Category health

3 April 2023, Gurugram: With the rise of exaggerated and gimmicky claims by skincare brands, consumers have become vulnerable to rampant misinformation in the industry. To address this issue, India’s trusted and oldest dermatologically formulated brand, Dr. Sheth’s, is launching its first-ever campaign to debunk common myths surrounding transformative skincare claims. The campaign, called #DermatKnowsBest, features actress Raashi Khanna and aims to shift the conversation back to the skincare experts – dermatologists.

It starts with an announcement on TV about a new miracle serum from Mars with cutting-edge technology and Martian Sand that can transform skin in just one drop. The campaign highlights how the quick transformational claims by skincare brands are a hoax, funnily and humorously, via an Instagram reel by Raashii Khanna where she unboxes and applies this mysterious product based on cutting-edge technology and ingredients from outer space for instant results. However, her skin returns to its previous state a few moments later, driving the important message that miracle skincare products don’t exist and that it is best to leave skincare problems to Fermat’s expertise.

Dr. Sheth’s is the world’s first dermatologist-formulated skincare brand with products designed specifically for Indian skin, based on the clinical experiences, knowledge & expertise of three generations of skin doctors. Today, India’s Skincare market is flooded with products based on learnings from Western and Caucasian Skin. Despite being >10% of the world’s population, Indians are forced to settle for products based on imported formulas that deliver sub-par results. Dr. Sheth’s mission is to bring Indian Skincare into the 21st century, allowing everyday Indians to access high-quality, scientific solutions made specifically for Indian skin. In doing so, we are democratizing the secrets of the country’s oldest and most renowned Dermatology Clinics in everyday use formats that consumers are familiar with, know, and love.

New Delhi, 30th March 2023: MrMed, India’s top online pharmacy for super- speciality medicines, has announced the launch of its mobile app. Available on Android and iOS platforms, the app allows patients and caregivers to purchase speciality medicines at affordable prices easily.

With this launch, patients and caregivers across India (including tier-2 and 3 cities, towns and villages) will have access to over 5000 speciality medicines for conditions like cancer, transplants, kidney/ liver diseases and many more by simply uploading their prescriptions.

MrMed’s mobile app enables users to purchase these medicines with just a few clicks, offering flexible payment options, including online transactions and payment upon delivery. Additionally, the app provides transparent information about Patient Assistance Programs, alternate suggestions on medicines and order tracking for
doorstep delivery, making it a gamechanger in the speciality medicine industry.

Devashish Singh, Co-founder and CEO of MrMed, said, “The majority of medicines available on MrMed are life-saving, and we believe that no patient in any corner of the country should suffer due to delayed or limited access to affordable medicines. We’re proud to be the only platform offering up to 85% discounts on such essential medicines. Additionally, our expert healthcare blogs provide valuable information related to critical health conditions, ensuring that users are well- informed.”

Speciality medicines are typically not available in local pharmacies, and their deliveries can be time-consuming and expensive in some regions of the country. MrMed’s mobile app is surely a significant step towards ensuring timely and affordable access to life-saving medicines.

March 29, 2023: Connect and Heal, a leading health-tech company providing end-to-end coordinated care, announced that Dr. Haleema Yezdani has been appointed as one of the board of Directors of the HIMSS India Chapter Board for 2023-25. In this role, Haleema will participate in membership drives, outreach activities, events, reports, advocacy, and other working groups, to help drive the thought leadership for faster adoption of healthcare IT in India.

Dr. Haleema has served as a General Physician and Diabetologist for 20 years, including nine years of experience in telemedicine. She has received a total of 15 awards for her contribution to telemedicine, making her one of the future 50 clinical leaders in telemedicine globally recognized by HIMSS.

She is also a Rajyotsava Award holder for Project step one, recognized for her extraordinary work during COVID-19 in Step One, a non-profit startup by technology and healthcare professionals on a mission to better prepare our society for future health emergencies. She is also the Director of Women’s International Empowerment at World Peace. Currently, she is associated with Connect and Heal as Senior Manager, Telemedicine.

