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News Roundup
PM Narendra Modi during the foundation laying ceremony of the cancer hospitals
PM dedicates seven cancer hospitals in Assam
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Prime Minister, Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation six cancer hospitals in Assam at a function in Dibrugarh. These cancer hospitals are built at Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Darrang, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, and Jorhat. Dibrugarh Hospital was dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister earlier in the day when he visited the premises of the new hospital. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of seven new cancer hospitals at Dhubri, Nalbari, Goalpara, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Golaghat to be constructed under phase two of the project.
Ayu Health raises $27 M in series B round
Ayu Health Hospitals has raised $27 million in Series B funding led by The Fundamentum Partnership, an early growth stage fund founded by Nandan Nilekani and Sanjeev Aggarwal. The round also saw participation from US-based fund 57 Stars, Rohit MA led Capier Investments, angel investors like Ashish Gupta, Khadim Batti, Vara Kumar, and existing investors Stellaris Venture Partners, Vertex Ventures, and Alteria Capital. With this fund raise, Prateek Jain of Fundamentum Partnership, would be joining the Ayu Health Board.
Truemeds raises $22 M in series B funding
Truemeds, India’s leading telehealth platform, closed its series B funding round led by private equity fund Westbridge Capital. The new funding round also saw participation from existing investors including InfoEdge Ventures, Asha Impact and IAN Fund. The round witnessed oversubscription from new and existing investors however the company decided to cap the raise to $22 million.The company plans to utilise the funds to accelerate growth in the untapped domestic market and expand its coverage across the country.
Lupin appoints Diana Amador-Toro as Senior VP, Global Compliance
Lupin announced the appointment of Diana Amador-Toro as Senior Vice President, Global Compliance. Diana will be responsible for leading Lupin’s Global Compliance function including training, internal audit, and investigations. She will be based in Lupin’s Somerset office in New Jersey, US.Diana is a senior leader with more than 38 years of field experience in US FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA). She previously served in two leadership positions in ORA as the New Jersey District Director and as the Office of Pharmaceutical Quality Operations Division I Director.
Clevergene receives PCPNDT licence for prenatal genetic tests
Clevergene, a deep tech genomics company offering genetic diagnosis and discovery genomics solutions, received the PCPNDT (Pre-Conception and PreNatal Diagnostic Techniques) license and will be offering prenatal diagnostics and preimplantation genetic screening tests. With this certification Clevergene through its clinical diagnostics vertical The Gene Lab is launching a host of genetic tests that will improve outcomes for expectant parents and those planning a baby; these include Non Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) for detecting chromosomal aneuploidy in foetuses, preimplantation genetic screening, Products of Conception (POC) genetic testing as well as genetic counselling services.
Biocon Biologics’ Insugen bags three-year contract in Malaysia
Biocon Biologics’ subsidiary Biocon in Malaysia has been awarded a three-year contract, valued at $90 million (MYR 375 million), for its recombinant human insulin brand Insugen, by the Ministry of Health (MoH), Malaysia.Biocon, a subsidiary of Biocon Biologics in Malaysia, will manufacture and supply its range of insulins to its partner Duopharma Marketing (DMktg), a subsidiary of Duopharma Biotech, a leading pharmaceutical and biotech company in Malaysia.Biocon Biologics’ Insugen formulations will be available to patients at all Ministry of Health hospitals, district health offices and health clinics.
Thermo Fisher Scientific unveils R&D facility in Hyderabad
Thermo Fisher Scientific has opened a new R&D and Engineering facility – India Engineering Center (IEC). The new centre was inaugurated by Minister for Industries
Launch of R&D facility in Hyderabad and Commerce, Government of Telangana KT Rama Rao. The newly expanded India Engineering Center (IEC) is part of Thermo Fisher’s R&D Center of Excellence in India and will bring an additional 140 new jobs to the region.Thermo Fisher’s centre will employ over 450 engineers and vendor partners. The centre at Hyderabad is a 42,000 sq ft facility that includes the engineering labs and will support new product development and product sustenance for laboratory and analytical solutions for Thermo Fisher’s global sites. In addition, the facility will also attract top talent and open employment opportunities in the Telangana state.
Indus Health Plus launches MEDNAwise
Indus Health Plus has launched MEDNAwise, a genetic solution in precision medicine. MEDNAwise testing helps to understand which drug suits you best, manage your treatment and increase its effectiveness. MEDNAwise can also be used as a predictive personalised medication guide for those who like to be one step ahead.
Brinton Pharma to expand Global R&D Lab in the UK
Brinton Pharmaceutical has decided to invest in a global research and development centre in the UK. The company plans to invest GBP 30 million over the next five years to strengthen its product pipelines, create 300 highly skilled jobs and develop innovative products for its global consumers.The company is planning to use its global research and development centre in the UK to create affordable novel products using niche technologies.
PM felicitates startups at Global Ayush Investment & Innovation Summit 2022
In line with the Government of India’s vision to support start-ups in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed awards to the winners of ‘Ayush Startup Challenge’ organised by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in association with Start-up India. The challenge was launched on February 4, 2022. The main aim of the challenge is to encourage earlystage start-ups and individuals working on innovations in Ayurveda and other alternative healing and medicine systems. There were three entry categories for participating in the challenge – Ayush Food Innovations, Ayush Bioinstrumentation (Hardware solutions) and Ayush IT Solutions (Software solutions). There were two winners in each of the three categories with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for the winner and Rs 50,000 for the runner-up. Overall, there were six winners.
Redcliffe Labs appoints Prof SS Anand as new Medical Director
Redcliffe Labs, a unit of Redcliffe Lifetech in the US and India, announced the appointment of Prof SS Anand as the new Medical Director at Redcliffe Imaging – Radiology division of Redcliffe Labs. In his new strategic role, Prof SS Anand will drive the nationwide expansion and growth plan for Redcliffe Imaging. Under his expert guidance, Redcliffe Imaging will aim at becoming a quality radiology service provider with an enhanced patient experience.
