using ultraportable AIpowered chest Xrays and WHOrecommended Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests to quickly screen and diagnose TB cases Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa was cited by the DOH as sayingAn innovative alloral regimen for drugresistant TB cuts treatment time from two years to only six months Herbosa addedGlobally an estimated 107 million TB cases were recorded in 2024 with 68 per cent in the Philippines according to the World Health Organization Around 100 Filipinos die of tuberculosis daily Xinhua news agency reportedAccording to the World Health Organization TB is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and it most often affects the lungs TB is spread through the air when people with lung TB cough sneeze or spit A person needs to inhale only a few germs to become infectedEvery year 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis TB Despite being a preventable and curable disease 15 million people die from TB each year â making it the worldâs top infectious killerTB is the leading cause of death of people with HIV and also a major contributor to antimicrobial resistanceMost of the people who fall ill with TB live in low and middleincome countries but TB is present all over the world About half of all people with TB can be found in 8 countries Bangladesh China India Indonesia Nigeria Pakistan Philippines and South AfricaAbout a quarter of the global population is estimated to have been infected with TB bacteria but most people will not go on to develop TB disease and some will clear the infection Those who are infected but not yet ill with the disease cannot transmit it IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/philippines-steps-up-tb-fight-targets-12-million-screenings-by-2026-648333.html Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/nurses-midwives-form-backbone-of-indias-healthcare-system-experts-648210.html New Delhi Nov 12 Nurses and midwives form the backbone and one of the most important pillars of Indiaâs healthcare system senior government officials and experts said on Wednesday According to Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava along with Ayushman Aarogya Mandir and ASHA workers they are instrumental in achieving Universal Health Coverage UHCShe further underscored that the best practices emerging from each state during this workshop should serve as guiding inputs for national policy formulation and other states should take note of these models for wider replication and improvement of the nursing sector across the countrySrivastava was speaking at a threeday National Consultation and Experience Sharing Workshop on Nursing Policy Priorities and Best Practices in India to strengthen policy dialogue and advance reforms in the nursing and midwifery sectorThe workshop brought together key stakeholders including policymakers senior government officials regulators nursing educators professional associations and development partners from across the countryThe consultation aimed to review ongoing initiatives identify emerging challenges and share innovative models to strengthen nursing governance education and workforce management in alignment with Indiaâs health sector priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals SDGsSrivastava also noted that Indiaâs recent reforms including the establishment of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission NNMC adoption of competencybased curricula and initiatives to modernize regulatory frameworks are major milestones in strengthening the nursing ecosystemProfessor VK Paul Member Health Niti Aayog commended the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and WHO for convening this important consultationâIndiaâs health system is globally recognised for providing quality healthcare owing significantly to the strength and dedication of its nursing workforceâ he said adding that nursing is the backbone of Indiaâs comprehensive healthcare systemExpressing concern over the quality of training of nurses Dr Paul noted that this remains a critical area of focus He stressed the need for reforms in nursing education and called for greater emphasis on inservice training and skill enhancement to ensure high standards of care and professional excellenceSpeaking at the occasion Dr Payden WHO Representative to India lauded the countryâs significant progress in advancing the nursing and midwifery sectorShe highlighted that India has emerged as one of the worldâs largest contributors to the global nursing workforce IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/nurses-midwives-form-backbone-of-indias-healthcare-system-experts-648210.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-needs-about-52-billion-annually-to-address-urban-climate-adaptation-needs-report-648253.html New Delhi Nov 12 India needs an estimated 52 billion about Rs 458 lakh crore annually to address its urban climate adaptation needs effectively according to a new report on Wednesday From scorching heatwaves to recordbreaking monsoons rising air pollution to unseasonal cyclones climate change is manifesting in increasingly dire ways in urban IndiaA new report by The Bridgespan Group in collaboration with United Way of Mumbai and HSBC India spotlights opportunities to strengthen climate resilience across Indiaâs vast informal sector that forms the backbone of every cityâs economy and accounts for roughly 40 per cent of Indiaâs urban populationThe study examines how Indiaâs informal workers and settlement dwellers are responding to intensifying climate risks such as heatwaves flooding and air pollutionBased on conversations with communities and experts the report outlines five practical investment ideas â or âbold betsâ â that can drive locally led climate adaptation and attract additional public and private fundingThese are climatesmart housing modifications that improve heat resilience and energy efficiency climateindexed wage insurance that stabilises income during climaterelated disruptions sustainable urban drainage systems that strengthen water security and reduce flooding distributed renewableenergy systems that provide reliable affordable power in informal settlements and climateresilient microentrepreneurship that expands green indoor livelihoods and fosters innovationâFinancing climate resilience in informal urban communities is not just about mitigating risk it is about unlocking opportunity The report highlights the important role philanthropy CSR and venture capital can play in demonstrating solutions to unlock capital â public and privateâ said Aloka Majumdar MD and Head of Sustainability HSBC IndiaAnant Bhagwati Bridgespan Partner and report coauthor added that âWe hope this report sparks collaborative action serving as a starting point for funders and investors to build a more equitable and climateresilient future for everyone who lives and works in our citiesâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-needs-about-52-billion-annually-to-address-urban-climate-adaptation-needs-report-648253.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/s-koreas-biotech-industry-output-rises-98-pc-despite-global-uncertainty-647962.html Seoul Nov 11 South Koreas biotechnology industry output grew nearly 10 per cent in 2024 from a year earlier despite persistent global trade uncertainties industry data showed on Tuesday The countrys biotechnology industry production came to 2292 trillion won US157 billion last year up from 2087 trillion won in 2023 the Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy MOTIE said citing a survey by the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization KoreaBIOThe figure marked a recovery following a 12 percent onyear decline in 2023 signaling renewed growth momentum in the sector reports Yonhap news agencyBy product category production of therapeutic antibodies and cytokine products reached 486 trillion won followed by biomanufacturing and contract services at 321 trillion won and feed additives at 311 trillion won the data showedExports in the sector rose 171 percent onyear in 2024 while related RampD and facility investments jumped 461 percent the ministry saidThe government will expand support for companies in RampD production and exports to ensure the bio industry contributes more to the countrys economic growth and job creation a ministry official saidMeanwhile Seoul shares opened higher on Tuesday tracking overnight gains on Wall Street amid hopes for an end to the US government shutdownThe benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index KOSPI rose 8906 points or 219 percent to 416230 in the first 15 minutes of tradingOvernight the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 081 percent while the techheavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 227 percentThe US Senate advanced a plan to end the recordlong government shutdown and President Donald Trump expressed support for the bipartisan dealIn Seoul most largecap stocks traded higherMarket bellwether Samsung Electronics jumped 388 percent and its chip rival SK hynix climbed 33 percentTop automaker Hyundai Motor rose 074 percent while its smaller affiliate Kia gained 097 percent IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/s-koreas-biotech-industry-output-rises-98-pc-despite-global-uncertainty-647962.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-poultry-sector-likely-to-record-4-6-per-cent-revenue-growth-in-2025-26-as-demand-rises-648008.html Mumbai Nov 11 The poultry sector in India is projected to see revenue increase by 46 per cent during the current financial year driven by increasing rural demand higher per capita consumption of meat and growing preference for a proteinrich diet according to a Crisil report released on Tuesday Operating margin however will slip 08 to 1 per cent because of lower broiler prices in the first half of the financial year which will be partly mitigated by a subsequent recovery in broiler prices and favourable feed costs throughout the year the report statesHowever despite the lower profitability credit profiles of poultry companies are seen stable backed by modest capital expenditure limited debt addition and steady accrualThe report is based on an analysis of 34 companies with a cumulative revenue of Rs 10815 crore during the last financial yearThe layeregg segment accounts for 55 per cent of the poultry industry by value and the broiler segment for the remaining 45 per cent In the broiler segment revenue growth is likely to slow to 13 per cent during the current financial year due to lower realisationsCrisil Ratings director Jayashree Nandakumar said that Wholesale broiler prices fell 20 per cent yearonyear to Rs 110115 per kg in the first quarter of this fiscal as a short summer and an early monsoon led to relatively higher bird weights and hence a surplus in supply Subsequently with the onset of the festive season broiler prices have begun to recover Yet average broiler prices will be lower by 46 per cent in the current fiscalSales volume in the broiler segment is expected to grow 68 per cent to around 586 lakh tonne during the current financial yearIn the layeregg segment the sales volume is seen up 46 per cent to around 15750 crore eggs even as prices are seen rising a steady 24 per cent amid stable demand Indias per capita consumption of eggs at 102 per annum is significantly below the global average of 218 indicating substantial growth potential Hence the egg segments revenue is poised to grow 79 per cent during the current financial year the report further statedThe blended revenue growth of the poultry industry is expected at 46 per cent in the current fiscal Profitability however is seen under pressure The first half of this fiscal saw broiler prices crash leading to substantial inventory losses for industry players and thereby around 2 per cent decline in the operating margin In the second half however players will be able to minimise losses on account of subsequent recovery in broiler prices and favourable feed costs the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-poultry-sector-likely-to-record-4-6-per-cent-revenue-growth-in-2025-26-as-demand-rises-648008.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-private-hospital-sector-to-almost-double-to-202-billion-by-2030-report-648073.html New Delhi Nov 11 Indias private hospital sector is projected to reach 2025 billion by 2030 from an estimated 1223 billion in 2025 driven by rising demand private investment government initiatives and technology adoption such as AI and telemedicine a report said on Tuesday India needs 24 million additional hospital beds necessitating 2 billion square feet of space to build the healthcare infrastructure the report from credit rating agency Brickwork Ratings saidThe sector recorded 72 deals worth 35 billion in Q3 2025 up 166 per cent quarteronquarter in total deal valueIn 2024 Indias hospital sector experienced significant mergers and acquisitions MampA reflecting robust investor interest and a strategic shift towards expanding healthcare services across the country the report notedThe outlook for credit ratings of the private hospital industry in India is Positive due to robust demand healthy financial performances effective risk management and robust expansion strategies by leading hospital chains said Rajeev Sharan Head of Research Brickwork RatingsThe report said that Indias medical tourism market valued at 87 billion in 2025 is set to almost double to 162 billion by 2030 driven by affordable highquality care and streamlined visa processesRanking 10th in the Medical Tourism Index India attracted 73 million foreign patients in 202324 with rising demand for specialised treatments and strong international partnerships boosting growthLeading hospitals reported a rise in ARPOB average revenue per occupied bed which now ranges from about Rs 38000 to over Rs 74000 per bed per day the report saidARPOB is expected to grow in the coming years on account of improving speciality and payer mix and rising demand for highvalue procedures it addedFurther it predicted that the average length of stay ALOS is expected to remain low at around 34 days through 2030 leading to better bed utilisation Low ALOS is driven by ongoing operational improvements technological upgrades and faster patient throughput IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-private-hospital-sector-to-almost-double-to-202-billion-by-2030-report-648073.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-makes-significant-strides-to-address-mental-health-issues-647820.html New Delhi Nov 10 Mental health remains a pressing global challenge and while India has made significant strides through initiatives like Tele MANAS and the National Mental Health Programme building a mentally healthier society requires strengthening awareness expanding workforce training and investing in digital solutions according to government data About 106 per cent of Indian adults roughly 11 out of every 100 adults were living with a diagnosable mental health disorder according to a 201516 National Mental Health Survey NMHS conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences NIMHANSAccording to a NIMHANS study from 2019 mental health disorders are more prevalent among women 20 per cent than men 10 per cent Women in India are found to be particularly more prone to conditions like depression anxiety and somatic complaints compared to their male counterpartsSuicide rates in India are on the rise According to the 2023 National Crime Records Bureau NCRB report Accidental Deaths amp Suicides in India 171418 suicides were reported in the country in 2023 and the NCRB report revealed a significant gender disparity in suicides males accounted for 728 per cent of all suicides while females accounted for 272 per centRecognising mental healthcare as a vital component of overall wellbeing India has taken a major step toward universal health coverage by integrating mental health services into primary care through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs under the Ayushman Bharat initiativeUnder the Ayushman Bharat initiative over 175 lakh Sub Health Centres SHCs and Primary Health Centres PHCs have been upgraded into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs where mental health services are now an integral part of Comprehensive Primary Health CareThis integration ensures accessible and inclusive mental health support at the grassroots levelThrough Ayushman Bharat PMJAY mental health conditions are covered under a Rs 5 lakh per family annual insurance with over 135 lakh admissions worth Rs 12019 crore authorised between FY 202122 to FY 202324During the pandemic the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a 247 national helpline 0804611 0007 to provide psychosocial support and counselling for individuals affected by stress anxiety and other mental health challenges IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-makes-significant-strides-to-address-mental-health-issues-647820.html Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/over-1589-crore-children-in-gujarat-provided-free-health-screenings-in-11-years-minister-647875.html Gandhinagar Nov 10 Gujarats Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said on Monday that over the past 11 years more than 1589 crore children across the state have received free health checkups under the School HealthRashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram SHRBSK Launched in 201415 the initiative has provided specialised medical care to more than 218 lakh children including complex procedures such as 167 lakh heart surgeries more than 20000 kidney treatments 11000 cancer treatments 206 kidney transplants 37 liver transplants 211 bone marrow transplants and 3260 cochlear implants all free of costThe Minister emphasised that the SHRBSK programme implemented under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel aims to ensure a healthier future generation by offering comprehensive and technologydriven healthcare to every child from newborns to 18yearoldsThe initiative covers children studying in anganwadis primary secondary and higher secondary schools as well as those out of school providing regular health screenings early diagnosis and timely treatment without any financial burden on familiesAt present 992 mobile health teams operate across the state each comprising two AYUSH medical officers a pharmacist and an auxiliary nurse midwife to reach children in every corner of GujaratIn addition newborns are screened for birth defects using 4D technology at all delivery pointsThe programme also addresses a wide range of health concerns including anaemia malnutrition vision and hearing issues dental and skin conditions cardiac defects learning delays and behavioural problems alongside providing counselling nutrition and hygiene educationMinister Pansheriya added that around 189 crore children are screened every year and those requiring further treatment are referred to primary health centres community health centres district hospitals medical colleges or superspecialty hospitals ensuring a seamless referral and care processThe state has also established 28 District Early Intervention Centres for diagnosis and followup careThe SHRBSK programme is integrated with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Teko Portal making each childs health record digitally accessibleHighlighting the state governments inclusive approach the Minister noted that children who have undergone cochlear implant surgeries receive a free second processor to ensure continued hearing supportHe concluded by saying that the School HealthRashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram represents a holistic and futuristic model of child healthcare committed to building a strong healthy and empowered generation in Gujarat IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/over-1589-crore-children-in-gujarat-provided-free-health-screenings-in-11-years-minister-647875.html Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-to-roll-out-rs-41-crore-mobile-health-drive-for-womens-cancer-screening-647726.html Chennai Nov 9 Tamil Nadu is set to roll out an ambitious womens health initiative aimed at early detection and prevention of cancer among women across the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian on Sunday announced the launch of the Women Wellness in Week WWW project a Rs 41crore initiative aimed at bringing breast and cervical cancer screening to the doorstep of women in all districtsThe programme to be operational within the next ten days will deploy specially designed mobile medical units in each district to conduct exclusive cancer screening camps for women These units will be equipped with diagnostic tools and staffed by trained personnel to facilitate early detection especially in rural and semiurban areas where access to preventive healthcare remains limitedAnnouncing the initiative at an event under the Chief Ministers Girl Child Protection Scheme in Saidapet Subramanian said the governments focus is to make healthcare accessible and equitable for all womenEvery district will have one dedicated vehicle that will travel to different localities to screen women for breast and cervical cancer This will help us reach those who are often unable to visit hospitals for regular checkups he saidThe Minister also revealed that a free vaccination drive against Human Papillomavirus HPV a major cause of cervical cancer will soon be launched for all girls below 14 years of ageThe Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation TNMSC has already floated tenders for vaccine procurementOnce the supply is finalised vaccination will be rolled out through government schools and primary health centres he addedDuring the Saidapet event the Minister distributed maturity deposits and savings bonds to beneficiaries under the Girl Child Protection Scheme reaffirming the governments commitment to empowering women through education health and financial inclusionOn the broader public health front Subramanian said that dengue cases remain under control in Tamil Nadu due to sustained vectorcontrol drives by local bodiesPreventive measures have significantly reduced denguerelated fatalities We have instructed civic officials to continue intensive mosquito eradication efforts he saidThe WWW project is part of a larger state vision to improve womens health outcomes through early intervention preventive care and communitylevel outreach positioning Tamil Nadu as a national model in public health innovation IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-to-roll-out-rs-41-crore-mobile-health-drive-for-womens-cancer-screening-647726.html Sun, 09 Nov 2025 17:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/adopt-yoga-to-align-with-natures-rhythm-acharya-devvrat-after-inaugurating-naturopathy-day-festival-647746.html Ahmedabad Nov 9 Gujarat and Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat inaugurated the Naturopathy Day Festival in Ahmedabad marking the beginning of nationwide celebrations dedicated to yoga and natural healing that will continue till November 18 The event began with an inspiring feat at Sabarmati Riverfront where 685 participants simultaneously performed Vrikshasana tree pose applied face mud packs and took a collective sun bath earning entries in both the IEA Book of World Records and the Asia Book of RecordsUnveiling the cutouts of Naturopathy Day and Prakritik Chikitsa Parv Governor Devvrat emphasised the deep connection between nature and healthA healthy soul resides only in a healthy body he said urging people to adopt natural living practices including yoga pranayama and balanced diets aligned with natures rhythmReflecting on the ancient wisdom of Indian sages the Governor stated Our