Think India Foundation

'CCI scrutiny of foreign takeovers may not be effective'

New Delhi : Ministry of corporate affairs is exploring possibilities of amending the Competition Act to exempt deals in the sector from the current turnover and deal size thresholds

The government’s attempt to strike a balance between public health concerns and need for foreign direct investments (FDI) by empowering the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to monitor all foreign takeovers of Indian drug firms may have no impact. Experts feel all domestic takeovers, irrespective of the turnover, deal size or the status of the acquirer, need to be brought under strict scrutiny. Read more

Source : business-standard.com

“Cardiovascular diseases a major threat”

CHENNAI : Seventh MDRF-UAB Gold Medal Oration held

U.S. Consul General Jennifer McIntyre presents the 7th MDRF-UAB gold medal to cardiologist K. Srinath Reddy at a function in Chennai on Friday. MDRF president V. Mohan is in the picture. Photo: V. Ganesan

Conscious policy changes can make a radical difference to the health of the population of a country, said K. Srinath Reddy, cardiologist and president, Public Health Foundation of India.

Delivering the seventh MDRF-UAB Gold Medal Oration organised by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation on Friday, Dr. Reddy said cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major development threat to India. According to him, changing habits, sedentary lifestyles and inattention to changing healthcare policies to suit the need of the hour were pushing developing countries to the centre of epidemics such as diabetes and CVDs. In India, CVD is rising in both rural and urban areas. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

'25% elderly population depressed'

NEW DELHI: One in every four among India's elderly population is depressed, and one in three suffers from arthritis, while one in five cannot hear.

While one in three suffers from hypertension in rural India and one in two in urban areas, almost half have poor vision. Around one in 10 experiences a fall that results in fracture, while two in five are anemic. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Karnataka govt to introduce Ayush as mainstream treatment

Bangalore : Treatment based on Ayush(ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha andhomeopathy) may soon be available at taluk-level hospitals.

With yoga and naturopathy emerging as preventive cure for lifestyle diseases and ailments, the state government plans to introduce Ayush as mainstream treatment in all taluk hospitals in phases. Read more

Source : dnaindia.com 

Haryana to launch State Urban Health Mission

Chandigarh (PTI) : Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced a State Urban Health Mission would be launched to provide comprehensive health services particularly targeting the slum areas. The Chief Minister also announced that under the Indira Bal Swasthya Yojna (IBSY), free treatment would henceforth be provided to all children.

Earlier, free treatment was being provided to only children hailing from Below Poverty Line families, an official release said here. Hooda announced these decision while presiding over a meeting with senior officers of Health Department here. The State Urban Health Mission will seek to set up Urban Health Centres over a population of one lakh which would provide curative, promotive and preventive health services. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

Govt orders 6 hospitals to treat poor for free

NEW DELHI: The ministry of urban development has said in a recent order that charitable societies and trusts which got land at concessional rates to set up hospitals will have to provide free treatment to poor patients. 

The six hospitals named in the order include Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, St Stephen's Hospital, VIMHANS, Moolchand Hospital, Primus Ortho Hospital and Jessa Ram Hospital. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Who's who to attend summit on changing Bihar

PATNA: Top honchos of various fields are expected to attend the three-day Global Summit on Changing Bihar, scheduled to open here on February 17.

To be inaugurated by Nepal PM Baburam Bhattarai, the summit will be spread over various sessions and workshops on themes like agriculture, health, industries, urban development, infrastructure, finance, tourism, education and socio-cultural renaissance. It is being organized by Bihar Foundation, Institute for Human Development (IHD) and Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI). Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Govt to provide all facilities to Kashmiri migrants at Jagti

Jammu (Scoop News) – Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla has said that the Government would provided all facilities to Kashmiri migrants at Jagti like road connectivity, regular power supply, safe drinking water, healthcare, sanitation, education besides sports infrastructure.

