Category: LIFESTYLE

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, on Thursday said that the Ayush sector will play a decisive role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, as he inaugurated the two-day “Chintan Shivir 2026” in the national capital.

Emphasising the growing importance of traditional systems of medicine, Jadhav said the Chintan Shivir reflects the government’s strong resolve to strengthen policy direction and ensure effective implementation across the Ayush ecosystem.

“Building on the foundation of the first conclave, the current edition aims to review progress, identify gaps, and chart a practical and future-ready roadmap for the sector,” he noted.

Highlighting the increasing relevance of Ayush in tackling lifestyle-related disorders, the minister said its holistic approach aligns with the broader global vision of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” and India’s push for “Heal in India, Heal by India.”

He also underlined that higher budgetary allocations demonstrate the government’s commitment to enhancing education, research, infrastructure, and global outreach in the sector.

Jadhav stressed the need to focus on evidence-based research, inter-ministerial convergence, and a whole-of-government approach.

He also called for greater emphasis on innovation, digitalisation, entrepreneurship, and public awareness, urging stakeholders to ensure that policy discussions translate into tangible outcomes at the grassroots level.

Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, said the Chintan Shivir provides a crucial platform to review progress and shape the future roadmap of the sector.

“The ministry is working towards integrating traditional knowledge with modern science while strengthening research, global collaboration, and public outreach,” he added.

Joint Secretary Alarmelmangai D. highlighted that the event fosters collaborative policymaking and meaningful dialogue.

A key highlight of the inaugural session was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the General Insurance Council.

The agreement is expected to expand insurance coverage and improve claim settlement mechanisms for Ayush treatments.

The MoU was exchanged between Prof. P.K. Prajapati and Kasturi Sengupta in the presence of the minister.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has allowed the wife of an Indian Army soldier in a persistent vegetative state to seek retrieval and cryopreservation of his sperm for IVF treatment, holding that his prior consent to undergo assisted reproductive treatment before the accident would be treated as sufficient compliance under the law.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav passed the order while hearing a plea filed by the wife of a Lance Naik, seeking directions to permit the extraction and preservation of her husband’s genetic material after he suffered severe traumatic brain injury in a fall during patrol duty in Jammu and Kashmir.

In its order, the Delhi High Court directed that the soldier’s prior consent to participate in IVF treatment with his wife be treated as valid compliance with Section 22 of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, despite his current inability to furnish written consent owing to his medical condition.

“It is found to be fair, reasonable, and just for the respondents to undertake the necessary procedure/steps which are required to take the IVF treatment to its logical conclusion,” Justice Kaurav said.

The petitioner’s husband, who joined the Army in 2014, suffered the injury on July 7, 2025, while posted at Dhoodhganga in Jammu and Kashmir, after falling from a considerable height during patrol in an operational area.

He has since remained in a persistent vegetative state with no reasonable likelihood of neurological recovery in the near future.

The couple had married in 2017 and had opted for IVF treatment in June 2023 to conceive a child.

During the proceedings, the Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantonment, constituted a medical board which opined that while surgical retrieval of sperm was technically feasible, the chances of obtaining viable sperm were “meagre”.

Rejecting objections raised by the authorities over the absence of fresh written consent from the soldier, the Delhi High Court said strict adherence to procedural requirements cannot defeat substantive reproductive rights.

“The right to reproductive autonomy, it must be remembered, is a fundamental right. The ART Act must be so interpreted which furthers the said right, and not derogates from it,” the order observed.

It added that if the prior consent given by the husband for IVF treatment was not recognised, “the very purpose for acceding to the IVF treatment shall be rendered otiose”.

On the medical board’s observation that chances of retrieval of viable sperm were low, Justice Kaurav remarked: “Whether or not the petitioner herein, and her husband, are to beget a child, is not in human hands. It is destiny that determines whether or not the fortune of parenthood shall get bestowed upon persons.”

