70 minute read
News Roundup
FM announces Rs 23 cr additional investment in health sector
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced Rs 23,220 crore investment in the public health sector. Sitharaman emphasised the funding for short-term HR augmentation through medical students (interns, residents, final year) and nursing students, increase the availability of ICU beds, oxygen supply at central, district and sub-district level, adequate availability of equipment, medicines; access to teleconsultation; ambulance services and enhance testing capacity and supportive diagnostics, strengthen capacity for surveillance and genome sequencing. Besides, she announced Rs 1.1 lakh crore guarantee scheme for coronavirus affected sectors. Out of the Rs 1.1 lakh crore guarantee scheme, the healthcare sector will get Rs 50,000 lakh crore sector.
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The wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has entered into a license agreement with Ferring Pharmaceuticals (Ferring), a subsidiary of Switzerland-based biopharmaceuticals MNC Ferring Pharmaceuticals, to commercialise a Room Temperature Stable (RTS) formulation of the obstetric drug, CARITEC (Carbetocin RTS) in India. CARITEC is indicated for the prevention of excessive bleeding in women after vaginal or caesarean childbirth. The condition is commonly known as postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).
Roche Diabetes Care appoints Omar Sherief Mohammad as Head of IMEA
Roche has appointed Omar Sherief Mohammad as Head India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA) within the Roche Diabetes Care (RDC) Global Commercial Organisation, based in Mumbai. Before this appointment, Omar has been General Manager RDC India since September 2019. Mohammad will play a key role in the shaping and executing of the overall commercial Go-To-Market Strategy, responsible for setting the strategic direction for IMEA, in alignment with the Global Commercial Organisation as well as the overall RDC strategy. In this newly created role, he will have direct oversight of IMEA and the RDC General Managers/Country Heads of these markets will directly report to him. Omar will also be General Manager in India.
Omar Sherief Mohammad, Head India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA), Roche Diabetes Care
NATHEALTH signs MoU with ACHE
NATHEALTH-Healthcare Federation of India signed an MoU with The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Under this agreement, both federations will mutually strengthen healthcare systems by developing and providing leadership education and development experiences that will help in preparing healthcare professionals to become clinical leaders and improve patient care. The collaboration will bring in educational opportunities through inperson interactions, such as the Annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership. The partnership aims to provide a knowledgesharing platform that will enable different stakeholders to find solutions to the barriers of access to quality healthcare, ways to improve patient outcomes and attain executive positions in healthcare settings and national medical societies.
Manipal Hospitals buys 100% stake in Vikram Hospital
Manipal Hospitals has entered into a definitive agreement with Multiples, a private equity firm, for a 100 per cent acquisition of Bengaluru-based Vikram Hospital. The announcement comes close on the heels of its acquisition of the India operations of Columbia Asia Hospitals in April 2021. Dr Ranjan Pai, Chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) said, “We are delighted to welcome Vikram Hospital into our network. Manipal Hospitals has been the top-ranked healthcare provider in Bengaluru for over two decades and this addition is a reiteration of our commitment to meet the healthcare needs of the city and the region. Two greenfield hospitals are currently under construction and once they are complete in the next 24 months, our network of 12 hospitals with over 2,300 beds would be best placed to provide ease of access and comprehensive care to everyone across this city.”
Pharma majors collaborate for clinical trial of Molnupiravir
Cipla, Dr Reddy’s, Emcure, Sun Pharma and Torrent will collaborate for the clinical trial of the investigational oral anti-viral drug Molnupiravir for the treatment of mild COVID-19 in an outpatient setting in India. Between March and April this year, these five pharma companies had individually entered into a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Merck Sharpe Dohme (MSD) to manufacture and supply Molnupiravir to India and over 100 low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The five pharma companies have entered into a collaboration agreement, wherein the parties will jointly sponsor, supervise and monitor the clinical trial in India. As per the directive of the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, Dr Reddy’s will conduct the clinical trial using its product, and the other four pharma companies will be required to demonstrate equivalence of their product to the product used by Dr Reddy’s in its clinical trial.
SureForm60 Stapler
Intuitive India, the India arm of Intuitive, a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of roboticassisted surgery (RAS), has launched a robotic-assisted surgical stapler called SureForm that comes equipped with SmartFire technology-an integrated software. With 1,000+ measurements per second, SmartFire makes automatic adjustments to the firing process as staplers are being formed and as the transection is being made to help optimise a consistent staple line and prevent tissue damage across a range of tissue thicknesses.
Roche Diagnostics launches REACH for health workers
Roche Diagnostics India has launched REACH, a wellness platform developed to support the emotional well-being of healthcare professionals. REACH aims to be a trustworthy companion for frontline workers to seek advice and help from professional counsellors while having access to tailored self-care content to support their emotional wellbeing holistically. REACH is an initiative to help healthcare professionals cope with difficulties and challenges in their life more efficiently. Through REACH, healthcare workers can have access to counselling sessions, self-help content (informative videos, articles, habit hacks, guided meditation videos), and self-assessment tools on a variety of topics including, work-related challenges, parenting and relationship issues, wellness, and selfdevelopment. At present, REACH platform offerings are open to all healthcare workers – clinicians, nurses, lab professionals, and patient navigators.
Portea Medical collaborates with Govt of Karnataka
Portea Medical has partnered with the Government of Karnataka to support the recovery and care unit in the covid affected rural areas. To begin with, Portea has identified a 50 bedded community health centre at Konanur, Arkalgud taluk, Hassan District Karnataka. The company has partnered with an NGO called DFY for this first-of-its-kind initiative, which will be extended to other areas going forward. Portea is servicing 15 PHCs in and around the area and Portea has been able to make a huge difference in terms of providing care. Many more such centres will be established in the weeks ahead. The centres will have 24-hour oxygen support and HDU beds equipped with BiPAP machines and backed up with oxygen concentrators.
BeatO launches glucose monitoring prog for diabetes care
BeatO has launched a flash glucose monitoring programme for better datadriven prevention, control and reversal of diabetes. This will enable users to better assess their relationship with food and get targeted diet, lifestyle and medication counselling from BeatO’s team of doctors and experts based on their FGM data. A flash glucose monitor uses a sensor that is placed on the back of the upper arm and worn externally by the user, allowing glucose information to be monitored using an FGM reader. Data from the FGM will enable healthcare professionals at BeatO to observe trends and provide patientspecific insights to achieve targeted HbA1c levels. BeatO will be using the FGM devices of Abbott, the world leader in sensorbased technology.
Skanray Technologies files draft papers for Rs 400-crore IPO
Medical devices manufacturer Skanray Technologies has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the markets regulator Sebi for its initial public offering (IPO) and is looking to raise Rs
Portea volunteer interacting with a patient
400 crore, reports said. The IPO will include a secondary share sale, wherein its promoters and existing private equity investor Ascent Capital are expected to sell a part of their stakes.
API Holdings (API), the parent co of digital healthcare brand, (PharmEasy), founded by Dharmil Sheth, Dhaval Shah, Harsh Parekh, Hardik Dedhia and Siddharth Shah, announced the signing of definitive documents to acquire 66.1 per cent stake in Thyrocare Technologies (Thyrocare) from Dr A Velumani and affiliates for Rs 1,300 per share aggregating to Rs 4,546 crores. The transaction is subject to regulatory and other applicable customary approvals. Docon Technologies, a 100 per cent subsidiary of API, will be the acquirer and shall make an open offer for an additional 26 per cent stake. Dr A Velumani will be separately acquiring a minority non-controlling stake, of less than 5 per cent in API as part of a series of equity investments by existing and new investors of API.
Artio Medical appoints Abhinav Shukla to Board of Directors
Artio Medical has appointed Abhinav Shukla to the company’s Board of Directors. Shukla joins Artio with more than a decade of experience in transforming operational systems and driving revenue growth in high potential companies. Before his board appointment, Shukla served as a major investor and strategic advisor to the company.
SKAN Medical research trust grants Rs 20 cr to IIT Roorkee
Ashok Soota promoted SKAN Medical research trust announced a grant of Rs 20 Cr to IIT Roorkee towards sponsoring a Chair Professorship, three faculty fellowships, creation of a lab and funding of joint research projects. The grant of Rs 20 crore will be utilised by IITR towards the funding of an Institute Chair Professorship, two new faculty Fellowships and one Institute Research Fellowship; establishment of a wet-lab in IITR and funding of joint medical research projects. The first project under this agreement has already been identified and it is in the area of bipolar disease.
PNB Vesper to conduct Phase III clinical trials on covid drug
Kerala-based PNB Vesper has received DCGI permission to conduct the final phase 3 clinical trials. After a detailed deliberation by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on the Phase 2 Clinical Trial results of PNB001 (GPP-BALACOVIN), the company has now been given a green signal to conduct a nationwide multi-centred Phase 3 Clinical Trial on hospitalised COVID-19 patients with oxygen support. The Phase 3 trial will be conducted on a large patient population in 12 hospitals all over India. GPP- BALACOVIN is a novel and safe drug that possesses significant efficacy to save the hospitalised patients with oxygen support, from the deadly coronavirus.