This was stated by the Minister while interacting with Kashmiri migrants after assessing their development related problems during his tour to Jagti Migrant Township, here today. Read more

Source : groundreport.com

Childhood epilepsy higher than estimated in Chandigarh city

CHANDIGARH: Be it cyst in the brain, genetic, infections or birth associated brain injury, childhood epilepsy in Chandigarh has been found to be -- 6.24 per 1000 -- more than the estimates prevalent in the northern India. The previously reported prevalence rate per 1000 for childhood epilepsy in three studies from Indian subcontinent have been reported as; 5.4 in Haryana; 5.4 in Kerala and 22.2 in Calicut.

During the study period of one year, 3,684 children in the age group of 1-18 years, were screened, 1,825 in urban and 1,859 in rural areas of Chandigarh. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Northern region on bird flu alert

Three days after 37,000 pure-bred birds were culled at the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) of the country’s eastern region in Odisha, its northern counterpart is on high alert. The parent stock of poultry birds developed after 15-20 years of research at two prominent research centres of Odisha, CPDO and Orissa University of Agriculture Technology, were eliminated this week in a massive culling operation following detection of bird flu virus in villages of Khurda district.

The northern CPDO located in Chandigarh, which has developed pure line stock of 39,000 birds over 40 years of research has pressed the panic button and sought help from Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh Administration to keep the virus at bay. Catering to eight states and the union territory of Chandigarh in supply of parent stock - it was the first to introduce broilers and is the biggest breeder for quails and is also breeding exotic species such as emus, guinea fowls and turkeys - has started a biosafety drive right from its doorstep. It has restricted entry of vehicles into the farm, created an alternative route for trucks carrying bird feed and uses a sanitising spray on tyres of vehicles parked near its premises. Read more

Source : indianexpress.com

Is India well equipped to battle cancer?

Mumbai: Cricketer Yuvraj Singh's battle against cancer has put the spotlight once again on the disease that claims 20,000 lives a day worldwide. The question is whether India is well equipped to battle the world's biggest killer.

Diagnosed with germ cell cancer, cricketer Yuvraj Singh is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the United States. While it is a shocking news for his fans, but a cancer diagnosis in the 30s is not rare anymore. In fact, eight per cent of all cancers in India strike people under 35. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

Hypertension, diabetes rife in Ahmedabad: AMC survey

AHMEDABAD: The entrepreneur Amdavadi across various economic strata now shows chronic signs of being both stressed and diabetic. In one of the recent comprehensive medical camps run by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), for citizens across its urban health centers in the city, the civic body claims to have diagnosed 39% of the 70,000-odd patients who visited their clinics in the last four months as diabetic, with hypertension or suffering from both.

The patients that come to the civic body's urban health centers belong to different socio-economic backgrounds and are being profiled by the health department. The results of the tests conducted between September last year till January first week of this year show that 34,080 patients out of the 70,018 were diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or both. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Healthcare sector will offer enormous growth opportunities

There are plenty of investment opportunities in the healthcare technology space but most have long gestation cycles and challenging business models

I for one was glad when we bid 2011 goodbye. There was hardly anything to be positive about in the year gone by, what with a scam a day, the rupee at an all-time high and our gross domestic product (GDP) growing the slowest among the Bric (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries. However, we are off to a much better start this year with some key verdicts from the Supreme Court on the 2G case that has sent a strong message that even powerful politicians and top business houses are not above the law. Additionally, the judgement in favour of Vodafone in the capital gains tax case is a positive development.  

In my interactions with my global investor friends, I notice their faith in the Indian judicial system is renewed and they are slowly back to feeling cautiously optimistic about India. As Raghuram Rajan, professor of finance at Chicago University’s Booth School of Business and economic adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said at Davos last week, we need to aim for at least 8.5-9% GDP this year and only then will we end up with 7-7.5%. Read more

Source : livemint.com

Sunny side up

The global job market may be in a turmoil as the economic slowdown forces companies to downsize, but some sectors will buck the trend.