Prof SS Anand
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha jointly dedicated the Shri Jagannath Medical College & Hospital (SJMCH) in Puri, Odisha. Manohar Agnani, AS, Health Ministry, Hekali Zhimomi, JS, Health Ministry and other senior officials of the ministry were also present on the occasion.The SJMCH is part of five medical colleges built under Phase I of the scheme for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’. All the hospitals under the scheme have been built at an approved cost of Rs 945 crore with 60 per cent of the contribution (Rs 567 Cr) coming from the Union Government. With the inauguration of the SJMCH, all five Medical Colleges have become functional now.
Apollo Hospitals introduces novel foot reconstruction treatment for diabetic patients
Apollo Hospitals launched a unique multidisciplinary Centre of Excellence for Diabetic Foot Management (CoEDFM), for diabetic patients, known to be prone to footrelated ailments, at its premises at Jubilee
The launch of unique multidisciplinary Centre of Excellence for Diabetic Foot Management for diabetic patients
Hills. Apollo Hospitals in collaboration with the King’s College Hospital, London; will make a novel Diabetic Foot Reconstruction & Management procedure, available for the first time in India, for patients at the Centre of Excellence for Diabetic Foot Management at Apollo Hospitals. This new procedure was developed by Dr Venu Kavarthapu, a World-renowned Orthopedic Surgeon & Consultant at King’s College Hospital, London.
BDR Pharma launches advanced gastric drug FURMECIL
BDR Pharmaceuticals has launched FURMECIL (popularly known as S-1 which is a combination of three drugs – Tegafur, Gimeracil & Oteracil). FURMECIL is an oral drug, indicated in adults for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer, which has demonstrated high effectiveness with a favourable safety profile.Furmecil will be available in the Indian market is in the form of capsules in two strengths (Tegafur 15 mg + Gimeracil 4.35 mg + Oteracil 11.80 mg & Tegafur 20 mg + Gimeracil 5.80 mg + Oteracil 15.80 mg).
The Apollo Simulation Centre, Vanagaram (ASC) has entered into an agreement with Healthium Medtech, a global medtech company to offer advanced training in laparoscopic surgeries to young aspiring medical professionals. The programme will be launched with the Laparoscopic Hernia Masterclass at the already available state-of-art simulation centre at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Vanagaram.
Honeywell launches blue Spectra medical-grade bio fibre
Honeywell announced the expansion of its Spectra Medical Grade (MG) Bio fibre portfolio with a blue-hued fibre that provides a strong visual aid to better differentiate between multiple suture sets in more complex surgeries. By creating clear colour contrast, the new fibre enables healthcare professionals to operate more accurately and efficiently, promoting greater safety and comfort for patients.
Wipro GE Healthcare launches ‘Made in India’ CT scanner
Wipro GE Healthcare has launched its nextgeneration Revolution Aspire CT (Computed Tomography) scanner. Revolution Aspire is an advanced imaging solution designed and manufactured end-to-end in India, at the newly launched Wipro GE Medical Devices manufacturing plant. The CT system is equipped with higher imaging intelligence to improve clinical confidence when diagnosing diseases and anomalies.
Israeli-based Embryonics ties-up with Jaslok Hospital
Israel-based data-driven fertility company Embryonics announced its first collaboration in India with JaslokFertilTree International Fertility Centre led by the internationally renowned Dr Firuza Parikh. The newly set up partnership will aim to help increase the success rate of fertility treatments in the Indian subcontinent. Embryonics aims to reduce the number of IVF rounds and their attendant expenses.
Lupin opens reference lab in Guwahati
Lupin Diagnostics has launched its Reference Laboratory in Guwahati in North East India. The expansion is in line with Lupin Diagnostics’ strategy to expand its presence across India and increase access to quality testing. The reference laboratory in Guwahati has capabilities to conduct a broad spectrum of routine and specialised tests in the fields of molecular diagnostics, cytogenetics, flow cytometry, histopathology, cytology, microbiology, serology, hematology, immunology and routine biochemistry.
Manipal Hospitals bags ERAS certification in South East Asia
Manipal Hospitals has become the first
Delegates during the certification ceremony
Navidea Biopharmaceuticals bags CDSCO approval for Lymphoaim in India
healthcare provider in Southeast Asia to receive the ERAS (Enhanced recovery after surgery) certification. The programme offers enormous benefits to various healthcare fields, including oncology, gynaecology and gastroenterology. This is in line with the increasing application of technology in healthcare, which is helping doctors and multi-disciplinary surgeons widen their borders of study through evidence-based programmes.
Intas Pharma, Comera Life Sciences in research collaboration
Intas Pharmaceuticals announced a research collaboration with Comera Life Sciences, to develop a new generation of bio-innovative biologic medicines to improve patient access, safety, and convenience.Under the terms of the partnership agreement, Comera will develop a differentiated formulation of an Intas product using Comera’s innovative proprietary SQore formulation platform. Intas will initially provide research funding with the option to acquire global rights to the formulation through an exclusive license with responsibility for subsequent development and commercialisation.
Jubilant Ingrevia augments CDMO presence with Rs 270 Cr contract
Jubilant Ingrevia, a global integrated Life Science products and Innovative Solutions provider with over 42 years of experience offering over 165 products and innovative solutions using more than 35 key chemistry and technology platforms across its three portfolios of businesses viz Acetyls, Pyridines and Vitamins & Premixes, announced a CDMO contract for an estimated value of Rs 270 crore in specialty chemicals business, spanning for three years with one of its international customers, who are among the top 10 leading innovator pharmaceutical companies globally.
