Lifestyle

Bhopal/Jabalpur, Feb 17 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Tuesday, dismissed the regular bail application filed by a pharmacist accused in the toxic Coldrif cough syrup case, a paediatrician Praveen Soni, his wife Jyoti Soni and nephew.

The toxic Coldrif syrup, prescribed by Praveen Soni, led to the deaths of more than 26 innocent children aged below four to five years in Chhindwara district.

A bench of Justice Pramod Kumar Agrawal, held in its order dated February 17, 2026, that this is not a fit case for granting bail, considering the overall facts and circumstances.

The applicant, a licensed pharmacist working at M/s Apna Medical Store owned by co-accused Jyoti Soni (wife of paediatrician Praveen Soni), had dispensed Coldrif Syrup instead of the prescribed Nextro-DS.

No bill was maintained for the sale of the alleged cough syrup, and the applicant was involved in destroying evidence, including 66 bottles of the syrup.

The court noted the pharmacist's role as a technical custodian responsible for safe dispensing, record-keeping, and public safety under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Instead, Praveen Soni allegedly substituted the prescribed drug with Coldrif Syrup without prescription, particularly for pediatric patients, which is illegal and medically impermissible.

This substitution, combined with violations of licensing conditions under Rules 65(3) and 65(4), contributed to the tragedy.

The cough syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Karnataka, was found contaminated with high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent far exceeding permissible limits, causing acute kidney failure in children.

The incident occurred between August and October 2025, with children initially treated for routine cough and fever at the Community Health Centre in Parasiya of Chhindwara district.

The cough syrup was banned by the Madhya Pradesh authorities on October 4, 2025.

The prosecution emphasised that the pharmacist, along with the co-accused, including the prescribing doctor, who allegedly received commissions and profits per cough syrup bottle, acted in collusion.

The massive scale of harm to public health, with more than 26 young lives lost and others suffering grievous injury, weighed heavily against granting bail.

The applicant has been in custody since October 13, 2025, the prosecution said.

The court said that prima facie evidence against the applicant is strong, and the offence under Section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, along with Sections 105, 276, and 238(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), appears made out despite defence arguments of no prior knowledge of adulteration or ban at the time of sale.

The bail plea was opposed by the state, represented by the Additional Advocate General, and by objectors, who argued for stronger charges like culpable homicide and criticised investigative lapses under political pressure.

The court dismissed the application, clarifying that its observations are limited to the bail decision and must not influence the trial on merits.

This court judgment comes amid ongoing investigations into the 2025 cough syrup crisis, which has drawn national attention to regulatory failures in drug manufacturing, distribution, and prescription practices, with forensic confirmations of DEG in victims' samples strengthening the case against involved parties.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Feb 17 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Tuesday that Hyderabad has the potential to rise from global vaccine capital to become global life sciences capital.

Inaugurating BioAsia 2026 along with IT & Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, he stated that the annual event stands as proof of Hyderabad's success as a life sciences hub.

He expressed confidence that BioAsia would soon be recognised on the lines of the World Economic Forum organised in Davos.

The Chief Minister highlighted Telangana's strengths, which will support its rise from being a global vaccine capital to become global life sciences capital. He listed strong vision and clear policy, availability of highly qualified human resources, and great educational institutions as the strengths of Telangana.

He noted that Hyderabad is a global hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with excellence in research and design.

The Chief Minister mentioned the recent launch of the Telangana Next-Gen Life Sciences Policy at Davos, the expansion of Genome Valley, the launch of 1Bio or world-class research and innovation, the acceleration of Green Pharma City, and the opening of various global capability centres in Hyderabad.

"In the last two years, we have received over Rs 73,000 crore investments in life sciences," he said.

Hyderabad is the preferred destination to set up GCCs, build innovation engines, design molecules and drugs, manage clinical analytics, build AI platforms and drive digital manufacturing, he added.

Considering the massive turnout from around the world at BioAsia, the Chief Minister said, the conference could surpass its name and be renamed as Bio-World.

He highlighted the presence of major thought and business leaders in pharma, bio-sciences, bio-tech, bulk drugs, vaccines, and healthcare in Hyderabad.

He claimed that Hyderabad has emerged as a trusted, stable, and future-ready ecosystem. "From bulk drugs to biologics, from manufacturing to innovation, from India to the world, Telangana is moving up the value chain," he said.

Minister Sridhar Babu said that the state is targeting $25 billion in life sciences investments and 5 lakh jobs by 2030, with a clear roadmap to position Telangana among the world’s Top three life sciences clusters. "Telangana is moving beyond supply-led manufacturing to solution-driven global leadership by building a ready-to-work talent pool in mRNA, gene editing, and AI-led drug discovery, while strengthening Hyderabad as a hub for next-generation innovation and medical tourism," he said.