Even as thousands are losing their jobs worldwide on deteriorating economic condition, there is a reason to cheer. Recession or no recession, one may fall ill and, hence, will need a doctor. An economic slowdown or not, one still needs education. Like it or not, business trips will always be part of the corporate world, and, hence, you need hotels to check in and flights to make it to your destination. In other words, at a time when the world is ridden with uncertainty, it is important that job seekers try and choose those sectors that are resilient to economic upheavals. Read more

Source : educationtimes.com

Young and at risk

Detecting breast cancer in the young is difficult and that's bad news for India's under-35 patients.

It wasn't just Venezuela that mourned the death of Eva Ekvall on December 17 last year. The former Miss Venezuela was just 28 when breast cancer claimed her life, iterating to millions of women the risk the disease poses even to those below 35. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

30k birds to be culled in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: Around 30,000 poultry birds, including large number of precious ones used for breeding, would be killed in Bhubaneswar in the next few days, official sources said on Saturday.

The Union government ordered culling operations within a three-km radius from the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) farm near Kalinga Stadium. "Culling would start from Sunday. We are readying our personnel to do the job," said secretary, fisheries and animal resource development, Satyabrata Sahu. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

J&K govt set to check use of spurious medicines

Srinagar : At a time when spurious drugs and deteriorating position of State health sector has grown as a major concern, Jammu and Kashmir Government is set to implement its first ever drug policy to address long pending concerns in the key area.

Constitution of a State Drug Committee (SDC) for selection of Essential Drug List to rationalize use of medicines, adoption of recommendations by World Health Organization on list of drugs to be used, setting up of some new institutions under the policy and strengthening of the existing ones are some of the highlights of the policy. Read more

Source : greaterkashmir.com

Deathly friendship of bacteria and virus: TB-HIV co-infection

The clinical course and opportunistic infections of HIV vary from patient to patient and country to country. In India TB is a major opportunistic infection in people living with HIV (PLHIV), with over 35% PLHIV co-infected with TB-HIV. There is an estimated 3.52% faster progression to death if a PLHIV suffers from TB also.

Even today in India, two deaths occur every three minutes from TB. Major challenges to control TB in India include poor primary health-care infrastructure especially in rural areas; unregulated private health care leading to widespread irrational use of first-line and second-line anti-TB drugs, poverty, social stigma and lack of political will. Read more

Source : asiantribune.com

Hard to put a finger on malaria figures

The Chennai Corporation says malaria cases dropped in 2011 compared to the previous year, but public health experts say the disease is under-reported as private hospitals and doctors do not share data with authorities. A recent report in the medical journal, Lancet, said the number of malaria cases in India was 40 times higher than the government count.

Data with the civic body shows that there was a 5% drop in the number of malaria cases reported in 2011. "Last year, we reported 9,313 cases which may seem alarming, but is better than the 9,789 cases reported in 2010," said Dr G T Thangarajan, additional health officer. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

‘Younger generation more prone to cancer now’

Ahmedabad : Due to rapid changes in our lifestyle doctors in the city have observed an alarming and disturbing rise in the number of cancer affected patients, especially among the younger generation. On World Cancer Day, a reading of the statistics will verify the doctors' claim.

Says Dr Bhavesh Parekh, assistant professor at the Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI): "While males are affected with head, neck and oral cancers, females are affected by cervical and breast. Besides obesity, hypertension and diabetes, stress has emerged as the causative reason for it in the younger lot", Dr Parekh said. Read more

Source : dnaindia.com

Accent on preventing cancers that are induced by risky lifestyle

COIMBATORE : Call to avoid fast food and instead eat a lot of natural fruits and vegetables

February 4, observed as World Cancer Day, will see yet another attempt by cancer hospitals in the city to drive home the message of prevention and early detection. As in the previous years, this year too will see the medical fraternity making a fervent appeal against the use of tobacco in any form and against a lifestyle that makes the young and the old, including the women in the urban areas, more vulnerable to cancer. The focus is on prevention of cancers caused by lifestyle and early detection of those caused by genetic factors. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

Avian influenza detected in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: The bird flu virus has struck Bhubaneswar, spreading panic among dealers and consumers of poultry products here. The High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) of Indian Veterinary Research Institute ( IVRI) in Bhopal confirmed detection of the dreaded disease on Friday after testing samples sent by the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) here.