Dr Raghavendra Babu joins Cytecare Hospital
Cytecare Hospitals announced the appointment of Dr Raghavendra Babu as Consultant – Gastrointestinal & HPB Surgery. Before working with Cytecare, Dr Raghavendra worked as the Senior
Dr Raghavendra Babu Consultant and Head of Hepatobiliary, Pancreas and Liver Transplant at HCG Hospital in Bangalore. He has led the highest volume of liver and pancreas surgery units in Karnataka. Dr Raghavendra holds various lifetime memberships with paramount associations such as the Indian Medical Association, Association of Surgeons of India, and International Hepato-Pancreato Biliary Association (IHPBA). He has written various articles and contributed to publications in international peer-reviewed journals.
Ethicon, part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, announced the launch of the ENSEAL X1 Curved Jaw Tissue Sealer, a new advanced bipolar energy device that increases procedural efficiency and provided stronger sealing and better access to more tissue than LigaSure Maryland. The device is indicated for colorectal, gynaecological, bariatric surgery and thoracic procedures. The ENSEAL X1 Curved Jaw is the first of several new advanced laparoscopic bipolar devices the company plans to launch in the coming months as it expands its extensive energy portfolio, which includes marketleading HARMONIC ultrasonic devices and MEGADYNE core electrosurgical tools. Among the ENSEAL X1 Curved Jaw’s new features are separate seal and cut capabilities, a 360-degree continuous shaft rotation that enables easy access to targeted tissue,4 and Ethicon’s Adaptive Tissue Technology, which enables the device to continuously sense changes in the condition of the tissue and respond accordingly with the optimal amount of energy to minimise lateral thermal spread. These features, including improved ergonomics and a one-handed operation, combine to offer precision, a secure seal and more intuitive and simplified use that may deliver greater efficiency in the operating room.
Augnito appoints Sahil Deswal as CMO
Healthcare tech innovator Augnito
Sahil Deswal
has roped in Sahil Deswal as the chief marketing officer for the brand. Deswal will be responsible for leading marketing strategy including digital media strategy and advertising as well as brand growth with a strong focus on global brand building. Augnito has been trailblazing the healthcare technology space with its one of its kind voice AI offering. Deswal comes with over a decade of experience and has played an instrumental role in driving marketing and growth efforts for brands across e-commerce, media and entertainment, content, digital agencies and online services. Before joining Augnito, Deswal was VP – Marketing, Growth & Monetisation at Trell. In his previous stints, he has also worked with Unilodgers as VP – Global Growth & Marketing and as Head – Growth & Marketing at Times Internet for News & Gaming Business.
Fujifilm launches system integration platform designed for endoscopy suites
FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA has launched a systems integration platform designed specifically to enhance the image and data integration in endoscopy suites. Through specially designed hardware and software configurations, this scalable solution enables the multi-video and image routing and display capabilities that GI physicians need while performing advanced procedures. The platform was recently installed at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is currently being leveraged by clinicians along with the rest of Fujifilm’s endoscopic imaging portfolio, which was purchased and installed earlier this year.
Stratbeans launches sale enablement solution
Stratbeans, the provider of AI-based online learning solutions, has launched Atum Sales Plus, a new-age sales enablement solution powered by AI for the pharmaceuticals industry. The employment of Atum Sales Plus will equip the sales professionals in the pharma segment with better skills and technology, which would enhance their sales-readiness, leading to improved customer engagement and in turn, higher revenue generation. The new sales enablement platform would allow faster onboarding of new sales team, provide remote coaching and practice opportunities, generate personalised training modules along with offering extensive AI-based performance support in the form of a reference library. All this would greatly enhance the efficiency of the sales personnel and enable them to deliver value-based selling experiences successfully.
Paytm opens health and wellness store
Paytm announced the launch of its dedicated health and wellness store for search, discovery and ordering of COVID-related products and services across top Indian health apps to fight the pandemic. Users can now avail the services of different health apps without downloading them. Paytm’s Mini App store now gives users one-click access to a large selection of health supplements, essential vitamins, immunity boosters and ayurvedic medicines through top health tech platforms including 1mg, Netmeds, Apollo 24×7, DocsApp/Medibuddy, Zyla, Mfine and Credihealth among others. Through the integration of these apps, Paytm is helping users search and book doctor consultations, pathology services, buying medicines, immunity boosters, and opting for health insurance among other pandemic essentials.
J Mitra and Company launches EAT
J Mitra and Company has launched the COVID-19 Ag Microlisa Elisa Test kit (Elisa Antigen Test (EAT)) for the Indian market. The test kit will provide better time efficiencies by reducing the turnaround time between testing and results to just two hours. The principle of the test kit is Sandwich Elisa and any open Elisa kit Reader available in the market can read the results. Open-system will result in efficient testing even in the remotest corners of the country. The COVID-19 Ag Microlisa Elisa Test kit has been designed for the in-vitro qualitative detection of COVID-19 nucleocapsid antigen in nasal and oropharyngeal swabs and sample diluent. The Elisa Antigen COVID-19 test offers high sensitivity and specificity, and accuracy equivalent to RT-PCR tests. The combination of low cost, speed, and accuracy makes the Elisa Antigen Covid-19 Test kit a powerful solution for the diagnostic labs to fast-pace India’s comprehensive monitoring and detection process. All necessary approvals from ICMR and DCGI have been received.
Janani launches home-collection semen testing kit
Janani, an end-to-end reproductive health and sexual wellness solutions platform, has launched first-of-its-kind at-home advanced DIY semen testing kits. The athome semen collection would help more men feel comfortable with fertility testing and encourage them to step forward for the same. Currently, the services are limited to Bengaluru but will be extended to Mumbai by July. Led by Dr SS Vasan, Co-founder, Janani and former Founding Chairman of Manipal Fertility, Janani has developed a unique media that can store a sample without any damage to the sperms for up to eight hours in non-laboratory conditions, thus providing enough time for the samples to be collected from homes and then brought to the laboratories.
Dr Pradeep Mahajan
Dr Pradeep Mahajan of StemRx receives European Global Health & Pharma Award
Dr Pradeep Mahajan of StemRx, a regenerative researcher and stem cell medicine expert, has received European Global Health & Pharma Award from a UK-based firm. The UK-based firm Global Health and Pharma lauded those individuals and companies going above and beyond, to come up with breakthrough innovations and giving their valuable contribution to the science community.
Boeing, Doctors for You, SELCO Foundation set up covid-care centre
Boeing India with Doctors for You (DFY) and SELCO Foundation have established a 100 oxygenated bed facility at Karnataka State Power Corporation Ltd. (KSPCL), Yelahanka, to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 cases and support existing hospitals in the region. Boeing India has funded the facility, Doctors for You – is providing the necessary staff and care, SELCO Foundation has set up the prefabricated facility. KSPCL provided the land necessary to set up the hospital. The hospital was built from the ground up in less than 20 days. Of the 100-oxygen beds, 10-beds are dedicated for ICU services and 20-beds for the High Dependency Units (HDU) ward. The hospital will also have areas for triage, donning and doffing, pharmacy, laboratory, rest areas, nurse stations and meeting rooms for medical staff. The DFY team will comprise specialist and generalist doctors, paramedics, and facility management staff. Boeing’s funding will also provide medical equipment, including CT scanners, ventilators, oxygen cylinders and concentrators, flow meters, and ambulances to the hospital.
Rotary Dialysis Centre opens at Grand Port Hospital in Mumbai
Rotary Dialysis Centre was recently inaugurated at the Grand Port Hospital (Formerly known as Mumbai Port Trust Hospital) located at Wadala East, Mumbai. The dedicated Rotary Dialysis Centre of 11 machines and beds is set up in two zones. Eight beds and machines for regular patients in Zone 1 and 3 beds and 3 machines in zone 2 for high-risk patients. Each zone has separate toilets, washing areas, nursing stations with special patients monitoring systems. These 11 machines are donated by the Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast with a grant supported by Rotary Foundation (India). The rotary dialysis centre was inaugurated by Rotary District Governor Rtn Sunnil Mehra, President, Kishor Masurkar and Past President Ashok Mehra in the presence of Rotary District Governor Nominee 22/23 Rtn. Sandip Agarwala, Medical Director for Ajeenkya DY Patil Group, Dr Priya Patil Cholera and a large number of rotarians/donors of Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast, Rotarians from USA and Rotarians of other rotary clubs of Mumbai.
Great Place to Work Institute recognises Siemens Healthineers India
Siemens Healthineers India has been recognised by the Great Place to Work Institute as one of India’s best workplaces in the healthcare sector, in their 2021 rankings and is identified among ‘India’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work For -2021’, in the largest workplace culture study in the country. Few factors affirming the trust of employees include creating an ecosystem of trust, high-performance culture and imbibing aspects of credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie among the employees.