Sanjay Vinayak, Founder, of Connect and Heal, said, “This recognition is a testament to Haleema’s exceptional work in the healthcare sector, and we take pride in saying she is one of us. As one of the board of Directors of the HIMSS India, she will get more meaningful opportunities to drive growth and innovation in the healthcare ecosystem, helping it become more accurate and efficient in the coming years.”

Dr. Haleema Yezdani, Senior Manager, Connect and Heal (Telemedicine), said, “I am delighted to join HIMSS India as one of the board of Directors. I look forward to collaborating with like-minded industry leaders and bringing more transformations to the telemedicine sector.”

Kerala, 28th March 2023: Sightsavers India and Cholamandalam, have inaugurated the Raahi Vision Centre in Kalamassery, Kochi in collaboration with SSM Foundation. The center aims to promote road safety by providing free eye screenings and spectacles to truck drivers and allied staff in the trucking community. It is the first of its kind in Kerala and part of Sightsavers India’s nationwide project to promote eye health and road safety.

The Raahi Vision Centre, funded by Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited, was inaugurated by Mr Girish M, (RCM, Cholamandalam), in the presence of esteemed dignitaries such as Mr. Venugopal C. Govind (Trustee SSM Eye Research Foundation), Dr. A. Giridhar (Managing Trustee SSM Eye Research), and Mr. Prasanna Kumar (Director-Programs Operations, Sightsavers).

“Our support for the Raahi Vision Centre is aligned with our commitment to promote road safety and support the trucking community. We are proud to be associated with Sightsavers India and SSM Eye Research Foundation in their mission to promote road safety among truck drivers and allied staff in Kerala. At Cholamandalam, we believe in investing in initiatives that have a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are committed to promoting safety on the roads and improving the overall well-being of those who keep our economy moving. We hope that this project will set an example for others to follow and contribute to creating a safer and healthier India.” said Mr. Girish M, RCM, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited.

The Raahi Vision Centre will conduct screening and awareness programs for lorry drivers and allied staff of the trucking community, providing spectacles free of charge after the screening. The center will also organize screening programs on Saturdays at lorry drivers’ hubs and factories. Truck drivers’ associations and factories can contact the program coordinator to schedule screenings at their campuses.

Mr. Prasanna Kumar, Director-Programs Operations, Sightsavers, stated, “We are delighted to collaborate with Cholamandalam and SSM Eye Research Foundation to inaugurate the Raahi Vision Centre in Kerala, which will offer this critical service to the trucking community. Our mission at Sightsavers India is to eliminate avoidable blindness, and this initiative aligns perfectly with our goals by ensuring that truck drivers and allied staff have access to critical eye care services, helping them maintain their vision and enhancing road safety for all.”

The Raahi Vision Centre is a significant step towards creating a safer and healthier trucking community and promoting road safety in India.

27th March 2023, Sunday, Kolkata: Cable TV Equipments Traders & Manufacturers Association (CTMA), in association with East Kolkata Nagrik Foundation, organized a free Eye Operation Camp for 100 cataract patients from economically weaker sections of the society today at Lake Town, Kolkata.

Dr Shiladitya Mukherjee and his team performed the phaco surgeries.

“We are thankful to Dr. Mukherjee and our associate East Kolkata Nagrik Foundation for making the Free Eye Operation camp a huge success. Sight is mankind’s one of the most precious gift and being a part of an initiative to help the poor members of our society, who cannot afford the cost of an operation, get their proper eyesight makes us all very proud and humbled. CTMA will continue to carry out such social welfare activities in the future,” said Mr Pawan Jajodia, Treasurer, CTMA.

Members of CTMA Rajesh Doshi, Rajendra Agarwal, K K Binani, and others were present along with Pritam Kr Daftary, Purushottam Lal Khetan, Prakash Raj Rajaji, Ashish Agarwal – members of East Kolkata Nagarik Foundation.

New Delhi, 27th March 2023 – As working women are often struggling with psychological issues like role conflict, job strain, mental fatigue, stress, anxiety, frustration, depression, anger, phobias, and other social and emotional distress while striking a balance between professional and personal life, Manasthali, a leading mental health and wellness platform, has announced a mental well-being initiative to support such women.