Cardinal Health announces new global capability centre in Bengaluru
Cardinal Health announced the launch of a new global capability centre (GCC) in Bengaluru – Cardinal Health International India (CHII). The new centre is positioned as a global hub for IT, augmented intelligence, product software engineering and business process management, building upon internal capabilities to support Cardinal Health’s growth through technology enablement. CHII marks a large investment by Cardinal Health to create a service and technology network that will enable scale across the enterprise. The CHII team in India will focus on bringing Cardinal Health’s mission and vision to life by being a hub of technology talent.
Navidea Biopharmaceuticals announced the regulatory approval of Lymphoaim by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. Tc99m tilmanocept is approved for imaging and intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph nodes draining a primary tumour in adult patients with breast cancer, melanoma, or localised squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. External imaging and intraoperative evaluation may be performed using a gamma detection device. Tc99m tilmanocept is designed for the precise identification of lymph nodes that drain from a primary tumour, which have the highest probability of harbouring cancer.
Fujifilm India completes installation of 50,000 medical devices in India
Fujifilm India, a leader in diagnostic imaging and medical system technology,
has completed the installation of 50,000 medical equipment devices in India. Passing the 50K milestone, the brand has also released a campaign video outlining the company’s deep focus on improving healthcare in the country and the importance of access to diagnostic services. The campaign, titled ‘#50K and Counting – Hitting the Milestone and Getting Healthier Together’, highlights Fujifilm’s achievements in the medical imaging and devices division, continuously working towards spreading awareness regarding healthier choices via timely detection of diseases. It also features testimonials from Fujifilm customers, commending the company’s products, after-sales support and a wide network.
Portea unveils mascot ‘Chiron’ the healthcare angel
Portea has unveiled its brand mascot ‘Chiron’, an angel who assures keeping all the health woes at bay for the users. Alongside the launch of Chiron, the first mascot of its kind in the country, Portea has also revamped its logo. It will now have the mascot in it. Chiron depicts a female doctor in a confident and ready-toact posture with her white coat fluttering in the air like a superhero’s cape.
Kotaro Suzuki joins OMRON Healthcare India as MD
OMRON Healthcare India has announced the appointment of Kotaro Suzuki as its new Managing Director. Before this assignment, Suzuki has served in numerous senior leadership roles including domestic and overseas sales, corporate strategy planning, and product planning, across varied geographies during his more than 25-years long association with the healthcare business division of OMRON.
Neuberg Diagnostics launches 14 centres in Chennai
Neuberg Diagnostics has launched 14 Neuberg Advanced & Affordable Diagnostics & Health Checkup Centres in Chennai, with a pipeline of 100 such centres to come up in this financial year. The new business segment will make diagnostics affordable and accessible to one and all. Services offered will include blood tests, X-rays, ECG and Ultrasound Scans, health checkups, and home sample collection. For this and other expansion initiatives in Tamil Nadu, the company has committed to invest Rs. 200 crores in FY2022-23.
HCG Cancer Hospital launches Microsoft HoloLens 2 to enhance patient experience
Healthcare Global Enterprises (HCG) has launched the country’s first Extended Reality Lab using the innovative Microsoft HoloLens 2 at the HCG Cancer Hospital Bengaluru. This Mixed Reality technology leverages HCG’s proven experience and expertise in providing precision health services.By HoloLens 2, HCG’s specialist doctors of hub centres in metro cities will share their expertise with surgeons working in Tier-II cities. By empowering healthcare teams to work independently, HoloLens 2 is reducing time-to-care for patients.
TB hospital to be set up in Ambala for Rs 54.38 Cr
A state-of-the-art five-storey hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis will be set up in Ambala, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said. The hospital, which will also have facilities to treat chest and heart-related diseases, will be set up for Rs 54.38 crore, he said. Vij said the 100-bed TB hospital would be the only hospital of its kind in north India, besides a dedicated facility for the disease in Delhi. Gaurav Mathur
HealthPlix Technologies announced the appointment of a technology leader Gaurav Mathur as the Head of Engineering. In his new role, Mathur will directly report to Sandeep Gudibanda, CEO, HealthPlix Technologies. He will be responsible for leading, scaling the current engineering team, and spearheading new engineering efforts to build next-generation clinical decision support systems and doctor first solutions. Mathur was leading the Global Customer Learning Experience charter at Byju’s, where he managed multiple geographies including India, the US, Latin America, and Australia.
Pharma cos launch precision cancer consortium
The Precision Cancer Consortium (PCC) has announced its formation as a new collaboration of pharmaceutical companies with a shared vision of enabling access to comprehensive testing for all cancer patients globally. The PCC will drive a variety of initiatives aimed at increasing patient access to precision diagnostics using comprehensive genomic testing, including next-generation sequencing (NGS). The PCC’s founding members are Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, and Roche.
The multispeciality hospital in Ranchi Paras Healthcare launches multi-speciality hospital in Ranchi
Paras Healthcare announced the launch of the largest multi-speciality hospital in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The hospital has begun its operations with 170 beds along with 40 ICU beds and five state-of-the-art operation theatres, as of now. However, the capacity will be increased to 300 beds, 100 ICU beds and seven operation theatres soon. The hospital has been named Paras HEC Hospital and will have all clinical specialities under one roof. Paras Healthcare is also expected to expand in states like Ludhiana, Meerut, Jammu and Kanpur.
Venkaiah Naidu releases Smile Designing book authored by dentist Dr MS Gowd
Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, released a book Smile Designing authored by dental surgeon Prof Dr MS Gowd, who has been bestowed with the prestigious Fellow of International College of Prosthodontists, at the Vice President’s residence in Hyderabad. The book is a comprehensive overview of dental and oral care, is a treasure trove of information on the latest advances in dentistry, painless treatment through Laser therapy, invisible braces, teeth correction, closing gaps, orthodontic treatment, child’s teeth, teeth whitening, black gums, teeth jewellery, fracture teeth and repair and discoloured teeth.