QCI launches ICMED Plus Scheme
The Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AiMeD) have added further features to the ICMED, the Scheme that had been launched for Certification of Medical Devices in 2016. The ICMED 13485 PLUS, as the new scheme has been christened, will undertake verification of the quality, safety and efficacy of medical devices. The ICMED 13485 PLUS Scheme was recently launched digitally. The Chairperson, Quality Council of India graced the occasion along with other dignitaries. ICMED 13485 Plus has been designed to integrate the quality management system components and product-related quality validation processes through witness testing of products concerning the defined product standards and specifications. This is the first scheme around the world in which quality management systems along with product certification standards are integrated with regulatory requirements. This scheme will be an end to end quality assurance scheme for the medical devices sector in India.
CSIR partners with Tata MD for COVID-19 detection
The Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Tata MD, the new healthcare venture from the Tata Group have announced a significant partnership to ramp up the COVID-19 testing capacity across Tier II and III towns as well as rural areas across India. CSIR and Tata MD are developing this capacity to manage any future surge in the COVID-19 testing requirements. The initiative will utilise CSIR’s network of labs across India and help increase India’s testing capacity in smaller locations in the country. CSIR and Tata MD will jointly develop the testing
capacity and the RT-PCR CRISPR test will be done using the Tata MD CHECK SARSCoV-2 test kits that are powered by FELUDA technology from CSIR-IGIB.
Malaysia-based Carepool Asia launches affordable digital health packages
CAREPOOL ASIA, a comprehensive digital health SaaS-based platform, has launched its new, affordable digital health packages, the first telehealth platform that offers unlimited consultation services via a monthly subscription fee, as low as RM170 per month for the initial two users, with additional users can be added on-demand. Carepool Asia aims to provide multi-disciplinary telehealth with unlimited online appointments based on the total of subscribed users through a flexible monthly subscription scheme. A digital medical consultation platform that provides better healthcare services via phone and video calls with our highly experienced GP doctors, dietitian’ or mental health experts. The team consists of accredited, highly experienced, and passionate medical/health consultants. Users can access and manage healthcare services, personal medical consultation, and conduct an online professional triage before their teleconsultations.
Celemics partners with Strand Life Science
Celemics has partnered with Strand Life Sciences, to develop a bioinformatics solution capable of providing users with an accelerated means of producing highquality, in-class clinical genomics reports and enabling a complete sample-toanswer solution, including assay-specific variant filters. Under the agreement, Strand Life Science will integrate the Celemics bioinformatics pipeline into the StrandOmics tertiary analysis platform to enable Celemics with a complete sample-to-report solution. Leveraging the StrandOmics platform, Celemics plans to serve an expanding global market with clinical-grade data compliance and guaranteed data residency for customers in Europe, Asia, and beyond. Under the agreement, Strand Life Science will integrate the Celemics bioinformatics pipeline into the StrandOmics tertiary analysis platform to enable Celemics with a complete sample-to-report solution. Leveraging the StrandOmics platform, Celemics plans to serve an expanding global market with clinical-grade data compliance and guaranteed data residency for customers in Europe, Asia, and beyond. patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA. The Amplatzer Piccolo, a device even smaller than a small pea, now offers hope to premature infants and newborns who need corrective treatment, and who may be non-responsive to medicine and are at high risk to undergo corrective surgery.
Abbott launches medical device for premature babies having heart issues
Abbott has launched its Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder in India, a medical device that can be implanted in the tiniest babies (weighing as little as 700 gms) using a minimally invasive procedure to treat
3M Littmann Stethoscopes, Eko collaborates
3M Littmann Stethoscopes have collaborated with Eko. The 3M Littmann CORE Digital Stethoscope will offer clinicians access to both analogue and digital auscultation options and connects to Eko’s software and AI algorithms to help clinicians better interpret sounds and detect heart murmurs. The 3M Littmann CORE Digital Stethoscope can connect to Eko software, including its heart murmur AI1 and its telemedicine software, enabling enhanced in-person or remote patient care.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) has launched a new website, pulmonaryfibrosis.org, for the more than 200,000 Americans impacted by pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a group of debilitating lung diseases. The site features educational resources and tools to help patients learn more about their
Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder
diagnosis and to locate care, clinical trials, and support. In addition, healthcare professionals will find continuing medical information materials and research opportunities on the site. The new website was funded through a grant from Three Lakes Foundation. Patient resources on the new site include disease education videos and webinars, fact sheets on the types of pulmonary fibrosis, and a pulmonary rehabilitation toolkit. A medical care and support group finder provides users with the closest PFF Care Center Network sites and support group locations. The Clinical Trials section offers a searchable tool for users to identify relevant and feasible clinical trials. Users can read about the latest news from the PFF and learn about ways to donate and volunteer with the Foundation.
Roche Diabetes Care signs MoU with RILM for diabetes care
Roche Diabetes Care (RDC) India has signed an MoU with Rotary India Literacy Mission (RILM) to conduct diabetes screening camps for the underprivileged across India, to drive early detection of diabetes and to increase awareness about its management. During the pilot phase of the project, a total of 300 screening camps will be organised in six states- Maharashtra, UP, Sikkim, WB, Telengana, Karnataka – over six months. This will later be scaled up to include the rest of the country in a phased approach. A soon as the situation permits, RILM will organise diabetes detection screening camps for the underprivileged, with a focus on schoolchildren and their parents at government-aided schools. RDC will support RILM by providing glucometer kits, test strips and lancets for early detection and diagnosis of diabetes.
IIT Bombay, Koita Foundation launch new centre for digital health
IIT Bombay has set up the ‘Koita Centre for Digital Health’ (KCDH) with contribution received from its alumni Rekha and Rizwan Koita, under the aegis of the Koita Foundation. KCDH will be the first-of-itskind in India, focussed on driving academic programmes, research and industry collaboration in digital health. KCDH and its digital health partners will establish joint academic and research programmes. In addition, KCDH will actively collaborate with healthcare technology companies, healthcare NGOs and government organisations.
Lupin’s UK subsidiary receives marketing authorisation for Luforbec
Lupin announced that its UK subsidiary, Lupin Healthcare (UK) has received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to market Luforbec (beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) 100/6 µg pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI), the first branded generic of Fostair (beclometasone dipropionate/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) 100/6 µg pMDI, which has the potential to offer significant cost savings for the NHS.Luforbec 100/6 µg pMDI is indicated for regular treatment of asthma and the symptomatic treatment of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (FEV1 <50 per cent predicted normal).
IIT Ropar develops power-free CPAP device
Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar has developed a device ‘Jivan Vayu’ which can be used as a substitute for CPAP machine. The device functions even without electricity and is adapted to both kinds of oxygen generation units like O2 cylinders and oxygen pipelines in hospitals. These provisions are not available in otherwise existing CPAP machines. Fulfilling all the medically required parameters, this leakproof, low-cost CPAP delivery system, Jivan Vayu is designed for a 22mm CPAP closed-circuit tube. It can even be customised as per the size of the tube. Since it can run during power failures, this can be used to safely transport a patient.
Pune-based startup develops anti-viral masks
Pune-based start-up firm Thincr Technologies India has developed masks coated with anti-viral agents known otherwise as virucides. The virucidal mask project is among the earliest projects to have been selected for commercialisation by Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, as part of the Government’s fight against COVID-19. Thincr Technologies with support from Merck Life Sciences developed the masks. The coating formulation has been utilised to coat the fabric layer and the 3D printing principle was employed to achieve uniformity of coating. The coated layer can be incorporated as an additional layer in N-95 masks, 3-Ply masks, simple cloth masks, 3D printed or other plastic cover masks, along with reusable filters. These masks thus provide additional protection beyond the protection achieved by filtration mechanisms.
LV Prasad Eye Institute ties up with global partners
LV Prasad Eye Institute in collaboration with the Queen’s University of Belfast, along with nearly 30 other partners from the US, the UK, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and India, is working on a suite of studies to explore the impact of vision care on the global level to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in low and middle-income countries. The study has received funding support of £3.5 million from the Wellcome Trust and Chen YetSen Family Foundation. Led by Professor Nathan Congdon of Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) in the UK and Dr Rohit Khanna of the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), various universities, schools nongovernment organisations, public health bodies, government ministries, institutions and patient groups are part of the multidisciplinary study team. From LVPEI, Senior Public Health Specialists – Dr Srinivas Marmamula and Asha Latha Metla and Senior Retina Consultant – Dr Raja Narayanan are also part of the study.