rishis lived in harmony with nature and gifted us disciplines like yoga and pranayama The farther we drift from nature the more we invite suffering Its time to return to our rootsGovernor Devvrat highlighted the growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases like cancer heart ailments and diabetes attributing them to the decline of natural living and the rise of chemical farmingHe appealed to farmers to adopt natural farming methods saying Chemical farming has poisoned our soil We must return to natural agriculture to safeguard health and the environmentHe also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modis initiatives through the Ministry of AYUSH and the National Mission on Natural Farming calling them steps toward reconnecting with Indias traditional wellness practices under the vision of Virasat bhi Vikas bhi heritage with progressChairman of the Gujarat State Yoga Board Shishpal lauded the Governors consistent guidance in promoting yoga indigenous sciences cow protection and natural agriculture across the stateHe pledged to continue spreading awareness about naturopathy and holistic wellness under the Governors mentorship Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain congratulated the organisers remarking that the Governors guidance in natural farming has been invaluable to Gujarats farmersShe urged citizens to contribute to Atmanirbhar Bharat and the vision of a Developed India echoing the Prime Ministers message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam the world is one familySeveral workshops seminars and mass yoga sessions are being organised across the country between November 9 and 18 by various nonprofit organisations in collaboration with Gujarat State Yog Board and National Institute of Naturopathy NIN under the Ministry of AYUSHThese events feature group activities like sunbaths face mud packs and Vrikshasana recognised by both Asian and global record institutions for their scale and participationThe event also saw participation from Hemanshu Sharma of NIN yoga and naturopathy practitioners students from schools and colleges who collectively sang the Naturopathy Anthem in celebration of Indias ancient healing heritage IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/adopt-yoga-to-align-with-natures-rhythm-acharya-devvrat-after-inaugurating-naturopathy-day-festival-647746.html Sun, 09 Nov 2025 19:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/doctors-assaulted-by-patients-relatives-at-mumbais-cooper-hospital-case-registered-647590.html Mumbai Nov 8 A shocking incident of violence against medical staff was reported at RN Cooper Government Hospital in Mumbai where three doctors on emergency duty were allegedly assaulted by the relatives of a patient who died during treatment the hospital said in a statement on Saturday According to hospital authorities a 65yearold woman was brought to the emergency ward with severe breathlessness and extreme weakness on Friday evening She was immediately attended to by the onduty Casualty Medical Officer CMO Gaurav Anandgaonkar Medicine Resident Karan and interns Prashant Bhadke and Rahul Pradhan Despite prompt CPR and other lifesaving measures the patient could not be revived and was declared dead at 1232 am on FridayFollowing the declaration one of the patients relatives reportedly turned violent and began physically attacking the doctors Anandgaonkar was struck multiple times on the face Intern Prashant Bhadke was assaulted and Medicine Resident Karan sustained injuries to the face eye chest and abdomen while trying to protect his colleaguesThe hospital said the assault took place inside the casualty ward in full public view alleging that security personnel present on duty failed to interveneDespite repeated calls for help no immediate response was received allowing the assailant to continue his violent behaviour unchecked the statement saidIt further named the contractual security staff Sanjay Lite Deepchand Vikas Kate and Palan Thakur accusing them of negligence and dereliction of dutyTerming the incident alarming and unacceptable the hospital said doctors were attacked while performing their duty and trying to save a life a situation that cannot be tolerated under any circumstanceA complaint has been filed at the Juhu Police Station The police have registered a case against the accused identified as Sameer Abdul Jabbar Shaikh under IPC sections 1211 132 352 and 3512Investigation is underwayThe injured doctors have been treated and are reported to be stable IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/doctors-assaulted-by-patients-relatives-at-mumbais-cooper-hospital-case-registered-647590.html Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-launches-upgraded-taei-registry-20-to-enhance-emergency-care-network-647594.html Chennai Nov 8 In a major step towards strengthening its emergency healthcare ecosystem the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday launched the upgraded Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative TAEI Registry 20 a comprehensive digital platform designed to streamline and elevate the quality of emergency medical services across the State Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian inaugurated the new digital platform at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai highlighting that the system would significantly improve realtime coordination between ambulance services and hospitals The upgraded registry accessible through both web and mobile applications will record live patient data from the 108 ambulance network and hospital emergency departments This will enable datadriven analysis improve clinical decisionmaking and help enhance patient outcomes he said First launched in 2017 the TAEI has been a pioneering initiative in Indias public health system It has transformed the states emergency response network by converting traditional hospital casualty wards into modern emergency departments equipped with advanced infrastructure sophisticated medical equipment and specially trained personnel As of now 113 TAEI centres are functioning across Tamil Nadu including 36 medical college hospitals five attached institutions 31 district headquarters hospitals and 41 subdistrict hospitals Many of these are strategically located along national and state highways to ensure immediate medical attention for accident victims and other critical patients Minister Subramanian explained that the initiative operates on six core focus areas myocardial infarction heart attack burns poison and bites preeclampsiaeclampsia PREM trauma and stroke By targeting these major lifethreatening conditions the TAEI has been able to save thousands of lives through timely intervention and rapid triage The upgraded TAEI Registry 20 will not only improve the speed and accuracy of emergency care but also provide the government with a valuable database for research monitoring and policy planning With realtime analytics and digital integration we can ensure that every patient receives the right care at the right time the Minister added The launch of TAEI 20 marks a significant milestone in Tamil Nadus continuing effort to build a robust technologydriven healthcare system capable of handling emergencies efficiently and equitably across both urban and rural areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-launches-upgraded-taei-registry-20-to-enhance-emergency-care-network-647594.html Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/winter-chill-in-delhi-ncr-marred-by-poor-air-quality-as-aqi-nears-400-647486.html New Delhi Nov 8 Minimum temperatures are steadily falling across DelhiNCR as the muchawaited winter season sets in However sadly for the residents of DelhiNCR along with the dip in temperature air quality has also deteriorated sharply with the Air Quality Index AQI hitting the 400 mark in some places in Delhi According to the latest report from the India Meteorological Department IMD on Saturday the minimum temperature is expected to remain around 13 degree Celsius for the next seven days Cold morning and evening winds are further intensifying the winter chill Rain is not expected at present and the weather is likely to remain foggyDelhi on Thursday recorded its coldest night of the season as the mercury dropped to 127 degree Celsius in the national Capital marking the first time this winter that temperatures fell below the 15 degree Celsius markThe Air Quality Index AQI has reached very poor levels in most parts of Delhi Noida and Ghaziabad According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB several monitoring stations in Delhi recorded AQI levels between 350 and 400 which fall under the severe category The air quality remains extremely poor in many areas including Alipur 355 Anand Vihar 359 Ashok Vihar 363 Bawana 403 Burari 376 and Karni Singh Shooting Range 342Similarly the situation in Ghaziabad and Noida remains concerning In Ghaziabad Indirapuram recorded an AQI of 271 Loni 336 Sanjay Nagar 269 and Vasundhara 368 Pollution levels in Vasundhara and Loni remain in the severe category posing serious risks of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases The air quality in Noida is also poor with AQI levels at 328 in Sector 125 323 in Sector 62 326 in Sector 1 and 333 in Sector 116According to health advisories prolonged exposure to such poor air quality can significantly increase the risk of lung and respiratory diseases especially for children the elderly and individuals with asthma or heart conditionsThe IMD stated that the worsening pollution is linked to falling temperatures which make the air heavier and reduced wind speed causing pollutants to remain trapped near the surface The combination of fog and smog is making the haze denser Construction activities and vehicular emissions continue to be major contributing factorsHealth experts have advised residents to limit outdoor activities especially during early mornings and late evenings wear protective masks and avoid direct exposure to polluted air IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/winter-chill-in-delhi-ncr-marred-by-poor-air-quality-as-aqi-nears-400-647486.html Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/for-nobel-prize-co-winner-james-watson-dna-was-my-only-gold-rush-647545.html New Delhi Nov 8 We have discovered the secret of life said American scientist James Watson in 1962 along with Maurice Wilkins and Francis Crick as the trio shared the Physiology and Medicine Nobel Prize for the DNAs double helix structure discovery Famous geneticist Watson who died at 97 as confirmed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the US where he worked and researched for decades was associated with one of the greatest breakthroughs of the 20th centuryAlthough DNA was discovered in 1869 it took scientists until 1943 to discover that it made up the genetic material in cellsTo date the structure of DNA remains a mysteryWatson died on Thursday US time after a brief illness according to a statement from his former employerI think early on I wanted to do something important with my life I still want to think about science and really nothing else Watson was quoted as saying in CNN in 2013Being driven by the desire to find the truth thats really my legacy The truth sometimes you dont find it and its complicated but what you always have is that if you can start with the truth its helpful he addedBorn in the US state of Chicago in April 1928 he won a scholarship to study at the University of Chicago at age 15 To pursue his research into DNA structures he went to Cambridge University in England where he met CrickTogether they began constructing largescale models of possible structuresAs per reports Watson took over the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York State in 1968 He is credited with turning it into one of the worlds foremost scientific research institutionsHowever his extraordinary work was marred owing to his racist and homophobic remarks against various groups of people claiming they had genetic differencesThe remarks led to him losing some of his honorary titles Watson also made headlines when he sold his Nobel Prize in 2014 for 476 million at auctionWatson told CNN in 2013 DNA was my only gold rush I regarded DNA as worth a gold rush IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/for-nobel-prize-co-winner-james-watson-dna-was-my-only-gold-rush-647545.html Sat, 08 Nov 2025 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/hyderabad-man-dies-after-suspected-drug-overdose-647190.html Hyderabad Nov 6 Suspected drug overdose claimed the life of a 28yearold man in Hyderabad while two others including his livein partner were taken ill police said Ahmed Ali a resident of the Kalapather area in the old city succumbed while being shifted to a hospital by his friends in the early hours of ThursdayAccording to the police he had been staying in a rented flat in a gated community in Shivrampally along with his friend identified as Zohra 28 a native of Andhra Pradeshs KurnoolAli along with Zohra and his friend Syed Bin Salah consumed drugs including opium at the flat on Wednesday Ali reportedly began vomiting blood and collapsed His friends tried to shift him to a hospital but he died on the wayPolice shifted his body to the Osmania General Hospital for postmortem examination Drug overdose is suspected to have caused the death Police have sent samples for forensic analysis to confirm the cause of deathZohra and Salah were also taken for medical examination and are said to be stableA case has been registered at the Rajendranagar police station of the Cyberabad CommissionerateMeanwhile six persons including three consumers involved in the supply and distribution of the MDMA and ganja were arrested during a joint operation by Rajendranagar police and Special Operations Teams SOT of Rajendranagar and Madhapur zonesDeputy Commissioner of Police Rajendranagar Zone Yogesh Goutam said 18 grams of MDMA 130 grams of ganja and five mobile phones were seized from the accusedPolice arrested three suppliers near Aramghar X Road in Rajendranagar They have been identified as Sangadi Santosh 26 of Kakinada Andhra Pradesh Gandhi Sandeep 23 of Bengaluru and Kandepalli Shiva Kumar 23 a lorry driver from Rajahmundry Andhra PradeshActing on the information given by suppliers the police arrested three consumers They were identified as Palaka Sai Babu 25 an IT employee from Rajahmundry Kotha Vishal Reddy 28 a private employee from Khajaguda and Plishetty Sameer 24 a photographer from KPHBAccording to police the suppliers had a history of drug offences with Santosh earlier being booked under the NDPS Act in Andhra Pradesh The key supplier who coordinated the racket remains abscondingAccording to police the accused had connected with an unidentified drug source on Instagram who coordinated deliveries through interstate peddlers The gang transported 17 grams of MDMA and 150 grams of ganja from Bengaluru to Hyderabad concealing the drugs in bagsUpon reaching Aramghar X Road Rajendranagar they were intercepted and apprehended by the police Acting on their confession three consumers were later arrested in the same areaAll six accused have been remanded to judicial custody while efforts are underway to trace the absconding supplier IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/hyderabad-man-dies-after-suspected-drug-overdose-647190.html Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/prataprao-jadhav-highlights-people-centric-approach-to-cancer-awareness-integrative-care-647348.html New Delhi Nov 7 Integrative models combining modern oncology with Ayush systems can significantly improve quality of life particularly for the vulnerable sections of society Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav said on Friday He emphasised that safeguarding public health requires a proactive and peoplecentric approach to cancer awareness and preventionJadhav noted that the Ministrys expanding initiatives including integrative cancercare centres collaborative research efforts and communityfocused programmes aim to ensure that affordable holistic and supportive care reaches every citizenOn the National Cancer Awareness Day 2025 the Ministry of Ayush highlights the need to strengthen public awareness and early detection efforts as cancer remains the second leading cause of death globallySeveral countries across the world have recorded considerable numbers of oral cervical and breast cancer cases India is placing increased emphasis on education screening and holistic health practices to address the challenge more effectivelyA large share of the cancer burden stems from preventable factors such as tobacco use unhealthy diets obesity physical inactivity alcohol consumption environmental pollutants and HPV infections highlighting the need for stronger awareness and timely action said the ministryEarly detection greatly improves survival particularly for breast cervical and oral cancers that can be identified at more treatable stages through routine screeningWith many cancers preventable and several potentially curable when diagnosed early sustained healthy lifestyle choices remain criticalAvoiding tobacco limiting alcohol eating plantbased diets maintaining a healthy weight staying active and reducing exposure to smoke and pollutants collectively help lower risk and support longterm wellbeing according to the ministryVaidya Rajesh Kotecha Secretary Ministry of Ayush highlighted that Indias expanding network of integrative cancercare initiatives reflects the Ministrys commitment to strengthening evidencebased patientcentric solutionsHe noted that Centres of Excellence collaborative research platforms and partnerships with leading institutions such as TMCACTREC Arya Vaidya Sala AIIMS and other reputable organisations are helping advance new therapeutic insights improve symptom management and enhance quality of life for cancer patientsHe added that these initiatives demonstrate the capacity of Ayush systems to complement modern oncology through systematic research trained manpower and clinically validated supportive care IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/prataprao-jadhav-highlights-people-centric-approach-to-cancer-awareness-integrative-care-647348.html Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/6-month-old-kerala-baby-found-murdered-depressed-grandma-under-suspicion-646927.html Kochi Nov 5 In a shocking incident in Keralas Ernakulam district on Wednesday a sixmonthold baby girl was found dead at home with her throat slit leading the police to launch an intensive investigation The deceased has been identified as Delna Maria Sara the daughter of Antony and Ruth residents of Karukutty near Angamaly in Ernakulam Police suspect the babys grandmother to be behind the murderAccording to preliminary information the grandmother who has been undergoing treatment for depression was found lying beside the infant at the time of the incidentShe was immediately admitted to the hospital after complaining of uneasinessOfficials suspect she may have taken an overdose of medication as she had done once before two months agoPolice said the incident occurred when the babys mother had briefly gone to the kitchen to prepare porridge for the grandmotherHearing a sudden cry the mother rushed back to find her child bleeding profusely from the neckThe family rushed the baby to a private hospital in Angamaly but doctors declared her dead on arrivalHospital authorities alerted the police after noticing the deep neck injury which suggested foul playOfficers from the Karukutty police station have cordoned off the house and begun forensic examination of the sceneAt present we are treating it as a case of homicide The grandmother who is undergoing treatment will be questioned once her condition stabilises a police official saidPolice have recorded preliminary statements from the babys parents and are awaiting the grandmothers medical report before taking further action Delnas body has been kept at the Angamaly Apollo Hospital for a postmortem examinationThe incident has sent shockwaves across the region with neighbours expressing disbelief over the tragedy in the otherwise quiet villageThe grandmother had been under medication and was also suffering from sodium deficiency which might have affected her mental stability IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/6-month-old-kerala-baby-found-murdered-depressed-grandma-under-suspicion-646927.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/antimicrobial-peptidescan-curbsalmonella-e-coli-and-helpcombat-amr-study-646933.html New Delhi Nov 5 Antimicrobial peptides can control pathogens like Salmonella and E coli a major cause of foodborne diseases and can also act as an alternative to antibiotics to help combat increasing antimicrobial resistance AMR Antimicrobial peptides which are short chains of amino acids have the potential to kill harmful bacteria without inducing resistance to antibioticsThe findings show that antimicrobial peptides have the potential to improve food safety and protect public health without relying on antibiotic useAntimicrobial peptides have the potential to be alternatives to antibiotics and thereby could mitigate antibiotic resistance said corresponding study author Gireesh Rajashekara Professor at College of Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois UrbanaChampaignThese peptides not only can kill Salmonella but also other related bacterial pathogens such as E coli so they could be really valuable in controlling a broad range of pathogens he addedThe researchers conducted their study to identify antibiotic alternatives to control Salmonella in chickensSalmonella is one of the major causes of foodborne illnesses in the US and chickens and chicken products eggs and meat have been considered the main vehicles of Salmonella infection in humansIn the new study published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum researchers identified a set of antimicrobial peptides that could kill many different types of Salmonella in test tubes then showed they could also kill Salmonella in chickensThe antibacterial activity of the peptides is likely due to their effect on Salmonella membranes The researchers said the peptides retain their activity upon exposure to heat and protease treatments characteristics necessary for the use of antimicrobial products in the poultry industryWe identified 2 antimicrobial peptides that kill many different types of Salmonella and also reduce Salmonella load in chickens Rajashekara saidThe expert noted that their next step is to test these peptides in chickens on a large scale optimise their delivery in water andor feed understand better how they kill Salmonella and explore more peptides like these for their antiSalmonella activity IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/antimicrobial-peptidescan-curbsalmonella-e-coli-and-helpcombat-amr-study-646933.