The Delhi High Court further directed that the wife’s consent be treated as valid consent on behalf of her husband for purposes of the IVF procedure wherever required, and held that authorities will not deny her the treatment solely on the ground of absence of the husband’s written consent.

However, the order clarified that the relief would remain subject to other statutory compliances and the medical condition of the soldier’s husband. The registry was also directed to anonymise the identities of the petitioner and her husband in the judgment and interim orders.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) A team of researchers said on Wednesday that an increasing number of fungi are becoming resistant to medication, posing serious risks for patients with weakened immune systems.

Under the leadership of Paul Verweij, medical microbiologist and professor at Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) in the Netherlands, 50 researchers from 16 organisations worked together, according to a paper published in Nature Medicine.

They gathered global data and developed a five‑step plan to better monitor and prevent the rise of resistant fungi. The five steps include awareness, surveillance, infection prevention and control, optimised use, and investments.

Fungal resistance does not develop in hospitals but originates largely in the environment. Fungicides used to protect crops against fungal plant diseases closely resemble the antifungal drugs used in healthcare.

“Long‑term exposure in agriculture allows fungi to develop resistance to these agents. These resistant fungi then spread through the air. As a result, resistance emerging in agriculture can lead to less effective treatments for patients with severe fungal infections,” said researchers.

The widespread use of antifungal compounds across different sectors highlights the need for an integrated, or “One Health”, approach.

“We are facing a silent surge of drug‑resistant fungi – from Candida auris in ICUs to azole‑resistant Aspergillus in the community – that is already costing lives. Antifungal resistance must be integrated into the 2026 Global Action Plan on AMR, with concrete milestones and funding, or we risk repeating the mistakes made with antibacterial resistance,” said Professor Paul E. Verweij, consultant microbiologist at Radboudumc.

Dual use of antifungal targets in medicine and agriculture is accelerating resistance from fields to ICUs.

“Aligning agricultural authorizations with health risk assessments, while investing in new antifungals and affordable diagnostics, is a pragmatic One Health solution that protects both food security and patient care,” said Professor Michaela Lackner, microbiologist at Medical University of Innsbruck.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Artificial intelligence (AI) can identify early risk pattern among individuals at higher risk of melanoma, a new study showed on Wednesday.

The study was based on registry data that is routinely collected on the whole of Sweden’s adult population.

The analysed data included age, sex, diagnoses, use of medications and socioeconomic status.

Of the 6,036,186 individuals included, 38,582 (0.64 per cent) developed melanoma during the five years of the study.

“Our study shows that data which is already available within healthcare systems can be used to identify individuals at higher risk of melanoma,” said Martin Gillstedt, a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy.

This is not a form of decision support that is currently available in routine healthcare, but our results give a clear signal that registry data can be used more strategically in the future, said Gillstedt, a statistician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital’s Department of Dermatology and Venereology.

When the researchers compared different AI models, the differences became clear.

The most advanced model was able to distinguish individuals who subsequently developed melanoma from those who did not in about 73 per cent of cases, compared with about 64 per cent when only age and sex were used.

The combination of diagnoses, medication and sociodemographic data made it possible to identify small, high-risk groups for whom the risk of developing melanoma within five years was around 33 per cent.

“Our analyses suggest that selective screening of small, high-risk groups could lead to both more accurate monitoring and more efficient use of healthcare resources. This would involve bringing population data into precision medicine and supplementing clinical assessments,” said Sam Polesie, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Venereology at the University of Gothenburg.

More research and policy decisions are needed before the method can be introduced in healthcare. However, the results show that AI models trained on large amounts of registry data can become an important source of support for more personalized risk assessments and future screening strategies for melanoma.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Healthcare companies in India are expected to deliver high single-digit revenue growth (year-on-year) in the fourth quarter of FY26 (Q4 FY26), a report showed on Wednesday.

However, EBITDA margins will materially be corrected, according to the report by Systematix.