CDPO's farm is located behind the Kalinga Stadium in Nayapalli area in the heart of the city. "We have declared an area spread over three-km radius off the epicentre (the farm) as alert zone and ordered ban on movement of poultry birds or related products into the area or outside," commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Vishal Dev, told TOI. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Eat healthy, exercise to reduce chance of cancer, say docs

To commemorate International Cancer Awareness Day on February 4, Cancer Council of India (CCI) organised a lecture for the students and staff of Arya College for Boys, Civil Lines, Ludhiana. The key speaker of the event, and Executive Chairman of CCI Dr Devinder Singh Sandhu said, “Cancer is a preventable (to some extent) and treatable (to a large extent) disease.

Healthy food

Cure rate varies according to the stage and type of cancer. But a majority of cancer patients in India seek medical help only after the cancer has reached a very advanced level.” Read more

Source : indianexpress.com

End in sight for drain pain, MCG to visit site

Gurgaon : Despite the tall claims made by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) and forest department regarding the removal of muck from the DLF City Phase-4 drain, precious little has been done to clear the mess.  The drain is situated along a forest bund between the two culverts and Excelsior American School. The drain poses threat to public health as it may pollute groundwater. Besides, local residents have to put up with stench emanating from the nullah. 

MCG officials told Hindustan Times that they would issue notices to concerned departments after finding out the ownership of the land. The officials are not yet clear under whose jurisdiction the area falls. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

Cervical cancer kills 1 Indian every 7 minutes

MUMBAI: One woman dies every seven minutes of cervical cancer. Breast cancer claims one life every 10 minutes. In 2025, these cancers will kill one victim each in 4.6 and 6.2 minutes. 

The figures and projections are for India by Globocan 2008, a software prepared by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The software is updated every few years to help public health officials to prepare a battle plan against cancer. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Awareness key to beating breast cancer

In India, almost 80 percent of breast cancer patients are in an advanced stage when they come to a hospital, say doctors.

(Awareness key to beating breast cancer (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images))

Among the prime factors fuelling the disease in the country, especially among urban women, are fast-paced lives and delayed reproductive activity, they add. Read more

Source : articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

‘Cities are growing, but not facilities’

Bangalore : Cities are going to be the engines of growth for India, which is advancing faster than other countries, said DrIsher Ahluwalia, chairperson of High Powered Expert Committee on Urban Infrastructure.

“At present, 37.7 crore of the country's population lives in cities. By 2031, this number is expected to grow to 60 crore,” she said. Read more

Source : dnaindia.com

Agencies pass buck as Gurgaon drain raises a stink

Gurgaon : An open drain in the heart of the city, near Richmond Park and Garden Villa in DLF Phase-4, is posing a serious health hazard to residents. Reeking of muck and filth, the pool of stagnant water has become a garbage dumping site, including construction waste, raising serious ecological concerns. It used to be a natural drain flowing from Ghata village (in Aravalli hills) towards NH-8 along the forest bund. 

A portion of 500 metres of the drain has got landlocked between two culverts — one at Sector 27 and other at the entry gate of Excelsior American School — blocking the flow of water. Read more

Source : hindustantimes.com

Rajasthan sets target to bring down infant deaths to 30

JAIPUR: The target of bringing the infant mortality rate (IMR) down to 30 till 2017 is a daunting task for the state government. IMR is the number of deaths of babies under one year of age per 1,000 live births.

