Category: LIFESTYLE

Gandhinagar, June 3 (IANS) Gujarat’s health authorities have reviewed plans to expand specialised cardiac treatment across the state, with the U.N. Mehta Cardiac Institute reporting 8,504 successful heart surgeries and more than 3.94 lakh outpatient consultations during 2025.

A high-level review meeting on the expansion of cardiac services was held in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of the state Health Minister Praful Pansheriya on Wednesday.

The meeting examined the state’s cardiac healthcare infrastructure, the progress of new treatment centres, and measures to strengthen access to specialised heart care.

Addressing the meeting, Pansheriya said the state government was continuing its efforts to ensure that citizens receive advanced, high-quality healthcare services across Gujarat.

“With the objective of ensuring that citizens of Gujarat receive advanced and quality healthcare services within the state, the state government is continuously working in the health sector under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi,” he said.

Reviewing the U.N. Mehta Cardiac Institute’s performance in 2025, the minister highlighted what he described as an exceptional year for the institution.

“During the year 2025, the institute carried out 8,504 successful cardiac surgeries. In addition, more than 3.94 lakh patients were examined through OPD services, and around 52,167 critically ill patients received treatment under IPD services,” Pansheriya said.

The meeting included a detailed review of construction work on the satellite centres of the U.N. Mehta Cardiac Institute, planned to become operational in Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Surat, and Sola in Ahmedabad.

The minister assessed the progress of the projects and issued directions to expedite their completion.

Pansheriya also reviewed the functioning of the institute’s existing centres in Gandhinagar and Rajkot, including the facilities and services currently available at both locations.

According to officials, discussions focused on the planned and systematic expansion of cardiac services across Gujarat to improve access to specialised treatment closer to patients’ homes.

The minister said Gujarat was increasingly attracting patients from outside the state due to its healthcare infrastructure.

“Gujarat today is emerging not only as a highly reliable and modern healthcare hub for the citizens of the state, but also for patients coming from other states of the country and from abroad,” he said.

He added that the government remained committed to ensuring access to quality treatment for all sections of society.

“The state government is fully committed to ensuring that every poor and middle-class patient receives quality, accessible, and modern treatment along with a humane touch,” Pansheriya said.

The meeting was held as part of efforts to further strengthen the government’s “Healthcare with Humanity” approach.

–IANS

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Kanpur, June 3 (IANS) The Adani Foundation and the Anushkaa Foundation on Wednesday announced a three-year partnership to support treatment and follow-up care for more than 10,000 children affected by clubfoot across five states through public healthcare systems.

The initiative, launched on World Clubfoot Day, will be implemented in partnership with the National Health Mission (NHM) across Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh.

The programme was formally launched at Manyavar Kanshiram Samyukth Chikitsalay and Trauma Centre in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, one of the states carrying the highest burden of clubfoot cases in India.

Dr Priti Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, said no child should be held back by a treatable condition such as clubfoot when identified early.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to move, learn, play, and participate fully in life. Creating opportunities for specially abled individuals has long been central to the Adani Foundation’s philosophy, and this partnership reflects that commitment,” Dr Priti Adani mentioned.

Clubfoot is a congenital condition in which one or both feet turn inward at birth and affects nearly one in every 800 newborns.

Although the condition can be corrected through the globally recognised Ponseti treatment method, many children in underserved areas fail to receive timely care.

The new initiative aims to strengthen early identification, referral systems and access to treatment through public healthcare networks while improving long-term care and rehabilitation support for affected children.

Under the programme, 67 clubfoot clinics across 61 districts in the five states will be supported to expand treatment access and strengthen healthcare capacity.

The initiative will also support the training and strengthening of 51 healthcare professionals involved in clubfoot care.

In addition, more than 30,000 frontline health workers will be sensitised to improve early detection and timely referral of children born with the condition.

Deepak Premnarayen, Founder of the Anushkaa Foundation, said the collaboration would help strengthen systems for early diagnosis and intervention while expanding access to quality treatment.

“This partnership with the Adani Foundation will help expand access to quality treatment across 61 districts in five states while strengthening systems for early diagnosis and intervention. Together, we can ensure that a treatable condition does not become a lifelong barrier to mobility and opportunity,” Premnarayen added.

–IANS

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Kampala, June 2 (IANS) Uganda has confirmed six new cases of Ebola, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the ongoing outbreak to 15, the Ministry of Health said on Tuesday.

According to the ministry’s latest Ebola update, the six new cases were identified among contacts of previously confirmed patients.

The ministry said 12 Ebola patients are currently admitted to treatment facilities, while two patients have been discharged after recovery, Xinhua news agency reported.