Cipla Health launches TV commercial on Prolyte ORS
Prolyte ORS, the professional rehydration brand of Cipla Health, has launched a new TVC to educate Indians about the glucoseelectrolyte solution called Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), its correct formulation and its appropriate usage to keep dehydration at bay. Prolyte ORS offers a healthy blend of ingredients entailing a unique scientific formulation recommended by the WHO which helps in fluid maintenance in the body leading to speedy recovery within the confines of your home.
Bhilai Steel Plant opens 114-bedded covid care facility
Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan virtually inaugurated a 114-bedded covid care facility in Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) of SAIL in Chhattisgarh. This hospital is equipped with gaseous oxygen and has been set up after laying a pipeline of 1.5 Km for the supply of gaseous oxygen from the plant. This is the first phase of this project which aims to scale up to reach a total of 500 oxygenated beds in the subsequent two more phases. The centre has a facility of double oxygen backup supply. Apart from gaseous oxygen as the main source, there is also a provision of backup of stored liquid medical oxygen. The facility is also equipped with necessary Internet and telecom services to facilitate IT requirements and remote consultancy.
Mobile lab
ICPA eyes geriatric market
ICPA Health Products has scaled up its presence in the easy-to-use denture management products range for the elderly. The company has developed denture adhesives and denture cleansers that help hold dentures securely and help clean the dentures to remove food remnants, plaque film and stains from the denture surface. With a significant number of urban and semi-urban citizens above the age of 65 in the State, ICPA is looking to offer a convenient denture maintenance routine for this section of the population.
Trivitron Healthcare launches mobile labs for COVID-19 testing
Trivitron Healthcare announced the launch of mobile laboratories for covid testing to facilitate COVID-19 diagnostics in urban, rural areas and far-flung geographies. Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone Ltd (AMTZ) and Kalam Institute of Health Technology (KIHT) are the knowledge partners along with Trivitron Healthcare to facilitate the deployment of these mobile laboratories in various regions across the country.
ICMR approves Meril’s CoviFind
Gujarat-based global medtech company Meril has received the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) approval for its self-use Rapid Antigen Test for COVID-19, CoviFind. The CoviFind test delivers results swiftly, providing accurate results in just 15 minutes. Additionally, the test does not have any specific storage or refrigeration requirements, thus driving ease and convenience in distribution. The test is priced at ₹250 and will be made available as an affordable single-pack, with additional purchase options including a pack of 3, 5 and 25 tests. Each test kit is equipped with testing materials including a test device, one sterile nasal swab and a pre-filled buffer tube with a cap.
comprehensive textbook of COVID-19
Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals launches book on COVID-19
Apollo Hospital has unveiled a comprehensive textbook on COVID-19, written and edited by Dr MS Kanwar, Senior Consultant, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals along with 79 other co-authors who are senior healthcare professionals from various specialities. The book has been put together basis statistical insights, scientific data and a plethora of new reports gathered from the World Health Organization and advisories issued by the National Health Services of some of the most COVID-19 impacted countries across the globe. The book also elaborates on vaccination for COVID and the line of treatment for immunocompromised patients with varied co-morbidities and underlying diseases along with other neurological, cardiovascular, endocrinal, renal and paediatric related health issues.
IIT Bombay, University of Strathclyde develop sensor to detect COVID-19 in wastewater
Scientists from the University of Strathclyde and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have demonstrated a low-cost sensor that can detect fragments of the virus responsible for COVID-19 within the wastewater. The technique, published in the journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, could be used to enable widespread monitoring of COVID-19 prevalence in low- and middleincome countries that struggle to conduct mass human testing. The sensor can be used with portable equipment that uses the standard Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus, without the need for the expensive chemicals and lab infrastructure needed for real-time quantitative PCR tests. The sensor was tested with wastewater collected from a sewage treatment plant in Mumbai spiked with SARS-Cov-2 Ribonucleic Acid (RNA).
CORE Diagnostics bags accreditation from CAP
CORE Diagnostics has recently received an accreditation certification from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), a leading international laboratory accrediting organisation, based on the results of a recent assessment as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs. Commenting on the accomplishment, Dinesh Chauhan, CEO, CORE Diagnostics, said, “This is another step in our company’s expansion plans and towards offering best-in-class diagnostic accuracy while complying with rigorous criteria of quality assurance to all.”
Walnut Medical develops oxygen concentrators
Mohali-based Walnut Medical has developed 5L and 10L portable medical grade oxygen concentrators based on pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology in India with an oxygen purity of above 96 per cent at a pressure of 55-75 kpa. The company was supported by CAWACH 2020 grant of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and they developed the world-class Oxygen Concentrator in a year to reduce dependence on imports. The oxygen concentrators are tested for patient safety, electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and as per International Safety Standards for oxygen concentrators. The complete mould design, development of all electronics, moulding, control system, sieve tower, and all related parts and accessories has been done in India. It is currently being supplied to various government, defence, military hospitals in India and is also making them available for the general public through its distribution network across India. DST’s support helped them push their endeavour forward. IIT Delhi incubation team worked with them to help the technology see the light of the day.
Lasa Supergenerics launches Oxyclozanide
Lasa Supergenerics, which is into the manufacturing of veterinary and human APIs in India through its catalyst chemistry expertise and fully backward integrated unit, has launched Oxyclozanide. Oxyclozanide is an anthelmintic, it is used in the treatment and control of fascioliasis a topical worm infection in ruminants mainly domestic animals such as cattle (especially buffalos on the farm), sheep, and goats. For this, the company is setting up capacity in a brownfield expansion at its Chiplun unit. The total capacity would be 20 MT and would be funded through internal accruals. The company is committed to funding the entire capex through internal accruals. The production would start from August 2021.
Dr Kulleni Gebreyes joins Deloitte Health Equity Institute as director
Deloitte has appointed Dr Kulleni Gebreyes to lead the Deloitte Health Equity Institute in the US. In her new leadership role, Gebreyes, principal, Deloitte Consulting, will lead the overall strategic direction of the institute, focusing on improving health outcomes and decreasing disparities by integrating, amplifying, and extending efforts to improve health equity by investing in areas that address the root causes of inequities. Based in North Carolina, Gebreyes is Deloitte’s US consulting healthcare sector leader and has more than 20 years of experience
in the healthcare industry, across the commercial and public sector. She has worked with the leading payor, provider, retail and public sector organisations to improve operations, develop strategies for transformation and rethink operational efficiency. Through this work, her deep knowledge of healthcare and her ability to make connections across industries, Gebreyes is uniquely positioned to identify opportunities to impact equity.
Syngene International has appointed Sanjeev Sukumaran as Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) with effect from June 1, 2021. Sukumaran succeeds Vinita Shrivastava. As the CHRO, Sukumaran will be responsible for building on Syngene’s people-centric organisational development priorities including HR strategy development, driving organisational matrices, talent management and sustaining an inclusive work culture. His focus will be on attracting and nurturing diverse scientific talent and promote innovation, excellence and a passion for making a difference in the lives of millions by putting science to work.
Sanjeev Sukumaran
Philips, Elekta deepen strategic partnership in oncology care
Royal Philips and Elekta signed agreements to deepen their existing strategic partnership to advance comprehensive and personalised cancer care through precision oncology solutions.
The extended collaboration builds on the two companies’ successful cooperation in the fast-emerging field of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided adaptive radiation therapy. Through deeper cross-portfolio collaboration, Philips and Elekta will utilise their complementary capabilities to further improve patient care.
Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Parel, Mumbai started India’s first Brace Bank W-riddhi. The hospital is now encouraging parents and doctors to donate used clubfoot braces to the Brace Bank, where they are refurbished and supplied to needy families at a very low cost of Rs 1,500 per child every month under the “Each one treat one scheme”. Clubfoot is the most common musculoskeletal birth deformity affecting about one in 800 children. Wadia Hospital partnered with CURE Clubfoot Worldwide in 2011, a US-based NGO to establish a dedicated Clubfoot Clinic in the hospital premises to provide a protocol-based clubfoot treatment by training doctors in the Ponseti method, providing free clubfoot braces, establishing a prospective clubfoot registry, and setting a 24×7 dedicated clubfoot helpline for parent support. Now, it is taken a step ahead and established India’s first Brace Bank W-riddhi meaning progress.
Tata Digital in $75 million deal with CureFit Healthcare
Tata Digital, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Tata Sons, has entered a Memorandum of Understanding for an investment of up to $75 million in CureFit Healthcare, subject to completion of diligence process and other approvals. CureFit Founder and CEO Mukesh Bansal will join Tata Digital in an executive role as President, Tata Digital. In addition, Bansal will continue in his leadership role at CureFit. Curefit, with its range of fitness & wellness offerings, will help Tata Digital expand into a pro-active health management space.
IISER Bhopal invents technology for precision engineering of proteins
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal Researchers have invented a new technology that can deliver active molecules to specific sections of proteins. Scientists from IISER Bhopal have been conducting studies on the ‘engineering’ of protein molecules for the past few years. The serial technological breakthrough has gained a detailed insight into the chemical features of these molecular machines. With this understanding, they have designed the first-ever modular platform for the precision engineering of proteins. The chemical modification of proteins is essential for understanding protein functions and developing therapeutics and diagnostics.