A lot has to be done in rural Rajasthan, where the IMR is still above 60, which is fourth highest in the entire country. In rural Rajasthan, 61 infant deaths happened per 1,000 births in 2010. But, in urban areas it is 31 per 1,000 live births, the latest Union health ministry data showed. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

India’s health indicators better under NRHM: IAP

New Delhi : The International Advisory Panel (IAP) on National Rural Health Mission today attributed better health indicators to work accomplished under various components of NRHM. 

This was stated by Prof Jeffery D Sachs of Earth Institute, Columbia, who headed the panel, and other experts who held meeting with the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and officials of the ministry here. Read more

Source : greaterkashmir.com 

Is India finally waking up to mental illness?

Ignorance, stigma and lack of doctors have long marred mental healthcare in India. But with stressful lifestyles and ever increasing cases of depression, this much neglected segment is now gaining importance in the country's medical scenario.  

Is India finally waking up to mental illness? (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

According to an estimate by the World Health Organisation (WHO), depression will become the second largest illness in terms of morbidity in another decade. It already affects one out of every five women and one in every 12 men. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

MP, UP, Odisha recorded the highest infant mortality despite National Infant Mortality Rate Reduced

New Delhi: MP, UP, Odisha recorded the highest infant mortality despite National Infant Mortality Rate Reduces. As per the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin, December 2011 released by the Registrar General of India (RGI), it is noted that  Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped further by  3 points from 50 to 47 infants deaths per 1000 live births during 2010.  The IMR for rural areas has dropped by 4 points from 55 to 51 infant deaths per 1000 live births while the Urban rate now stands at 31 from the previous 34/1000. 

State of Goa still has the lowest IMR of 10 infant deaths followed by Kerala with 13 infant deaths per 1000 live births (as against 12/1000 in January 2011 figures) – the Urban IMR in Kerala has however reduced to 10 against 11 of previous figures.  Madhya Pradesh has the highest IMR of 62/1000 followed by UP and Odisha with 61/1000 IMR. States/UTs of Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Meghalaya still have IMRs more than the national average of 47. Copy of December 2011 SRS bulletin is attached. Read more

Source : orissadiary.com

Maharashtra, Quebec join up to bridge healthcare divide

Maharashtra is planning to extend specialised medical services to villages through an Internet-based system in collaboration with the government of Quebec, a province in Canada.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday signed an agreement with Yves Bolduc, Quebec’s health and social services minister, on the collaborative project that will also include training nurses and paramedics in rural hospitals and primary health centres to use the system to expand healthcare services to the state’s vast rural hinterland. Read more

Source : livemint.com

Goa, Kerala best states in which to be born in India

NEW DELHI: Goa and Kerala seem to be the best place to be born in India, while Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha are the worst.  

According to the latest Union health ministry data, Goa recorded the lowest infant mortality rate - 10 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, followed by Kerala at 13.

According to the latest Union health ministry data, Goa recorded the lowest infant mortality rate - 10 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, followed by Kerala at 13. MP recorded the highest IMR at 62, followed by UP (61) and Odisha (61). Read more 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Bitten by mites, four scrub typhus fever cases in Pune city

PUNE: Four persons with fever, a rash over the body and muscle pain that refused to respond to routine antibiotics, were treated at three hospitals in the city a month ago. One of the patients had a black scar, like a cigarette burn, on his thigh. 

A blood test diagnosed them with scrub typhus fever,a type of mite-borne (rickettsial) infectious disease. Doctors said that one or two cases of rickettsial infections crop up in the city every month. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Poor data entry: Doctors told to tidy up in Bangalore

Bangalore : Studies showing alarming rate of deaths due to heart attacks are not accurate. This is because the doctors might have failed to diagnose the correct cause of death. In view of this, the office of the chief registrar of births and deaths and directorate of economics & statistics (DES) has organised a training workshop on cause of death medical certification.