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/dlc-campaign-40-over-55-lakh-digital-life-certificates-generated-in-first-4-days-646942.html New Delhi Nov 5 More than 52 lakh digital life certificates have been generated since the beginning of the nationwide Digital Life Certificate DLC Campaign 40 on November 1 said Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Public Grievances Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday Speaking at its formal launch in the national campaign Singh said that the campaign marks a significant step in the governments drive to simplify life certification for pensioners especially the super seniorsThe monthlong DLC campaign 40 which began on November 1 and will continue till November 30 has already seen over 55 lakh Digital Life Certificates generated within the first four days against the monthlong target of two crore Singh saidCampaign 40 aims to cover nearly 2000 districts cities and towns across the country through 2500 camps and coordinated by 1250 nodal officersThe initiative adopts a saturation approach to ensure that every pensioner irrespective of location or mobility constraints can submit their life certificate seamlessly said the Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and PensionsThe DLC Campaign 40 is being conducted in collaboration with 19 Pension Disbursing Banks India Post Payments Bank IPPB Pensioners Welfare Associations UIDAI MeitY EPFO Railways CGDA and the Department of Telecommunications to reach every pensioner across the country including those in remote and rural areas the Ministry saidThis year special emphasis is being laid on promoting Face Authentication Technology developed with full technical support from MeitY and UIDAI to make the process more seamless and convenient for the elderly the Ministry addedMeanwhile Singh stated that during the DLC Campaign 30 last year 5273 lakh DLCs were submitted using face authentication while 7264 lakh were from EPFO pensionersCampaign 30 of last year was conducted in 1984 locations across 845 districts and cities in November 2024 during which 162 crore DLCs were generated including 4978 lakh from Central Government pensioners Of these over 85200 were from pensioners above 90 years and more than 2200 were from pensioners aged above 100 years Singh saidHe noted that the idea behind introducing a Digital Life Certificate was born out of empathy for the elderlyIt appeared inhuman to ask senior citizens to physically prove that they are alive to receive their pension he said adding that the government turned this challenge into an opportunity to introduce biometric and face authentication technologies for a noble causeThe Minister highlighted that the initiative has evolved into a global success story with the unique experiment in governance now being studied internationally IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/dlc-campaign-40-over-55-lakh-digital-life-certificates-generated-in-first-4-days-646942.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/science-rampd-advanced-materials-key-pillars-for-viksit-bharat-2047-csir-646944.html New Delhi Nov 5 Science research and development and advanced materials are the key pillars for Viksit Bharat 2047 said Dr Mrs N Kalaiselvi Director General Council of Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR on Wednesday Speaking at the technical session hosted by CSIR on Day 3 of the Empowering Science Technology and Innovation Conclave ESTIC 2025 in the national capital Kalaiselvi highlighted Indias advancements in advanced materials and manufacturingDuring the plenary session Kalaiselvi featured a diverse range of discussions on how advanced materials are redefining product realization industrial design and sustainabilityBreakthroughs in materials science clean energy biotechnology and emerging technologies will shape the countrys growth trajectory With CSIR and Indias premier scientific institutions leading cuttingedge research India is laying the foundation for a technologically empowered selfreliant and innovationdriven future she saidKalaiselvi added that ESTIC 2025 serves as an impactful platform where ideas science and advanced technologies intersect accelerating the realisation of a futureready and knowledgepowered BharatProf Giridhar Udapi Rao Kulkarni Former President JNCASR Bengaluru explained how the world is moving from matter to materials from raw elements to engineered structures designed with precision performance and purposeFrom semiconductors and composites to smart polymers advanced materials are unlocking nextgeneration technologies and realworld products powering Indias transformation from a Stone Age mindset to the Age of Technology Kulkarni saidWith nanoscale precision shape control and dimensional engineering scientific innovation can drive manufacturing breakthroughs that accelerate Indias vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 encapsulated in the continuum science that will lead to innovation manufacturing and then the product he addedThe session brought together leading scientists innovators and entrepreneurs to discuss transformative technologies shaping the nations innovation ecosystemESTIC 2025 with the theme Imagine Innovate Inspire has brought over 3000 participants from academia research institutions industry and government along with Nobel laureates eminent scientists innovators and policymakers IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/science-rampd-advanced-materials-key-pillars-for-viksit-bharat-2047-csir-646944.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/2025-dengue-death-toll-in-bangladesh-crosses-300-with-10-new-fatalities-646945.html Dhaka Nov 5 Dengue outbreak in Bangladesh is worsening rapidly with infections and deaths rising sharply across the country As many as 10 people died due to dengue in 24 hours till Wednesday morning raising the death toll from the mosquitoborne disease in Bangladesh in 2025 to 302 the local media reported It marked the second highest singleday rise in deaths in 2025 According to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS five new fatalities have been reported in Dhaka South City Corporation DSCC three in Dhaka North City Corporation DNCC and one each in Barishal and Khulna divisions the United News of Bangladesh UNB reportedDuring the same period 1069 more patients were admitted to hospital with viral fever raising the total number of cases in 2025 to 74992 Presently 1140 patients are undergoing treatment in Dhaka while a total of 3203 patients are receiving treatment at various hospitals of BangladeshAmong this years patients 622 per cent were men while 378 per cent were women according to the report Among the fatalities in 2025 533 per cent were male and 467 per cent were femaleAs many as 575 people died due to dengue in Bangladesh in 2024On October 9 Directorate General of Health Services DGHS Director General Abu Jafor noted that the number of dengue cases in 2025 is higher than last year however the death rate is lowerSpeaking at a press briefing held over the Typhoid Vaccination Campaign2025 at the Health Ministry Abu Jafor said This year the number of dengue infections is higher than last year but the death rate in proportion to infections is lower the UNB reportedHe called breeding of mosquitoes and the destruction of their larvae important for preventing dengue People must use mosquito nets and take protective measures These are mostly individual responsibilities If we neglect these it will be very difficult to eliminate dengue he saidHe stated Our data shows that over 50 per cent of dengue deaths in hospitals are occurring on the very first day of admission This suggests that patients are seeking care too We are doing our best to ensure proper management in hospitalsAbu Jafor called early diagnosis important and mentioned that dengue if detected in the initial stage can be treated at home with proper medical care He said that lack of awareness negligence and delay in seeking medical care as the main reasons for the increasing dengue death rateDengue 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/2025-dengue-death-toll-in-bangladesh-crosses-300-with-10-new-fatalities-646945.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 03:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/man-dies-of-delay-in-angioplasty-at-thiruvananthapuram-medical-college-647038.html Thiruvananthapuram Nov 6 A man has died allegedly due to a delay in angioplasty at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital his family members said The deceased has been identified as Venu an autorickshaw driver from Panmana in Kollam districtThe family alleged that though doctors had recommended an emergency surgery it was not performed even after six days of hospitalisationThe controversy deepened after an audio message Venu had sent to a friend before his death surfaced in which he accused hospital authorities of apathy and corruptionIn the voice message Venu is heard saying that hospital officials refused to respond to his repeated pleasNo one here even looks at you with concern not even the way one would look at a dog They dont reply to questions This place is a centre of bribery I came here on Friday for an emergency angiogram but five days have passed and no one has checked on me When I asked a doctor during rounds when the surgery would be done they said they had no idea I dont know if this delay is for bribes Medical colleges should be a refuge for the poor but this one has become a cursed paradise for patients he saidVenu also asked his friend to make his plight known to the outside world if anything happened to himThe family alleged that Venu did not receive the necessary treatment despite his critical conditionVenu had initially sought treatment for chest pain at the Chavara Primary Health Centre and was later referred to the Kollam District Hospital which advised an emergency angiogramHe was subsequently admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital last week where he died on Wednesday night just hours after sending the voice message to his friendHowever hospital authorities have denied any lapses in treatment stating that all possible medical care was providedThey said the patients condition was initially stable and that the window for performing an angioplasty had already passed by the time he was brought inHis condition reportedly deteriorated suddenly leading to his death they addedWith the family of patients up in arms the state government is expected to conduct a probe into the sequence of events IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/man-dies-of-delay-in-angioplasty-at-thiruvananthapuram-medical-college-647038.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/bdesh-five-more-people-die-of-dengue-fatalities-rise-to-307-647150.html Dhaka Nov 6 Dengue outbreak in Bangladesh is worsening rapidly with infections and deaths rising sharply across the country As many as five people have died due to dengue in 24 hours till Thursday morning raising the fatalities from the mosquitoborne disease in Bangladesh in 2025 to 307 local media reportedThree new fatalities were reported in Dhaka South City Corporation DSCC and one each in Dhaka North City Corporation DNCC and Mymensingh Division according to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHSDuring the same period 1034 more people were admitted to hospital with viral fever increasing the total number of cases in 2025 to 76026 United News of Bangladesh reportedPresently 1155 patients are undergoing treatment in Dhaka while 3331 patients are receiving treatment at various hospitals in BangladeshAs per the report among this years patients 623 per cent were men and 377 per cent were womenAmong the fatalities 528 per cent were male and 472 were femaleAs many as 575 people have died due to dengue in 2024 During the same period the DGHS reported 101214 dengue cases and 100040 recoveriesOn October 9 Directorate General of Health Services DGHS Director General Abu Jafor noted that the number of dengue cases in 2025 is higher than last year however the death rate is lowerSpeaking at a press briefing held over the Typhoid Vaccination Campaign2025 at the Health Ministry Abu Jafor said This year the number of dengue infections is higher than last year but the death rate in proportion to infections is lower United News of Bangladesh reportedHe called breeding of mosquitoes and the destruction of their larvae important for preventing dengue People must use mosquito nets and take protective measures These are mostly individual responsibilities If we neglect these it will be very difficult to eliminate dengue he saidHe stated Our data shows that over 50 per cent of dengue deaths in hospitals are occurring on the very first day of admission This suggests that patients are seeking care too We are doing our best to ensure proper management in hospitalsAbu Jafor called early diagnosis important and mentioned that dengue if detected in the initial stage can be treated at home with proper medical care He said that lack of awareness negligence and delay in seeking medical care as the main reasons for the increasing dengue death rateDengue 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/bdesh-five-more-people-die-of-dengue-fatalities-rise-to-307-647150.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-sees-highest-ai-bot-activity-in-apac-followed-by-japan-and-china-report-646907.html New Delhi Nov 5 India leads the AsiaPacific region in AI bot activity and a 300 per cent increase in automated traffic globally is witnessed over the past year a report said on Wednesday AI bots generated 32 billion triggers in India positioning the country as the most targeted in the APAC region followed by Japan and China said the report from cybersecurity and cloud computing company Akamai TechnologiesThe report revealed an alarming spike in automated traffic driven largely by AIpowered bots targeting websites across all industriesThese bots generate billions of requests significantly distorting digital operations and analytics and make up nearly 1 per cent of total bot traffic on Akamais platformThe spike is primarily caused by content scraping which undermines traditional webbased business models publisher analytics and ad revenueAs bot traffic grows publishers and other contentdriven businesses are seeing corrupted analytics and collapsing ad revenues through bots extracting value without giving any in returnThe report also revealed that the rapid growth of AIenabled tools has made it easier than ever for both experienced threat professionals and new malicious actors to launch impersonation attacks conduct social engineering distribute phishing campaigns and commit identity fraud using AIgenerated fake documents and imagesIn addition malicious bots such as FraudGPT WormGPT ad fraud bots and return fraud bots are driving up costs degrading site performance and skewing key metricsFurther the global report stated that the commerce industry leads in AI bot activity registering more than 25 billion bot requests over a twomonth observation periodBut publishing faced the largest impact in the digital media industry representing 63 per cent of AI bot triggersIn the healthcare sector more than 90 per cent of AI bot triggers stem from scraping largely by search and training bots the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-sees-highest-ai-bot-activity-in-apac-followed-by-japan-and-china-report-646907.html Thu, 06 Nov 2025 01:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/japaneseresearchers-successfullyregenerate-boneusing-stem-cells-646782.html New Delhi Nov 5 A team of researchers from Japan has successfully treated spinal fractures in animal models using stem cells from fatty tissue The team from the Osaka Metropolitan University used stem cells extracted from adipose the bodys fatty tissue to treat spine fractures in rats similar to those caused by osteoporosis in humansThese cells offer the advantages of being easy to collect even from elderly individuals and causing little stress to the body suggesting a noninvasive way of treating bone diseasesBone regeneration and strength were significantly improved in rats transplanted with the adipose tissue ADSCsThe genes involved in bone formation and regeneration were also activated The study was published in Bone and Joint ResearchThis study has revealed the potential of bone differentiation spheroids using ADSCs for the development of new treatments for spinal fractures said Yuta Sawada a student at the varsitys Graduate School of MedicineSince the cells are obtained from fat there is little burden on the body ensuring patient safety This simple and effective method can treat even difficult fractures and may accelerate healing added Dr Shinji TakahashiOsteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become brittle and prone to fractures Among osteoporosisrelated fractures compression fractures of the spine known as osteoporotic vertebral fractures are the most common type of fracture and pose a serious problem leading to a need for longterm care and a significant decline in quality of lifeThe team used stem cells which are multipotent meaning that they can be differentiated into many different cell typesThey developed ADSCs into bonedifferentiated spheroids threedimensional spherical clusters and combined it with betatricalcium phosphate a material widely used for bone reconstruction to successfully treat rats with spinal fracturesThis technique is expected to become a new treatment that helps extend the healthy life of patients Takahashi said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/japaneseresearchers-successfullyregenerate-boneusing-stem-cells-646782.html Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-govt-sanctions-rs-1608-crore-creates-59-new-posts-to-strengthen-cancer-care-network-646675.html Chennai Nov 4 In a significant step toward improving cancer care infrastructure in the state the Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned the creation of 59 new posts in tertiary care hospitals under the Directorate of Medical Education and Research DME it was announced on Tuesday The initiative backed by an administrative and financial sanction of Rs 1608 crore aims to expand oncology services and strengthen manpower as part of the states proposed Cancer Management MissionAccording to a Government Order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department the new posts will be created across 16 government medical colleges to bolster cancer diagnosis and treatment capacityThe sanctioned positions include professors associate professors and assistant professors in medical oncology surgical oncology and radiation oncology ensuring that tertiary hospitals have adequate faculty and expertise to manage complex cancer casesThe decision follows an announcement by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu during the 202425 Budget Session underscoring the state governments commitment to addressing the rising cancer burdenTamil Nadu has been witnessing a steady increase in cancer incidence particularly among younger adults prompting the government to focus on both preventive and curative measuresThe 16 medical colleges to benefit from the initiative include those in Chennai Thanjavur Tirunelveli Salem Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari among othersThe move is part of the governments broader plan to operationalise a fourtier tertiary cancer care model comprising the State Apex Cancer Centre Regional Cancer Centres Tertiary Care Centres and District Cancer Care CentresThis structure is designed to ensure early detection timely treatment and comprehensive rehabilitative care thereby reducing both morbidity and mortality linked to cancerHealth and Family Welfare Department Secretary P Senthilkumar said the measure would address the increasing demand for qualified oncology specialists across Tamil Nadus public health networkWith cancer cases rising especially among younger populations these posts will help deliver quality treatment closer to peoples homes and strengthen our integrated cancer management framework he notedOfficials added that the newly created posts would be filled in phases with priority given to regional medical colleges catering to high patient loads ensuring equitable distribution of oncology services across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tn-govt-sanctions-rs-1608-crore-creates-59-new-posts-to-strengthen-cancer-care-network-646675.html Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sctimst-an-inspiration-for-government-institutions-vice-president-radhakrishnan-646686.html Thiruvananthapuram Nov 4 Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday hailed the Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology SCTIMST in Thiruvananthapuram as a model for all government institutions in the country noting its pioneering work in affordable healthcare innovations and medical device development Addressing a gathering after visiting an exhibition of indigenous medical devices developed by the institutes faculty and affiliated startups Radhakrishnan said that the institutes success story demonstrated the transformative potential of public research institutions when combined with innovation and societal commitmentThe VicePresident pointed out that nearly two lakh patients have undergone heart valve surgeries at the institute a feat that underscores its excellence in cardiac careFiftythree biomedical projects are currently under various stages of development at Sree Chitra The institutes record includes 19 design registrations 35 technology transfers and several patents reflect its leading role in Indias medical technology ecosystem he observedHighlighting the institutions selfreliance drive Radhakrishnan said 40 patients had already received the secondgeneration indigenous heart valve developed at the SCTIMSTToday the Chitra blood bag is used in every hospital across India and Asia a testament to the institutes quality and reliability he addedHe noted that devices such as vascular stents and ventricular assist systems developed at the institute would soon be made available to Indian patients at affordable pricesThe governments goal is health for all and Sree Chitra is making that vision a reality by ensuring access to cuttingedge medical technologies for even the poorest he saidResearch he emphasised must always translate into tangible social impact and Sree Chitras work exemplified that spirit Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar who also addressed the gathering said the institute symbolised the ideals of a selfreliant India by serving the common people through indigenous innovationUnion Minister of State for Petroleum Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi State Finance Minister K N Balagopal and SCTIMST Director Dr Sanjay Behari were among those present IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sctimst-an-inspiration-for-government-institutions-vice-president-radhakrishnan-646686.html Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/drugs-seized-from-doctors-house-in-hyderabad-646701.html Hyderabad Nov 4 A Hyderabad doctor was arrested by the excise police after drugs were recovered from his house officials said on Tuesday Acting on specific information the Prohibition and Excise officials and the NTF Narcotics Task Force searched the house of John Paul a doctor in the Musheerabad area and found drugs valued at Rs 3 lakhThe accused was allegedly selling narcotic substances from his rented house He was allegedly procuring the drugs from peddlers in Delhi and BengaluruThe STF personnel found OG Kush MDMA cocaine and hash oil from the doctors premisesThe excise police booked three other accused in the case John Paul was allegedly running the racket along with his friends Pramod Sandeep and Sharat They were using his house to stock and sell drugs offering him free narcotics in returnThe trio were absconding and the excise police have launched a hunt for themMeanwhile Cyberabad police arrested 11 people involved in the illegal possession sale and consumption of narcotic substancesThe Gachibowli Police and Special Operations Team SOT Madhapur Zone of Cyberabad raided a SM Luxury Guest Room Coliving amp PG Hostel TNGOs Colony Gachibowli and apprehended two personsBased on their confession the remaining accused were arrested at Hotel Night Eye Madhapur Later in the investigation the consumers were also identified and they were also taken into custody During the raid the accused persons were found to be in possession of narcotic substances which they were consuming