Karnataka ranks third in NITI Aayog’s SDG index
Karnataka has improved its ranking in NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) India Index for 2020-21. The state has been able to improve its position to 72 from 66 last year and has been ranked third in the SDG India index 2020-2021. The state improved its scores on indicators related to reducing poverty; good health and well-being; gender equality; affordable and clean energy; industry, innovation and infrastructure; sustainable cities and communication; responsible consumption and production; and peace, justice and strong institutions. The state’s score improved in issues related to diseases and mortality rates. However, the score related to the number of physicians, nurses, and midwives per 10,000 people reduced from 72 in 2019-20 to 70 in 2020-21, which according to an expert is a matter
of concern, particularly when the state is facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
CSIR India collaborates with Laxai Life Sciences
CSIR in collaboration with Laxai Life Sciences has initiated Phase-II clinical trial with the anti-helminitic drug Niclosamide for the treatment of COVID-19. The trial is a multi-centric, phase-II, randomised, openlabel clinical study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Niclosamide for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Niclosamide has been extensively used in past for the treatment of tapeworm’s infection in adults as well as children. The safety profile of this drug has been tested over time and has been found safe for human consumption at different dose levels. Dr Shekhar C Mande, Director General, CSIR expressed his happiness over the SEC recommendations to conduct this Phase II clinical trial using Niclosamide, which is a generic, affordable drug and easily available in India and therefore can be made available to our population.
MedPiper Tech launches health-tech products
YCombinator-backed innovative healthtech startup MedPiper Technologies has launched an array of health-tech products for the use of healthcare professionals to help them during and after the pandemic in providing better care for their patients. The new features on MedPiper have been built to improve the overall experience for its end users – medical practitioners, hospitals and healthcare organisations. These enhancements make the platform be the complete and robust end-toend solution provider that allows the optimisation of the user experience across the entire career lifecycle of a doctor, from the time they graduate from medical college and job hunting to updating and improving their medical knowledge in their opted fields of specialisation.
Mindray launches Resona I9 ultrasound system
Mindray has announced the release of its latest general imaging diagnostic ultrasound system, Resona I9, to its suite of general imaging solutions. With innovations both inside and out, Resona I9 provides accurate and timely answers for clinicians, while delivering outstanding efficiency and a remarkable user experience. Resona I9 was developed based on Mindray’s in-depth insights into complex clinical scenarios and is a stateof-the-art ultrasound system equipped with all the latest technologies. Delivering innovation in every facet, Resona I9 features a customisable control panel, foldable structure to a height of one meter, extended battery life and super silent design — all of which help reduce fatigue to a minimum during scans. Mindray’s revolutionary ZST+ platform powers the system and elevates it to an unparalleled level in its class by delivering exceptional image quality for infinite imaging solutions.
Ohana One
Uniting surgeons around the world to bridge the global surgical doctor deficit
Team IMT
Ohana One, a US-based NGO, cultivates high-quality surgical and anaesthesia programmes in developing areas around the world. The organisation promotes collaboration between organisations with similar goals and open pathways for healthcare providers to volunteer their career expertise. Their work is not limited to single mission trips, but to establishing long-term sustainable surgical training programmes utilising mentor relationships and advanced technology, including smart glasses through the Surgical Sight programme. In doing so, they work alongside surgical providers to undertake increasingly more complex cases to elevate and expand safe self-sustaining surgical care in areas that need it most. Recently, they shared that announced that the surgical aid and education virtual surgical sight smart glasses programme for the NGO community is now live in 35 countries worldwide. This is in collaboration with Vuzix Corporation, a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and products. Surgical Sight programme
The Surgical Sight programme, which was formally launched in October 2020 by Ohana One, utilises Vuzix Smart Glasses and Help Lightning software to connect surgical mentors in developed areas with surgeons in developing areas around the globe to create training relationships within the surgery. As of June 2021, 835 calls have been placed over Vuzix Smart Glasses which were used to connect more than 100 surgeons across five speciality areas including neurosurgeons, general and colorectal surgeons, adult and pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, and plastic and reconstructive surgeons. The first cohort consisted of 50 surgical teams consisting of mentor and mentee pairs that spanned across five continents and 35 developing countries. The goal is to have the program grow to 1,000 mentor/mentee pairs. The Surgical Sight programme is the brainchild of Ohana One International Surgical Aid and Education, along with Ohana One cofounder and VP Dr David Kulber, a renowned hand and reconstructive surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Over the last 10 years, Dr Kulber has mentored Dr Pedro Santos, who is one of only three plastic surgeons in all of Mozambique, a country in Africa of over 30 million people. He has been doing so through
annual surgical mission trips, and now most recently working closely together year-round utilising Vuzix Smart Glasses technology. During the initial missions, it was immediately recognised that unless there was year-round training for the surgeon, annual missions were not enough to continue working on the surgeon’s skills, as this type of work requires much more frequent mentorship. Thus, the idea of utilising smart glasses technology for remote surgical training began. This technology allowed Dr Kulber to continue to train Dr Santos throughout the year, a key factor in further developing Dr Santos’ skill as a plastic surgeon. This unique training is critical, as surgeons in remote areas of the world struggle without having mentorships to assist in training. How does it work
The surgical mentee can share his or her surgical field directly with the mentor, and the mentor sees what the mentee is seeing live in real-time using the specialised Help Lightning smart glasses software. This technology can take pictures of the live feed, record videos, freeze the image and subsequently write on top of the captured image, and mentors can use their hands to point out areas that need special attention or direction, all as if the mentor was directly operating with the mentee in live time. This enhances the training relationship between the mentor and mentee, helping the mentee to further develop their surgical skills. The smart glasses and software create an environment where the mentor can be available in live time during the surgery, preoperative planning, and postoperative monitoring. "The main purpose of global surgery is training activities between the mentors and mentees. Because of many reasons from the different regions, time, local laws, restrictions from transportation or COVID pandemic, the experts cannot come and teach us directly. The Vuzix Smart Glasses are becoming an important channel for communication. We can receive help from our mentors remotely. The glasses work similarly to a smart camera with video call and virtual reality that are suitable in the operating room. We like using these devices to improve the quality of our global surgical programs," says Dr Can from InterSurgeon, an Ohana One partner, Chief of Neurosurgical Department, Children's Hospital 2, Vietnam. "We are pleased to work together with Ohana One and their growing list of participating surgical teams around the globe to support their virtual Surgical Sight smart glasses programme in their mission to connect 1,000 mentor/ mentee pairs," said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix. Vuzix is a public company (NASDAQ: VUZI) with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK, and Tokyo, Japan. Vuzix holds 192 patents and patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field. Through partnerships with surgical training NGOs including InterSurgeon, Mending Kids, ReSurge International, FIENS, Ruth Paz Fundacion, Steps 2 Walk, and UCLA Health, Ohana One can introduce and empower volunteer mentors surgeons to take part in these virtual surgical missions. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic that has amplified the importance of remote technology in a setting where travel is difficult and dangerous. The training and education that can be gained with Ohana One’s Surgical Sight programme will be an option for NGOs to help bridge the gap and teach mentees needing mentorships in remote countries to develop their surgical technique. Ultimately, the goal is to increase access to surgery by training surgeons in areas of need, affecting thousands of lives in their areas.
The first cohort for the year-long study includes adult and pediatric surgeons from Aga Khan University Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Children’s National Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Evergreen Health, New YorkPresbyterian Hospital, Bugando Medical Center, Shriners Hospital for Children, Stanford Medical Center, University of Alabama, and UCLA Medical Center. The specialities utilising this technology are plastic and reconstructive surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, colorectal surgery, and urological surgery. While the first cohort is made up of 20 surgical teams consisting of mentor and mentee pairs that span 16 developing countries, including Armenia, Rwanda, Honduras, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Senegal, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe, the goal is to have the program grow to 1,000 mentors/ mentee pairs.
Covid Warriors
IMT Team
Till the second week of June, the world had seen 17.8 crore COVID-19 cases and witnessed 38.6 lakh deaths due to the devastating pandemic. The much worse second wave of COVID-19 exposed the faults in our healthcare system. Throughout the past two years, the vulnerability of our healthcare workers has been tried and tested as the pandemic put a huge physical and psychological burden on them. According to the WHO, nearly 1,15,000 healthcare workers have died due to covid since the pandemic began last year. And yet, lakhs of healthcare workers continue to risk their lives to save patients every day.
We hail the healthcare workers, showered flowers on them but little do we know of their struggles and frustrations. Many healthcare professionals we spoke to during the past year have shared their helplessness due to a lack of means and tools to save lives.
We owe them so much and yet many in India lack basic protection and are attacked mercilessly for doing their job.