HE Rajashekarappa, chief registrar, DES, said that the physicians attending to the deceased are not recording the cause of death in the medical certificate. Read more

Source : dnaindia.com

Sensible food choices

What's on your plate? Photo: Special Arrangement

Giving healthy food to their children is a constant concern for parents no matter what social status they belong to. But not all parents are aware of what constitutes healthy nutritious food. The Human Development Report (2009) prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported high rates of malnutrition among children in slums, and the urban elite. Malnutrition among slum children is not a surprise as they do not have access to nutritious food. This report highlighted the co-emergence of malnutrition and overnutrition where rich urban children eat excessive calorie rich but nutrient empty food (devoid of minerals and vitamins). Intake of palatably tasty but nutritiously poor fast foods, aerated drinks, foods high in trans fat, saturated fats and sugar (such as pizzas, burgers, sodas and colas, cakes and pastries, samosa, French fries) do not provide the necessary minerals and vitamins required for daily intake although they may provide the necessary calories. Obesity with micronutrient deficiency and protein energy malnutrition is on the rise among children and adolescents in urban India. Read more

Source : thehindu.com

'836 mn Indians burn biomass for energy'

Washington As many as 836 million Indians still rely on traditional biomass for energy, a report has said, even as the US claimed that India along with China would account for half of global energy consumption by 2035.

"The largest populations that rely on traditional biomass for energy are in the developing regions of Asia, with 836 million in India alone," said a new research published by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online publication. Read more

Source : expressindia.com

Vaccination Freedom from cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer or cancer of the cervix is one of the most common causes of cancer in India along with breast cancer. According to Dr Y Nalini, consultant radiation oncologist, Yashoda Hospital, Somajiguda, “cervical cancer cases which are found mostly in rural areas and also in urban areas may occur due to having many children, early marriage, deliveries at home and also due to lack of personal hygiene.”

Detect it

The common symptoms include white discharge, vaginal bleeding and bleeding between menstrual cycles. For the detection of cervical cancer Pap tests also known as Pap smear tests are suggested. Explains Dr Nalini, “These are screening tests. Many women may or may not have the symptoms of cervical cancer. These tests need to be conducted to find out if there is an infection that may cause the cancer. If after the first three years of regularly conducting the tests the results are still normal it can then be done less frequently. After the age of 40, women must undergo the test frequently.” Read more

Source : postnoon.com

India witnessing a shift towards lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity

Luis Cantarell, president and CEO of Nestlé Health Science South Africa concluded his short but intense visit in India yesterday. He reviewed and discussed plans for expansion into nutritional solutions for people with specific dietary needs not met through normal diets. These included dietary needs related to illnesses, disease states or the specific challenges of different life stages. He also met leading medical practitioners to better understand the health care needs in India.

Commenting on the potential for specialised nutritional products in India Luis Cantarell said, “Nestlé Health Sciences was created as a separate company to lead the development of a new industry between food and pharma not only to nourish the people who may be recovering from sickness but also products that focus on disease prevention. We believe that there is a significant existing need as well as an emerging need in India where we will play a major role with our expertise in food and science of nutrition. It is acknowledged that in India there is a significant shift towards lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity especially in the urban areas, and to explore better health care solutions for this, Nestlé India has already signed an MOU with the National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation [N-Doc]." Read more

Source : fnbnews.com

Bio-medical waste units to come up in Srinagar, Jammu

Jammu : Minister for Health, Horticulture & Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today convened a high-level meeting of officers to review the Action Plan of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for the year 2012-13.

Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education G. A. Peer, Mission Director, NRHM Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Director Health Services, Kashmir/Jammu, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Dr. Madhu Khullar, Director Family Welfare Dr. T.K.Moza and other officers of the NRHM and allied wings of the Health Ministry were present in the meeting. Read more

Source : greaterkashmir.com

Rs 496 cr for rural health plan in J&K

JAMMU : To upgrade health infrastructure and complete several ongoing projects, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has finalised a Rs 496.75-crore action plan for the National Rural Health Mission for the year 2012-13. Read more

Source : thehindubusinessline.com

CAG to audit NRHM scheme in 18 states

NEW DELHI: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has decided to audit the spending of all states under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme. 