Glenmark Specialty bags DCGI approval for Phase 1 trial novel molecule GRC 54276
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced that its subsidiary Glenmark Specialty SA (Glenmark) received approval from the Indian drug regulator, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial of its novel small-molecule, GRC 54276, a hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) inhibitor.GRC 54276 is one of the many novel molecules from Glenmark’s resident, Innovative Medicines Group, headed by Dr Nikhil Amin, Chief Scientific Officer, specialising in the development of novel molecular entities for critical unmet medical needs. HPK1 is a key regulator of T cell, B cell and dendritic cell-mediated immune responses, which improves antitumour immunity by activating and priming T cells.
Intuitive launches My Intuitive App
Intuitve, a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery, announced that its India arm has launched its My Intuitive App (MIA), a unique platform for surgeons using da Vinci surgical systems in India.The My Intuitive App is a single point of access for surgeons and it makes surgery data discoverable and actionable. My Intuitive App captures surgeons’ ergonomic preferences, timelines for cases and instruments used.
Ziqitza Healthcare launches 112 ERV in Odisha, 104 Helpline in Chhattisgarh
Ziqitza Healthcare has successfully deployed 61 ERV out of 106 numbers of 112 emergency response vehicles in the first phase in Odisha and 104 Health Helpline Services in Chhattisgarh. Ziqitza won these contracts through a competitive bid process.
These new 112 emergency response vehicles will act in similar lines to that of a PCR van. But to manage the tasks more efficiently these new vans have been equipped with modern systems such as GIS and GPS. This new service aims to address the distress calls by the citizens in a more coordinated manner.
MaxiVision to infuse Rs 300 crore for JVs
MaxiVision Eye Hospitals has announced aggressive expansion plans to neighbouring states, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat. The group had planned its expansion plan in the year 2020 itself, which was slowed
Chairman MaxiVision group of eye hospitals addressing the media down due to the pandemic and uncertainty in the market. Last financial year 21/22, despite the pullback due to the second and third wave of COVID-19, which hit five months of operations, the group posted close to Rs 200-crore revenue, from 21 eye care centres.
MedGenome launches VarMiner
MedGenome Labs has developed and launched VarMiner, an AI-enabled powerful variant interpretation software suite. This proprietary software will help clinicians, molecular geneticists, and Genome analysts to interpret and report actionable variants. VarMiner is powered by unique proprietary tools and databases to provide deeper insights into genetics with extreme accuracy and efficiency.
India Health Link ties up with U GRO Capital
India Health Link (IHL), a digital health and medical device start-up, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with U GRO Capital, a listed MSME lending fintech platform to expand the deployment of their first-ofits-kind human-centric phygital healthcare ecosystem, and to strengthen the humancentric preventive health screening ecosystem and to expand its footprint in India.
Akums acquires Ankur Drugs’ plant in Himachal Pradesh
Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals has recently acquired a facility from Ankur Drugs and Pharmaceuticals. With this acquisition Akums’ will boost its production capacities for general oral tablets and oral liquids. The planned capacities of the new facility are six billion units of tablets and 90 million units of oral liquids per annum. This facility is most likely to be fully operational by the end of 2022.
Sankalp Life Care in pact with Vaishali Pharma
Ahmedabad-based Sankalp Life Care, a leading manufacturer of nutraceuticals, and Mumbai-headquartered Vaishali Pharma, a leading manufacturer and exporter of pharma formulations, have come together to form a unique partnership that will help both companies grow faster. As per the agreement between the two companies, NSE-listed Vaishali Pharma will take over the entire domestic and international marketing of Sankalp Life Care’s portfolio of nutraceutical products.
Bayer to set up 27 telemedicine centres across eight states
Bayer will be setting up 27 telemedicine centres in 12 districts across eight states in India over the next two years, through Bayer Foundation India. The centres will be set up in partnership with RxDx Healthcare and Piramal Swasthya, the public health arm of Piramal Foundation. The key objectives of this endeavour are to establish a telehealth facility in the identified states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh to provide complete healthcare solutions via telehealth and conduct training and awareness sessions on health, hygiene and nutrition. In addition, medical camps will be conducted at regular intervals to create awareness on specific health aspects like breast cancer, diabetes, dermatology.
Mylab to foray into routine lab testing equipment and reagent biz
Mylab Discovery Solutions announced its plans to launch an entire range of routine diagnostic kits and devices in conventional and POCT format. It will include the devices and kits for three major subsegments of the market – immunology, biochemistry and haematology. This will nearly complete the company’s portfolio for diagnostics laboratories which until now included molecular (RT-PCR) test kits and devices and rapid/self-tests.
Launch of Skill For Scale’ prog for nurses
India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre launch ‘Skill For Scale’ prog for nurses
India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre, a collaboration between the Swedish Trade Commissioner’s Office, AIIMS New Delhi and AIIMS Jodhpur, launched ‘Skill For Scale’, an e-learning initiative designed to equip nurses with hands-on practical knowledge and skills to practice the latest patient care for managing non-communicable diseases. The programme is certified by AIIMS Jodhpur and is endorsed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will allow nurses from across the country to register for free, and learn at their own pace.
Metropolis Healthcare opens centre in Puducherry
Metropolis Healthcare has launched an advanced diagnostic testing centre in Puducherry. The 1250 sq ft laboratory can conduct around 500 sample testing per day with a quick turnaround time and high-quality reports. Metropolis Laboratory, Puducherry will offer different tests ranging from basic day-to-day pathology tests to high-end molecular diagnostics tests at reasonable rates. The new laboratory is located at Lister Metropolis, no.141, Lal Bahadur Shastri Street, (Bussy Street). (Pressure Swing Adsorption) plant will be a necessity to further strengthen the health infrastructure of Delhi, which is gearing up to ensure Qualitative medical facilities and make it accessible to the people of Delhi.