The East African country declared the latest Ebola outbreak in May after confirming two imported cases of Ebola Virus Disease, including one fatality.

Health authorities are currently monitoring 668 contacts linked to confirmed cases as part of efforts to contain the spread of the disease, according to the update.

Charles Olaro, director general of health services at the Ministry of Health, on Monday urged those with Ebola-like symptoms to report to health facilities early, saying that there are higher chances of survival.

Authorities have intensified contact tracing, surveillance, and public awareness campaigns to curb further transmission.

Meanwhile, India dispatched the second tranche of medical assistance to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), comprising protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, medicines, and nutritional supplements aimed at strengthening the continent’s response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

India is also confident that this 43-tonne consignment will further strengthen public health preparedness and bolster Ebola response capacities across Africa

“India has dispatched the second tranche of medical assistance to Africa CDC, comprising protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, medicines, and supplements. Confident that this 43 tons consignment will further strengthen public health preparedness and bolster Ebola response capacities across Africa,” External Affairs Minister (EAM), S Jaishankar, wrote on X.

Earlier, on May 24, India dispatched the first tranche of urgent medical supplies and protective kits to the Africa CDC.

–IANS

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Jaipur, June 2 (IANS) Rajasthan has emerged as one of the leading states in India’s digital healthcare transformation, securing the second position nationwide with more than 7.19 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs created under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

The achievement comes as the country crossed the landmark figure of 90 crore ABHA accounts in 2026, marking a major milestone in the government’s efforts to build a citizen-centric digital healthcare ecosystem.

Officials said the initiative is helping strengthen healthcare delivery by enabling citizens to securely access, store and share their health records digitally.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Rajasthan has been expanding healthcare services while simultaneously adopting digital technologies to improve accessibility, transparency and efficiency in the health sector.

The ABHA ID serves as a unique digital health identity that allows individuals to securely link and manage their medical records with their consent.

The system ensures that patients can access their health information through their mobile phones while facilitating seamless healthcare services across hospitals and healthcare providers.

Data released under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission shows steady growth in ABHA account creation over the years. The number of accounts nationwide increased from 14.7 crore in 2021 to 30.4 crore in 2022 and 50.6 crore in 2023, 72.2 crore in 2024, 84.5 crore in 2025, and has now crossed the 90-crore mark in 2026.

Health officials said ABHA is a key pillar of India’s digital health architecture, enabling the creation of longitudinal health records across hospitals, clinics, laboratories and digital health platforms.

The system gives citizens greater control over their healthcare information while ensuring data privacy and transparency. Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, every registered citizen receives a unique 14-digit ABHA Health ID, which acts as a digital repository for medical records. Laboratory reports, prescriptions, diagnostic records and information on pre-existing conditions can be securely stored and accessed through the platform.

The digital system reduces the need for patients to carry physical documents during hospital visits and allows healthcare providers to access past medical history after obtaining the patient’s consent. Officials say this helps doctors make informed treatment decisions and improves continuity of care.

Supporting this initiative is the Integrated Hospital Management System (IHMS), an ABDM-compliant software platform that enables hospitals to link Electronic Health Records (EHRs) with ABHA IDs, creating a more integrated and efficient healthcare delivery system.

Officials believe the growing adoption of ABHA accounts will further strengthen Rajasthan’s digital healthcare infrastructure and improve access to quality healthcare services across urban and rural areas alike.

–IANS

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New Delhi, June 2 (IANS) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday issued a public health advisory on Ebola virus disease, stating that no cases have been reported in India so far while urging heightened vigilance among individuals who have recently travelled through Ebola-affected countries.

The government stressed the importance of early reporting of symptoms.

“Health advisory on Ebola disease. As on June 2, 2026, there are no cases of Ebola disease reported in the country,” the ministry said in a post on X.

Stressing the importance of early reporting of symptoms, it noted that timely action could save lives and help prevent the spread of the disease.

The advisory comes amid a fresh outbreak of Ebola in parts of Africa, prompting health authorities worldwide to strengthen surveillance and issue precautionary guidelines.

The Ministry advised anyone who has travelled from or transited through an Ebola-affected country within the past 21 days to closely monitor their health.

Individuals developing symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding have been asked to isolate themselves immediately and inform local health authorities.

“However, if you have travelled from or transited through an Ebola-affected country in the last 21 days and develop symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding, etc., isolate yourself and inform local health authorities,” it explained.

Authorities also urged the public to seek information and assistance through the government’s 24×7 Health Helpline, 1075.

“Early reporting can save lives and help prevent the spread of disease,” the ministry mentioned.

Ebola virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness that affects humans. According to the World Health Organisation, the disease has an average fatality rate of around 50 per cent, although mortality rates have ranged from 25 per cent to as high as 90 per cent during previous outbreaks.

The virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people or animals.

Health experts emphasise that prompt identification and isolation of suspected cases are critical to containing transmission.

The Ministry’s advisory highlights a 21-day monitoring period for travellers from affected regions, reflecting the maximum known incubation period of the Ebola virus — the time between exposure and the onset of symptoms. The duration is widely used by global health agencies for surveillance and contact-tracing efforts.

–IANS

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New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has launched a centralised online patient feedback system across all hospitals and dispensaries nationwide to capture real‑time patient experience on cleanliness, staff behaviour and medicine availability, an official statement said on Monday.

The system is equipped with OTP validation, multilingual support, and real-time monitoring dashboards to instantly flag service ratings below 3 for immediate corrective action, the statement from the Ministry of Labour & Employment said.

The digital platform enables Insured Persons (IPs) and beneficiaries to seamlessly share their healthcare experiences, raise specific concerns, and provide actionable suggestions for institutional improvement.

To ensure wider participation and absolute ease of access, the system offers multiple feedback channels for the beneficiaries. After availing services through the ESIC HIS (Dhanwantri) Module beneficiaries receive a direct feedback link via SMS.

Beneficiaries can also quickly share their feedback by scanning QR codes displayed on customized, multilingual posters prominently placed at all OPDs and hospital locations.

Feedback can also be submitted directly through the official ESIC website, the statement noted.

The user-friendly interface requires patients to simply scan the QR code using their mobile devices, enter their IP Number, rate their experience, and submit their feedback in a matter of seconds.

To translate patient feedback into immediate administrative action, the system integrates robust, role-based digital dashboards, the ministry said.

It helps in continuous monitoring at headquarters, regional offices and local ESI health facilities.

The system validates IP details through OTP verification to ensure authenticity of feedback. Further it prevents duplicate submissions and supports multiple languages to widen participation.

Critical issues are automatically flagged when service ratings fall below 3, helping relevant authorities to take timely and targeted corrective actions.

Additionally, the platform supports the performance ranking of all healthcare facilities, thereby promoting a culture of continuous improvement, healthy competition, and strict institutional accountability, the statement said.

—IANS

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Ahmedabad, May 31 (IANS) Ahmedabad Civil Hospital provided free haemophilia treatment worth more than Rs 17 crore to 669 patients during the 2025-26 financial year, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said, describing the initiative as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to ensuring access to life-saving care for patients suffering from the rare bleeding disorder.

Pansheriya said the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has undertaken a dedicated programme for patients with haemophilia, a serious inherited condition that affects the body’s ability to clot blood.

“As part of this initiative, during the financial year 2025-26, 669 haemophilia patients at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, were provided injections worth more than Rs 17 crore completely free of cost within a single year,” he said.

The minister added that expensive clotting factor injections required for haemophilia treatment are being provided free of charge not only at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital but also at government hospitals across Gujarat for patients in need.

Pansheriya said the government had taken several decisions aimed at reducing the burden of costly medical treatment on poor and middle-class families.

“The clotting factor injections required by haemophilia patients are extremely expensive, and many ordinary and economically weaker patients cannot afford them. Understanding this financial hardship, the government has procured these costly injections in bulk through GMERSCL (Gujarat Medical Education and Research Services Corporation Limited),” he said.

Haemophilia is a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of clotting factors VII, VIII or IX, proteins that are essential for blood coagulation. Because of this deficiency, the body’s natural ability to stop bleeding is impaired.

Patients can experience prolonged or spontaneous internal or external bleeding even after minor injuries, and timely administration of clotting factor injections is often necessary to prevent serious complications and save lives.

Providing details of the treatment administered during the year, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi said injections worth more than Rs 17 crore had been supplied free of cost to patients.

According to the hospital, the treatment included 2,095 Factor VIII injections, 1,100 Factor IX injections, 397 Factor VII injections, 103 Factor IX inhibitor treatments, 278 Factor VIII inhibitor treatments, 626 FEIBA injections and 243 Emicizumab injections.

Explaining the treatment approach, Dr Joshi said patients are administered the specific clotting factor protein that is deficient in their bodies.

“The exact factor that is lacking in a patient’s body is administered directly in the form of an injection. These injections are a highly effective treatment for controlling bleeding in haemophilia patients and saving their lives,” he said.

Dr Joshi credited the state government’s financial assistance for enabling patients to access treatment without personal expense.

“The financial support and sensitive approach of the state government have ensured that all patients at Civil Hospital receive this expensive treatment without spending a single rupee. As a result, we have succeeded in saving hundreds of lives,” he said.

