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In a week, 6.75 lakh hypertension screenings, 6.11 lakh diabetes screenings, 2.05 lakh cataract screenings, and over 1.76 lakh teleconsultations were conducted at Ayushman Bharat block-level health melas, according to the Union Health Ministry. In a week, more than 27.31 lakh people visited 3,204 block health melas in 33 states and UTs, according to the report. Over 3.66 lakh ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) IDs were issued across India, with the highest number of 56,321 in Maharashtra, while over 1.17 lakh Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY) golden cards were created, predominantly in Karnataka (22,091). According to the government, 1,009 Block Health Melas held blood donation camps and 519 had organ donation registration. From April 16 to 22, the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with states and union territories, will commemorate the fourth anniversary of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Block Health Melas began on April 18 across 33 Indian states and union territories. These health melas are attracting thousands of individuals to get quality healthcare, as well as necessary drugs and diagnostic services, according to the statement. They provide as a platform for health education, wellness lifestyle information, and other healthcare services aimed at early disease diagnosis and treatment. The melas will run until the end of April, according to the statement. The Union Health Minister, Health Ministers of States and UTs, MPs, MLAs, senior officials of the Union Health Ministry, Principal Health Secretaries/Health Secretaries of States/UTs, senior officials of the state Health department, representatives, and local dignitaries are also visiting AB-HWCs to raise public awareness about the importance of AB-HWCs in providing affordable and accessible healthcare. Source: PTI

For the first time in the country, AYUSH doctors will receive training in primary trauma treatment. The Union AYUSH ministry and the city-based NGO Lifeline Foundation signed an MoU in this regard. The programme, which is being carried out in collaboration with the AYUSH ministry, aims to train 4,000 doctors across the country. Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh will be the first states to implement the programme. In Gujarat, there will be 2,000 AYUSH doctors. The project’s Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Gandhinagar on the first day of the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit 2022. The training would be delivered in modules approved by Rashtriya Ayurved Vidyapeeth, the ministry’s central office in New Delhi. Dr. Subroto Das, the founder trustee of Lifeline Foundation and a Padma Shri awardee, said the effort was part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to mainstream AYUSH doctors and address unnecessary deaths from all sorts of trauma. He went on to say that this will be the first-of-its-kind upskilling aimed at lowering trauma-related mortality by incorporating training for AYUSH doctors. According to Das, India has more than 7.7 lakh AYUSH doctors. “Already pilot projects to train 500 doctors have been completed in Vadodara, Vapi, Godhra, Lunawada, Modasa and rural areas of Saurashtra. Rural areas have been targeted because they are mostly bereft of trauma care facilities and are unable to address the Golden Hour. This is where AYUSH doctors can make a difference since they have a good presence and acceptability in the rural communities,” said Das. Airway management, haemorrhage control and suturing, IV access and hydration management, cervical spine stabilisation, CPR, and cardiac arrest are among the low-cost procedures covered in the 8-hour session. Trauma surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, general surgeons, emergency physicians, and ICU physicians will give the training. The objective is to do impact studies on a regular basis, change the modules as needed, scale it nationally with the AYUSH ministry’s help, and then institutionalise these skill developments as part of training. Lifeline Foundation established India’s first CPR project in addition to its much-lauded highway rescue effort. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation became the country’s first civic body to be fully trained in high-quality first aid and CPR. Source: Economic Times  

In light of the rising number of infections in recent days, a major meeting of the DDMA on Wednesday is expected to discuss mandatory usage of face masks and a hybrid form of offline and online instruction for schoolchildren, according to official sources. As per the meeting notification, the COVID situation in the national capital would be reviewed at a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) chaired by Lt Governor Anil Baijal. After the DDMA removed a fine of Rs 500 earlier this month, the use of masks by persons in Delhi has “significantly” decreased. Given the increased number of infections, this is not a desirable situation, according to a senior government official. The mandatory mask use in Delhi is most likely to be discussed during the meeting, with reimposing fines for its strict implementation,” said the officer, citing the UP-government’s decision today to make it mandatory for residents of six NCR cities in the state. Due to an increase in Covid cases in some neighbouring states, the Uttar Pradesh government made it mandatory for people to wear a face mask in public areas in the capital Lucknow and six NCR districts, including Noida and Ghaziabad, on Monday, an official said. In light of concerns of children becoming infected, the DDMA conference could also discuss giving schools the choice of using both offline and online teaching methods, according to sources. Following a surge in Covid cases, schools throughout Delhi-NCR have jumped into action, implementing a variety of measures, including periodic sanitization, to keep the virus at bay and avert campus closure. At a time when scores of students and workers at institutes across the NCR cities have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the Haryana education department has instructed schools in the state not to make it essential for pupils to attend physical classes. In the city, the number of pupils testing positive for drugs is on the rise, causing anxiety among parents. Wherever any student or teacher is confirmed infected, the Delhi government has directed school officials to close specific wings or classes. Though the number of COVID-19 cases in the national capital is increasing, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain remarked earlier in the day that the situation is not serious because the incidence of hospitalisation is low. He stated that the government is monitoring the issue. He also emphasised the importance of wearing face masks, despite the fact that the penalties for not doing so had been withdrawn. “In Delhi, the number of positive cases has been increasing. However, we have completed 100% immunisation, and the (corona) virus has already infected a big number of individuals. In addition, there aren’t many hospitalizations. As a result, the situation is not frightening. We’re keeping a close eye on everything” Jain said in a briefing. When asked about the rise in COVID-19 cases among children, the minister said the Delhi government has already issued an advisory instructing schools to halt specific classes for a few days if any student or teacher tests positive for the coronavirus. Source: PTI

