Health Care Sector

Focus mustn't waver, we must continue to invest in health: K Srinath Reddy

We have to create a multi-layered, multi-skilled health workforce. This is good even from the point of view of employment generation, says PHFI founder

Shortage of healthcare workers may rise to 10 mn by decade-end: WEF study

The shortage of healthcare workers globally could rise to 10 million by the end of the decade, affecting access to care, inequities and treatment of mental health, a new report said on Monday. Launched in the run-up to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2023 in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos, the report said the rise in healthcare spending has fast-tracked progress in telehealth, vaccines and precision medicine, but businesses and policy-makers must tackle worker burnout and boost access to health. It also cited a case study from India, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), launched by the Union Ministry of Family and Health Welfare, to enable the world's largest digital health landscape. "Given ABDM is envisioned to digitise the entire healthcare environment in the country, its success relies on its adoption by all players. "Thus far, the adoption of ABDM has been a key challenge, which has been limited and staggered mainly due to data interoperability, ...

CAG set to conduct comprehensive audit of country's health sector

Current approach to be based in common parameters, goals and analysis, as opposed to earlier exercises done on the basis of some research or state-specific issues

Pharma supply start-up Saveo Healthcare raises $4.5mn in venture round

Company founded by 4 IIT graduates will use money to expand its presence and for improving technology

New India prepared to deal with any threat in healthcare sector: Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday underlined the need for de-politicising the discussions on health policy and infrastructure and adopting a more holistic approach across the whole spectrum of the populace. He also asserted that a new India is prepared to deal with any threat in the healthcare sector. "A healthy India will be a wealthy India," Mandaviya said speaking at the Public Affairs Forum of India's (PAFI) 9th Annual Forum 2022. He said the new India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an empowered nation and is well prepared to face any crisis. The difference has been made by the proactive planning of the prime minister, he said, adding health infrastructure is being propagated across the country via the PPP model with a microcosm of public hospitals mushrooming along with private medical colleges. Mandaviya said 22 AIIMS have been planned across the country to improve the tertiary level of health infrastructure. Elaborating on the coun

Cyber attacks on Indian healthcare industry 2nd highest in world: CloudSEK

The number of cyber attacks on Indian healthcare industry were second highest globally, with 7.7 per cent of total incidence on the segment being witnessed in the country in 2021, cyber security intelligence firm CloudSEK said on Tuesday. According to CloudSEK report on "Increased cyber attacks on the global healthcare sector", US healthcare industry faced 28 per cent of the total global attacks. "India recorded the second highest number of attacks, with a total of 7.7 per cent of the total attacks on the healthcare industry in 2021," the report said. The 7.7 per cent of cyber attack incidence on the Indian healthcare industry translates into over 71 lakh records, according to the report. CloudSEK is among the entities that provides cyber threat intelligence to Indian cyber security watchdog CERTin. According to the firm, the technological advancement in the healthcare industry like remote health monitoring, electronic health records and the Internet of Things (IoT) provided cyber

Street Signs: 'Buy the dip' strategy, health care stocks gain, and more

With foreign flows turning negative and global markets on tenterhooks, it remains to be seen if investors will continue to 'buy the dip'

Amazon to shutter virtual health care service Amazon Care by Dec 31

Amazon is shutting down the hybrid virtual, in-home care service it's spent years developing, a surprising move that underscores the challenges it faces as it moves into health care. The service, called Amazon Care, will end by December 31, according to an email sent to staff by Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services. Amazon Care was launched in 2019 for Seattle-based Amazon's Washington state employees, who served as trial users before the company made it available last year to its workers in all 50 states. The service connects patients virtually with doctors and nurses who can provide treatment 24 hours a day. It does not have physical locations, but offers in-person services for things like vaccinations and flu testing in several cities, including Seattle and Washington, D.C. Amazon's decision to pull the plug on Amazon Care is even more surprising given the company said in February it was planning to expand the in-person care service to include 20 additio