“Median growth is estimated at 12 per cent for revenue and 3.6 per cent for EBTIDA, with net earnings likely witnessing a 14 per cent decline, the report mentioned.

The primary driver of this on-year decline in net earnings is loss of exclusivity in gRevlimid, with the impact most pronounced for Dr. Reddy’s, Zydus, Cipla and Sun Pharma.

Cipla may additionally bear the brunt of supply disruption in Lanreotide, said the report.

Meanwhile, Lupin and Zydus may see some margin pressure due to mirabegron-related (royalty payments) settlements, the report said.

The quarter is likely to reflect mixed implications from the US–Iran conflict, as higher freight and raw material (RM) costs could partially offset the favorable impact of USD/INR appreciation.

“If the conflict persists, these cost pressures could intensify in the coming quarters. Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturers are likely to pass on the RM inflation and may even raise prices, as formulation manufacturers look to expand their RM inventories,” the findings showed.

Dr. Reddy’s could see the steepest earnings decline, as the disproportionate contribution of gRevlimid in its earnings would taper off completely.

Any potential shelf stock adjustments related to gRevlimid could further dent the company’s earnings, the report mentioned.

Meanwhile, India’s drug regulators are stepping up oversight of fast-growing weight-loss and diabetes therapies, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists, amid rising demand and the anticipated entry of cheaper generic versions into the domestic market.

The move comes as the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), which functions under the Ministry of Health, has been tasked with systematically collecting and analysing adverse event reports linked to these drugs.

The initiative aims to strengthen post-marketing surveillance and ensure that any safety concerns are quickly identified and addressed.

Officials indicated that the step is part of a broader regulatory push to keep pace with the rapid uptake of these therapies, especially as affordability improves.

—IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) While India has built strong foundations in pharmaceuticals, the next phase of growth will require bold investments, deeper ecosystem collaboration, and a shift towards innovation-led development to position the country as a global leader in advanced therapeutics, experts said on Tuesday.

The two-day ‘India Pharma 2026’, organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, in association with FICCI and IPA, New Delhi, successfully concluded here. The event witnessed participation from over 800 delegates across both days, with more than 60 speakers engaging in 10 sessions including six plenary sessions, supported by over 20 partner organisations.

Satyaprakash TL, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, noted that discussions across sessions converged around three critical enablers for the next phase of growth — funding, infrastructure and speed.

While stakeholders expressed varied views on prioritisation, there was a shared understanding that coordinated action across government, industry and academia is essential. Emphasising the urgency of collaboration, he stated that India must proactively position itself in the evolving global pharmaceutical landscape to remain competitive, according to an official statement from Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

Speakers highlighted at one of the sessions that sustained growth in the sector depends not only on scientific advancements but also on the availability of diverse and accessible financing mechanisms.

Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, Chief Executive Officer, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), outlined the evolving research funding architecture, noting that it combines grant-based support for academia and not-for-profit institutions with capital-based instruments for the private sector.

The discussion explored funding avenues such as venture capital, private equity, blended finance, and public-private partnerships, which are opening new growth pathways for pharmaceutical enterprises.

The sixth plenary session, moderated by Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, focused on charting India’s next phase of pharmaceutical growth by moving beyond incremental progress toward bold, innovation-driven transformation.

Winselow Tucker, Co-Chair of the FICCI Pharma Committee and President and General Manager, Eli Lilly India, highlighted that successful transformation in the pharmaceutical sector requires a clear strategic intent supported by a phased roadmap with well-defined milestones.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday released the second edition of the postgraduate textbook of ‘Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition’, saying that once a sound clinical foundation is established, artificial intelligence (AI) can serve as a valuable enabler, assistant and facilitator.

The minister also stressed the need for a strong clinical foundation in medical education, notwithstanding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its growing role.

While launching the book — edited by Prof. Anupam Sibal and Dr Sarath Gopalan, with a foreword by Prof Kathleen B Schwartz from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine — the minister stressed the need for a strong clinical foundation in medical education despite the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), saying technology should complement, not replace, core medical learning.