and selling to known and unknown personsThe accused were found in possession of 3214 grams of MDMA and 467 grams of GanjaSeven accused including two Nigerians who are the main accused in the case are absconding The accused include suppliers distributors and consumersAccording to police their network extended across Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana The accused were procuring narcotic substances through illegal channels and selling them to youth and students in various localities IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/drugs-seized-from-doctors-house-in-hyderabad-646701.html Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-assembly-speaker-vasudev-devnanis-wife-passes-away-646461.html Jaipur Nov 3 Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnanis wife Indira Devi passed away at the Sawai Man Singh SMS Hospital in Jaipur on Monday She breathed her last while undergoing treatment under the supervision of doctors in the medical ICUThe incident has sent shockwaves through political and social circles across the stateAfter the completion of formalities her body was taken from SMS Hospital to the Speakers official residence in Jaipurs Civil Lines where it will be kept for a short while for the final darshanThe mortal remains will be taken to Ajmer early Tuesday morningDeparture from Jaipur is scheduled for 6 amThe funeral procession will depart from the familys Ajmer residence at 1030 am and the last rites will be performed at the Rishi Valley Crematorium at 10 am on TuesdayA few days ago Indira Devi suddenly fainted at her homeFamily members rushed her to the nearest hospital but as her condition deteriorated she was immediately shifted to the SMS Hospital emergency wardA special medical board formed under the direction of hospital superintendent Mrinal Joshi examined her and revealed that she was suffering from asthma and other chronic health issuesAccording to reports Indira Devi had also experienced a sudden health crisis about a year ago and had been placed on ventilator support for a few daysDespite medical efforts this time her condition remained critical and she passed away during treatmentIndira Devi was a retired school teacher and had been struggling with health problems for a long timeVasudev Devnani born in Ajmer in 1948 married Indira Devi in 1974The couple has a son and two daughtersA veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devnani represents Ajmer North Assembly constituency and has been serving as the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker since 2023On Monday Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde visited Devnanis residence to offer his condolencesThe Governor paid floral tributes to the mortal remains of Indira Devi and consoled the bereaved Speaker and his family IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rajasthan-assembly-speaker-vasudev-devnanis-wife-passes-away-646461.html Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/neurotoxin-found-in-odishas-ancient-cycad-plants-aiims-bhubaneswar-initiates-research-on-toxicology-646462.html Bhubaneswar Nov 4 In a significant scientific finding with public health implications researchers have detected the presence of BMAA βNmethylaminoLalanine a potential neurotoxin in several species of ancient Cycad plants growing in Odishas forests the AIIMS Bhubaneswar informed in a press statement on Monday The discovery has raised concern as some local communities continue to consume cycadbased foods such as pitha a traditional ricebased cake in Odisha as part of their customary diet and rituals These serious concerns over whether such consumption practices are directly linked to an increased incidence of neurological diseases remain a critical question that has prompted new research initiatives at AIIMS Bhubaneswar To address this burning query a distinguished group of national and international scientists and medical experts recently convened at an international workshop titled CycadRelated Neurological Disorders A MultiDimensional Approach to Its RemediationThe event was jointly organised by the Department of Neurology AIIMS Bhubaneswar and the NorthEastern Hill University NEHU Shillong the statement addedAccording to the AIIMS Bhubaneswar the workshop highlighted the potential health risks associated with cycads an ancient plant species that coexisted with dinosaurs more than 300 million years ago Often used today as ornamental flora cycad species contain potent toxins including Cycacin BMAA βNmethylaminoLalanine and MAM methylazoxymethanolThese compounds have been linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsonism motor neuron disease and dementia in regions like the Guam Peninsula USA and the Kii Peninsula Japan where cycads have traditionally been part of local dietsAs part of the workshop the experts conducted field visits to villages including Dhuanali in Khordha district and Gangamunda and Suaginali in Kamakhyanagar area of Dhenkanal district In these areas local tribal communities still rely on the Cycas plantknown locally as Veru Odia name Arugunaas a traditional food sourceDuring the visits experts interacted with villagers patients and local healthcare providers to better understand the possible neurological and related health issues arising from the consumption of cycad seeds IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/neurotoxin-found-in-odishas-ancient-cycad-plants-aiims-bhubaneswar-initiates-research-on-toxicology-646462.html Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/8-in-10-indians-embrace-return-to-office-policy-flexibility-well-being-major-concern-report-646636.html Mumbai Nov 4 More than 8 in 10 Indians have expressed positive sentiment in returning to office RTO with flexibility wellbeing major concern according to a report on Tuesday The JLL Workplace Preference Barometer 2025 report showed that 82 per cent of Indian employees are subject to workfromoffice mandates with the majority 8 in 10 expressing positive sentiment toward RTO policiesThe leading sectors driving RTO adoption are technology companies BSFI and the education sectorIndian corporates have successfully cracked the code on workplace excellence with 83 per cent of employees describing their work environment as close to ideal a figure that significantly outpaces the AsiaPacific average of 64 per centThis is a pivotal moment for Indian organisations As hybrid work matures we see 83 per cent of employees expressing positive sentiment towards returntooffice policies underscoring the need for workplaces to be high on humancentred design Talent attraction is also being reshaped with six in 10 now citing flexibility as their top priority when choosing a new employer said JipuJose James Managing Director Project amp Development Service PDS India JLLAbout 60 per cent of employees cited flexibility as the primary factor when selecting new employers outperforming the APAC average of 54 per centImportantly the research also highlighted a growing wellbeing challenge with 54 per cent of employees experiencing moderate to elevated levels of burnoutThe statistic represents millions of workers whose productivity engagement and loyalty are compromised by unsustainable work pressures and inadequate support systemsThese interconnected challenges burnout affecting more than half the workforce and flexibility driving 60 per cent of employment decisions create a perfect storm that threatens organisational performance and talent retention simultaneouslyEmployers that wish to attract and retain top performers must move beyond simply mandating office attendance Instead they should focus on creating workplaces that employees actively want to be part of offering flexibility that genuinely improves quality of life addressing burnout through sustainable work practices and investing in inclusive futurefocused skills development said Kamya Miglani Head of Work Dynamics Research Asia Pacific JLL IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/8-in-10-indians-embrace-return-to-office-policy-flexibility-well-being-major-concern-report-646636.html Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sudden-heatwave-grip-tn-after-monsoon-break-temperatures-to-rise-this-week-646176.html Chennai Nov 2 After several days of steady rain marking the onset of the northeast monsoon Tamil Nadu is now witnessing a sharp rise in temperatures and a sudden break in rainfall Meteorologists have cautioned that the spell of heat is likely to persist and even intensify across the state over the next weekOn Saturday Chennai recorded one of its hottest November days in recent years with the temperature touching 355 degrees Celsius at the Nungambakkam observatoryNormally November is expected to bring moderate weather conditions but the current heat levels have surprised both residents and weather expertsMeteorologists attribute this unusual temperature rise to the absence of the usual easterly winds which typically bring moisture and moderate temperatures during the monsoon seasonInstead westerly winds which are hot and dry have become dominant pushing temperatures up across the coastal and interior districtsExperts said that the phenomenon is linked to Cyclone Montha which recently crossed the Bay of Bengal and moved away from the Indian coast The system is believed to have drawn the easterly winds towards itself disrupting the normal monsoon flow As a result Tamil Nadu and neighbouring regions have been left under the influence of hot westerlies triggering a temporary heatwaveAdding to this the rise in sea surface temperatures near Sumatra has also intensified the warming trend reducing cloud formation over southern India and allowing more direct sunlight during the dayThe result has been an unusual spell of dry heat during a period typically associated with cloudy skies and intermittent rainWeather experts however predict that this hot phase may not last long The high daytime temperatures could lead to the formation of convective clouds triggering localised thunderstorms and light showers in some parts of Tamil Nadu between Monday and Saturday November 3 to 8 These thunderstorms are likely to be accompanied by lightning and brief gusts of windFor now residents across the State have been advised to stay hydrated avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours and brace for a week of unseasonable heat before the northeast monsoon resumes its normal pattern IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sudden-heatwave-grip-tn-after-monsoon-break-temperatures-to-rise-this-week-646176.html Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-delivers-over-16-tonnes-of-medicines-to-afghanistan-to-help-combat-vector-borne-diseases-646186.html Kabul Nov 2 India has delivered over 16 tonnes of medicines to Afghanistan to help combat vectorborne diseases like malaria dengue and leishmaniasis a Taliban spokesperson announced on Sunday Taliban spokesperson Sharafat Zaman stated that the medicines and diagnostic kits will support Afghanistans National Malaria and Other VectorBorne Diseases Prevention Programme He noted that supplies sent by India will help enhance Afghanistans capacity to combat diseases like malaria dengue and leishmaniasisIn a post on X Zaman stated India Donates over 16 Tonnes of AntiVector Borne Disease Medicines to Afghanistan The government of India has extended a significant gesture of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by gifting over 16 tonnes of antivectorborne disease medicines and diagnostic kits to the Ministry of Public Health MoPH This donation is part of Indias continued commitment to supporting the health sector in Afghanistan and strengthening bilateral cooperation in public health and disease preventionThe medicines and diagnostic kits will directly support Afghanistans National Malaria and Other VectorBorne Diseases Prevention Programme The supplies are aimed at enhancing the countrys capacity to combat diseases such as malaria dengue and leishmaniasis which continue to pose serious public health challenges across several regions of Afghanistan he addedZaman said that Afghanistans Ministry of Public Health expressed appreciation for the Indian governments timely and valuable assistance The Ministry noted that these medicines and diagnostic kits represent a crucial step toward improving public health infrastructure and ensuring effective disease control especially in vulnerable and highrisk communities This latest donation underscores Indias longstanding partnership and developmental support to Afghanistan By contributing essential medical supplies India reaffirms its role as a reliable partner in promoting health stability and humanitarian cooperation in the region he addedIndias medical assistance to Kabul comes after the recent visit of Afghanistans Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi in October On October 10 he met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as both held discussions on Indias support for Afghanistans development bilateral trade territorial integrity and independence peopletopeople ties and capacitybuilding besides several other issues EAM Jaishankar noted that Muttaqis visit to India marks an important step in advancing bilateral ties He also announced the handing over of five ambulances to AfghanistanOn October 10 Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed that India delivered additional food supplies to Afghanistan for the people affected by the earthquake The MEA spokesperson further informed that the announcement was made by EAM Jaishankar during his meeting with his Afghan counterpart Muttaqi IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-delivers-over-16-tonnes-of-medicines-to-afghanistan-to-help-combat-vector-borne-diseases-646186.html Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/three-bengaluru-medical-students-drown-in-rough-seas-off-keralas-payyambalam-beach-646211.html Thiruvananthapuram Nov 2 In a tragic incident three medical students from Bengaluru lost their lives after being swept away by strong waves at the Payyambalam beach in Keralas Kannur on Sunday police said The deceased have been identified as Afnan Rahanuddeen and Afras all hailing from Karnataka and students of a medical college in BengaluruAccording to police sources the students were part of an eightmember group who had come to Kannur on a leisure trip and ventured into the sea despite warnings about rough conditionsEyewitnesses said the tragedy occurred around 7 am when the group entered the water for a swimWhile some of them remained close to the shore three students were pulled deeper by powerful undercurrentsArea residents alerted by the screams of the others rushed to the scene and managed to pull out two of them Afnan and Rahanuddeen with the help of lifeguards and fire and rescue personnel Both were rushed to the Kannur Government Hospital but doctors pronounced them dead on arrivalSearch operations were immediately launched to locate the third missing student AfrasAfter nearly two hours of intense efforts by the Fire and Rescue team and local fishermen his body was recovered a short distance away from the spot where the group had been bathingKannur city police have registered a case of unnatural death and are coordinating with the college authorities and the families of the victims in Karnataka to arrange for the transportation of the bodiesPayyambalam beach though a popular tourist destination has witnessed several drowning incidents in recent years due to strong rip currents particularly during the postmonsoon periodOfficials have renewed calls for visitors to heed safety advisories and avoid venturing into the sea during turbulent conditions Locals and tourists at the beach were visibly shaken as news of the tragedy spreadAuthorities are now considering tightening restrictions on swimming in vulnerable stretches of the coastline especially during early morning and evening hours when lifeguard presence is limited IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/three-bengaluru-medical-students-drown-in-rough-seas-off-keralas-payyambalam-beach-646211.html Sun, 02 Nov 2025 16:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/covid-during-pregnancy-may-raise-autism-motor-disorder-risk-in-kids-by-age-3-645960.html New Delhi Nov 1 Children born to mothers who had Covid19 while pregnant may be at a high risk of suffering from developmental disorders including speech delays autism and motor disorders by the time they turn 3 years old according to new research Researchers from the Mass General Brigham in the US explained that these may be due to immune activation during pregnancy which disrupts normal foetal brain developmentThese findings highlight that Covid19 like many other infections in pregnancy may pose risks not only to the mother but to foetal brain development said Andrea Edlow MaternalFoetal Medicine specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Mass General Brigham The findings published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology are based on an analysis of 18124 live births during the peak Covid window of March 2020 to May 2021The team studied 18124 motherchild pairs Among the 861 children whose mothers were SARSCoV2positive during pregnancy 140 163 per cent received a neurodevelopmental diagnosis by 3 years of age compared with 1680 97 per cent of the 17263 remaining children from SARSCoV2negative pregnanciesAfter adjusting for other influencing factors SARSCoV2 infection during pregnancy was associated with 29 per cent higher odds of a neurodevelopmental condition in childrenThe investigators also found that males were at higher risk than females Risk was greatest when infection occurred during the third trimester of pregnancyThe study also supported the importance of trying to prevent Covid infection in pregnancy particularly when public trust in vaccines including the Covid19 vaccine is being erodedWhile reducing risk is important the overall risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in exposed children likely remains low said cosenior author Roy Perlis of the Mass General Brigham Department of Psychiatry IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/covid-during-pregnancy-may-raise-autism-motor-disorder-risk-in-kids-by-age-3-645960.html Sat, 01 Nov 2025 11:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/dark-chocolate-berries-may-help-boost-memory-and-relieve-stress-study--645978.html New Delhi Nov 1 Struggling with memory and stress issues A bite of dark chocolate or a handful of berries may help boost your memory levels and also cut down stress according to an animal study The improved memory and cognition may be due to flavanols found abundantly in cocoa and berries said the team from Shibaura Institute of Technology JapanThe study published in the journal Current Research in Food Science demonstrated that flavanol intake can trigger wideranging physiological responses resembling those induced by exercise functioning as a moderate stressor that activates the central nervous system and enhances attention arousal and memory Flavanols also protect against neuronal damageStress responses elicited by flavanols in this study are similar to those elicited by physical exercise Thus moderate intake of flavanols despite their poor bioavailability can improve the health and quality of life said Dr Yasuyuki Fujii from the Shibaura InstituteIn the study the team investigated how flavanols affect the nervous system through sensory stimulation They tested the hypothesis that the astringent taste a dry puckering rough or sandpapery sensation in the mouth of flavanols may act as a direct signal to the brainThe researchers conducted experiments in 10weekold mice administering flavanols orally at doses of 25 mgkg or 50 mgkg body weight while control mice received only distilled waterBehavioural tests showed that flavanolfed mice exhibited greater motor activity exploratory behaviour and improved learning and memory compared to controlsFlavanols enhanced neurotransmitter activity across several brain regions Dopamine and its precursor levodopa norepinephrine and its metabolite normetanephrine were elevated in the brain immediately after the administrationThese chemicals regulate motivation attention stress response and arousalFurthermore enzymes critical for noradrenaline synthesis tyrosine hydroxylase and dopaminebetahydroxylase and transport vesicular monoamine transporter 2 were upregulated strengthening the signalling capacity of the noradrenergic systemIn addition biochemical analysis revealed higher urinary levels of catecholamines hormones released during stress as well as increased activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus PVN a brain region central to stress regulation IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/dark-chocolate-berries-may-help-boost-memory-and-relieve-stress-study--645978.html Sat, 01 Nov 2025 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/nine-dead-in-stampede-at-andhras-venkateswara-swamy-temple-on-ekadashi-pm-modi-cm-naidu-express-grief--646042.html Amaravati Nov 1 IANS At least nine devotees mostly women and children lost their lives in a tragic stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga in Andhra Pradeshs Srikakulam district during the Ekadashi celebrations on Saturday as the massive gathering of worshippers led to chaos and panicnbspDisturbing visuals from the temple premises showed bodies of devotees lying on the ground as rescue teams and locals rushed to help the injuredEarlier videos from the temple showed massive overcrowding with hundreds of women holding puja baskets jostling on a staircase in a frantic attempt to save themselvesPrime Minister Narendra Modi who is in Chhattisgarh expressed his grief over the incident and announced compensation for the victimsPained by the stampede in Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones I pray that the injured recover soon he said the PMO said in an X postThe PM also announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the PMNRF tonbsp be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives while the injured would be given Rs 50000Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the incident deeply saddeningDeeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the stampede at the Kashibugga Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam Andhra Pradesh My condolences to the families of the devotees who lost their lives Praying that the injured may recover at the earliest he said in a post on XAndhra Pradesh Governor Justice S Abdul Nazeer retd expressed anguish and profound grief on the death of the pilgrims due to the heavy rushGovernor of Andhra Pradesh Sri S Abdul Nazeer expressed anguish and profound grief on the death of nine pilgrims in the stampede that took place in Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Kasibugga in Srikakulam district on Saturday due to heavy rush of pilgrims the Andhra Raj Bhavan said on XThe Governor offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and directed the district administration to provide better medical care to the injured pilgrimsExpressing shock and grief Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu described the tragedy as heartbreakingThe stampede at the Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga Srikakulam district has deeply shocked me The loss of devotees lives in this incident is extremely tragic I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families I have instructed officials to ensure prompt and proper treatment for the injured he said in a statementThe Chief Minister also directed local authorities and public representatives to visit the site and personally oversee the relief and rescue operationsIn a post on X Naidu further said