We hail their sacrifices and dedicate this issue to all those warriors who have worked tirelessly to bring peace to the dying and heal our suffering.
These are the heroes of our issue this month. We bring you some of the amazing work in healthcare in the past year. We hope it resonates with a lot of healthcare workers not only in India but around the world.
Dr Manoj Gopalkrishnan, Professor, IIT-Bombay
Dr Manoj Gopalkrishnan, a professor at the IIT-Bombay and an expert in mathematics, computational and data science and molecular science, came up with a new COVID testing approach that would save money, time and resources, while quickly providing accurate results. His research team developed an algorithm called Tapestry that allows several tests to be screened at the same time using existing kits. Tapestry could accurately identify any positives without the need for additional followup screenings – a breakthrough.
Tapestry’s patented technology was validated with the help of leading research institutions in India and the US. Its innovative approach has been highlighted by articles in leading international scientific forums like Nature. Tapestry was named as one of the 10 finalists for the XPRIZE Rapid Covid Testing competition. It has since obtained regulatory approvals and is being deployed across campuses and offices across the country with the help of reputed labs. Today, through his startup Algorithmic Biologics, Dr Gopalkrishnan is making it possible for offices and campuses to open safely through affordable and regular testing.
COVID-19 may have thrown the entire world in turmoil, but this is hardly the time to rest or take a back seat for those in the healthcare industry.
From January 2020 onwards, J Mitra & Company has been waging a concerted war against the corona pandemic. In the past 18-odd months, J Mitra has introduced path-breaking products to cater to various aspects of COVID-19 detection, and most of these products are industry-firsts and industry-leaders in India.
The products include:
• India’s first total antibody Covid-19 [IgM, IgG, IgA] Microlisa Elisa test kit developed jointly with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB)
• Covid Kawach IgG Microlisa
Covid-19 test kit developed by
ICMR-NIV
• COVID-19 Neutralizing Antibody Microlisa Elisa Test is India’s first commercial laboratory test to detect neutralizing antibodies against
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes
COVID-19. Virus neutralisation is considered the gold standard for determining antibody efficacy. • Covid-19 Ag Microlisa, Elisa Test kit, offers high Sensitivity, Specificity, and accuracy equivalent to RT-PCR tests, at costs comparable to Rapid tests.
• COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test
The company also launched two covid test instruments – the Elisa Washer and the Elisa Reader, apart from the other secondary tests for the management of COVID-19, like D-Dimer. Some products are under development or awaiting validations and approvals.
J Mitra utilised several parameters and factors to drive their technology decisions: potency, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, ease of use, infrastructure requirement at the userend, final cost at patient-end, and other similar considerations. As a result, every product introduced by the company
has the highest ratings in sensitivity and specificity, making them the best performing products in the market. Significant credit for these products and performances goes to the R&D team headed by Lalit Mahajan.
With such corporate performance driven by Jatin Mahajan at the helm as Managing Director, J Mitra & Company has emerged as the company with the highest number of COVID-19 related solutions available in the country and a noteworthy corona warrior organisation.
COVID-19 impact on nephrology and urology services at NU Hospitals
Dr Dilip Rangarajan Group Medical Director & Sr Consultant Nephrologist NU Hospitals - Bengaluru, Shivamogga & Ambur
NU Hospitals has three facilities – Padmanabhanagar and Rajajinagar, Bengaluru at Shivamogga and KM NU Hospitals, Ambur - Tamil Nadu
The pandemic threw up unique challenges for a renal speciality hospital like ours. The following are the steps that we took to successfully tide over the crisis.
One of the difficulties was, last year when the lockdown was announced - was to ensure an adequate supply of the needed consumables for dialysis.
Meetings were conducted within the hospital with covid precautions and policies and protocols were devised in every department. The HR devised policies regarding leave and quarantine of healthcare workers based on governmental recommendations periodically.
Operation theatre devised its policy and protocol of handling surgical patients. CPR protocol for covid suspects was devised ensuring the safety of all health workers. The Hospital Infection Control Committee devised protocols of disinfection, handling covid patients and isolation wards for covid patients were prepared.
Protocols were modified in the haemodialysis unit to ensure the safety of all. Covid patients were dialysed separately in a shift without mixing with others. Special covid consents were devised and taken for admission and dialysis. Training and counselling sessions were conducted for healthcare workers.
The renal transplant was resumed after ensuring that all precautions were taken and the patients received appropriate counselling. Renal transplant recipients affected with covid were treated
with appropriate immunosuppression reduction and the use of an antiviral agent.
Haemodialysis patients afflicted with covid were appropriately treated with antiviral agents and were dialysed in isolation.
All healthcare workers were covered with covid health insurance and were vaccinated with the covid vaccine.
Better healthcare management
Connect2MyDoctor has been at the forefront of supporting COVID treatment options for healthcare providers. While the telemedicine platform effectively supports social distancing by enabling patients to get basic treatment without physically entering a healthcare facility, the most effective support is provided for chronic care patients who need periodic interactions with their care providers. This has been ably supported by connecting the care provider and patient with diagnostic facilities (by digitally sending patients their lab test orders), thereby avoiding the mandatory visit to the healthcare facility to get the lab order; and with pharmacies, so that medical prescriptions are delivered in contactless mode.
The compny has built and deployed a specific app for use in a COVID ward currently used in Reem Hospital, Abu Dhabi. This enabled every patient to be digitally connected to his care provider. The care provider can conduct routine checkups on the patient without entering
the ward thereby reducing proximal contact as well as reducing the usage of PPE per patient contact. Moreover, the care provider can track multiple patients across different facilities enabling a far better optimisation in the management of Covid care in an overwhelming situation.
The compny is supporting a mental health provider LifeWorks, UAE in providing access to employees and families of a government to access multiple levels of support in managing their well-being. The employees and their family members can reach out to a mental health practitioner via chat, email, phone call and video consultation depending on the severity and urgency of their need. Since governments are at the forefront of managing the pandemic, their mental well-being is of utmost importance thus enabling them to make sound decisions to take care of their citizens.
The compny is enabling specialist hospitals based in major cities to provide their services in rural cities and villages. Some of these are Neuro Spinal Hospital, Abu Dhabi, Bethany Hospital, Mumbai, Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Madurai and Tanjore, Metromed International Cardiac Centre, Kerala; Florence Nightingale, Istanbul; Shalby Hospital - Gujarat and other 11 regions among many others.
Using a hub and spoke model, the specialist sitting in the hospital can connect to a primary healthcare centre and render advice to stabilise a patient. This then enables the patient to manage the long journey to the hospital and receive appropriate care.
The compny through their pan country operations is enabling patients to access healthcare around the world in current conditions where physical interactions are difficult, in certain cases, if not impossible. They are bringing hope to many by enabling access to cheaper sources of healthcare provided in certain countries.
Every day the use cases are growing and the challenges faced across the world are multiplying. Connect2MyDoctor is rising to the challenge and supporting the varied workflows required to manage these situations. The company is located in Melbourne, Bengaluru and Dubai.
Affordable robust solutions
The last 16+ months have transformed the way this country approaches healthcare delivery. While the first wave saw a big demand for breathing devices, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and personal hygiene products like sanitisers and disinfectants, the second wave crippled us with an even more basic yet difficult issue – a demand for medical oxygen.
With the COVID-19 challenge upon us, the GenWorks leadership decided to take up the opportunity to be the front runners. From sourcing PPE to bridge the supply-demand gap to creating awareness on rapid testing and allied blood tests for COVID-19 management, stitching a partnership with Wipro 3D for their novel emergency breathing assistance system air bridge or promote the value of handheld ultrasound systems for quick, point-of-care testing, GenWorks did all of this and more. The start-up put together partnerships with manufacturers, tied up operations and supply chain contingencies, and embraced all digital means of customer
communications to ensure affordability and fair pricing of any solution promoted.
Blood tests such as CBC, ESR, CRP, D-Dimer, Urea, Creatinine, SGOT, SGPT and CT scans were an important diagnostic tool for early diagnosis and to determine treatment protocol to prevent deaths. GenWorks ramped up the IVD portfolio with Iris acquisition and leveraged partnership with GE to support CT scanners across the country.
The startup also stepped up efforts in government business and supplied 100 airbridge devices to the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala, thanks to the visionary efforts of Shashi Tharoor.
GenWorks imported oxygen concentrators; it was ensured that highquality devices are procured having international certifications, and at the same time keep it highly affordable.
Preparing for the probable third wave, GenWorks’ focus is not only on treatment solutions but also on pulmonary rehabilitation and function assessment – brought to life by the partnership with Vyaire Medical for their range of pulmonary function assessment solutions.
Dialysis on-call amidst covid pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed mayhem in the entire world. We realised we had to step up to face this headon. NephroPlus prepared clinical SOPs for screening, detecting, and managing patients with COVID-19. The SOPs were shared on the website so that all dialysis centres could use them. NephroPlus teams were trained to deal with the crisis even before the first COVID +ve case was detected in our network.