However, he cautioned that early reliance on AI without understanding core medical principles could weaken the learning process and affect the development of competent clinicians.

Highlighting the rapid expansion of medical knowledge, Dr Singh noted that the pace of research and publications has increased significantly, making it essential for medical education to focus on conceptual clarity and hands-on clinical training.

While technology has improved access to information and learning must remain rooted in fundamentals and practical exposure, according to the minister.

The minister also called for continuous upgradation of medical education systems to keep pace with emerging challenges, including technological integration and the increasing complexity of diseases.

He emphasised that young medical professionals should first build strong basics before moving towards specialised fields.

Moreover, the second edition of the textbook incorporates recent advances and has been expanded to 45 chapters, covering key areas such as inflammatory bowel disease, neuro-gastroenterology, celiac disease and cow’s milk protein allergy.

The textbook also includes emerging topics like genetics in gastrointestinal and liver diseases, endoscopy and liver transplantation.

The book is aimed at trainees in paediatrics, specialists in pediatric gastroenterology and practising paediatricians.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Use of digital tools such as the Poshan Tracker Application now enables near real‑time monitoring of over 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres and nearly 9 crore beneficiaries under the mission, the government said on Tuesday.

As POSHAN Abhiyaan completes eight years, its Jan Andolan approach has mobilised communities nationwide, with initiatives such as Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada generating over 150 crore activities, an official statement said.

“The mission reflects the growing emphasis on convergence, technology-enabled governance and community participation in addressing nutrition challenges,” it said.

The programme’s evolution showed that coordinated action across sectors and strengthened service delivery platforms are crucial, along with sustained behavioural change efforts in improving nutrition outcomes.

The transition to Mission Poshan 2.0 underscored a continued focus on improving service quality, expanding early childhood care and strengthening last-mile delivery systems.

By integrating nutrition with health, early childhood care, education and community engagement, the mission adopts a comprehensive approach to supporting vulnerable populations, the government said.

POSHAN Abhiyaan launched in 2018 marked a shift in India’s approach from treating nutrition primarily as a welfare concern, to recognising it as a national priority linked to human capital development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and long-term growth.

It brought together over 26 ministries and departments under a unified nutrition framework, recognising the importance of simultaneous action on sanitation, education, water, women’s empowerment, and income.

Crucially, POSHAN Abhiyaan was designed around a lifecycle and preventive approach — rather than solely addressing acute malnutrition after it occurs, the statement noted.

It focused on the first 1,000 days of an infant from conception to two years of age- critical for physical growth, brain development and long-term health outcomes.

Further, Poshan Vatikas or Nutri-gardens are being set up at Anganwadi Centres, government schools and Gram Panchayat lands to promote diet diversity and the consumption of locally available nutritious food. These gardens provide easy and affordable access to fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants.

—IANS

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Kolkata, April 14 (IANS) A Kolkata-based cardiologist, Dr. P.K. Hazra, has sparked discussion after announcing a Rs 500 discount on consultation fees for patients who present a poster carrying the phrase “Jai Shri Ram”, a move he says is aimed at contributing to society through his medical practice.

Speaking to IANS, Dr. Hazra, who is also associated as Director of Interventional Cardiology at Manipal Hospital, clarified that the offer is applicable only at his private clinic in the city’s Ballygunge area and not at any corporate hospital.

Explaining his decision, Dr. Hazra said that he had already been treating several patients free of cost and saw this initiative as an extension of his efforts to help people, while also aligning with his personal ideological beliefs.

“I am inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is not a religious slogan. It is a political slogan,” the veteran doctor told IANS.

“I had been treating patients for free for many days, and I had a desire to support the BJP because I follow the ideology of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So, if I can do even a little for society, this is my platform — the medical field. There is nothing unethical in it,” he said.