Dr. VG Somani, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), claimed that India is on track to become a “global hub for medicines,” claiming that there has been a fourfold increase in applications for investigational new drugs in the country. “We are getting the applications of the investigational new drugs. Earlier, there used to be hardly 5-10 applications. At present, there are 23 applications in the pipeline for the investigational new drug and this is a great achievement of our country,” Somani said, speaking at the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) Annual Conclave. He believes that “Made in India” drugs will make a difference and spread throughout the world in the coming years. The DCGI official also explained how drug controllers work while making vaccine and drug decisions. “We have been in regular contact with the WHO and all global regulators via the ICMR, ICH platform, and so on. There are various platforms for vaccine and drug approval, including trials. That is exactly what we did with remdesivir.  There is no single decision-making platform,” he added. He went on to say that India has been designated as a “world pharmacy,” and that “we want to become the well-managed pharmacy of the entire world so that our potential can be recognised.” Source: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised people’s determination in the fight against Covid on Tuesday, saying that whether it’s the world’s largest free vaccination campaign or medical infrastructure development, India is setting new health benchmarks. Modi posted a graphic on Twitter highlighting the accomplishments of India’s Covid vaccination campaign, which has resulted in over 185 crore cumulative doses administered in the country. “The resolve shown by 130 crore people in the country in the fight against coronavirus signifies the strength of New India,” Modi said in a tweet in Hindi. “Whether it is the world’s largest free vaccination campaign with indigenous vaccines or the development of medical infrastructure, the country is setting new benchmarks in the field of health,” PM said. Source: PTI

The Healthy Indian Project’s information media division, THIP Media, has announced the launch of a WhatsApp health information and fact-checking chatbot. Ask RAKSHA is the name of the chatbot. RAKSHA stands for Readily Accessible Knowledge and Support for Health Action. The user-friendly chatbot will assist Indian citizens in finding answers to their health-related concerns as well as fact-checking any health-related information for free. Users can also subscribe to daily health tips or take a quiz to test their knowledge of health. The chatbot is now only available in English, but the company has assured that a version in Hindi and Bengali will be released soon. “We’re pleased to support the launch of ‘Ask RAKSHA,’ The Healthy Indian Project’s chatbot built on the WhatsApp Business platform that will help users access credible health-related information from the independent third-party fact-checker, certified by International Fact-Checking Network,” said Shivnath Thukral, WhatsApp India’s Public Policy Director. The safety of our users is at the heart of everything we do at WhatsApp, and we’ve spent a lot of time and effort equipping users with resources and tools that help them fact-check and receive reliable information. “We are thankful to WhatsApp for the cooperation in establishing this chatbot,” stated Sudipta Sengupta, CEO of The Healthy Indian Project (THIP). It helps us achieve THIP Media’s goal of providing all Indians with credible health information while simultaneously protecting them from health misinformation. It is great to be able to debut this on the eve of International FactChecking Day and World Health Day.” THIP Media, a member of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), collaborates with recognised medical professionals to debunk false health, medicine, diet, and treatment claims. Source: PTI