The stampede at the Kasibugga Venkateswara Temple in Srikakulam district has left a deep impression It is extremely sad that devotees have lost their lives in this unfortunate incident I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased I have directed the authorities to provide the best possible treatment to the injured I have asked the local authorities and public representatives to visit the site of the incident and monitor the relief effortsState Minister and Telugu Desam Party TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh also expressed his sorrow over the incidentIn a post on X he wrote The stampede at the Kasibugga Venkateswara Temple which resulted in the death of several devotees is deeply shocking There was a great tragedy on the day of Ekadashi I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who died The government is providing better medical treatment to those injured in the stampede As soon as I received the information I spoke to the authorities the district minister Atchannaidu and the local MLA Gauthu Sirisha I have ordered immediate assistance to the victimsIANS https://dailyworld.in/health/nine-dead-in-stampede-at-andhras-venkateswara-swamy-temple-on-ekadashi-pm-modi-cm-naidu-express-grief--646042.html Sat, 01 Nov 2025 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/leprosy-now-a-notifiable-disease-in-maharashtra-646074.html New Delhi Nov 1 In a major boost to fight leprosy the Maharashtra government on Saturday declared that the chronic infectious condition is a notifiable disease The mandate will help curb the spread of leprosy and ensure early treatment for the patientsAs per the new directive every diagnosed case must be notified within two weeks to the respective District Health Office Assistant Director Health Services Leprosy and local municipal health authoritiesLeprosy or Hansens disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria Symptoms include discoloured skin patches lack of ability to feel touch pressure pain muscle weakness deformities particularly in hands feet and face and the inability to close eyes and poor visionDespite being completely curable fear stigma and misconceptions have prevented people from seeking proper treatmentThe Health Department emphasised that early detection and complete treatment are crucial to preventing deformities and disabilities among patientsThe state has also set an ambitious target of achieving a LeprosyFree Maharashtra by 2027The target includes breaking the chain of infection reducing disease transmission to zero eliminating deformities in children and eradicating social discrimination against those affectedTo achieve this health authorities directed all doctors both in public and private sectors along with pathologists microbiologists healthcare workers and field officers to ensure proper treatment and followup They have also asked to administer PostExposure Prophylaxis PEP to close contacts of patientsAs of September 2025 Maharashtra recorded 7863 new leprosy cases with 13010 patients currently under treatmentNotably health officials in the state appealed to the public not to panic emphasising that leprosy is entirely curable if diagnosed and treated on timeCitizens have been encouraged to visit their nearest health centre immediately if any symptoms appearNot all leprosy cases are infectious Especially neuritic leprosy leprosy of peripheral nerves is noncommunicable Hence while making it notifiable only infectious leprosy should be notifiable Dr Ishwar Gilada a Mumbaibased Consultant in Infectious Diseases told IANS IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/leprosy-now-a-notifiable-disease-in-maharashtra-646074.html Sat, 01 Nov 2025 21:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/leprosy-now-a-notifiable-disease-in-maharashtra-646076.html New Delhi Nov 1 In a major boost to fight leprosy the Maharashtra government on Saturday declared that the chronic infectious condition is a notifiable disease The mandate will help curb the spread of leprosy and ensure early treatment for the patientsAs per the new directive every diagnosed case must be notified within two weeks to the respective District Health Office Assistant Director Health Services Leprosy and local municipal health authoritiesLeprosy or Hansens disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria Symptoms include discoloured skin patches lack of ability to feel touch pressure pain muscle weakness deformities particularly in hands feet and face and the inability to close eyes and poor visionDespite being completely curable fear stigma and misconceptions have prevented people from seeking proper treatmentThe Health Department emphasised that early detection and complete treatment are crucial to preventing deformities and disabilities among patientsThe state has also set an ambitious target of achieving a LeprosyFree Maharashtra by 2027The target includes breaking the chain of infection reducing disease transmission to zero eliminating deformities in children and eradicating social discrimination against those affectedTo achieve this health authorities directed all doctors both in public and private sectors along with pathologists microbiologists healthcare workers and field officers to ensure proper treatment and followup They have also asked to administer PostExposure Prophylaxis PEP to close contacts of patientsAs of September 2025 Maharashtra recorded 7863 new leprosy cases with 13010 patients currently under treatmentNotably health officials in the state appealed to the public not to panic emphasising that leprosy is entirely curable if diagnosed and treated on timeCitizens have been encouraged to visit their nearest health centre immediately if any symptoms appearNot all leprosy cases are infectious Especially neuritic leprosy leprosy of peripheral nerves is noncommunicable Hence while making it notifiable only infectious leprosy should be notifiable Dr Ishwar Gilada a Mumbaibased Consultant in Infectious Diseases told IANS IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/leprosy-now-a-notifiable-disease-in-maharashtra-646076.html Sat, 01 Nov 2025 21:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pgi-chandigarh-inducts-ex-servicemen-to-strengthen-safety-646107.html Chandigarh Nov 1 With the induction of Army exservicemen as the new batch of security personnel the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research PGIMER in Chandigarh is moving closer to realising its vision of a safer more responsive and patientfriendly environment officials said on Saturday The commitment and discipline that these exservicemen bring will immensely strengthen our institutional fabric as we continue expanding our clinical and research facilities said Vivek Lal PGIMER Chandigarh Director while addressing the impressive induction ceremony of 287 newly recruited security personnel held at the NINE Auditorium in PGIMERThe ceremony marking a significant step towards reinforcing institutional security and operational efficiency at PGIMER Chandigarh witnessed the participation of all 287 security personnel in uniformThe event was attended by senior functionaries of PGIMER including Pankaj Rai Deputy Director Administration Ravinder Singh Financial AdvisorcumChief Accountant Ashok Kumar Acting Medical Superintendent and Ranjit Pal Singh Bhogal Associate Professor Department of Hospital Administration along with other faculty members and administrative officialsThe PGIMER director also said PGIMER has inducted 287 exservicemen into its Security Department through Punjab ExServicemen Corporation PESCO marking a major stride in strengthening institutional safety with disciplined and trained personnel With this induction the total strength of PGIMERs security force has now been enhanced to 1000 personnel ensuring comprehensive coverage across the institutes expanding facilities These veterans with years of service in the Indian Armed Forces bring unmatched vigilance integrity and crisis management skills to the healthcare environment Their inclusion reflects PGIMERs commitment to national service and sets a benchmark for public institutions across IndiaThrough this initiative the PGIMER not only enhances operational efficiency but also honours the continued contribution of soldiers in civilian life ensuring a secure and respectful atmosphere for patients staff and visitors alikeThis follows the recent approval by the Standing Finance Committee to recruit an additional 300 security staff in anticipation of the commissioning of the Neurosciences Centre and the Mother and Child Centre both expected to open by January 2026PGIMER Director Lal noted The initiative reflects PGIMERs proactive approach to build a secure and patientcentric ecosystem particularly as the institute prepares for the launch of roundtheclock diagnostic services an important step towards enhancing accessibility and easing the burden on patientsEchoing the Directors sentiments Pankaj Rai PGIMER Deputy Director Administration said Security plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity and smooth functioning of a large and complex healthcare institution like PGIMER The induction of these trained personnel marks an important milestone in ensuring that our patients caregivers and staff continue to experience a safe and orderly environmentThis initiative underscores PGIMERs unwavering commitment to safety efficiency and patient wellbeing ensuring that as the institute continues to grow it remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of care service and institutional excellence IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pgi-chandigarh-inducts-ex-servicemen-to-strengthen-safety-646107.html Sat, 01 Nov 2025 23:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/india-sets-3-guinness-world-records-under-swasth-nari-sashakt-parivar-campaign-645923.html New Delhi Oct 31 India has created history by setting three Guinness world records under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday The achievement highlights the countrys strong commitment to preventive healthcare and womens wellbeingThe records include the highest number of people registering for a healthcare platform in one month with more than 321 crore registrationsThe second record was for the most people signing up for breast cancer screening online in a single week with over 994 lakh participantsThe third record was for the most people signing up for vital signs screening online at the state level within a week crossing 125 lakh participantsLaunched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the campaign ran from September 17 to October 2 coinciding with Poshan MaahIt focuses on improving the health and nutrition of women adolescent girls and children while promoting early disease detection and access to essential health servicesThe initiative also aims to empower families to adopt healthier lifestyles for a stronger and more resilient IndiaPrime Minister Modi emphasised the role of women in building a healthy nation saying Our mothers and sisters are the foundation of our nations progress If a mother is healthy the whole family stays healthyThe campaign achieved an extraordinary reach covering every district in the country It organised over 197 lakh health camps which saw a massive footfall of more than 11 crore people across different healthcare platformsMore than 20 ministries along with central government institutes medical colleges and private organisations took part in this nationwide effort Members of Parliament MLAs and officials from various departments also participated making it a true wholeofgovernment initiativeThe campaign also witnessed remarkable community participation Over 5 lakh Panchayati Raj representatives 114 crore students 94 lakh members of selfhelp groups and 5 lakh members from other community platforms actively contributed making it one of the largest public health movements in the worldThe health impact of the campaign has been significant with 178 crore hypertension screenings 173 crore diabetes tests 695 lakh oral cancer screenings and 626 lakh antenatal care checkups conductedAdditionally 143 crore vaccine doses were administered and 151 crore anaemia tests were carried out More than 859 lakh women were screened for tuberculosis 102 lakh for sickle cell disease and over 214 crore people attended counselling and wellness sessionsThe campaign also registered more than 268 lakh Nikshay Mitras supported by My Bharat volunteers to strengthen Indias fight against tuberculosis IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/india-sets-3-guinness-world-records-under-swasth-nari-sashakt-parivar-campaign-645923.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 23:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ktaka-guv-thawarchand-gehlot-hospitalised-cm-siddaramiah-wishes-him-speedy-recovery-645697.html Bengaluru Oct 31 Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has been admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru due to a viral fever Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the Manipal Hospital on Thursday to inquire about the Governors health and wished him a speedy recoveryGovernor Gehlot had recently visited Madhya Pradesh where he attended a series of programmesIt is said that he may have developed a high fever due to exhaustionInitially the Governor was admitted to a private hospital on the Old Airport Road in BengaluruLater for advanced treatment he was shifted to Manipal Hospital in the city where he is currently undergoing treatmentHe is likely to be discharged from the hospital soonGovernor Gehlot was shifted to the hospital two days agoTaking to his official X account CM Siddaramaiah said Today I visited Manipal Hospital to inquire about the health of Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot who is undergoing treatment and wished him a speedy recoveryGovernor Thaawarchand Gehlot is a member of the Rajya Sabha Upper House of Parliament representing Madhya PradeshHe was awarded an honorary doctorate by the BR Ambedkar University of Social SciencesHe formerly represented Shajapur in the Lower House of the Parliament as well served as a Lok Sabha member from 1996 to 2009He served as the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment in Prime Minister Narendra Modiled Union governments second termHe is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and was also the General Secretary of the partyOn July 6 2021 Thaawarchand Gehlot was appointed as the 13th Governor of KarnatakaGehlot was born in a Dalit family in the village of Rupeta in Nagda in Madhya PradeshHe had assumed Ministerial berth a number of times in the BJPled Union governmentHe was a member of the Parliamentary Board and the Central Election Committee of the BJPHe completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from Vikram University in Madhya Pradeshs Ujjain IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ktaka-guv-thawarchand-gehlot-hospitalised-cm-siddaramiah-wishes-him-speedy-recovery-645697.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/rapid-bp-fluctuations-may-signal-risk-of-brain-degeneration-in-elderly-645760.html New Delhi Oct 31 Older adults whose blood pressure fluctuates widely may indicate a greater risk of brain shrinkage and nerve cell injury according to a new study The study published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease reveals that shortterm dynamic instability in blood pressure momenttomoment changes measured over just minutes is linked to loss of brain tissue in regions critical for memory and cognition as well as to blood biomarkers of nerve cell damageOur findings show that even when average blood pressure is normal instability from one heartbeat to the next may place stress on the brain said Daniel Nation from the University of Southern Californias Leonard Davis School of GerontologyThese momenttomoment swings appear to be associated with the same kinds of brain changes we see in early neurodegeneration added the Professor of Gerontology and MedicineWhile high average blood pressure has long been known to increase the risk of dementia this study focuses on blood pressure variability or how much blood pressure rises and falls over short time periodsRecent evidence suggests that such fluctuations can strain small blood vessels in the brain and reduce their ability to deliver steady blood flowIn this study the researchers combined two complementary measures Average Real Variability ARV and Arterial Stiffness Index ASIARV captures how much systolic blood pressure the top number in a blood pressure reading changes between each heartbeat while ASI reflects how flexible or stiff the arteries are as they respond to those changes in pressureTogether these measures indicate how much blood flow changes over a short period of time or what the researchers call blood pressure dynamic instabilityThis study suggests that excessive fluctuations could be a sign of vascular ageing that contributes to brain injury Nation explainedThe team conducted MRI scans of 105 communitydwelling older adults between the ages of 55 and 89 who were generally healthy and had no major neurological diseaseParticipants with both high ARV and high ASI were found to have smaller hippocampal and entorhinal cortex volumes brain regions vital for learning and memory also the first affected by Alzheimers diseaseBlood samples showed that the same individuals also had higher levels of neurofilament light NfL a bloodbased marker that rises when nerve cells are damagedThe findings open a new window into how cardiovascular changes contribute to cognitive decline and may offer novel prevention strategies IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/rapid-bp-fluctuations-may-signal-risk-of-brain-degeneration-in-elderly-645760.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/scientists-detect-new-covid-like-virus-from-moustached-bats-in-brazil-645776.html New Delhi Oct 31 An international team of scientists from Japan the US Australia and Belgium has detected a new Covid19like virus from a species of moustached bats in Brazil stoking fears of a potential spillover and a new disease Bats are natural reservoirs for many viruses including betacoronaviruses which include the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus 2 SARSCoV2 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus MERSCoVThe team from the universities of Osaka and Sydney detected the virus called BRZ batCoV from the Pteronotus parnellii a small insecteating bat known for tiny hair tufts on its faceEven though the bat species is common in South America experts fear the virus might have been gaining ground for monthsWe identified a fulllength genome of a novel bat CoV BRZ batCoV from a Pteronotus parnellii bat sampled in Brazil that is phylogenetically distinct from known betacoronaviruses said the researchers in a paper not yet peerreviewed and published on preprint site BioRxivThe team analysed the species evolutionary development and found that the virus is sufficiently distinct from the five recognised Betacoronavirus subgenera to represent a new subgenusOf note the spike protein of this novel bat coronavirus possesses a functional furin cleavage site at the S1S2 junction with a unique amino acid sequence motif RDAR that differs from that found in SARSCoV2 RRAR by only one amino acid the team saidThe furin cleavage site is important in determining host range infectivity and crossspecies transmission It has been identified in the surface proteins of other RNA viruses such as the highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses Orthomyxoviridae and the Ebola viruses as well as the SARSCoV2 virus which led to the recent global pandemicIn addition the team found that BRZ batCoV is not the same as Covid rather it is more closely related to MERS virusesMERS also known as camel flu spreads less easily than Covid but is much deadlier killing about onethird of patientsAlthough the new flu strain shows alarming exposure rates it may be spreading silently across countries Hongbo Bao a researcher from the Changchun Veterinary Research Institute in China was quoted as saying to the US Sun an American edition of the British tabloidHowever as per the scientists who found the new bat virus there is no evidence that BRZ batCoV infects humans or spreads beyond bat populationsThey note that the discovery provides important insights into the evolutionary potential and zoonotic risk of BRZ batCoVThe findings highlight the role of bats as potential reservoirs of genetic innovations relevant to zoonotic emergence they added IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/scientists-detect-new-covid-like-virus-from-moustached-bats-in-brazil-645776.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/my-bharat-enhances-youth-engagement-in-civic-projects-with-2-crore-users-645782.html New Delhi Oct 31 Mera Yuva Bharat MY Bharat the countrys largest youth engagement platform has connected over 2 crore young Indians and 12 lakh organisations providing opportunities for volunteering experiential learning leadership and skill development the government informed on Friday The initiative runs a MY Bharat Portal and a mobile app with multiple MY Bharat 20 modules creating new pathways for volunteering leadership and skilling while enabling young Indians to contribute directly to national priorities an official statement saidLaunched on October 31 2023 MY Bharat administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports provides a technologydriven platform for citizens aged 1529 and adolescents aged 1019 to engage in projects with government departments private organisations and civil society partnersThese projects address realworld challenges from health education and environment to innovation entrepreneurship and social inclusion the statement saidOver 145 lakh volunteering opportunities have been generated by the platform connecting over 16000 youth club members with 60000 institutional partners including government bodies educational institutions and NGOs the government data saidThe MY Bharat mobile app launched on October 1 features multilingual support AIdriven chatbots voiceassist navigation and Smart CV Builder toolsAt launch it had onboarded approximately 181 crore youth and 120 lakh organisations were already registered on the platformThe app also provides digital certificates and engagement badges reflecting each participants contributions to national and community projectsMY Bharat 20 modules integrate National Career Service linkages a mentorship hub and experiential learning programmes the release notedTo bridge the digital divide and ensure universal access the platform has partnered with the Common Service Centres network and leveraged over five lakh villagelevel entrepreneurs to assist youth in rural tribal and aspirational districts in registering and accessing MY Bharat services IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/my-bharat-enhances-youth-engagement-in-civic-projects-with-2-crore-users-645782.