As the situation evolved, hospitals were taken over and converted into COVID centres, impacting the dialysis services. Makeshift centres were set up overnight to ensure every patient got timely dialysis. Travel restrictions and lack of public transport made things worse.
NephroPlus launched two new services –Dialysis on Wheels and Dialysis on Call. Both the services ensured that if people are unable to travel to centres, dialysis travels to them. The technicians even walked with heavy consumables to patients’ homes to do dialysis if the situation required. The supply chain team also personally started delivering stock to the centres. The health of all teammates infected with COVID-19 was taken care of. Unfortunately, many people lost their livelihood due to the lockdown. NephroPlus has set up a fund to help people with treatment expenses.
Catering to the high demand for covid vaccination
With the onset of covid, from day one, HMD as an essential product supplier and having more than 60 per cent market share in the country, knew that the country depended on them. Predicting a spike in demand, HMD adopted an all-hands-on-deck approach and won the necessary approvals from local administration and Centre to advance production into 24/7 mode for the company as well as its ancillaries despite extreme lockdown restrictions in March 2020.
The medical product’s manufacturer has rapidly ramped up the company’s capacity by debottlenecking, ordering multi-cavity moulds, and re-engineering the standard disposable syringes lines to manufacture in their place auto-disable syringe for vaccination. The production capacity of AD syringe 0.5ml, which was 500 million per annum last year, has already been ramped up to 800.
HMD is a leading manufacturer of disposable syringes and is a key international supplier of critically needed syringes to COVAX facilities of WHO, Brazil and Japan for COVID vaccination, the company said. The company has reserved over twothirds of the capacity for India and declined orders from many overseas new potential buyers, to prioritise vaccination of our citizens.
Now the machines crank out more than 6500 syringes per minute at a factory spread over 11 acres in an industrial district in Haryana of which approximately 2000 per minute are auto-disable syringes for covid vaccination.
All the syringes put together, the company currently manufactures more than 2.7 billion syringes per year and more than 4 billion needles a year.
But when it comes to HMD’s success, Rajiv Nath believes the major driver has always been its commitment to offering consistent quality and its driven team.
Delivering the vision of cutting-edge healthcare
The VS Covid Care Hospital manned by a team of senior intensivists 24x7 has treated several patients successfully and created a huge difference to the community. Several elderly patients well above 90 years have been cured of COVID and doing well – giving the entire team immense satisfaction and tremendous conviction to go the extra
mile. It reflects in the wonderful results the covid care team has achieved over the last few months, all this while keeping costs low and affordable. The continued care and follow-up post covid to ensure the seamless transition of the patients to normalcy has been vital and well appreciated.
The patient care team at VS have done a massive outreach initiative to get in touch with every one of them to allay their fears and anxiety and help them with any medical help or guidance in these difficult times. Patients have benefited greatly from extended medical help. Telemedicine facilities have been adopted to provide continuous care to patients irrespective of where they are. The elderly and patients who are unable to leave their homes due to the pandemic situation have been managed through their recently introduced home care services.
Milestones during a pandemic:
• VS Hospitals, Chetpet – dedicated Covid Care facility has successfully treated more than 1000 covid patients.
• VS Hospitals, Kilpauk – Non-Covid Facility has successfully treated more than 10000 patients during the pandemic period.
• The Department of Transfusion
Medicine started the collection and processing of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 using Aphaeresis technology. Equipped with the latest infrastructure and expertise the transfusion medicine department has been manfully lending a shoulder in this battle against
COVID-19 by making Convalescent plasma therapy within reach.
• Complex surgeries have been undertaken successfully for Covid patients despite the imminent risks involved.
• When the entire city was reeling with the shortage of beds, VS was dynamic and created an additional 30 beds by taking up another hospital in the vicinity. Also, 60 quarantine beds were created by collaborating with hotels.
• VS was one of the few hospitals in the city that mitigated both the Oxygen crisis and the shortage of medicines to deliver continuous medical care to the public throughout the pandemic.
VS Hospitals – a household name in the healthcare domain has combined their immense medical expertise with the adoption of digital technology to adapt to the new normal and provide available, affordable, accessible care 24x7 to our community. Hats off to the entire team of doctors, nurses and health care workers who have put their life in line to continue to serve patients through this pandemic and beyond. Team VS salutes the spirit shown by frontline/corona warriors in serving society in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID 19 WARRIOR: Dr Mehta’s Hospitals
Dr Mehta’s Hospitals is a leading tertiary healthcare provider system located in Chennai with a strong reputation for superior clinical excellence, built over 85 years of distinctive clinical management and patient care having two branches located at Chetpet and Velapanchavadi.
During this COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Mehta’s played a leading role in treating patients with COVID-19. The doctors played a leading role in treating patients and were able to treat over 5000 cases successfully with clinical outcome success of more than 98.3 per cent. We would like to mention Dr Nivetha B, Dr Vijay Shankar, Dr Angeline Victoria J from Emergency Medicine (Adult) department; Emergency Medicine (Pediatrics) Dr Sharada R C; Intensive Care Dr S Jaganathan, Dr M Ganesh Moorthy, Dr G Arthi, Dr Rajkumar Samuvel, Dr Thirumurugan A, Dr Subi Krishnan; Internal Medicine Dr Dilip Kumar R, Dr K Adhiti
Dr M Rose Raichel, Dr Saravana Bharathy S P.
Future of Medical Education in India
Envisioning a holistic undergraduate medical education system in India
Source KPMG Indian healthcare has progressed over the last three decades and is currently at a very critical juncture to achieve the 3As of healthcare - Affordability, Accessibility and Availability. The government has introduced several healthcare policies to achieve successful implementation of universal health coverage (UHC) through National Health Policy 2017 like the launch of Ayushman Bharat Yojana. With the recent launch of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), the Government is also creating digital health infrastructure in the country. As India re-imagines healthcare with UHC and NDHM, the government and national medical authorities need to ensure that the country produces the right quality of doctors. Also, an acute shortage of qualified doctors has been impeding equitable access to quality healthcare for all the citizens of the country. Therefore, there is a parallel need to look deeper into the medical education system in the country and align it with evolving healthcare needs and global academic standards.
Medical education forms the bedrock on which any disparities in human resources for healthcare are addressed. Recent years have seen several initiatives taken by the government that aims to build more strength into undergraduate (UG) medical education in India. For instance, in 2019, the
Medical Council of India (MCI) Board of Governors introduced the globally recognised competency-based medical curriculum that emphasises practical learning methods and introduces a dedicated module for soft skills such as communication, empathy and attitude. National Medical Commission (NMC) was established in 2020 to overtake the MCI Board of Governors to instil more strength and transparency into the country’s medical education system. The focus from here on should be on ensuring effective execution of the farreaching reforms so that the efforts made in crafting these reforms translate to the desired outcomes. Also, it is pertinent to note that certain systemic issues continue to prevail in the medical education sector in India. Therefore, there is an unequivocal need for the Government to bolster UG medical education across all its facets spanning college infrastructure, teaching approaches and assessment methods. We need to unravel the current scenario of UG medical education in India, whilst also analysing its course structure and learning methods vis-à-vis leading global medical education systems. Recent years witnessed an increase in the number of medical seats across the country that has marginally narrowed the supply-demand gap. However, there is a need for the government and private sector to come together to provide a fillip to the number of medical colleges and undergraduate medical seats in the country. In line with this, the Government of India had announced the establishment of hospitals as well as medical colleges in every district through the PPP model in the Union Budget 2020. Simultaneously, NITI Aayog had approached the state government with the proposal of the PPP of medical colleges, which had been accepted by the Medical Education Minister, in early 2020. We, also recommend other policy-level interventions and reforms aimed at increasing the overall ease of setting up and operationalising medical colleges by the private sector to bridge the persistent gap in demand and supply of doctors in the country. Thereafter, we delve into the following five levers that underpin the future roadmap of UG medical education in India and provide detailed recommendations to address the key systemic issues. Effective implementation of CBME
The introduction of globally acknowledged CBME by MCI is a welcome step. However, to achieve the desired results, its effective implementation with a premeditated plan for seamless adoption of CBME is imperative. Strengthen the learning approaches
The key to improving the quality of new doctors is to strengthen the learning approaches. This can be done by weighing more on experiencedbased learning models, such as using skill laboratories to impart training on clinical procedures, emphasising the significance of internship year amongst students, introducing bounded flexibility in the curriculum to allow students to explore their areas of interest, viz. specialised clinical exposure, medical research etc.