As a part of this initiative, Manasthali offers a range of mental health programs and resources that are tailored to meet the unique needs of women in the corporate world. These programs include online counseling sessions, stress management workshops, mindfulness and meditation sessions, and self-care tips.

“Our goal is to create a safe space for women in the corporate world to address their mental health issues and empower them to live healthy and fulfilling life. We understand the challenges that women face in the workplace, and we are committed to providing them with the tools and resources they need to overcome these challenges,” said Dr. Jyoti Kapoor, Founder and Director, Manasthali Wellness.

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization, depression is the second largest condition in the world. Women are approximately 75% more likely than men to report having recently suffered from depression or any other mental issue. In the corporate world, it has been reported that women often face additional challenges such as discrimination, harassment, and the pressure to balance work and family responsibilities

Manasthali has a team of experienced mental health professionals who work closely with women in the corporate world to provide them with personalized support and guidance. The platform also has an active community of women who share their experiences and support each other through their mental health journey.

“We believe that mental health is just as important as physical health, and we are dedicated to creating a culture of well-being in the workplace. We aim to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage women to seek help when they need it,” added Dr. Jyoti Kapoor.

New Delhi, March 27, 2023: 143 meritorious students from underprivileged communities across 21 states and 130+ cities were awarded the ’Sensodyne IDA Shining Star Scholarship’ to pursue a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) today at the Oral Health Innovation Conclave (OHIC) in Delhi.

OHIC is a first-of-its-kind national event organised by Indian Dental Association (IDA) focusing on innovations, entrepreneurship, and research in oral healthcare. The event was graced by dignitaries such as Dr L. Swasticharan (Additional Deputy Director General of Health Services) as the Guest of Honour, Lt. Gen. Satish R Iyer (Director General Dental Services), Dr Puneet Girdhar (President IDA), Dr Ashok Dhoble (Hon Sec General IDA), Dr. Meera Verma (Chairperson for DDS), and Dr Vandana Agarwal (Organizing Secretary DDS), Mr Navneet Saluja, MD – India Sub-Continent, Haleon India and Ms Anurita Chopra, Head of Marketing, India Sub-continent, Haleon India.

This scholarship programme for BDS students is a CSR initiative by Haleon India (erstwhile GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare) which is in line with the company’s purpose “to deliver better everyday health with humanity”.

An amount of more than INR 6 crores will be disbursed under this programme amongst these 143 students to support their academic and living expenses incurred during their 4-year BDS programme. Each of these students will be provided with the financial assistance of INR 1,05,000 per year for 4 years of their BDS course.

With the mission to facilitate underprivileged and exceptional dental students to bring their dreams to life, Haleon India launched this programme in partnership with IDA and Buddy4Study (B42), NGO in July 2022. It is a step to address the disparities around the dentist–population ratio. 2000+ applicants had registered, after which IDA and B4S initiated the selection process to shortlist the 143 deserving students.

Speaking on the celebratory occasion, Ms. Shanu Saksena, CSR Head, Haleon India (GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare) said, “We are elated to announce the well-deserving winners of this scholarship and many congratulations to them. We would like to thank Indian Dental Association for being our trusted knowledge partner and sharing their knowledge and support throughout this endeavour. Together, we are proud to provide an opportunity to these aspiring dental students to achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world. This initiative is a true representation of Haleon’s purpose “to deliver better health with humanity”, and we are excited to play this pivotal role in their professional and educational journey.”

Dr. Ashok Dhoble, Hon. Secretary General, Indian Dental Association said, “First of all, a huge congratulations to the 143 students who have been awarded the Sensodyne IDA Shining Star Scholarship to pursue Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery through government dental colleges. The Indian Dental Association (IDA) has always been in the forefront to support dental college students and has been their friend, advocate and guide. As the knowledge partner to the Sensodyne IDA Shining tar Scholarship Programme, IDA wholeheartedly supports this initiative by Haleon India. IDA believes that this project would not only touch the lives of the financially less privileged, meritorious students but also fulfil their family’s dreams. IDA is committed to handhold every student until their goals are achieved.”