Hitachi India has collaborated with Vimhans Nayati Super Specialty Hospital and set up an oxygen plant of 150nm3 (cube) capacity on the premises of the hospital in Delhi. The partnership will strive to ensure that the citizens of India get immediate access to oxygen. The plant will achieve a 97 per cent level of O2 purity, conforming to the industry standards, and offering the best facility to patients. The O2 PSA
NHA releases consultation paper on provider payments, price setting under and Price Setting under AB PM-JAY
The National Health Authority (NHA) released a consultation paper on the Provider Payments and Price Setting under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The consultation paper provides a global overview of the different provider payment systems which are used in various insurance schemes. The paper also presents a detailed description of how the providers are reimbursed. Secondly, the paper discusses the use of cost evidence for price-setting under PMJAY. It presents an analysis of the heterogeneity in the cost of providing healthcare according to various hospital characteristics and discusses a framework for determining differential case-based payments to hospitals.
Odisha CM inaugurates Apollo Cancer Centre in Bhubaneswar
Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Apollo Cancer Centre (ACC) in Bhubaneswar. Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, has built the state-of-theart Cancer Centre on the same premises with a built-up area of 50,000 sqft. It is the first and only cancer centre in Odisha to be equipped with True Beam STx technology. The Centre is equipped with Odisha’s first and only cutting-edge Linear Accelerator (HD-True Beam STx) technology and, internationally acclaimed oncologists in all specialities. The True Beam STx which is the most advanced Linear Accelerator radiation machine offers the most precise radiation therapy treatment for a better outcome. The centre has sophisticated Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET CT). The 64 slice PET CT machine is equipped with all modern facilities to do every type of PET CT including PET guided biopsies.
SonoScape receives FDA 510(k) clearance for HD550 Endoscopy system
SonoScape announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its flagship video endoscopy system HD550 for gastrointestinal diagnosis, setting up a major milestone on SonoScape’s Endoscopic product roadmap.Paired with a 4-LED light source, which supports 1080P high definition, the HD-550 endoscopy system enables multi-spectrum and multimode. Adding to the high-performing white-light mode, its chromoendoscopy SFI (Spectral Focused Imaging) and VIST (Versatile Intelligent Staining Technology) light modes enhance vascular and mucosal colour contrast.
Manipal HealthMap, a leading integrated diagnostic service provider in India, announced the acquisition of Hyderabadbased Medcis Pathlabs in an all-cash deal for a majority stake. With this deal, Manipal HealthMap expands its footprint to 19 additional centres which takes the total number to 60 centres across 14 states, strengthening its position as a major integrated diagnostic services brand.Through this acquisition, Manipal HealthMap will have access to additional 19 laboratories, including one NABL accredited central laboratory (based in Hyderabad).
AIG Hospitals launches wellness centre
AIG Hospitals’ added an entire segment of Preventive Healthcare under the AIG Wellness Centre which got inaugurated by Harish Rao, Health Minister, Telangana. This centre is one-of-its-kind in India – and aims to redefine Preventive Healthcare by introducing precision and personalised medicine to its services.The centre offers personalised health packages, each of them designed for both men and women exclusively, including both essential and advanced investigations.
Rodolfo Hrosz joins Sanofi India as MD
Sanofi India Limited (SIL)’s Board of Directors has appointed Rodolfo Hrosz as the company’s new Managing Director with effect from June 1, 2022, subject to regulatory approvals. He will transition
Rodolfo Hrosz
from being Sanofi’s General Manager, Consumer Healthcare business in Brazil to his new role in India as soon as the applicable regulatory approvals are in place.
Mankind Pharma unveils pregnancy detection test kit in India
Mankind Pharma’s pregnancy test kit brand has launched a new and advanced pregnancy detection test kit for the Indian market. With the launch of Prega News Advance it strives to continually provide advanced testing solutions for confirming the pregnancy. Prega News advance is a single-step pregnancy test device that does not require the collection of urine in a dropper or a container, making it the easiest and most convenient method to test pregnancy at home. It is an easy to grip mid-stream test device used under urine stream directly while the absorbent tip of the device without the use of a dropper collects the sample and readily provides accurate results in just three minutes.
Pristyn Care launches integrated mobile app
Pristyn Care, a Gurgaon-based healthcare unicorn, launched state-of-the-art integrated app. The embedded locationbased filtering works on a discovery database. This assists users in effortlessly finding the most easily accessible doctor/ surgeon for free in-clinic or online consultation. The app uses the latest frameworks and architecture for an intuitive interface that complements the visual design and easy usability. It is also packed with additional features like downloading CoWIN Vaccination Certificate, and scheduling COVID vaccine shots for boosters as well as the 12 and above age groups. It also has the feature of creating ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) card instantly.
Launch of integrated centre of excellence in diagnostics at Safdarjung Development Area
Mahajan Imaging has forayed into precision and personalised medicine by launching an integrated centre of excellence in diagnostics at Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi. The new centre combines state-of-the-art technology in medical imaging with a full-fledged pathology and genomics lab as well as an R&D department and an AI startup.Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu delivered the inaugural address at the launch of the new centre.
US-based Feedback Medical launches service in Odisha hospital
UK-based Feedback Medical announces that its cloud TB screening service is now live at the Evangelical Hospital Khariar in Odisha with its innovative Bleepa Box, enabling remote image transfer, part of the broader Bleepa communications platform. The pilot project was announced just after World Tuberculosis Day (24 March 2022) on the sidelines of the 74th National Annual Conference of the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA).
TabletWise.net launches multilingual medicine websites in India
TabletWise.net, a leading health information website, announced the launch of India’s largest consumer medicine websites in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.TabletWise.net provides trustworthy information on uses, composition, and side effects for over 4 lakh commonly used medicines on a global basis. Now consumers can access critical, easy-to-read, and up-to-date information on medicinal uses, side effects, dosage, and more, in Hindi (https://www.दवा.net), Tamil (https://www.மருந்து.com), and Telugu (https://www.వైద్యం.com).