Cipla betting big on digitisation and emerging segments like mRNA

Drug major Cipla is betting big on digitisation and emerging segments like biosimilars and mRNA aided medications to drive its next phase of growth. The Mumbai-based drug maker is also bullish on maximising value opportunity in the complex generics in the US market. It is also looking to scale up its US core formulations sales on the back of respiratory and peptide franchises while monitoring upcoming complex product launches in the second half of the current fiscal. "Digitalisation in healthcare found its rightful place during the pandemic, and there is a need to expand and support the essential backup services to enable digital healthcare to function efficiently in all primary and secondary healthcare centres," Cipla Executive Vice-Chairperson Samina Hamied said in the company's Annual Report for 2021-22. The drug firm has embarked on the digital transformation of the value chain across functions, including finance, R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, HR, customer outreach and ...

Half of India's states do not have a district hospital in each district

Delhi and Kerala have 3 district hospitals per district; Uttar Pradesh has two. Telangana has one hospital for five districts

Centre asks states to increase testing, vaccination amid recent Covid surge

Reviews Covid-19 situation in nine states where test positivity rates have been rising

Day-1 of free boosters: Citizens queue up to get jabs ahead of festivals

States start compiling need for additional doses, Centre seeks 50 mn doses from GAVI

Mizoram health workers on indefinite strike over pay, regularisation

Mizoram is currently facing a manpower crunch amid rising Covid-19 cases due to an indefinite strike called by contractual healthcare workers, sources said

Fortis Healthcare aims to add 1,500 beds in 5 years to enhance presence

On the clinical front, the company said it expects to continue to strengthen its existing specialities and build new medical programmes.

Apollo Hospitals, Singapore firm enhance AI-based tech for cardiac diseases

Move aimed to enable healthcare providers to predict risk of cardiac disease in patients and start intervention early

Lots of interest in Metropolis, but we want a strategic fit: MD Ameera Shah

In a Q&A, the promoter and MD of the company talks about how the dynamics are changing in the diagnostics sector post Covid, and outlines her strategy for Metropolis 3.0

Our govt laid stress on improving health care sector in 8 years: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government laid stress on improving the country's health care sector in a holistic manner in the last eight years by giving importance to nutritious food and hygiene in addition to providing modern medical services. He was speaking during a function held after the inauguration of A M Naik Healthcare Complex and Nirali Multi-specialty Hospital built near Navsari town of Gujarat by a trust headed by AM Naik, group chairman of engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro. "To improve our health sector, we have stressed on a holistic approach during the last eight years. In addition to providing modern healthcare services, we are also giving importance to nutritious food, better hygiene and behavioural aspects related to preventive healthcare," Modi said. The Modi-led NDA government completed eight years in office on May 30. Referring to some pro-poor healthcare schemes launched in Gujarat by him when he was the chief minister, Modi said his

Max Healthcare posts 58% jump in Q4 net at Rs 172 cr; revenue rises 12%

Max Healthcare Institute on Wednesday said its profit after tax increased by 58 per cent to Rs 172 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2022. The company had reported a net profit of Rs 109 crore for the January-March quarter of 2020-21 fiscal. Gross revenue rose to Rs 1,298 crore for the period under review as compared with Rs 1,161 crore in the year-ago period, Max Healthcare Institute said in a regulatory filing. For the year ended March 31, 2022, the healthcare provider posted a net profit of Rs 837 crore. It had reported a net loss of Rs 95 crore in FY21 fiscal. "Overall, FY22 has been an eventful year where despite numerous challenges, there is a marked improvement in the network performance," Max Healthcare Institute Chairman and MD Abhay Soi said in a statement. As part of the company's inorganic growth strategy, it has announced four transactions, including purchase of two prime land parcels in Gurugram, he noted. "These will have a combined potential to add 2,200 be

Free Covid coverage for all in US dries up even as hospital costs rise

Things are reverting to the way they were as federal money for Covid care of the uninsured dries up, creating a potential barrier to timely access

Flipkart taps healthcare sector with brand new 'Flipkart Health+' app

The tech platform Flipkart enables access to genuine medicines and healthcare products, and services for millions of customers across the country.