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/new-antivenom-effective-against-17-african-snake-species-645809.html New Delhi Oct 31 Danish researchers have in a groundbreaking innovation developed an antivenom which has shown effectiveness against 17 African snake species and could revolutionise the treatment of venomous snakebites Snakebites result in about 150000 deaths worldwide each year according to the World Health Organization WHO The survivors are left with serious disabilities including amputations and permanent tissue damageCurrently available antivenoms do not cover all medically relevant snake species and do not always neutralise all medically relevant toxins found in snake venomsThe new broadspectrum antivenom was developed by researchers from the Technical University of Denmark DTU in Denmark by combining eight carefully selected nanobodies into a cocktailIn laboratory studies the antivenom showed potential against a total of 17 different African snake species including cobras and rinkhals It also provided better protection against tissue damage and lowered the risk of immune reactionsImportantly it can be produced at a lower cost than existing antivenoms said the team in the paper published in the journal NatureWe have developed an antivenom that does not require us to constantly extract antibodies from animals Instead we used phage display technology to develop our antivenom said Andreas Hougaard LaustsenKiel who led the research at DTUThis method makes it possible to select and copy effective antibody fragments nanobodies and later produce them on a large scale and with consistent quality This means that we would be able to produce the antivenom in large quantities without compromising on quality he addedAlthough the antivenom showed promise it has yet to be tested on humansThe team also noted that the effectiveness of the antivenom is limited when its given after venom exposureFurther venom from certain species such as the black mamba and forest cobra was only partially neutralised This shows that both the composition of the venom and the timing of treatment are very important and that the antivenom does not yet provide full protection in all casesUrging the need for more studies and clinical trials LaustsenKiel stated that the antivenom has the potential to fundamentally change how snakebites are treated around the world IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/new-antivenom-effective-against-17-african-snake-species-645809.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/apple-plans-to-notify-1-million-people-about-hypertension-645832.html New Delhi Oct 31 Tech giant Apple is planning to notify one million people about hypertension a high blood pressure condition impacting about 13 billion adults globally using the alert feature on Apple Watch said CEO Tim Cook The groundbreaking hypertension notifications feature available on Apple Watch Series 9 Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 alerts users if signs of chronic high blood pressure are detectedWith our latest Apple Watch lineup we were proud to introduce hypertension notifications developed using largescale machine learning models Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for heart attack and stroke affecting more than one billion adults worldwide and we expect to notify more than 1 million users of this lifethreatening condition said Cook during the companys Q4 2025 earnings call on Thursday US timeAI and advanced machine learning are at the core of powerful health features like heart rate monitoring fall detection crash detection and more he addedHypertension known to be a silent condition often remains undiagnosed because it shows no symptomsThe hypertension notifications on Apple Watch use data from the optical heart sensor to analyse how a users blood vessels respond to the beats of the heart The algorithm works passively in the background reviewing data over 30day periods and will notify users if it detects consistent signs of hypertensionCook shared that the Apple Watch will also help in improving sleep scoreWere also excited about sleep score a simple intuitive way to help users better understand their sleep quality and discover ways to improve it Thats something Im sure we can all benefit from the Apple CEO saidCook informed that the company made a revenue of 9 billion in the wearables home and accessories segmentWe were excited to unlock new possibilities for users with the launch of our newest Apple Watch lineup making the worlds most popular watch even better That includes Apple Watch Ultra 3 with the largest display ever in an Apple Watch improved battery life and emergency SOS via satellite Apple Watch Series 11 brings our users the most comprehensive set of health features yet And Apple Watch SE 3 delivers advanced capabilities at an incredible value he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/apple-plans-to-notify-1-million-people-about-hypertension-645832.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/narayana-healths-uk-expansion-shows-bharats-growing-capabilities-piyush-goyal-645870.html New Delhi Oct 31 Narayana Healths acquisition of a UK hospital is a proud moment for India and also reflects Bharats growing capabilities said Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday The Bengalurubased Narayana Health has acquired UKbased Practice Plus Group Hospitals which operates 12 hospitals and surgical centres specialising in highquality orthopaedics ophthalmology and general surgeryProud moment for India as our healthcare delivery system continues to strengthen its global presence With Narayana Health Bengalurubased healthcare providers acquiring the UKbased Practice Plus Group Hospitals the expansion underscores Bharats growing capabilities and excellence in providing worldclass medical care said Goyal in a post on social media platform XLauding the Groups Chairman Dr Devi Prasad Shetty for the milestone Goyal said the achievement will further propel our healthcare ecosystem to scale new frontiers globallyPM Narendra Modi jis vision and progressive policies are giving a new fillip to Indias healthcare ecosystem he addedKiran MazumdarShaw Executive Chairperson of Biocon also lauded the acquisitionTaking the affordable care model to the UK a potential game changer she added on XLast month Biocon also announced the first US FDAapproved formulations facility in New Jersey US The company had acquired the plant from Eywa Pharma in 2023Meanwhile the total consideration for the acquisition by Narayana Health reportedly is GBP 18878 million for the 100 per cent stake which comprises 60001 equity shares of face value of GBP 002 each of Practice Plus Group Hospitals The per share price for the acquisition will be GBP 314629 as per reportsThe acquisition will offer a new choice of more accessible private healthcareand help many more patients get the help they need said Dr Devi Prasad Shetty Founder and Chairman of Narayana Health IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/narayana-healths-uk-expansion-shows-bharats-growing-capabilities-piyush-goyal-645870.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/sanjay-raut-facing-health-issues-to-stay-away-from-public-life-for-two-months-645884.html Mumbai Oct 31 Shiv SenaUBT MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Friday said he will stay away from public life completely for the next two months due to health issues In a letter addressed to his friends family and workers Raut posted on the social media X You all have always believed in me and loved me But suddenly it has come to light that there has been some serious deterioration in my health I am undergoing treatment I will come out of this soon Also as per medical advice I have been restricted from going out and mingling with crowds There is no alternative I will recover well and meet you in the new yearRaut who has been the voice of Shiv SenaUBT during the formation of the partyled government and also after the split has said he will be alright and back next yearAfter the split in the Shiv Sena Sanjay Raut has been arguing for Shiv Sena UBTRauts move comes on the eve of the oppositions morcha in Mumbai on Saturday to highlight anomalies in the electoral rolls and protest against vote theftRaut who used to hold press conferences at his residence every morning skipped it on FridayLater family sources told reporters that Raut has been admitted to the city hospital for medical examinationUpon learning about Rauts health Thackeray group deputy leader Sushma Andhare prayed for his long lifeGet well soon Even if we cannot mingle publicly you will continue to provide ideological logistics to the fight we have waged against the unarmed giant power here for the next two months said AndhareAndhare further stated When the party chief was being attacked from all sides you stood up countered the attack When Maharashtra looks at you it becomes clear what a true friend is like You are going to recover well Not only Shiv Sainiks of Maharashtra but every oppressed and downtrodden person here and every person who has been exhausted by the BJPs tyranny is standing firmly for a fighter like youShe added that the blessings of people from every walk of life are with RautState BJP media incharge Navnath Ban said Get well soon Sanjay Raut and hit the field for holding press conferences again IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/sanjay-raut-facing-health-issues-to-stay-away-from-public-life-for-two-months-645884.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 19:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/mpox-spreading-to-more-countries-17-deaths-in-africa-in-last-6-weeks-says-who-645885.html New Delhi Oct 31 Mpox has been spreading to more countries and the deadly virus has claimed 17 lives in Africa in the last six weeks said the World Health Organization WHO on Friday The WHOs 59th situation report for the multicountry outbreak of mpox revealed that 17 countries in Africa have experienced ongoing active transmission of mpox in the last six weeks from September 14 to October 19During this period 2862 confirmed cases including 17 deaths were reportedCountries reporting the highest number of cases in this period are the Democratic Republic of Congo Liberia Kenya and GhanaSince the last edition of this report Malaysia Namibia the Netherlands Portugal and Spain have reported detection of clade Ib monkeypox virus MPXV for the first time the WHO saidNew imported cases of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV detected among travellers have been reported in Belgium Canada Germany Italy Qatar and Spain the global health body addedFurther six countries Italy Malaysia the Netherlands Portugal Spain and the US reported clade Ib MPXV cases among individuals without travel links indicating local circulation of the virusIn addition to countries in Africa these countries are now also classified as experiencing community transmission of clade Ib MPXV the WHO saidAt least five cases of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV have also been detected among individuals who selfidentify as men who have sex with menThese cases provide the first evidence of previously undetected circulation of this virus strain within this atrisk population in which only clade IIb MPXV had been reported since 2022 and across different regions the WHO saidIn September 2025 42 countries across all WHO regions reported a total of 3135 confirmed cases including 12 deathsMpox 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/mpox-spreading-to-more-countries-17-deaths-in-africa-in-last-6-weeks-says-who-645885.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 19:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/kerala-medical-college-doctors-threaten-indefinite-strike-over-govt-apathy-645634.html Thiruvananthapuram Oct 30 The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association KGMCTA has accused the state government of turning a blind eye to the longpending demands of medical college doctors even as the Cabinet announced a slew of welfare measures in its latest meeting The association on Thursday said the continued neglect of medical college doctors who shoulder both patient care and teaching responsibilities was deeply unjust and warned of launching an indefinite strike if the government failed to interveneKGMCTA said none of its key demands had been addressed despite repeated assurancesThese include rectifying anomalies in the entrylevel pay structure clearing arrears from the 2016 pay revision creating new teaching and medical posts in recently established colleges improving hospital infrastructure releasing pending dearness allowance DA dues and lifting what it called an unfair pension ceiling imposed on statepaid facultyThe association pointed out that pay anomalies affecting Assistant Professors have made government service unattractive pushing young doctors toward the private sectorAlthough the 2016 pay revision was implemented belatedly in 2020 arrears remain unpaid even as other state employees have received their full duesIt is deeply regrettable that doctors who risked their lives during the Covid crisis and brought pride to the state have been completely ignored the statement saidKGMCTA also criticised the governments failure to sanction new posts in medical colleges at Kasaragod and WayanadFiles related to post creation have been gathering dust in the Health and Finance departments for over a year despite repeated government promises it notedThe association added that imposing a pension ceiling aligned to state scales while medical college doctors draw centralscale salaries was unjust and demoralisingWarning of stronger action KGMCTA said its Central Executive Committee would convene soon to decide on an indefinite strike if the government continued its indifference IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/kerala-medical-college-doctors-threaten-indefinite-strike-over-govt-apathy-645634.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/129-more-test-positive-for-dengue-in-manipur-case-tally-rises-to-3-594-this-year-645635.html Imphal Oct 30 At least 129 more people tested positive for dengue taking the total number of vectorborne cases to 3594 this year officials said on Thursday According to a report released by S Priyokumar Singh State Malaria Officer National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme at least 3594 people have tested positive for dengue in the state this year while a patient died in the states Bishnupur districtSingh in his report said that they have been following the guidelines of the central National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme NVBDCP in curbing the outbreak of dengue in the state since JanuaryAccording to a report by the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control under the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry 2463 cases of dengue were reported last year 2024 and five people died due to the viral diseaseThe Health and Family Welfare Department report stated that the 3594 positive cases were detected between January 1 and October 28 this year out of 7883 people tested for the diseaseOf the states 16 administrative districts comprising valley and hilly regions Imphal West reported the highest number of cases at 2507 followed by Imphal East 655 Bishnupur 102 Thoubal 84 Senapati 63 Kakching 45 and Ukhrul 44 and Chandel 25Among the most affected areas 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 mountainous regionsThe mixedpopulated district of Jiribam along southern Assam reported only one positive dengue case so farThe only denguerelated death was reported in Bishnupur district in the Manipur valley region the report said Another official of the Health and Family Welfare Department said that as per 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 create 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/129-more-test-positive-for-dengue-in-manipur-case-tally-rises-to-3-594-this-year-645635.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/stem-cell-therapy-may-help-reduce-heart-failure-after-a-heart-attack-645592.html New Delhi Oct 30 Patients with weak heart function who receive stem cell therapy shortly after a heart attack are less likely to suffer heart failure according to a study Heart failure can occur after a heart attack when the heart muscle is extensively damaged weakening its ability to pump blood effectivelyThis can be a sudden complication acute heart failure or a longterm one Symptoms include trouble breathing fatigue swelling in the legs and an irregular heartbeatThe clinical trial published by the BMJ suggests stem cell therapy may be a valuable addon procedure for this particular group of patients after a heart attack to prevent subsequent heart failure and reduce the risk of future adverse eventsAn international team of researchers including those from Queen Mary University of London in the UK set out to assess the impact of delivering stem cells directly into coronary arteries known as intracoronary infusion after a heart attack on the development of heart failure over three yearsThe results suggest that this technique may serve as a valuable adjunctive procedure after myocardial infarction to prevent the development of heart failure and reduce the risk of future adverse events the team saidThe trial included 396 patients average age 5759 years with no previous heart conditions at three teaching hospitals in Iran They had all experienced a first heart attack myocardial infarctionOf these 136 patients in the intervention group received an intracoronary infusion of allogenic Whartons jellyderived mesenchymal stem cells within 37 days of their heart attack in addition to standard careThe remaining 260 control group patients received standard care aloneCompared with the control group intracoronary infusion of stem cells was associated with reduced rates of heart failure 277 vs 648 per 100 person years readmission to hospital for heart failure 092 vs 420 per 100 person years and a combined measure of cardiovascular death and readmission for heart attack or heart failure 28 vs 716 per 100 person yearsThe intervention did not have a statistically significant effect on readmission to the hospital for heart attack or death from cardiovascular diseaseHowever by six months heart function in the intervention group showed a significantly greater improvement compared with the control group said the researcher while also urging the need for additional trials confirming the finding IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/stem-cell-therapy-may-help-reduce-heart-failure-after-a-heart-attack-645592.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tongue-may-hold-clues-to-detect-track-motor-neurone-disease-study-645177.html New Delhi Oct 28 Scanning MRI of a persons tongue may help in the early detection and ongoing monitoring of Motor Neurone Disease MND a neurodegenerative disease according to a study Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia found that people living with MND also known as ALS who have difficulty speaking or swallowing tend to have smaller tongue musclesThis could serve as an early indication of neurodegenerative disease said Dr Thomas Shaw from the varsitys School of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceThere are eight interconnected muscles in our tongues each with a different role allowing us to eat swallow and speak But for someone with a motor neuron disease the tongue muscles like many others in the body progressively weaken and sadly waste away Shaw saidBeing able to detect and track this symptom early would help patients and clinicians especially with interventions like early access to clinical trials he addedWhile studying tongue muscles inside the mouth of a person living with MND has traditionally been difficult and invasive the team examined more than 200 historical MRI scans including some of people living with MND for the studyApplying a combination of AIassisted and advanced imaging techniques we were able to get precise measurements of tongue muscle volume and shape Shaw saidCrosssectional comparisons showed significant differences between the scans of people with MND and those without he addedThe research published in Computers in Biology and Medicine confirmed previous study findings which showed people whose MND symptoms occur in the mouth tongue throat and neck muscles have a shorter survival time compared to those with an onset of symptoms in their limbsSpeech pathologist Dr BrookeMai Whelan from UQs School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences said the tongue was a complex organ executing thousands of precisely coordinated movements every day which are only noticed when they begin to failUnderstanding which specific tongue muscles waste away in MND will help us develop strategies to compensate including modifying the persons speech patterns to rely on unaffected muscle groups he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tongue-may-hold-clues-to-detect-track-motor-neurone-disease-study-645177.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 11:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/36-pc-gen-z-within-legal-drinking-age-have-never-consumed-alcohol-report-645186.html New Delhi Oct 28 More than 1 in 3 or 36 per cent young adults particularly Generation Z within the legal drinking age have never consumed alcohol according to a global report The report by data analytics company Euromonitor International noted that the growing trend of sobriety among younger consumers is largely driven by a desire to feel healthier and avoid longterm health risks 87 per cent of respondentsSome 30 per cent are also avoiding due to practical considerations such as saving money and improving sleep quality 25 per centThe report noted the rise in the Zebra striping trend as consumers seek to moderate their alcohol consumptionZebra striping refers to a trend where individuals alternate between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages during a single social occasion creating a pattern that helps moderate their drinkingOnly 17 per cent of respondents reported drinking weekly in 2025 down from 23 per cent in 2020Among those who consume alcohol at least occasionally 53 per cent say they are actively trying to cut back up from 44 per cent five years ago Notably the share of individuals who never drink alcohol rose by 3 percentage points since 2020The report showed that although the global alcoholic drinks industry has reached 253 billion litres in 2024 growth appears to be stagnatingAccording to the report this form of mindful drinking is becoming popular across all ages and demographics but is especially evident among younger consumersHowever India is set to see an increase of 357 million litres in alcoholic drinks consumption from 2024 to 2029 making it a leading growth market the report saidIt also highlighted the growth in the global nonalcoholic marketWhile the alcoholic beverages industry was marked by modest global total volume growth of just 06 per cent bringing the total market value to 17 trillion in 2024 nonalcoholic spirits sales grew by 17 per cent in total volume nonalcoholic RTDs by 14 per cent nonlow alcohol beer by 11 per cent and nonalcoholic wine by 7 per centThe adult nonalcoholic drinks market is expected to grow by 24 per cent in total volume terms between 2025 and 2029 surpassing 102 billion litres in 2029 the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/36-pc-gen-z-within-legal-drinking-age-have-never-consumed-alcohol-report-645186.