After unearthing a Rs 5,754-crore NRHM scam in Uttar Pradesh, the CAG will conduct independent audits of the scheme in 17 other states to ascertain losses to the exchequer, if any. Read more

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Hunger and riches coexist in India

A national daily presented the other day two contrasting pictures of India. On its front page were the findings of a research indicating the extent of hunger and malnourishment in the country and in one of the inside pages was a report on the explosion on its roads with millions of private vehicles causing traffic jams in its urban centres. One wonders whether these contrasting pictures in a single edition of a daily have caught the attention of those who frame and implement the country’s economic policies. They show, if anything, the growing economic inequality in the country, which can directly be attributed to the policies pursued since economic liberalisation. The government has taken some initiatives to deal with the pervasive hunger and malnutrition but the measures that have been taken seem to have failed to yield the desired results. Read more

Source : groundreport.com

Nasscom: IT can improve healthcare in India

GURGAON: Information technology (IT) can make healthcare accessible and affordable to more people in the country, industry lobby the National Association of Software and Services Companies ( Nasscom) said here.  

Information technology (IT) can make healthcare accessible and affordable to more people in the country.

"IT can provide access to healthcare facilities. Also, it can have a positive impact on affordability and effectiveness of healthcare in India," Som Mittal, president of the IT-BPO sector apex body, said at the 'Health 2.0' conference here. Read more 

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com 

Leprosy cases on the rise in urban India

New Delhi: India has achieved a huge milestone in eradicating polio but when it comes to leprosy, the chilling fact is that cases are on the rise. In fact, India accounts for 55 per cent of the world's leprosy cases.

India officially eliminated leprosy six years ago, but reports now suggest that the cases of leprosy are going up, especially in urban areas. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

India grappling with air pollution

According to 2012 Environmental Performance Index, India is raked as a nation which breathes the highest level of polluted air.

The country has been ranked at 125th spot in terms of tackling pollution and natural resource management challenges which is harming environment the most. Read more

Source : presstv.com

Union Budget 2012-2013: Hospitals not likely to get infra status

With the finance ministry coming under increasing pressure to raise resources in a slowing economy the demand by India Inc for conferring infrastructure status to hospitals in order to avail of tax concessions is not likely to come through in the forthcoming Budget .

Infrastructure status to hospitals would entitled them to tax exemption on their entire profit for 10 consecutive years.

A senior finance ministry official told Mail Today that "health like education comes in the social sector, so we cannot accord it infrastructure status at this point". Read more

Source : businesstoday.intoday.in

Vijayawada to be free of Malaria by 2014

VIJAYAWADA: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has declared a war against malaria, one of the major communicable diseases affecting the mankind. With an aim to eradicate malaria completely from the city by 2014, the VMC has embarked on a mission, in association with Cinergy Company, a Mumbai-based nonprofit organisation.

For the effective implementation of the mission, the VMC has decided to seek the help of NGOs and citizens of the city. Vijayawada with a population of 11 lakh, has 111 slums. Many of the slums are on the banks of Bandar Canal, Eluru Canal and Ryves Canal and on hill slopes. Read more

Source : ibnlive.in.com

From cancer research to energy storage, Berkeley Lab scientist takes on big challenges

The clean-energy commute of the future could come from research conducted at facilities like Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, where Rizia Bardhan is helping to develop new hydrogen storage materials.

On a typical day, Rizia Bardhan walks through the doors of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Molecular Foundry and immerses herself in the tricky business of tweaking optical spectroscopy equipment to study phase transitions in metal hydrides.

It’s fair to say that what she does is difficult to grasp. Why she does it is easy: “I want to help solve big problems. That’s why I’m here,” she says. Read more

Source : physorg.com