Financial Toxicity
Impact on Older Adults with Advanced Cancer
Dr Arpan Ashok Patel, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a devastating blow. Although patients should be focusing on their treatment, their thoughts often turn to finances, especially if they are without insurance or are not eligible for government support. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly one-third of families in the US reported having financial burdens related to healthcare costs. Moreover, around 10 per cent had medical bills that they were unable to pay. Cancer is one of the most expensive diseases to treat. Treatment costs are much more likely to be patientfunded than for other chronic diseases. After receiving a diagnosis, out of pocket medical expenses can increase exponentially up to tens of thousands of dollars. Even those with Medicare, an American government healthcare plan for the elderly, are likely to experience high out of pocket expenses for cancer treatment, especially if they do not have any supplementary insurance. A recent study revealed that
one in every ten cancer patients with Medicare pays expenses that equate to 60 per cent of their household income. Patients with private insurance may also experience additional costs due to being underinsured or exceeding the cover threshold.
The intensive and lengthy nature of treatments such as chemotherapy may lead to cancer patients losing their employment. Without a regular income, patients may have to resort to withdrawing retirement funds, selling their homes or even filing for bankruptcy. Sometimes, patients question if they will be able to afford to continue treatment. This adds extreme emotional stress on top of the physical stresses endured throughout their treatment journey. What is Financial Toxicity?
Financial toxicity refers to the monetary burden of paying for cancer care costs and the negative impact of this on patient financial stability. Although the impact of financial toxicity upon cancer survivors has not been widely researched, in 2014, a large-scale study reported that almost half of cancer patients taking part were having difficulties living on their household income. Furthermore, those with a high financial burden were likely to be experiencing a poorer quality of life.
We should not overlook the impact of the financial strain upon cancer patients. I have witnessed first-hand the relationships between patient distress, financial toxicities and quality of life when treating complex illnesses. Recently, I was involved in research focusing on the impact of financial toxicity upon older adults with advanced cancer.
Older and more advanced patients
Older adults are likely to face a different set of pressures than those younger patients. The main source of income is typically either from the government or from private retirement savings (which may be in the form of a pension). In the US, all over 65s are entitled to Medicare. However, this government financial assistance does not cover all healthcare expenditures, meaning patients have to make up potential shortfalls out of their own pockets. Cancer is also more prevalent in this age group, and the rate of prevalence in older adults is growing. Indeed, the worldwide cancer diagnosis amongst over 65s is predicted to double by 2035.
Previous research has identified two key and important themes concerning financial toxicity amongst older adults. The first is that patients who report financial toxicity are more likely to have a lower health-related quality of life. The second is that patients often wish to discuss treatment expenses with their oncologists but these conversations rarely take place due to healthcare providers’ discomfort.
The research was focussed on the experiences of older and more at-risk cancer patients. It was aimed to assess the prevalence of financial toxicity in
older advanced cancer patients and to examine the relationship between financial toxicity and health-related quality of life. In addition, we wanted to understand the financial conversations between these patients and their oncologists. Ascertaining the prevalence of financial toxicity
Questions about the financial hardship were asked to ascertain whether patients met the criteria for financial toxicity. The main questions asked were about treatment delays due to financial issues and levels of income for food and housing, as well as for clothing, medicine, repairs to the house and transport. The researchers found that almost 20 per cent of patients over the age of 70 with advanced cancer had experienced financial toxicity. The data also suggested this was more likely to be experienced by those who were female, Black/African American, single, had a lower average household income, had a lower level of education, were not employed and whose health costs were covered by Medicare alone.
Healthcare providers must use screening tools to assess if patients are at risk of financial toxicity. If validated, even the simple financial hardship questions used in this study could be an effective way of identifying the most at-risk patients. Assessing health-related quality of life
As part of the study, patients also undertook various assessments to measure their health-related quality of life. These assessments examined how a person’s physical, mental, emotional and social functioning affected their health, comfort and ability to participate in or enjoy life events. It was found that patients with financial toxicity were likely to report higher levels of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and distress. In line with previous research, it was also found that in this high-risk group, those with financial toxicity were more likely to have a poorer health-related quality of life.
The importance of cost conversations
A unique part of the study was that at least one clinic visit between the oncologist and the patient was audio recorded. These recordings revealed that only 50 per cent of patients experiencing financial toxicity had a conversation about costs or finances. Previous research has suggested that around 80 per cent of patients wish to
have this kind of conversation, indicating a gap between what the patient desires and practices. Why might this disparity exist? Both parties may be reluctant to bring up the subject of cost. For patients, there is the potential embarrassment of acknowledging they cannot afford treatment while oncologists may not feel comfortable discussing this topic.
When the researchers examined the content of these conversations, four main themes emerged. The first was the cost of care, which was mainly initiated by the patient or caregiver. The second was about the patients’ ability to continue to work or provide for their household with these costs. The third was typically initiated by the oncologist and focussed on the patient's ability to afford care. The final theme was about costs that were not treatment-related.
Shockingly, almost 12 per cent of oncologists dismissed cost conversations when patients or caregivers raised them. However, in the majority of cases, oncologists did offer interventions or signposts to other resources that would be able to help the patient. Dr Patel and his colleagues are keen to emphasise that direct discussions around cost can help prevent financial toxicity. These discussions can allow oncologists to share knowledge about external resources that can provide support, such as social workers, financial advisors, support groups, charities and co-pay assistance.
Addressing financial toxicity at the policy level
The findings shine an important light on the extent to which older and more advanced cancer patients are experiencing financial toxicity and the negative impact this can have. Importantly, it has been identified that there is a clear need for proper screening tools that can identify patients who are at high risk of financial toxicity. Furthermore, it can be noted that there is currently no routine training for healthcare providers and no standardised approach between organisations. The policy change is needed to ensure interventions relating to financial toxicity occur at a national level. Critically, the lack of adequate assessment, particularly in older people with advanced cancer, means that they cannot receive appropriate referrals to support.
