Health

New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) With 75,000 health camps across the country, the upcoming Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan aims to address the health and nutritional needs of mother and child.The campaign will be launched by PM Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday, which falls on September 17. It will run till October 2.The 75,000 health camps will be organised at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Community Health Centres, and healthcare centres in the country. The health camps will provide essential services specifically designed to address the healthcare needs of women and children.“Women’s health is the strength of every household! As part of the Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan from 17th September to 2nd October 2025, 75,000 health camps are being held at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Community ...

New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Having a state Palliative Care Policy is crucial to strengthen healthcare and also reduce costs for patients in Delhi, according to a health experts on Friday.Palliative care is a branch of medicine that aims to prevent and relieve the physical, social, and spiritual suffering of patients suffering from chronic life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers.“A palliative care policy in Delhi can streamline resources, integrate fragmented health systems, and ensure systematic funding,” Parth Sharma, Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, told IANS.“I request the policymakers of Delhi to consider creating a regional policy. This will make Delhi the first region in North India to have its own palliative care policy. It will also help ...

New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Love to binge on cheeseburgers and fries? Beware, just four days of these fatty foods can rewire the brain's memory hub -- leading to risk of cognitive dysfunction, according to a study.The research led by the University of North Carolina (UNC) in the US suggests that fatty junk foods can affect the brain almost immediately, well before the onset of weight gain or diabetes.The results open the door to early interventions that can prevent even long-term memory loss associated with obesity, which is mainly driven by Western-style junk food rich in saturated fat.The findings, published in the journal Neuron, showed that a special group of brain cells in the hippocampus -- called CCK interneurons -- become overly active after eating a high-fat diet (HFD), due to an imp...

New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) The Union government has relaxed the rules for opening Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) by rolling back the minimum-distance requirements in metropolitan and “million-plus cities", according to a media report.The easing of distance norms will help boost the outreach of the pharmacy chain, which aims to provide quality medicines to the people at affordable prices.The report cited an internal document issued on September 10 by the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the department responsible for implementing the scheme.“With a view to enhancing public accessibility, equitable distribution, and wider outreach of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, especially in densely populated urban agglomerations, it has been decided to incorporate the following modificatio...

New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) AIIMS New Delhi has installed the da Vinci Surgical robot by US-based Intuitive to equip surgeons and care teams with the skills and technology training in robotic-assisted surgery.This is the first da Vinci RAS training facility in a government medical college in India.It comes as AIIMS, last year, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intuitive to establish an innovative new training centre for robotic-assisted surgery at AIIMS, New Delhi.The installation of the da Vinci RAS at the SET facility in AIIMS Delhi will equip surgeons with the skills and technology training necessary to perform robotic-assisted surgery across core specialities, including urology, gynaecology, general surgery, and more.The collaboration is expected to play a key role in advanc...

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) The 164 National Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) are sentinels that are protecting India from viruses and pathogens, said Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health, on Thursday.Speaking at the National VRDL Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, Patel highlighted that pandemic preparedness and VRDLs are part of a larger nationwide ecosystem of health research and innovation.“Our VRDLs have stood as sentinels in protecting the country during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. The focus is on detecting new bacteria, viruses, and pathogens, and on India’s progress in diagnostics," Patel said.The MoS acknowledged the key role played by these laboratories in sequencing the virus and validating nearly 1,700 diagnostic commodities.“VRDLs have been centr...

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) Exposure to micro- and nano plastics may be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in mice.Micro- and nano plastics prevalent in the environment routinely enter the human body through the water we drink, foods we eat, and even the air we breathe.The study, led by researchers from the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, showed that those plastic particles infiltrate all systems of the body, including the brain, where they can accumulate and lead to cognitive decline and even Alzheimer’s disease, especially in those who carry genetic risk factors.The research follows a previous study that showed how microplastics can infiltrate all systems of the body -- including the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmf...

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) Indian biopharmaceutical company Biocon on Thursday announced the opening of its first manufacturing plant in the US.The US-FDA-approved facility, operated by Biocon’s wholly-owned subsidiary Biocon Generics and based in Cranbury, New Jersey, produces oral solid dosage medications with an annual capacity of 2 billion tablets.The company had acquired the plant from Eywa Pharma in 2023 and invested over $30 million in upgrades to create the state-of-the-art facility.“This investment helps Biocon diversify its manufacturing base, strengthen its supply chain, and accelerate the expansion of its global footprint,” the company said.It also represents a strategic advancement for the company’s US operations, enabling faster access to essential therapies and enhanced supply...

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) After reviewing the current situation of dengue and malaria in the country, the government has issued an advisory to states to intensify preventive measures for the mosquito-borne diseases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Thursday.The review meeting led by the Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday took stock of the current status and key challenges in the prevention and control of dengue and malaria.“States, local bodies and communities must intensify preventive and control measures, particularly during this high-risk period, to safeguard public health and sustain the gains made in reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases,” said Nadda.Issuing an advisory, Nadda urged all Chief Ministers “to remain vigilant in the coming months...

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) The recent restructuring in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime will not only make life-saving drugs and healthcare more affordable and accessible but also lead to growth in the country’s pharma market, according to a report.In August, the pharmaceutical sector recorded an 8.7 per cent value growth. The media report noted that the sector is set to witness broader transformation in pricing, access, and patient volumes.“The GST Council’s tax rate restructuring in the pharma sector is transformative for accessible healthcare,” said Suresh Nair, Tax Partner, EY India.“By lowering GST on all medicines from 12 per cent to 5 per cent and granting nil rates to 36 vital life-saving drugs, it significantly reduces patient expenses and improves access to essential therapi...