Every year Mr. Lakhan Ghanghoriya, a Member of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly carries out a medical camp in Jabalpur, and this time he wanted to take it to the next level through telemedicine. The camp was facilitated by Tattvan E-Clinics in association with its partner hospital- Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan. A dedicated team of MD Medicine Doctors made sure to attend to each & every patient tirelessly throughout the event. The use of high-broadband further accelerated the process & turned out to be an efficient session overall. The ground team of tattva made sure to align all the operations in a smooth & timely manner. The motive behind this arrangement was to create maximum awareness about teleconsultation in the region. There was a huge turnout of people, possibly the biggest in the country for a one-day telemedicine camp ever.

Mr. Lakhan Ghanghoriya, MLA, was also present at the event as a chief guest. During the event, he addressed the people & shared his views on this Camp saying “innovation and technology in healthcare is the future for developing and strengthening the rural healthcare infrastructure, the initiative by Tattvan E Clinics has allowed hundreds of patients to avail the benefit of specialist consultation from the comfort of their hometowns hope to see more efforts from Tattvan in Madhya Pradesh so that the people here have regular accessibility to the specialist doctor”.

Mr. Shrichand Batheja, Tattvan Franchise Owner, played a major role in organizing the camp. “The aim was to provide the best healthcare services in the area so that patients do not have to travel long distances. The team of doctors from Mahatma Gandhi was very cooperative and gave each patient their due time and attention. I am very sure this is just the beginning for telemedicine in Jabalpur, very soon we will be holding another camp with Tattvan.”

The event took place on the 1st of March 2023 at Ramleela Manch, Jabalpur. A whopping number of 500+ patients turned out for this event in a single day & got their consultations smoothly by specialist doctors. The patients not only benefited from the free consultations but also the free medicines provided at the camp.

Mr. Ayush Mishra, CEO, of Tattvan E Clinics, quoted “This camp has happened at a very crucial time when the entire country is seeing the transition happening in the healthcare sector. I would like to congratulate our franchise partner Mr. Shrichand Batheja for trusting us with his vision and Shri Lakhan Ghanghoriya for giving us this opportunity. This event will go very long in our memory as Tattvan’s journey for taking healthcare services to the last mile.

These camps by Tattvan ensure the quality of services & affordability for the people of rural India. They aim to reach every little village & town in India to provide these services & save the lives of people who have low access to premium healthcare services.

Dr. V Keshavan  Senior Consultant Pulmonologist,  Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

World TB Day, falling on March 24th each year is organized to increase awareness among the general public that Tuberculosis continues to be a significant public health problem in much of the world today.

It commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced in Berlin that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. At that time, TB was rampant in Europe and the Americas, causing the death of one in every seven individuals.

The Stop TB Partnership, an entity of the United Nations and The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the theme for this year’s World TB Day: “Yes! We Can End TB”.

Even in recent times, TB continues to be a public health scourge globally. In 2021, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with TB around the world. This was an increase of 4.5% as compared to 2020. Eight countries accounted for two-thirds of the total global burden of the disease, with India accounting for more than a quarter of the global burden. The other seven countries (in decreasing order of prevalence) are China, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and South Africa. To put things in perspective: India has less than 20 percent of the world’s population but has more than 25 percent of the total TB patients in the world. Worldwide, India has the highest burden of Drug Resistant TB also.

The ‘National TB Prevalence’ survey (2019- 2021) in India, conducted by the Union government is a three-year survey that was the first of its kind nationwide in the last 55 years and is only the second national survey aimed at determining the actual disease burden of tuberculosis in the country.

The survey revealed that the prevalence of tuberculosis among Indians aged above 15 years is 312 cases per 1 lakh population, as compared to the global average of 134 cases per 1 lakh population. Delhi, with 747 cases per 1 lakh population, has the highest prevalence of TB. Gujarat has the lowest prevalence with 137 cases per 1 lakh population. The survey has estimated the National Prevalence to Notification Ratio as 2.84. (this means that for every case that is notified, the actual prevalence of cases in the community is 2.84). The study has also estimated that in over 60% of cases, the patients did not seek medical care for their symptoms, the most common reasons for this being that either the symptoms were ignored by the patients, the symptoms were not recognized by the patients as being indicative of an underlying disease or due to financial constraints in seeking medical care.