Siemens Healthineers has announced that its manufacturing facility in India will be expanded. The company has launched a new production line (plant) for computed tomography scanners at its Bengaluru facility in order to accelerate the growth of the medical devices industry in the country. Medical devices have been chosen by the Indian government as a priority area for the flagship ‘Make in India’ programme. The Department of Pharmaceuticals launched a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme with the goal of boosting domestic manufacturing and attracting major investment in the Medical Device sector. Siemens Healthineers’ new production line in Bengaluru has been approved under the PLI scheme’s Radiology and Imaging Medical Devices segment. Siemens Healthcare Private Limited, with a committed investment of 91.9 crore for the manufacture of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, is one of the approved applicants for the PLI scheme. “We strongly believe in India’s growth story. The investor-friendly initiatives of the Government of India will give a fillip to the Indian Medical Device industry and the healthcare sector at large. Commencing operations of the new CT scanners production line is our first step in culminating the vision into a reality. It will go a long way in our quest of improving access to high-quality healthcare for all,” said, Vivek Kanade, Managing Director, Siemens Healthcare Private Limited. The PLI scheme, which has been bolstered by the Government of India’s (GoI) investor-friendly efforts, has provided the necessary momentum to India’s ambition of becoming a worldwide manufacturing hub for medical devices. Source: Economic Times  

Since the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 medicines and instruments have been sold at a GST rate of 5%, while other medicines have been sold at a GST rate of between 5% and 12%, according to Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, who spoke in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The central government, according to Chaudhary, manages 66% of the country’s government-sponsored health insurance plans. “When the COVID-19 pandemic started, it was decided to sell all drugs at a GST rate between 5 and 12 percent, and the GST rate for COVID-19-related medicines and instruments was reduced to 5%,” he stated during Question Hour. According to the minister, the GST rate for health insurance is 18 percent, which is in line with international standards and comparable to the pre-GST period in the country. Senior citizens can get a tax rebate of up to Rs 1 lakh on health insurance premiums, according to him. According to Chaudhary, the GST Council, which is a constitutional body comprised of the Union Finance Minister and ministers nominated by respective state and union territory governments, prescribes GST rates and exemptions on all services (including GST on health insurance premiums). “At present, Goods and Services Tax (GST) on health insurance services is levied at standard rate, i.e., 18 per cent. Specific health insurance schemes catering to the needs of economically weaker sections of the society and differently abled, such as Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), Universal Health Insurance Scheme, Jan Argoya Bima Policy and Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme are fully exempt from GST,” he said. Healthcare services, he added, are also excluded from the GST. The GST Council received representations to lower the GST on health insurance in its 31st meeting on December 22, 2018 and its 37th meeting on September 20, 2019. According to him, the GST Council did not offer a recommendation for a reduction in GST. Source: PTI

After a sharp drop in the number of active cases and deaths from COVID-19 in recent days, Maharashtra, India’s richest state and home to the country’s financial capital Mumbai, will make wearing masks optional starting April 2. Masks had previously been required in all public locations in the state to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. On Thursday, Maharashtra’s health minister Rajesh Tope stated, “Wearing masks (will) not be compulsory, but people can wear one if they want.” By April 2, all restrictions on public venues, such as hotels, weddings, gyms, and buses, as well as the requirement to be twice vaccinated to enter public places, would be eliminated, according to Tope. So far, India has given out at least 1.84 billion doses of coronavirus vaccine. According to the Reuters COVID-19 tracker, assuming that each individual requires two doses, that would be enough to vaccinate 67.3 percent of the country’s population. Tope stated, “This will help people in celebrating upcoming festivals.” Source: Reuters

Mansukh Mandaviya, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, said on Tuesday that other nations around the world regard India as a leader in the health sector since “we managed the Covid-19 outbreak so well under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.” In response to a query about the country’s healthcare development, the Health Minister stated that the federal and state governments must collaborate in the health sector. In response to a question on states being given more ability to deal with disease outbreaks, the Health Minister told the House that, while health is a state topic, there is no divide between the Centre and the states when it comes to dealing with health-related issues. In response to a question from Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’ Brien about retired servicemen’s medical bills, Mandaviya stated that the government is dedicated to their welfare and is always ready to give services to those holding Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) cards. He further stated that the CGHS facility was previously available in 75 places across the country, but has now expanded to 81 cities. In response to a question by Samajwadi Party member Rewati Raman Singh, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pawar stated that the country will have 22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Six of the ten proposed in the first phase have begun to operate with all departments. “Over 15,000 patients are being examined at these six AIIMS, over seven thousand major and minor surgeries have been doing in these AIIMS while the OPD facility in another 10 AIIMS will start soon”, Pawar said. She told the House that the site for the new AIIMS proposed in Tamil Nadu had been selected in Madurai, in response to a query from DMK MP T Siva. “This AIIMS is being built with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and a Project Management Consultant has been appointed as well.” The state government has finalised the location for AIIMS in Darbhanga, she said, and construction on the structure would begin soon. Source: IANS