REFERENCE: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA760 This article originally appeared in Scientia.
Ahigh paying role with a prestigious title in medicine is no longer enough. It’s not enough in many ways. The path of throwing yourself into research and digging through constant daily business challenges as an entrepreneur in the health space isn’t for everyone either. Impact investing has become not only an answer, but an essential part of the solution for many of these things which gnaw at the back of your mind, and cause friction like a grain of sand in an oyster. When a medical degree isn’t enough
It used to be that finishing a medical degree and your residency was the pinnacle of achievement. It was often the apex of accomplishment for a whole family and generations to see one member make it as a doctor. The finances were great too. You’d be set. You’d be living out your maximum potential and impact. That may not be the case today.
You may be making over $300,000 a year, with plenty of perks. Despite the many frustrations of the system, you may find fulfilment in what you do. There are probably plenty of gaps and voids.
Are you really on track to where you need to be financial? Do you have enough discretionary time? Are you making an impact anywhere close to your full potential? The average physician just isn’t making enough, saving enough, and investing well enough to build real wealth and confidence in a stable financial future. They are continually dealing with inefficiencies every day. There is so much that could be done to impact the world for the better.
The need to invest better
As Grant Cardone says, being a millionaire is no longer an accomplishment. In fact, via Instagram, he calls it an insult. It’s barely middle class. It is not a badge of achievement for a lifetime of work. As I’ve discussed in Forbes, for medical professionals to be able to retire, retire well and have peace of mind about their future and legacy, they need to be thinking at least $5M and $10M big. It takes money to have a significant impact today too. Those that have made some of the biggest contributions to technological advancements, healthcare, and philanthropic efforts
are also our most notable investors and entrepreneurs. When you think about Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates, they’ve not only amassed the most billions but have each given tens of billions of dollars too. You’re not going to Mars, curing cancer, solving the water or food crisis, or making leaps in preventative and affordable healthcare without significant private investments.
Traditional stock market investing, bonds and 401ks and bank accounts continue to set up even high-income earners like medical professionals for disaster. We need multiple streams of income, tax-smart investments, and rocketship growth potential in our portfolios.
More than ever, we need to be doing good with our money. If not to be in alignment with our values, but because other investments are increasingly coming under fire from new regulations and peer pressure in our evolving culture. According to Barron's, impact investing has become as profitable if not even more so than those not striving to be socially conscious.
Barron’s reports the aggregate compound yearly gains for impact investing funds at 13 per cent. Market Watch and Morningstar say that is as high as over 19 per cent and have rated half of the social impact funds with at least a ten-year track record among the top 35 per cent of fund performers. Making a difference at the scale
There is only so much you can do as an individual physician. Even if you have a good-sized team in a specialised practice or top hospital, your impact and reach are limited by the patients you can touch. You may have one of the most critical roles in the world. You may be saving lives every day, but you can only save so many. You can only
physically practice and be in surgery for so long. Such was the story of Saeju Jeong, whose doctor father told him to go into entrepreneurship instead of following in his footsteps. Saeju has since raised $100M for a health tech app from some of the most notable VClevel investors.
Today’s connectedness means that new inventions and improvements in efficiency can be rolled out on a scale of billions of people, but it takes entrepreneurs willing to eat ramen for a long time, hear many rejections, and capital to fund them. Do what you love and were born to do
There are entrepreneurs dramatically changing the technology used in medicine, the DNA of the healthcare insurance space, and efficiencies in delivering care. That side of creating change isn’t for everyone. It can be gruelling. Some thrive on it; most don’t.
Do what you love and were born to do. Work in your zone, whether that is as a health tech entrepreneur, CEO, business owner, doctor, or nurse. Then multiply your impact while securing your financial future through impact investing. How to Do It?
One way to do this is as an angel investor. You can try to do it alone. It’s tough and very demanding on your time. You have to evaluate thousands of pitches and opportunities to pick a winner or two. You have to complete thorough due diligence and continue to advise your investments. This can be a major time drain and require experience on the business side of things you don’t have. You may have to help them raise hundreds of millions of dollars to
see the venture through and get your capital back.
The other option is to work with systems and organisations that already have this down to a science, such as the Investor Network. They pool capital from other accredited investors, create the financial power to push things forward and make them work, and have top-level advisors and connections to handle the business side. You put in your capital, you get the rewards financially, and knowing you helped make something happen at scale, while they do the hard work for you.
Source: White Paper: Life Science Impact Investing and the Physician Entrepreneur, VIC Investor Network Partner.
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Monsoon and Vector-Borne Diseases – What Lies Ahead?
Jatin Mahajan, MD, J Mitra & Co talks about the precautions to be taken during monsoon and to avoid vector-borne diseases
Jatin Mahajan, MD, J Mitra & Co
June heralds the arrival of monsoon, weather changes, and the cool breeze and drops of rainwater become a soothing delight. But the monsoon season also marks some of the deadliest diseases, especially in the tropical and sub-tropical countries like India – malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, Zika and others. These vector-borne diseases are human illnesses caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria. Over 700,000 deaths occur every year on account of vector-borne conditions. This is around 17 per cent of all infectious diseases worldwide, as per WHO reports.
Malaria infection is transmitted by the Anopheline mosquitoes, resulting in over 400,000 deaths every year, primarily in the under-five years' age category. Dengue is the most active viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, with 40,000 deaths every year.
The outbreak of these diseases is highest in tropical and subtropical areas, and they disproportionately affect the poorest populations. Since 2014, significant epidemics of dengue, malaria, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika have afflicted people, claimed precious lives, and burdened health systems in many countries. Symptoms and efficacy
Fever, lethargy, headache, and breathing difficulty are signs of malaria and dengue fever. They can both cause moderate upper respiratory troubles to more critical outcomes.