John Bunyan once referred to “Consumption” as the “Captain of the Men of Death” and indeed, for many years, and in many parts of the world, TB was the leading infectious cause of death. In 2021, there were an estimated 1.3 million deaths due to TB globally, with over 400,000 deaths occurring in India.

India has had a National TB Program (NTP) since 1962. Since then, it has been reorganized twice: first into the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) in 1997 and then into the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in 2020.

TB control efforts initially got organized with the National TB program (NTP) primarily focusing on BCG vaccinations as a preventive measure.

In order to strengthen the NTP, the Government decided to give a new thrust to TB control activities, with assistance from international agencies, and the emphasis was shifted to a treatment-based strategy. The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), adopted the internationally recommended Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) strategy, as the most systematic and cost-effective approach for the Indian scenario.

Under DOTS, political and administrative commitment were some of its core strategies, to ensure the provision of organized and comprehensive TB control services. The adoption of smear microscopy for reliable and early diagnosis was introduced in general health services. The supply chain of drugs was also strengthened to provide an assured supply of drugs to meet the requirements.

Large-scale implementation of the RNTCP began in late 1998 and subsequently, India achieved country-wide coverage under RNTCP in 2006.

This was followed up with RNTCP Phase II, from 2006 onwards. The second phase aimed at at least 70% case detection rate of new smear-positive cases as well as a cure rate of at least 85%, in order to achieve the TB- related targets set by the United Nations among the “Millenium Development Goals”. In terms of the treatment of patients, RNTCP was recognized as the largest and fastest-expanding TB control program in the world.

Consolidating the advancements in RNTCP, it was renamed as the NTEP and this change came into effect from 1 January 2020.

“Ni-Kshay” (Ni- End, Kshay- TB), a web-based patient management system for TB control has been another notable achievement and has enabled the capture and transfer of individual patient data from the remotest health institutions of the country.

The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu launched the “Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” on September 9, 2022. According to the United Nations “Sustainable Development Goals”, all nations have set the goal of eradicating TB by the year 2030. But the Government of India has set the target of eradicating TB by the year 2025 and efforts are being made at every level to fulfill this resolution. The “Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” has been envisioned to bring together all stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination. Under this program, any individual, NGO, cooperative society or corporate organization can take the pledge to help persons with TB and can join as “Ni-Kshay Mitra”. “Ni-Akshay 2.0” is a digital platform for community support of patients with TB. There is also a dedicated “Ni-Kshay” helpline for this purpose: 1800-11-6666.

New Delhi, 22 March 2023: MGM Healthcare, a multi-specialty quaternary care hospital in the heart of Chennai, successfully performed a complex brain surgery on a new born, saving the day-old child with a huge blood clot in the brain. Dr. L.S. Harishchandra, Consultant Neuro Surgeon, Specialist in Pediatric, Epilepsy and Movement Disorder Surgery at MGM Healthcare, with support from Neonatal Intensive care unit headed by Dr Binu Ninan, performed the timely intricate two-step surgical procedure on the brain of the newborn to remove the blood clot and rescue the child.

A day-old infant was brought to MGM Healthcare’s Neonatal Intensive care unit from an outside hospital with drowsiness and was refusing any feed from the mother. After in-depth examination and an MRI, it was identified that the child had a huge blood clot compressing the brain stem and obstructing the normal flow of fluid in the brain.

Vital functions like breathing, heartbeat, and maintaining a conscious state are controlled by the brain stem. When this part of the brain is compressed, it affects all these functions. The immediate solution for this is to remove the clot.

Speaking about the complexities in the surgery, Dr. Harishchandra said, “Performing any surgery on newborns is loaded with challenges. It’s a tightrope walk between being meticulous and also being as quick as possible. The surgery took about 5 hours. The baby was under the excellent care of our Neonatal team during her post-operative period. Timely intervention and meticulous neonatal post op care was key in saving the life of the child. It’s been few months since we performed this procedure. The baby is doing fine and is keeping up her developmental milestones.

There have been hardly 100 such newborn cases reported worldwide. With very strong support from our Neonatal intensive care unit and advanced infrastructure, we at MGM Healthcare are able to perform such complex surgeries. “