Make new-age doctors more techsavvy
Advancements in technology will be the key driver to shape the future of healthcare and medical education in India and globally. This would demand new-age doctors to be continuously self-learning, technologically savvy and acquainted with digital health solutions. While the emergence of COVID-19 led to hiked adoption of digital solutions, the current format and choice of digital learning or teaching approaches is heterogeneous and requires streamlining. Emphasis on the all-round development
The need for the all-around development of doctors is well acknowledged and the government has taken few measures to instil communication and ethical skills as part of the curriculum. However, with the evolving healthcare delivery models, there is a dire need to make medical education more holistic and ensure the development of entrepreneurship or business skills, training on communication and leadership skills and integrating mentoring sessions for motivational support and stress management. Focus on developing patient-centric competencies
Owing to the rising patients’ awareness and their active involvement in healthcare and wellness, healthcare delivery is expected to be more patientcentric and wellness-oriented. Therefore, the undergraduate program should inculcate patient-centric competencies in young doctors so that they are more compassionate and are well prepared to meet changing expectations of patients and healthcare delivery.
Steady Growth
Voxtur Bio Ltd is emerging as one of India's largest medical diagnostic companies, Dr. Veeraal Gandhi, Chairman and Managing Director talks about the recent success
Team IMT
Dr Veeraal Gandhi,CMD,Voxtur Bio How has the diagnostic testing kits industry evolved over the years?
A robust diagnostic industry is the mainstay of a healthy society as it strengthens pre-emptive healthcare delivery and therapeutic response assessment mechanism. The growing importance of diagnostic services can be measured from the fact that almost 80% of the medical decisions across the world are based on diagnostic reports. Having said that, the effectiveness of such medical decisions while treating various infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, HIV, cancer, etc. entirely depends on early detection through early diagnosis. A majority of the life-threatening diseases are curable thanks to the rapid strides the healthcare ecosystem has been making over the years. Early diagnosis plays a critical role in enhancing the chances of recovery immensely, thus curtailing the prolonged impact of the diseases on life. In a way, the diagnostics service delivery has transitioned from investigation-focussed approach to solution-driven outlook and as a result of that transition, the industry has been witnessing an accelerated growth. According to a research report published in 2020 by Edelweiss Research, the domestic diagnostic industry which was pegged at $9 billion is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~10% over the next 5 years. The key drivers for such growth would be a growing awareness among people of wellness and preventive healthcare, expansion of healthcare and diagnostics service network across the country, among others.
The diagnostics industry has been on a steady growth path thanks to an enabling role being played by the diagnostic kit manufacturing companies. Driven by the motto of patient empowerment, the diagnostics kit manufacturing companies with their diversified portfolio of solutions have been supporting all diagnostic service delivery formats such as stand-alone labs, hospital labs, national chains and regional chains in meeting the growing demand.
With technology integration, unwavering focus on research and development, stringent quality control mechanism and enhanced manufacturing capacity, the diagnostic kit manufacturers have been able to enhance the patient comfort and patient-centricity even for the high-end tests by ensuring wider availability and faster turnaround time. The manufacturers have been investing heavily in research and development to ensure accuracy and eliminate pre-analytical errors, thus enhancing patient satisfaction. Complying with the global standards, the diagnostic kit manufacturing industry has been strengthening the healthcare delivery in India.
COVID-19 has opened a huge market base for the diagnostics kits industry. How did it impact your business?
COVID-19 has altered the healthcare and diagnostics narrative in India and across the world. It has amplified the importance of adding accuracy and speed in diagnostics service delivery. Thus, diagnostic services have transformed from reactive to proactive while containing pandemic spread. That transformation has made the idea of care testing (POCT), self-testing and self-monitoring acceptable to a certain extent. In fact, the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) will turn out to be the prevalent process to detect viral infections, going forward. All in all, the efficiency of IVD solutions in patient management and outbreak control have opened up the huge market opportunities for IVD kit manufacturers. The trend has impacted our business positively. Being a prominent IVD test kit manufacturer with FDA license, GMP, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 accreditation, we have not only ramped up our manufacturing output but also enhanced our product portfolio with new solutions approved by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research). Few more solutions are also in the pipeline. On the business front, demand for our solutions has been increasing significantly. Our market reach has been steadily growing riding on the back of that robust demand.
You have set up a 40000 sq ft facility ‘state-ofthe-art’ manufacturing infrastructure facility. What type of diagnostic kits are manufactured at the facility?
We have been rolling out a diversified range of diagnostics solutions from our manufacturing facility in Vasai on the outskirts of Mumbai,. Our product portfolio comprises rapid diagnostic testing solutions for communicable diseases such as, HCV, HBsAg, COVID, HIV, etc. as well as for non-communicable diseases such as Chickungunya, malaria, dengue, etc. Moreover, we have introduced Blood Grouping Sera, Latex Reagents, ELISA testing kits, blood collection tubes and a range of laboratory plastic consumables. We’ll soon be coming up with point-of-care testing (POCT) solutions and haematology analysers. Moreover, to strengthen our IVD solutions for COVID-19, we have received our licence for COVID-19 IgG/ IgM rapid antibody test, COVID-19 IgG ELISA and Viral transport medium (VTM) whereas COVID-19 Antigen self-test kit is in pipeline.
Do you plan to set up any more facilities in India? Any plans for the global market?
We have already developed a robust manufacturing capacity in Vasai capable of meeting the growing market demand. Our annual manufacturing capacity of rapid test kits at the facility is approximately 120 million. Our focus is now to ensure full capacity utilisation of the manufacturing facility. So, we don't have any immediate plan to set up a new manufacturing facility. In the global market, we always explore market expansion and customer acquisition opportunities. Thanks to our enhanced manufacturing capacity, we are better placed to aggressively grow our reach in the global market. What will be your growth plans for the next five years?
The IVD segment is growing at a rapid pace banking on increasing health consciousness among people and rising demand for point-of-care testing. To cater to that demand, we'll be rolling out a new range of technologically advanced IVD solutions which will redefine patient comfort and centricity. We are working towards becoming one of the largest IVD manufacturers in the country with regard to daily production. Simultaneously, We also aim at emerging as one of the largest OEM manufacturers in the IVD segment.
Can the current COVID-19 vaccines provide herd immunity?
Dr Anand Lakshman, Public Health Physician, Founder & CEO, AddressHealth
Most health pundits have been talking of COVID vaccine coverage to be ramped up to provide herd immunity without understanding the concept and what its implications are. It’s a difficult concept to explain to the layman, but let me try.
Herd immunity is the minimum percentage of the population who when immune, protect the rest of the population, who are not immune. In the case of the vaccine, it would mean that vaccinating a certain proportion of the population (say 70 per cent), would end up protecting the rest (i.e. 30 per cent) and hence they do not need to be vaccinated. Well, this depends on the dynamics of transmission, the susceptibility of the population due to natural immunity or vaccine immunity and characteristics of the infective agent ( variants etc) and all this boils down to a concept called R, which is the Reproduction number. R to put it simply is how many people on average, can an infected person transmit the virus to.
The number of people to whom the one infected person can transmit varies, based on the number of people who can block the infection from being transmitted as they have immunity either through infection or through vaccination if vaccination indeed prevented
transmission. Some of the other factors that affect the Reproduction number are non-pharmacological interventions being practised and the population dynamics (such as movement of people, population density, the age structure of the population, innate immunity etc). There is also an individual variation, which accounts for some being ‘super spreaders’ while others do not seem to transmit the infection (this is accounted for using a term called dispersion). The current variants of the SARS-COV-2 are highly infective and are seen to be infecting entire families as opposed to the first wave, when many within the same family escaped without an infection, with early isolation, masking etc. The estimated reproduction number for the current variants are between 3-4, which by corollary translates into 66 per cent-75 per cent of the population need to be immune to provide population immunity to the 33 per cent- 25 per cent who aren’t infected yet. The vaccines that are available in India so far haven’t presented data on the prevention of transmission. All of them are effective in the prevention of symptomatic disease, severe disease or death. There is no talk about the prevention of transmission yet and most trials aren’t powered or designed to study this effect, at least as a primary outcome. The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer BionTech and Moderna) have presented some data to show that they can reduce asymptomatic infection as well as reduce transmission, but we do not know with what efficacy they can do so yet. The nasal vaccine from Bharat Biotech is proposed to be a game-changer, as it will promote mucosal immunity and could significantly reduce transmission, but it is yet to undergo trials.
Then there is a question of vaccine efficacy. If a given vaccine could prevent transmission to the tune of 50 per cent, then the vaccine-based herd immunity would be calculated as {(1-1/R0)/E} which would translate into 66 per cent or 75 per cent divided by 50 per cent which is greater than 100 per cent and hence not provides any theoretical protection to the unvaccinated.
Any vulnerable individual who is unprotected therefore has no benefit of herd immunity and is at risk of catching the infection. Hence we need to disassociate the term herd immunity from vaccination in the COVID context and try and vaccinate everyone, who is vulnerable to severe COVID to protect them. Vaccination will save lives, but of those vaccinated. Let us prioritise the lives at risk and vaccinate them as quickly as we can.