According to him, patients who show a designated poster with a QR code and the words “Jai Shri Ram” written on it are eligible for the Rs 500 discount. He added that his consultation fee had earlier been reduced from Rs 2,000 by Rs 500 ahead of the elections, and the current offer provides an additional reduction.

“This will benefit needy patients. It is valid at my clinic because no corporate hospital will promote this due to political pressure from the opposite camp,” he claimed.

Dr. Hazra also emphasised that the scheme is open to all patients, irrespective of religion or socio-economic background.

“It is for everyone — Hindus, Muslims, Christians, rich and poor alike,” he said, while adding that he views “Jai Shri Ram” as a political slogan rather than a religious one.

Speaking about his future plans, Dr. Hazra expressed his intention to formally join politics through the BJP. He acknowledged that contesting elections requires significant groundwork within society and community networks, which he is yet to fully undertake.

“I want to get involved in the BJP, and I want to serve the country through the BJP. To contest elections, one has to do a lot of work in society and within the community, which I haven’t been able to do yet. This is just a beginning — maybe next year I will approach the authorities and concerned leaders. And if they give me a chance, I will definitely contest,” he said.

The announcement has triggered mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a creative form of outreach, while others have raised questions over the intersection of medical services and political messaging.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Multinational pharmaceutical giants — with R&D investments and human trials running in China’s Xinjiang region and at Chinese military hospitals — are escaping US regulation that prohibits drug development or clinical testing, according to an article in The Wire, a New York-headquartered global digital magazine.

Data put together by The Wire China and WireScreen from ClinicalTrials.gov, a medical trial database maintained by the US National Library of Medicine, shows that multinational companies have for years actively been sponsoring medical trials taking place in Xinjiang and at People’s Liberation Army-affiliated sites.

The true scope of this testing is difficult to measure. ClinicalTrials.gov requires registered trials to conform to regulations from regional authorities, but some trials only list the city where the test is held, not the hospital. PLA hospitals also do not always openly identify their military affiliation. China has 165 PLA hospitals across each of its provinces, according to WireScreen data.

Testing at multiple locations allows companies to collect data on how medicine impacts a variety of people under different conditions. The results are used by companies seeking approval from regulatory agencies to market the final product.

The report cites the example of a Covid-era treatment, developed by UK-headquartered AstraZeneca, which illustrates the role Xinjiang played in the testing of a medicine that received regulatory approval in the United States. The treatment, which was eventually sold under the name Evusheld, was trialed at a hospital in Xinjiang and at other sites across China, the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Japan.

Evusheld’s Xinjiang clinical trial was just one of hundreds sponsored by AstraZeneca between 2021 and 2023. Yet, its example illustrates how the pharmaceutical industry can operate in Xinjiang and bring products to market in the United States without facing regulatory requirements addressing forced labour concerns in the region. Several foreign governments and the United Nations (UN) have said that human rights violations are rife in Xinjiang, the article states.

Unlike agricultural and technology firms operating in the region, drug manufacturers were exempt from sanctions under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, according to a 2024 report from the Washington-based research group Center for Advanced Defense Studies. The act, passed in 2021, prevents the import of all goods mined, produced, or manufactured in Xinjiang unless a forced labour-free supply chain is otherwise proven.

As a result, the industry has been able to continue testing medicines on patients in Xinjiang and at military hospitals. Data identified by the report shows the top multinational sponsors of trials over the past fifteen years.

The article highlights that the lack of oversight prompted the House of Representatives’ bipartisan Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to address the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024 and call for more information on pharmaceutical trials conducted in Xinjiang and at PLA hospitals.

“China runs trials at PLA military hospitals and in Xinjiang, where there has been a documented history of people being coerced into medical studies amid the Chinese Communist Party’s genocide targeting Uyghur Muslims and other minorities,” the select committee’s chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) said in a March 18 hearing on the generic drug supply chain, according to the article.

“In spite of this forced testing, the FDA currently allows companies to use data from uninspected Chinese trial sites to advance drug applications in the United States,” he added.

–IANS

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