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 11:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/early-identification-support-can-help-kids-with-dyslexia-achieve-success-official-645193.html New Delhi Oct 28 Dyslexia is a different way of expressing knowledge said Sanjay Kumar Secretary Department of School Education and Literacy noting that with early identification and proper support kids with the condition can achieve success Kumar was speaking at the Walk for Dyslexia 2025 held in the national capital where the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Secretariat were lit up in red The walk was organised across the nation by the Changeinkk Foundation UNESCO MGEIP Orkids Foundation and Soch Foundation to spread awareness on DyslexiaDyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects reading writing and spelling resulting from differences in how the brain processes language October is observed as Dyslexia Awareness MonthKumar stressed the need to create awareness and acceptance around Specific Learning Disabilities SLDs particularly Dyslexia which remains one of the most common yet misunderstood learning differences among childrenEvery child learns differently Dyslexia is not a limitation but a different way of understanding and expressing knowledge With early identification support and empathy children with Dyslexia can achieve remarkable success Todays walk is a walk for awareness for compassion and for inclusion the Secretary saidHe also underlined the crucial role of PRASHAST 20 a mobile appbased screening tool developed by NCERT in helping schools identify children with disabilities including Dyslexia at an early stageEarly detection coupled with greater awareness among teachers parents and the wider community can make a real difference in ensuring that every child with Dyslexia receives the right support and opportunities to learn and thrive within an inclusive education system Kumar saidThe Department of School Education and Literacy under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme has undertaken several measures to strengthen early screening identification and support for children with SLDs including DyslexiaThese include the implementation of PRASHAST 2 the inclusion of dedicated modules on inclusive education in the Integrated Teacher Education Programme ITEP to strengthen preservice teacher preparationFurther the government has also provided customised learning support including teaching learning material necessary aids and appliancesassistive devices texttospeech reading tools etc accommodation and therapeutic support for children with SLD DyslexiaBlocklevel screening and identification camps are also held across States and UTs to ensure timely diagnosis and certificationAccording to global estimates Dyslexia affects one in every five individuals globally In India around 1215 per cent of all children with Special Needs CwSN enrolled in schools have been reported to have SLDs which may include children with Dyslexia as per government data IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/early-identification-support-can-help-kids-with-dyslexia-achieve-success-official-645193.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/surging-elderly-population-to-boost-silver-economy-in-india-govt-645210.html New Delhi Oct 28 With an increasing population of senior citizens in India the silver economy is set for a rapid expansion and growth said the government on Tuesday Silver economy is an economy driven by goods and services designed to meet the needs of the elderly typically those over 50 years of ageAs per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfareled Population Projection July 2020 report the elderly population 60 years and above in the country is projected to more than double from 100 million in 2011 to 230 million by 2036The 2021 Longitudinal Ageing Study of India LASI reveals that 12 per cent of Indias population comprises elderly individuals a proportion projected to rise to 319 million by 2050 growing at an annual rate of approximately 3 per centThis rapid demographic transition offers tremendous growth potential for health and wellnessfocused enterprisesIt includes support that prioritises family and communityled initiatives while ensuring financial security digital literacy training longterm care insurance digital healthcare access assistive technologies and engagement platforms are crucial for effectively integrating older adults into the silver economyIndias silver economy is valued at approximately Rs 73000 crore in 2024 with projections indicating substantial multifold growth in the years ahead Research identifies senior citizens along with professionals in the 45 to 64 age bracket as the wealthiest age cohort globally the statement saidThis burgeoning silver economy creates substantial opportunities for businesses and organisations dedicated to addressing the needs and preferences of the elderly demographic The market is poised for rapid expansion both domestically and internationally presenting considerable scope for innovation and development within this sector it addedMeanwhile in a bid to tackle the challenges encountered by the elderly population the government has undertaken numerous initiatives policies and action plansThe Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment MoSJE serves as the nodal ministry entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of senior citizens in IndiaKey initiatives promoting the care wellbeing and dignity of senior citizens include the Atal Pension Yojana APY the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana AVYAY the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens IPSrC and the Rashtriya Vayoshri YojanaFurther the government has also constituted a dedicated helpline tollfree number 14567 a Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine SAGE Portal Senior Able Citizens for ReEmployment in Dignity SACRED Portal Geriatric Caregivers Training and the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana PMJAY to boost the health and wellbeing of the elderly in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/surging-elderly-population-to-boost-silver-economy-in-india-govt-645210.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-pharma-and-healthcare-sector-witnessed-35-billion-deals-in-q3-2025-report-645240.html New Delhi Oct 28 The pharma and healthcare sector in India witnessed robust deal momentum valued at 35 billion in Q3 2025 according to a report on Tuesday Grant Thornton Bharats Pharma and Healthcare Dealtracker report showed that the sector recorded a total of 72 transactions up 28 per cent in volumes and 166 per cent in value quarter on quarterThis included three IPOs worth 428 million and one QIP worth 88 million the report saidExcluding public market activity private deals accounted for 3 billion across 68 transactions marking a sharp rebound in investor appetiteThe report noted that the surge was driven by seven high value deals worth 26 billion reflecting renewed investor confidence in scale and consolidation plays across pharma biotech and hospital segmentsQ3 marked a resurgence in deal activity driven by a healthy mix of scale capability and innovationled investments said Bhanu Prakash Kalmath S J Partner and Healthcare Industry Leader Grant Thornton BharatThe momentum in pharma and biotech supported by strategic consolidations signals growing confidence in Indias life sciences potential he addedFurther the report showed that mergers and acquisitions MampA activity surged in Q3 recording 36 deals worth 25 billion This marked a 57 per cent rise in volumes and a remarkable 122x jump in value over the previous quarterPrivate Equity in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector witnessed 32 deals worth 425 million in Q3 2025 It reflected a 3 per cent decline in volumes and a 27 per cent drop in values compared with the previous quarterHospitals saw 19 deals worth 264 million Multispecialty consolidation gained pace in western India and NCR while singlespecialty formats like dialysis IVF oncology and women and childcare drove volumes the report saidThe continued investor interest in hospitals singlespecialty formats and wellness platforms highlights the sectors evolution toward clinical excellence wider reach specialisation and technologyled consumercentric care Despite global uncertainties the sustained flow of capital reflects the longterm resilience and structural growth of Indias healthcare ecosystem Bhanu Prakash said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indian-pharma-and-healthcare-sector-witnessed-35-billion-deals-in-q3-2025-report-645240.html Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-gender-pay-gap-narrows-sharply-now-among-lowest-worldwide-report-645124.html New Delhi Oct 27 Indias gender pay gap has narrowed sharply now ranking among the lowest worldwide a report said on Monday According to a report from global payroll and compliance platform Deel the median salaries for men and women in India are nearly equal ranging from 13000 to 23000 reflecting growing pay equity and the adoption of datadriven compensation modelsDeel analysed internal platform data from over 1 million contracts and more than 35000 customers in 150 countries to get insights into global pay trends the report saidThe report also highlighted a 40 per cent yearonyear YoY drop in median compensation for engineering and data professionals in India decreasing from 36000 in 2024 to 22000 in 2025India continues to show a hybrid workforce model with 60 per cent70 per cent fulltime employees and 30 per cent to 40 per cent contract workers underscoring steady reliance on flexible work arrangements the report notedIts encouraging to see India emerge as one of the few countries where the gender pay gap has narrowed significantly This progress reflects a broader shift toward fairness transparency and datadriven compensation models that reward merit over bias says Mark Samlal General Manager APAC at DeelThe US UK and Canada continue to offer the highest median compensation globally across job categories Specialised roles in AI cybersecurity and digital marketing command 20 per cent to 25 per cent pay premiums due to skill scarcity and lack of established pay benchmarksMedian equity grants for tech talent have grown consistently from 2021 to 2025 in emerging markets like Brazil and India marking a global shift toward equityheavy compensation models The US leads in equity package size followed by Canada and France the report notedGlobally gender pay gaps remain starker in tech and product roles compared to sales positions with the largest gaps observed in Canada France and the United States according to the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/indias-gender-pay-gap-narrows-sharply-now-among-lowest-worldwide-report-645124.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/over-60-hospitalised-after-suspected-food-poisoning-in-gujarat-645026.html Surendranagar Oct 26 Over 60 people including women and children were hospitalised after a suspected case of food poisoning in Gomta village of Gujarats Surendranagar The incident occurred on Saturday night after residents consumed buttermilk served during a house Vastu ceremonyHealth officials said several people began complaining of vomiting diarrhoea and stomach pain shortly after consuming the buttermilkThe affected villagers were rushed to hospitals in Limbdi and Wadhwan for treatmentA team of health officers and local administration immediately reached the site and hospitals to assess the situationAccording to Taluka Health Officer Jayesh Vaghela More than 60 people suffered from food poisoning after a festive meal in Gomta village All patients are under medical supervision and their condition is currently stableSamples of the buttermilk have been sent to a laboratory for testing to determine the cause of contaminationThe district Health Department has launched an inquiry and is closely monitoring the situationOfficials expressed relief that all victims have started recoveringThe Gujarat government has intensified efforts to curb food poisoning incidents by strengthening food safety enforcement increasing inspections and promoting hygiene awarenessIn 202425 the Food and Drug Control Administration FDCA tested around 60448 food samples across the state of which 145 per cent failed quality checks and 017 per cent were declared unsafe for consumptionUnder the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 Gujarat authorities filed 980 adjudication cases resolving 864 of them and imposing fines amounting to Rs 621 crore while 87 court cases related to unsafe food led to additional penalties of Rs 054 croreThrough the FDCA thousands of food samples are tested annually with strict action taken against violators under the Food Safety and Standards ActThe government has also launched statewide raids to seize adulterated or unsafe food items and imposed heavy fines on offendersIn addition health and local authorities are conducting regular awareness drives on safe food handling at community events and monitoring largescale public meals to ensure compliance with safety norms IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/over-60-hospitalised-after-suspected-food-poisoning-in-gujarat-645026.html Sun, 26 Oct 2025 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/anrf-icmr-launches-mission-to-accelerate-indias-medical-technology-innovation-644883.html New Delhi Oct 25 The Anusandhan National Research Foundation ANRF in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR has launched the Mission for Advancement in HighImpact Areas MAHAMedical Technology MedTech to boost the countrys medical technology ecosystem said the Ministry of Science and Technology on Saturday The initiative also in partnership with the Gates Foundation looks to accelerate innovation in the countrys medical tech sector and reduce reliance on highcost imports It will also help promote equitable access to affordable and highquality medical technologiesThe mission will provide funding support to a wide range of entities including academic and RampD institutions hospitals startups MSMEs the medtech industry and collaborations between entities the Ministry saidWith milestonelinked funding of Rs 525 crore per project and up to Rs 50 crore in exceptional cases the mission will support projects that bring impactful MedTech solutions to market it addedThe fiveyear mission comes with a total outlay of Rs 750 crore in funding About 50 projects will be funded in five yearsThe mission aims to support the development of a broad spectrum of innovative medical devices and in vitro diagnostics including equipment and key subcomponents implants assistive and surgical devices consumables and softwarebased medical solutionsIn addition the mission urges projects aligned with national health priorities such as tuberculosis cancer neonatal care primary health care etc the Ministry saidBeyond funding the mission will also provide support through national initiatives such as Patent Mitra IP protection and technology transfer MedTech Mitra regulatory guidance and clearances a Clinical Trial Network for clinical validation and evidence generation as well as mentorship from industry expertsParticipants first need to send concept notes open till November 7 via the ANRF portalThe shortlisted concept proposals will then be allowed to submit the full proposals The window for submission will open in December 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/anrf-icmr-launches-mission-to-accelerate-indias-medical-technology-innovation-644883.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ai-integration-redefining-diagnostics-and-patient-care-in-india-dr-jitendra-singh-644893.html New Delhi Oct 25 The integration of artificial intelligence AI in medicine is redefining diagnostics and patient care in India said Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday Addressing the 54th Foundation Day and College Convocation of the University College of Medical Sciences UCMS University of Delhi Singh highlighted the rapidly changing paradigms of medical education in India as well as those of health careThe Minister noted that the integration of AI in medicine which he himself has experimented with through telemobile clinics is set to redefine diagnostics and patient careAI can communicate in the patients own language and even provide comfort through humanlike interaction Singh said calling it a hybrid model that combines empathy with innovationThe Minister noted that India has emerged as a global healthcare leader with an indigenous DNA vaccine for Covid19 and gene therapy and also emphasised the growing global credibility of Indias life sciences sectorHe also mentioned the paradigm shift in medical education in the past decadeTen years ago there were only about 45000 undergraduate medical seats today the number is close to 15 lakh he saidFurther Singh credited initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and Jan Aushadhi Kendras for transforming healthcare delivery to accessible affordable and availableNoting that the age of working in silos is over Singh urged academic institutions to integrate with industry and government laboratoriesThe Minister also urged doctors to deal with a biphasic disease spectrum the coexistence of communicable and noncommunicable diseases alongside an ageing population and rapid technological changesSingh also conferred degrees upon undergraduate and postgraduate students and urged the new generation of doctors to embrace innovation while staying rooted in compassionThose receiving their degrees today will be at the prime of their careers when India celebrates 100 years of independence in 2047 he saidDestiny has given you this opportunity to be the architects of a healthier more selfreliant India IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ai-integration-redefining-diagnostics-and-patient-care-in-india-dr-jitendra-singh-644893.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/mini-ratna-hll-lifecare-pays-rs-695-crore-dividend-to-government-644902.html New Delhi Oct 25 Miniratna company HLL Lifecare Limited under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday paid a record dividend of Rs 6953 crore to the government for the financial year 202425 The dividend cheque was presented to Health Minister JP Nadda by Dr Anitha Thampi Chairperson HLL in the presence of Anupriya Patel Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and other senior officialsNadda asserted that HLL is a reliable name in the field of medical services and is committed towards the national vision of accessible affordable and quality healthcare to allHLL along with its subsidiaries and Amrit pharmacies have emerged as a key player in transforming the health sectorIn the last 10 years over 67 crore people have benefited through the affordable medicines of the Amrit Pharmacies thereby saving more than Rs 8000 crore in terms of their outofpocket expenditure the minister informedThe financial year 202425 witnessed comprehensive growth across both HLLs manufacturing and service portfoliosRevenue from operations increased to Rs 4500 crore reflecting a 20 per cent growth over the previous year The companys net worth rose significantly to Rs 1100 crore as on March 31 2025On a consolidated basis including its subsidiaries HITES GAPL and Lifespring Hospitals the HLL Group recorded a total revenue of Rs 4900 crore marking a 19 per cent growth over the previous fiscalEstablished in 1966 HLL Lifecare Limited has evolved from addressing Indias population control challenges to becoming a multiproduct multiservice healthcare enterprise playing a pivotal role in the nations health sector transformationThrough initiatives such as AMRIT Pharmacies the company continues to make essential medicines and surgical products affordable thereby reducing outofpocket expenses for patients across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/mini-ratna-hll-lifecare-pays-rs-695-crore-dividend-to-government-644902.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 19:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/study-shows-eye-scans-may-provide-clues-to-ageing-heart-disease-risk-644831.html New Delhi Oct 25 Canadian researchers have found that scanning the tiny blood vessels in the eyes may help predict a persons risk of developing heart disease and how fast theyre biologically ageing The study published in the journal Science Advances suggests that retinal scans could one day serve as a noninvasive window into the bodys overall vascular health and biological ageing status offering new opportunities for early detection and interventionBy connecting retinal scans genetics and blood biomarkers we have uncovered molecular pathways that help explain how aging affects the vascular system said Marie Pigeyre Associate Professor at McMaster Universitys Department of Medicine in CanadaThe eye provides a unique noninvasive view into the bodys circulatory system Changes in the retinal blood vessels often mirror changes occurring throughout the bodys small vessels added PigeyreTo conduct the study the team combined retinal scans genetic data and blood sample analyses from over 74000 participantsPeople with simpler less branched blood vessels were found to be at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and showed signs of biological ageing such as higher inflammation and shorter lifespanCurrently assessing agerelated diseases like heart disease stroke and dementia requires multiple tests The hope is that retinal scans alone could eventually be used as a quick accessible way to assess ageing and cardiovascular risk However more research is neededThe team also reviewed blood biomarkers and genetic data and identified potential biological causes behind changes in the eyes blood vessels This helped them identify specific proteins that may drive ageing and disease MMP12 and IgGFc receptor IIbBoth proteins are linked to inflammation and vascular ageing According to Pigeyre these proteins could be potential targets for future drugsOur findings point to potential drug targets for slowing vascular ageing reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases and ultimately improving lifespan she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/study-shows-eye-scans-may-provide-clues-to-ageing-heart-disease-risk-644831.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tiny-metal-particles-show-potential-in-targeting-cancer-cells-study-644843.html New Delhi Oct 24 Researchers have developed microscopic metal particles that can kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue offering a potential new direction for more targeted and less toxic cancer treatments The study by the team from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology RMIT in Australia remains at the cellculture stage and has not been tested in animals or humans Xinhua news agency reportedHowever it suggests a new strategy for designing cancer treatments that exploits cancers own weaknessesThe international team led by RMIT researchers created tiny particles known as nanodots from molybdenum oxide a compound based on a rare metal called molybdenum It is often used in electronics and alloysBy tweaking their chemical composition the scientists enabled the particles to release reactive oxygen molecules unstable forms of oxygen that damage cancer cells and trigger their selfdestructionIn tests the particles killed three times more cervical cancer cells than healthy cells within 24 hours without the need for light unusual for technologies that rely on oxidative stress according to the study published in the journal Advanced ScienceCancer cells already live under higher stress than healthy ones Our particles push that stress a little further enough to trigger selfdestruction in cancer cells while healthy cells cope just fine said Zhang Baoyue first author from the RMIT School of EngineeringThe result was particles that generate oxidative stress selectively in cancer cells under lab conditions Zhang saidMost cancer treatments affect both cancerous and healthy tissue but technologies that selectively stress cancer cells could enable gentler more targeted therapies researchers saidThey added that these particles are made from common metal oxide instead of costly or toxic noble metals like gold or silver making them likely cheaper and safer to develop IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tiny-metal-particles-show-potential-in-targeting-cancer-cells-study-644843.