Health

Sep62025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

S. Korea aims to double bio exports by 2030 to enter global top 5

Seoul, Sep 6 (IANS) South Korea has outlined a plan to help the biohealth industry double its exports by 2030 and join the world's top five.Under the "K-Bio Leap Strategy" unveiled at a seminar in Songdo, west of Seoul, the government outlined new targets for the industry, which also include the fostering of three new blockbuster drugs and ranking third globally in clinical trials by 2030.South Korea is competitive in contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services and biosimilars, ranking around 10th globally with biopharmaceutical exports of US$5.8 billion last year, reports Yonhap news agency.The country aims to double its exports in the field in the next five years.To speed market entry, the government plans to shorten the review period for biosimilars from 406 days to 295 days,...

Sep62025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

WHO says mpox no longer a global public health emergency

Health

Geneva, Sep 6 (IANS) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the spread of mpox (monkeypox) in Africa no longer represents a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). WHO's Emergency Committee has met every three months to evaluate the outbreak of mpox, Xinhua news agency reported."Yesterday, they met again and advised me that in their view, the situation no longer represents an international health emergency. I have accepted that advice." said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in the media briefing on Friday."This decision is based on sustained declines in cases and deaths in Congo, and in other affected countries, including Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda," Tedros said."We also have a better understanding of the drivers of transmission, the risk ...

Sep52025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Cipla launches India’s first non-antibiotic drug for recurrent UTI

Health

New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) Cipla on Friday announced the launch of Methenamine Hippurate, a non-antibiotic treatment for patients suffering from recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), under the brand name HUENA.UTIs are the second-most common reason for antibiotic use in India, with infection cases doubling over the last 30 years."Women are more susceptible to UTI, which accounts for 15 per cent of overall antibiotic prescriptions," the company said.According to the drug maker, Methenamine Hippurate offers an effective, non-antibiotic alternative for preventing UTIs by targeting bacteria in the bladder and urinary tract.Studies have shown it is as effective as long-term, low-dose antibiotic therapy for UTI prevention, with lower costs and no risk of antibiotic resistance."The launch of HU...

Sep52025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Mpox deaths near 2,000 in Africa since 2024 amid recent decline in cases: Africa CDC

Health

Addis Ababa, Sep 5 (IANS) The death toll from Africa's ongoing mpox outbreak is approaching 2,000 since the beginning of 2024, amid recent "encouraging" decline in the number of cases, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).During an online media briefing on Thursday evening, Yap Boum II, deputy incident manager for mpox at the Africa CDC, said that 29 mpox-affected African countries have reported 185,994 cases since the start of last year. Of these, 51,969 were confirmed, and 1,987 related deaths were recorded.Data from the African Union's specialised healthcare agency showed that the continent has reported 105,697 mpox cases so far in 2025, surpassing last year's total of 80,297.Due to improving continental mpox response efforts, the Africa CDC wi...

Sep42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

GST reforms to boost affordability and accessibility in healthcare: Experts

Health

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) The Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms will boost affordability and accessibility in healthcare, said industry experts on Thursday. The decision taken by the GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, rationalised the indirect tax structure, cutting the current four slabs down to two -- scrapping the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates, while retaining the 5 per cent and 18 per cent slabs.As per the revision, life-saving drugs, health-related products, and some medical devices will see a rate cut from 12 per cent/18 per cent to 5 per cent or nil.Notably, the GST rates for 33 cancer drugs and rare medicines have been reduced from 12 to zero per cent.The changes in GST rates on services will be implemented from September 22.“This path-breaking annou...

Sep42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

DPIIT, Pfizer tie up to accelerate lab-to-market journey of healthcare innovations

Health

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS)The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based pharma giant Pfizer to strengthen India’s healthcare and accelerate the lab-to-market journey of healthcare innovations, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Thursday.The collaboration will extend both financial and non-financial support to startups.Under the partnership, the Pfizer INDovation programme will empower DPIIT-recognised startups with grants of up to Rs 60 lakhs each, along with a tailored 18-month incubation programme delivered by Social Alpha.“The programme will provide dedicated acceleration tracks covering clinical validation, regulatory approvals, and go-to-market strategies. Startups will also gain access to exper...

Sep42025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Bold step: Industry experts hail GST reforms in health sector

Health

New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) The Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cuts in the healthcare sector are a bold step and will go a long way in advancing the vision of a Swasth Bharat underpinning a Samriddh Bharat, said industry experts on Thursday, while hailing the move.In a landmark move, the GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Wednesday rationalised the indirect tax structure, cutting the current four slabs down to two -- scrapping the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates, while retaining the 5 per cent and 18 per cent slabs.As per the revision, life-saving drugs, health-related products, and some medical devices will see a rate cut from 12 per cent/18 per cent to 5 per cent or nil.Notably, the GST rates for 33 cancer drugs and rare medicines have been reduced from 12 t...

Sep32025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Govt committed to develop state-specific frameworks and SOPs for strengthening Ayush integration: Minister

Health

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) The government is committed to develop state-specific frameworks and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for strengthening integration of Ayush, said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, on Wednesday.He was speaking at the inauguration of the Departmental Summit on 'National Ayush Mission and Capacity Building in States' at All India Institute of Ayurveda, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi.Jadhav emphasised the government’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive healthcare framework tailored to state-specific needs.Jadhav highlighted the government’s approach to developing comprehensive SOPs for enhancing healthcare delivery across the country.“Our aim is to create state-specific frameworks, develop comprehensive SOPs...

Sep32025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

RDI scheme a transformative step, will foster India’s global growth in science, innovation

Health

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) The recently launched Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme is a transformative step that will foster India’s growth in science and innovation on the world stage, according to a media report.In July, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the RDI scheme, allocating Rs 1 lakh crore for it.The scheme aims at transforming the private research and innovation ecosystem in the country.“The initiative will stimulate private sector participation in research, development, and innovation, particularly in 'sunrise' sectors -- emerging industries poised to shape the future -- and strategic areas critical to India’s growth and security,” noted the report in news platform Newsbomb Greece.With long-term financing and refinancing at low or ...

Sep32025 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Health Ministry to amend rules for new drug, clinical trials to promote ease of doing business

Health

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday announced plans to amend rules for the pharmaceutical and clinical research sectors to promote ease of doing business.“The proposed amendments in the New Drugs and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules, 2019, aim to simplify the requirements and procedures for obtaining test licences and for submitting applications related to Bioavailability/Bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies,” the Ministry said, noting that it has also published this in the Gazette of India on August 28 to seek public comments.The initiative underscores the government's commitment to ongoing regulatory reforms in the pharmaceutical sector."It forms a part of the broader efforts toward Ease of Doing Business to promote the growth of the Indian pharma industry and align dome...