Various symptoms of these vectorborne diseases are similar to COVID-19. is likely to put a lot of strain on the healthcare mechanism across the world. Every single case of malaria, dengue, and chikungunya will automatically result in a COVID-19 scare. Patients and attendants are likely to overreact, panic, and throng hospitals and diagnostic centres for tests, treatments, and isolation. COVID-19 infection is more likely in patients with malaria and dengue since pre-existing malarial anaemia can result in insufficient tissue oxygen levels- even a slight decrease in oxygen interferes with a person's coping ability with covid co-infection.
Besides, both malaria and dengue cause the blood to clot, raising the risk of pulmonary thrombosis and inflammatory cytokines, which can be fatal in patients with covid.
Prevention
Many vector-borne diseases are preventable through protective measures and community mobilisation. However, behavioural change is a crucial element in reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases. Organizations like the National Centre for VectorBorne Diseases Control (NVBDCP), National Health Mission, and the WHO focus on providing education and improving public awareness. As a result, understanding ways and means to protect themselves and their communities from mosquitoes, ticks, bugs, flies, and other vectors are now more readily available.
Access to water and sanitation is essential in disease control and elimination. Therefore, multiple organisations and entities are working together with different government sectors to improve water storage and sanitation, thereby helping to control these diseases at the community level.
Healthy and safe practices for an infection-free monsoon include
• Wearing long-sleeve clothes and keeping the body covered
• Use of insect repellents on the exposed portions of the body
• Carrying additional face masks. Wet masks don't protect us from germs and bacteria.
• Carry water bottles to ensure safe drinking water
• Keep yourself hydrated - drink only boiled water
• Keep the immune system strong through a balanced diet
• Consume freshly-washed, boiled vegetables, reduce your intake of fats, oils, and sodium, and avoid dairy products as they can contain microorganisms that are harmful to your health.
Detection and treatment
Various IVD tests are available for quick and efficient testing for these vectorborne diseases. These tests can even be conducted in rural and resourcescarce settings, with results available within minutes. These tests are highly reliable, fast, and convenient. And thus, testing becomes the absolute first line of defence against these diseases. At the first sign of illness and relevant symptoms, steps should be taken to conduct these tests. of time since some of these vectorborne diseases may even have fatal consequences.
India is in a significantly advanced stage of vector-borne disease management. Of the six primary vector-borne diseases, malaria, kala-azar, and Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) are in elimination mode. Malaria is targeted to be eliminated in phases, starting from 2020 to 2030. The cases of dengue and chikungunya are increasing spatially as well as temporally.
All confirmed patients must be provided immediate necessary and remedial medical attention without loss Let us prepare ourselves to counter the threat correctly and in time with minimal casualties.
CT Scanner India Market & Trends
A CT scan or computed tomography scan (formerly known as computed axial tomography or CAT scan) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology (X-ray) to obtain detailed internal images of the body non-invasively for diagnostic purposes. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers or radiology technologists.
IMT News Desk
Since its development in the 1970s, CT has proven to be a versatile imaging technique. While CT is mostly used in diagnostic medicine, it also may be used to form images of non-living objects. The 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to South African-American physicist Allan M Cormack and British electrical engineer Godfrey N Hounsfield for developing computer-assisted tomography. How does it work?
and a row of detectors placed in the gantry to measure X-ray attenuations by different tissues inside the body. The multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles are then processed on a computer using reconstruction algorithms to produce tomographic (cross-sectional) images (virtual slices) of a body. The use of ionising radiation sometimes restricts its use owing to its adverse effects. However, CT can be used in patients with metallic implants or pacemakers, for whom MRI is contraindicated. Who invented it?
Godfrey Hounsfield, a biomedical engineer contributed enormously towards the diagnosis of neurological and other disorders by virtue of his invention of the computed axial tomography scan for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1979. Working for the Electrical and Musical Industry (EMI) and in collaboration with two radiologists, James Ambrose and Louis Kreel, he introduced the use of this machine in 1971 at the Atkinson Morley's Hospital in Wimbledon. He continued to improve the quality of the device and the human head was scanned for the first time in 1972. He continued his work on imaging of the human body and was later concentrated on the next step in diagnostic radiology namely, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI. First use in India
The dawn of the CT Scan era in India dates to September 30, 2002, with the inauguration of the 16-mega-electronvolt (MeV) hospital cyclotron facility and BGO -based full-ring dedicated PET scanner at the Radiation Medicine Center (Bhabha Atomic Research Center) situated at the Tata Memorial Center in Mumbai. This BGO-based fullring dedicated stand-alone PET scanner still remains the only one of its kind in the country, according to NCBI. Current utilisation
Market in India- Indian Imaging market is growing at a 14 per cent CAGR and is pegged at $650 million, according to data from RedSeer. MRI & CT Scan account for almost 50 per cent of this.
Major players operating in the India diagnostic imaging market include Wipro GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, Allengers Medical Systems, Erbis Engineering Co, Samsung Electronics SIEL, Philips India, Olympus Medical Systems India, Fujifilm Medical Systems India, Carestream Health India, Shimadzu Medical (India) and others. Future
The India diagnostic imaging market is driven by the increasing expenditure by the government on the development of healthcare facilities. The total expenditure on healthcare in India is around 3.6 per cent of the country’s GDP. The per capita government spending also increased and has led to the development and improvement of the healthcare infrastructure in the country. Furthermore, the penetration of large hospital chains across the country is expected to fuel the market growth through FY2026. There are about 3000 scanners throughout India and the potential of this modality is so high that in the next 10 years. India has not lagged behind in acquiring the latest technologies in CT scan. Now, multi detector CT scanners are commonly seen in use and 64- and 128-slice scanners have become a reality. Indications for CT scans are increasing by the day.