The programme provided specialised clotting factor therapies and advanced treatments throughout the year, ensuring that patients with haemophilia received uninterrupted access to care that would otherwise be financially out of reach for many families.

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 31 (IANS) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has flagged serious manufacturing, maintenance and data integrity lapses at a Dabur India manufacturing facility in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, at a time when Indian pharmaceutical and healthcare product makers are facing increased scrutiny from US regulators over quality standards and manufacturing practices.

According to the FDA inspection report, the regulator identified multiple deficiencies at the plant, raising concerns over potential microbiological contamination and non-compliance with manufacturing standards.

The agency observed lapses in equipment cleaning, maintenance and quality control procedures at the facility. It also alleged that certain manufacturing records had been falsified to hide the use of equipment for products other than those for which it had been designated.

Among the observations mentioned in the report, FDA inspectors found a live bird and bird droppings inside a raw material warehouse located close to packaging materials. Inspectors also reported spotting an unidentified black substance covering large portions of ceiling surfaces in raw material and finished product storage areas.

The FDA further raised concerns regarding the reliability of microbiological testing carried out at the plant. While official records reportedly showed that samples met prescribed safety limits, inspectors observed significant contamination in several samples during the inspection process.

The report also stated that the company’s management failed to adequately review production and quality records before releasing batches into the market, potentially compromising regulatory compliance.

Dabur India, one of the country’s oldest consumer goods companies and a major supplier of Ayurvedic and over-the-counter healthcare products in the US market, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the FDA observations.

Companies issued an FDA Form 483 are generally required to submit corrective action plans addressing the deficiencies identified during inspections.

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA), has crossed the landmark milestone of 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) across the country, the government said on Saturday.

Uttar Pradesh leads with over 15.3 crore ABHAs, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra with 7.1 crore each, Bihar with 6.3 crore, and West Bengal with 5.9 crore ABHAs.

Significant contributions have also come from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka, reflecting the nationwide adoption of digital health services.

The achievement marks a major step in India’s journey towards a connected, interoperable and citizen-centric digital health ecosystem. The growth in ABHA creation has been consistent since the launch of ABDM.

On a calendar year basis, cumulative ABHA creation increased from 14.7 crore in 2021 to 30.4 crore in 2022, 50.6 crore in 2023, 72.2 crore in 2024, and 84.5 crore in 2025, before crossing the 90-crore milestone in 2026, according to Health Ministry.

“The creation of over 90 crore ABHAs reflects the growing participation of citizens, States, UTs and ecosystem partners in the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. ABHA is an important step towards empowering citizens with secure, consent-based access to their own health information,” said Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, National Health Authority.

As ABDM adoption deepens, ABHA will enable continuity of care, reduce dependence on physical records and support a more seamless, transparent and citizen-centric healthcare delivery system, he mentioned.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have achieved full saturation.

Females account for nearly half of all ABHAs created, constituting 49.75 per cent of total ABHA holders. This marks an important step towards empowering women, including those in rural areas, with secure digital access to their health records.

ABHA can support continuity of care from the first point of contact with the health system, including maternal and child healthcare, immunisation and other essential health services.

For citizens, ABHA facilitates digital linking of health records generated across different healthcare facilities and applications, reducing the need to carry physical medical documents and enabling secure sharing of health information with healthcare providers whenever required and with consent.

–IANS

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Abuja, May 29 (IANS) Nigerian public health authorities have identified 21 of the country’s 36 states as being at high or moderate risk of Ebola importation, amid growing concerns over cross-border transmission.

In a statement issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said that recent Ebola outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa had increased the risk of the disease being imported into Nigeria, although no confirmed case has yet been recorded in the country.

The NCDC classified the capital city Abuja, the southern states of Lagos, Rivers, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, as well as the northern states of Kano, Borno, Taraba and Adamawa, as high-risk areas because of active travel and trade routes linked to international airports and porous land borders, Xinhua news agency reported.

The agency also listed Ogun, Ebonyi, Abia and Bayelsa states in the south, along with Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina and Bauchi states in the north, as moderate-risk areas requiring enhanced surveillance and preparedness measures.

Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, said the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern” underscored the need for Nigeria to strengthen preparedness efforts.

He warned that Ebola symptoms closely resemble those of malaria and Lassa fever, increasing the risk of delayed detection and further transmission.

With a population of more than 242 million, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and the world’s sixth most populous nation.

Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the Ebola outbreak in Congo was “very complex”, with conflict, insecurity, displacement, food shortages and community mistrust complicating efforts to contain the disease.

Speaking to reporters on late Thursday at the airport upon arriving in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, Ghebreyesus noted that he had come to show affected communities that “they are not alone” and that the WHO was there to support the response.

–IANS

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