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/tech-can-boost-diagnosis-but-human-touch-and-compassion-should-not-go-jp-nadda-644862.html New Delhi Oct 25 While technology must be leveraged for strengthening diagnosis and detection the human touch should not go said Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Saturday Nadda was addressing the 50th Annual Convocation Ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS New Delhi hereAddressing the gathering Nadda congratulated the graduating students and commended AIIMS for its unparalleled contribution to advancing medical science education and patient care in IndiaHe exhorted the young doctors to serve with empathy uphold the highest standards of ethics and harness innovation to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the nationAIIMS has taken a lead in artificial intelligence AI genomics precision medicine and telehealth an area changing the landscape of healthcare While technology can help in detection and also make patients happier the human touch and compassion should not go That must remain Nadda saidHe commended the institution for its enduring commitment to excellence in medical education cuttingedge research and patient careIn the field of medical sciences training and healthcare delivery AIIMS has made its own place not only in India but globally the Minister saidHighlighting the remarkable progress achieved in Indias healthcare and medical education sector over the past decade Nadda noted that while the country had only one AIIMS at the end of the past century today there are 23 AIIMS institutions across India reflecting the governments commitment to expanding quality healthcare and medical training to every regionHe 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 129000 and postgraduate seats from 31000 to 78000 Nadda added that in the next five years an additional 75000 seats are expected to be added across both undergraduate and postgraduate levelsUnion Health Minister also highlighted the progress India made in maternal and child health the underfive mortality rate and neonatal mortality rate as well as tuberculosis cases and deathsProf VK Paul Member Niti Aayog urged the students to consider joining academics to teach guide and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals thereby contributing to the vision of a Viksit BharatWe have a profound societal responsibility to give back to the community that has nurtured us As you move forward let excellence become your daily practice and innovation your guiding principle Paul said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/tech-can-boost-diagnosis-but-human-touch-and-compassion-should-not-go-jp-nadda-644862.html Sat, 25 Oct 2025 17:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/dengue-claims-four-more-lives-in-bangladesh-2025-death-toll-rises-to-259-644613.html Dhaka Oct 23 As many as four people have died due to dengue in Bangladesh in 24 hours till 8 am Dhaka time on Thursday raising the 2025 death toll in the country to 259 During the same period 803 people were admitted to hospital increasing the total number of cases to 63170 Bangladeshbased The Daily Star reported Of the total cases 41638 dengue patients have so far been discharged from hospitalsAccording to the Directorate General of Health Services DGHS two fatalities were reported in Dhaka City while one each occurred in Sylhet and Mymensingh divisionsPresently 2648 dengue patients are receiving treatment at various hospitals of BangladeshOn October 9 Directorate General of Health Services DGHS Director General Abu Jafor noted that the number of dengue cases in 2025 is higher than last year however the death rate is lowerSpeaking at a press briefing held over the Typhoid Vaccination Campaign2025 at the Health Ministry Abu Jafor said This year the number of dengue infections is higher than last year but the death rate in proportion to infections is lower United News of Bangladesh UNB reportedHe called breeding of mosquitoes and the destruction of their larvae important for preventing dengue People must use mosquito nets and take protective measures These are mostly individual responsibilities If we neglect these it will be very difficult to eliminate dengueOur data shows that over 50 per cent of dengue deaths in hospitals are occurring on the very first day of admission This suggests that patients are seeking care too We are doing our best to ensure proper management in hospitalsAbu Jafor called early diagnosis important and mentioned that dengue if detected in the initial stage can be treated at home with proper medical care He said that lack of awareness negligence and delay in seeking medical care as the main reasons for the increasing dengue death rateDengue 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/dengue-claims-four-more-lives-in-bangladesh-2025-death-toll-rises-to-259-644613.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/world-bank-programme-to-provide-better-health-coverage-to-11-million-people-in-kerala-644696.html New Delhi Oct 24 The World Banks Board of Executive Directors on Friday approved a new programme to improve the life expectancy and quality of life for 11 million elderly and vulnerable people in Kerala with wider access to health coverage The 280 million Kerala Health System Improvement Programme will build a more comprehensive health system resistant to climate shocksIt will also strengthen Keralas digital health systems through expanded eHealth services integrated data platforms and enhanced cybersecurityThe programme aims to treat and support over 90 per cent of patients registered for hypertension and diabetes in the state through individual electronic tracking mechanisms It will also establish a homebased care model for bedbound homebound and vulnerable elderly to provide comprehensive health servicesGood health empowers people creates jobs and drives economic growth Strong resilient health systems also help economies prevent and better respond to health emergencies and pandemics said Paul Procee the World Banks Acting Country Director for IndiaIn Kerala women have one of the highest educational attainments in the country and can contribute more to the states economic growth with optimum health The programme will ensure a 40 per cent increase in patients whose hypertension is controlled and 60 per cent increase in cervical and breast cancer screening for women to accelerate efforts to end preventable deaths he addedKerala has achieved sustained health gains for over two decades with improvements in neonatal 34 per 1000 live births infant 44 per 1000 live births underfive mortality 52 per 1000 live births and maternal mortality 19 per 100000 live births ratesThis stems from high literacy rates public health awareness and decentralised governance However a rising burden of noncommunicable diseases hypertension diabetes cancer and a rapidly ageing population with the elderly comprising over 20 per cent of the total population has strained the health systemHowever there are gaps in emergency and trauma care with over 4000 deaths in road traffic reported annuallyThe new programme will engage with local government bodies such as gram panchayats and municipal corporations to adopt standard protocols and procedures for antibiotic use and address zoonotic disease outbreaks by fasttracking reliable laboratory information for patientsPrimary health facilities in the districts of Wayanad Kozhikode Kasaragod Palakkad and Alappuzha will also adopt climateled solutions to improve energy efficiency and manage extreme heat and floodsKerala has adopted One Health approaches and experiences from ongoing World Bank support have been tapped to establish a sound system of community surveillance said Deepika Chaudhery and Hikuepi Katjiuongua the Task Team Leaders of the programmeThis programme will ensure elderly people in Kerala receive wider access to health coverage through innovative initiatives The programme will also support a multilevel trauma and emergency care system to ensure that 85 million people receive timely and highquality service they addedThe 280 million loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development IBRD has a final maturity of 25 years with a grace period of five years IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/world-bank-programme-to-provide-better-health-coverage-to-11-million-people-in-kerala-644696.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-abhim-enhanced-indias-health-surveillance-systems-to-boost-fight-against-pandemics-govt-644741.html New Delhi Oct 24 The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission PMABHIM has in the last four years strengthened Indias pandemic preparedness with enhanced health surveillance systems to boost fight against pandemics the government said on Friday The PMABHIM programme was launched on October 25 2021 during the global wave of Covid19 infectionsWith an investment of Rs 64180 crore over the period 202126 the programme aimed to address gaps in infrastructure in health research and surveillance in the countryFour years after its launch PMABHIM has transformed Indias health infrastructure investing Rs 64180 crore to strengthen pandemic preparedness and emergency response capabilities the government said in an official statementBy upgrading facilities from primary to tertiary care levels and enhancing surveillance systems the scheme has built a more resilient healthcare system it addedPMABHIM prioritises pandemic and disaster preparedness by expanding an ITenabled realtime disease surveillance network that integrates laboratories at block district regional and national levels to detect investigate and prevent outbreaks effectivelyIn addition it promotes health research and innovation particularly on Covid and other infectious diseases by advancing the One Health approach which recognises the interdependence of human animal and environmental healthKey initiatives under PMABHIMs Centrally Sponsored Scheme CSS component include the approval of 17788 buildingless SubHealth Centres for upgradation into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs AAMs and 11024 Urban AAMs UAAMs to extend primary healthcare in slum and underserved urban areasIn addition 3382 Block Public Health Units BPHUs are being established to bolster blocklevel health administration and service delivery while 730 Integrated Public Health Laboratories IPHLs are being developed one in each district to enhance diagnostic and surveillance capabilitiesFurther to strengthen tertiary care 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks CCBs are being set up in districts with populations exceeding five lakhOverall administrative approvals worth Rs 3292882 crore have been accorded to States and Union Territories for these initiatives covering 9519 AAMs 5456 UAAMs 2151 BPHUs 744 IPHLs and 621 CCBsThese efforts mark a major step toward building a resilient decentralised and accessible public health network capable of delivering timely and quality healthcare across the country the government said IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/pm-abhim-enhanced-indias-health-surveillance-systems-to-boost-fight-against-pandemics-govt-644741.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/ayush-ministry-icmr-to-host-national-seminar-to-boost-liver-health-through-ayurveda-644761.html New Delhi Oct 24 The Ministry of Ayush on Friday announced a twoday national seminar to boost liver health through Ayurveda taking forward its commitment to evidencebased traditional medicine the Ministry said on Friday The national seminar Hepatobiliary Wellness through Ayurveda Bridging Traditional Wisdom with Contemporary Science will be organised along with the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR from October 25 to 26 in Odishas BhubaneswarThe seminar themed Yakrut Suraksha Jiveeta Raksha protect the liver preserve life marks a significant initiative towards advancing integrative researchbacked solutions for liver and biliary health an area that demands collaborative inquiry between Ayurveda and modern biomedical scienceAyurvedic Sciences offer a holistic framework for hepatobiliary wellness emphasising prevention balance and sustainable healthcare Through collaborative research we are scientifically validating Ayurveda principles and formulations to better understand their mechanisms and clinical relevance Such integrative efforts not only strengthen Ayurvedas global credibility but also pave the way for innovative evidencebased solutions that can transform liver care and public health outcomes said Prof Rabinarayan Acharya Director General Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences CCRASThe twoday seminar will feature deliberations across five key themes fostering collaborative research in liver and biliary healthIt will focus on holistic preventive and therapeutic approaches including Ayurveda dietetics Dinacharya Rutucharya Panchakarma and detoxification therapies alongside sessions on scientific validation and diseasespecific management of NAFLD hepatitis and liver cirrhosis emphasise evidencebased integration presenting experimental research on the safety efficacy and mechanisms of Ayurveda formulations as well as protocols for harmonising Ayurveda with modern hospital practices including innovations like the gutliver axisHepatobiliary disorders present complex challenges that demand crossdisciplinary inquiry and innovation Collaborative research between Ayurveda and modern biomedicine opens new frontiers for understanding disease mechanisms developing safer therapies and enhancing patient care By integrating traditional insights with contemporary scientific rigour we can create comprehensive healthcare models that are preventive personalised and globally relevant added Dr Sanghamitra Pati Additional Director General ICMR and Director RMRC Bhubaneswar IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/ayush-ministry-icmr-to-host-national-seminar-to-boost-liver-health-through-ayurveda-644761.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-announces-new-helpline-number-for-poshan-pmmvy-schemes-644765.html New Delhi Oct 24 The Ministry of Women and Child Development on Friday announced a change in the tollfree helpline number for POSHAN and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana PMMVY The new number will make it easier for citizens to remember and access support servicesThe new helpline number 1515 will be live from November 1 replacing the existing number 14408 the Ministry saidThis change has been introduced to simplify recall and improve accessibility for beneficiaries seeking assistance under POSHAN and PMMVY schemes it addedThe Ministry noted that as the integration is in process users may experience a brief transition periodDuring this time if callers are unable to connect to the new number 1515 they are advised to continue using the old number 14408 it saidPOSHAN Abhiyaan was launched in 2018 to address the rising concern of malnutrition among pregnant women lactating mothers and young childrenNotably the Poshan Maah initiative under the Poshan Abhiyaan has significantly advanced Indias fight against malnutrition It has played a key role in building a healthier and stronger nation through nutrition reducing stunting among childrenOn the other hand the PMMVY scheme launched in 2010 and then renamed in 2017 provides financial assistance to support nutritious diets and improve healthseeking behaviour amongst pregnant women and lactating mothers and also promotes positive attitudes toward the girl childThe PMMVY offers cash incentives as partial compensation for wage loss to enable mothers to rest before and after the delivery of the first childIt is a centrally sponsored scheme under Mission Shaktis subscheme Samarthya and provides direct financial assistance through the Direct Benefit Transfer DBT modeUnder PMMVY a cash incentive of Rs 5000 is provided in two instalments for the first child and Rs 6000 is provided in one instalment postbirth for the second girl childNoting that it remains committed to ensuring smooth communication and uninterrupted support for all beneficiaries across the country the Ministry stated that the new helplines will continue to serve as a single point of contact for queries information and support related to POSHAN and PMMVY IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/centre-announces-new-helpline-number-for-poshan-pmmvy-schemes-644765.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/dengue-outbreak-continues-in-manipur-77-more-test-positive-644779.html Imphal Oct 24 With 77 more people testing positive in eight of the 16 Manipur districts on Friday the outbreak of dengue has continued to hit the Northeastern state for the past 10 months officials said A report of the Health and Family Welfare Department said that at least 3114 people have tested positive for dengue in the state so far this year while one patient suffering from the vectorborne disease has died in the states Bishnupur district According to a report of the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control under the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister last year 2024 2463 cases of dengue were reported last year and five people died due to the viral disease The Health and Family Welfare Department report stated that the 3114 positive cases were detected between January 1 and October 23 this year out of 7054 people tested for the disease Of the states 16 administrative districts comprising valley and hilly regions Imphal West reported the highest number of cases at 2186 followed by Imphal East 556 Bishnupur 88 Thoubal 74 Senapati 61 Kakching 38 and Ukhrul 35 Among the most affected areas Imphal West Imphal East Bishnupur and Thoubal districts fall within the crowded Imphal Valley region while Senapati Kakching and Ukhrul districts are located in the hill regions The mixedpopulated district of Jiribam along southern Assam reported only one positive dengue case so far The lone denguerelated death was reported in Bishnupur district in the Manipur valley region the report said The official of the Health and Family Welfare Department said that as per the guidelines of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme NVBDCP the department in collaboration with other departments has been trying to spread the disease Rising 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 rains and stagnant water accumulation that led to create ideal breeding conditions for the Aedes mosquito The Health and Family Welfare Department has intensified vector control measures including fogging operations and public awareness campaigns across affected areas Various authorities including the 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 transmission Officials 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-outbreak-continues-in-manipur-77-more-test-positive-644779.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 20:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/africas-cholera-death-toll-tops-6-700-in-2025-africa-cdc-644788.html Addis Ababa Oct 24 The death toll from ongoing cholera outbreaks across Africa has surpassed 6700 so far this year the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Africa CDC said During an online media briefing Yap Boum II Deputy Incident Manager for mpox at the Africa CDC said the continent has recorded 6795 cholerarelated deaths since the start of 2025 Xinhua News Agency reportedData from the African Unions specialized public health agency show that 23 African countries have reported 294244 cholera cases this year marking a relatively higher case fatality rate of 23 per cent when compared to previous yearsAccording to the Africa CDC both the number of choleraaffected countries and reported deaths in 2025 have already exceeded last years figuresWe keep on seeing a rapid increase in cholera One of the simple indicators is that when we compare 2022 to 2025 which has not even ended we can see that we have almost tripled both the number of cases and deaths showing how cholera has been increasing over the years Boum saidSouth Sudan Sudan the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola are among the most affected countries according to the agencyHighlighting cholera as one of Africas leading public health concerns Boum also cited mpox and measles as other major highburden diseases on the continentSince early 2024 about 30 African countries have recorded more than 202900 mpox cases and 2086 related deaths with a fatality rate of around 1 percent Africa CDC data showThe continent has also reported 127002 measles cases and 1086 deaths so far in 2025 affecting 20 countriesThe agency attributed recurring cholera outbreaks largely to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation compounded by strained health systems and overlapping public health emergenciesCholera an acute diarrheal disease caused by ingesting contaminated food or water can lead to severe dehydration and death within hours if untreated IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/africas-cholera-death-toll-tops-6-700-in-2025-africa-cdc-644788.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 21:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/health/surprise-inspections-at-hyderabad-gyms-to-check-steroid-abuse-644802.html Hyderabad Oct 24 Drugs Control Administration of Telangana carried out surprise inspections of gyms on Friday under a special drive to detect illegal stocking and sale of anabolicandrogenic steroids and cardiac stimulants such as Mephentermine Sulphate injections to gymgoers for abuse in bodybuilding The Drug Control Administration DCA said that abuse of prescription medicines such as anabolicandrogenic steroids and Mephentermine Sulphate Injections for bodybuilding can lead to various adverse effects including cardiovascular disorders and may even result in death if misusedAs part of the special drive the DCA conducted surprise inspections at 20 gyms across Hyderabad in coordination with the local police authoritiesThe inspections were carried out at gyms located in Secunderabad Mehdipatnam Tolichowki Malakpet Punjagutta Narsingi Banjara Hills Jubilee Hills Madhapur Kothapet Kukatpally and Suraram said Shahnawaz Qasim Director General DCAAccording to the DCA the abuse of anabolicandrogenic steroids poses significant health risks These drugs often misused by bodybuilders to enhance muscle growth can lead to a range of adverse effects including cardiovascular issues liver damage mood swings and hormonal imbalances Moreover longterm abuse can result in severe health complications such as infertility kidney failure and psychiatric disordersMephentermine Sulphate Injection is a cardiac stimulant primarily used to normalise decreased blood pressure hypotension that may arise from administering anaesthesia in spinal procedures during surgery Only a doctor should determine the appropriate dose and duration of this medicine for each individualHowever Mephentermine Sulphate injection with its cardiac stimulatory action is being misused to enhance endurance in bodybuilders The DCA said that certain gyms are illegally selling Mephentermine Injection to gymgoers who misuse it to improve physical performance in competitive sports or bodybuildingAny gym found illegally stocking or selling prescription medicines will face strict legal action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 Gym owners and staff are warned to refrain from such illegal practices and ensure full compliance with the lawThe illegal stocking and sale of such prescription drugs to gymgoers constitute a violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and individuals involved are liable for imprisonment of up to five years said Shahnawaz Qasim IANS https://dailyworld.in/health/surprise-inspections-at-hyderabad-gyms-to-check-steroid-abuse-644802.html Fri, 24 Oct 2025 22:54:00 +0530