BioAsia 2026 saw participation of more than 4,000 delegates representing 500 top companies of the Lifesciences ecosystem from all over the world.

The Chief Minister presented Prof Bruce Levine, from the University of Pennsylvania, with the Genome Valley Excellence Award.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has told the Supreme Court that it had no role whatsoever in the decision to reduce the qualifying cut-off percentile for NEET-PG 2025–26, adding that its function is strictly limited to conducting the examination and publishing results as per directions issued by the competent authorities.

In a short reply sworn by NBEMS Law Officer Mohd. Sameen, it was stated that the petition challenging the January 13 notification issued by the NBEMS -- which reduced the qualifying cut-off percentiles for postgraduate medical admissions to abnormally low, zero, and even negative levels after the declaration of results and completion of two rounds of counselling -- is "not maintainable and deserves to be rejected".

"The answering Respondent respectfully submits that the role of NBEMS is strictly limited to conducting the NEET PG examination in a fair and transparent manner, evaluating answers, and handing over the final results to the concerned Counselling Authority, namely the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)," the affidavit stated.

It clarified that it had "no role whatsoever in the decision regarding reduction of the qualifying percentile for NEET PG 2025" and that the decision "falls exclusively within the domain" of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the National Medical Commission (NMC).

According to the affidavit, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through a communication dated January 9, informed it that the qualifying percentile cut-off for the third round of NEET-PG 2025–26 counselling had been reduced and directed it to publish revised results accordingly.

"In compliance with the aforesaid direction, the answering Respondent published the Impugned Notice dated 13.01.2026 notifying the revised cut-off scores for NEET PG 2025," the reply said, adding that the revised results were forwarded to the MCC on the same day.

As per the revised criteria, the minimum qualifying percentile for Unreserved (UR) candidates was reduced to the 7th percentile (cut-off score 103 out of 800), for UR-PwD candidates to the 5th percentile (90 marks), and for SC/ST/OBC candidates to the 0th percentile, corresponding to a cut-off score of minus 40.

Placing data on record, the NBEMS informed the apex court that 95,913 additional candidates became eligible to participate in counselling pursuant to the lowering of the cut-off.

"From a perusal of the aforesaid table, it is ex facie apparent that pursuant to the lowering of cut off 95913 additional candidates have now become eligible to participate in the counselling for NEET PG 2025," the affidavit stated.

It further contended that any order passed in the present writ petition would directly affect these candidates, who are not before the Supreme Court, and "on this ground alone, the present petition is liable to be dismissed".

The NBEMS also drew attention to the dismissal of a similar challenge by the Delhi High Court in the Sanchit Seth vs National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences & Ors case.

In its January 21 decision, the Delhi High Court found no arbitrariness in the reduction of the eligibility percentile and held that the apprehensions regarding patient safety and dilution of merit were "unfounded and not based on any empirical study".

It had further held that "merely by lowering the eligibility criteria for counselling will not reduce the merit, as the actual admission will be based on the merit" and that expanding the pool of candidates would help ensure optimal utilisation of postgraduate medical seats.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued notices to the Union government, the NBEMS, the NMC, and the MCC following a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking restoration of the original qualifying standards prescribed in the NEET-PG 2025 Information Bulletin.

The plea, filed by advocate Satyam Singh Rajput, contended that the impugned reduction is arbitrary, unconstitutional, and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, and poses a serious threat to patient safety, public health and the integrity of postgraduate medical education.

It argued that permitting candidates with zero or negative scores to enter specialist training dilutes merit at the apex level of medical education and undermines minimum standards of professional competence.

Terming the move "unprecedented and extreme", the petition stated that the NEET-PG, which is meant to function as a national screening mechanism, has been converted into "an instrument certifying failure as eligibility". The PIL have also challenged the reduction on the ground that the "rules of the game" cannot be altered after the selection process has commenced and results have been declared.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) When India speaks of AI in healthcare, it is not limited to sophisticated algorithms or the promise of precision alone, but is measured by the extent to which technology touches lives and addresses health inequities across the country, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, said on Tuesday.

Speaking in a session during the ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’ at Bharat Mandapam here, she highlighted the transformative role of AI in advancing public health outcomes and strengthening India’s healthcare delivery systems.

Patel said that “AI for India, as our Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisions, is not merely Artificial Intelligence but All-Inclusive Intelligence.”

As India advances towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, health forms one of the most critical pillars of development.

India’s vast and diverse population, the rural–urban divide, and the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases present unique challenges.

In such a context, she underscored, technology — particularly AI — becomes an indispensable enabler.

“AI has been integrated across the entire continuum of healthcare—from disease surveillance and prevention to diagnosis and treatment,” said the minister.

The Media Disease Surveillance System, an AI-enabled tool that monitors disease trends in as many as 13 languages, generates real-time alerts, and strengthens outbreak preparedness.

This system, she said, showcases the power of AI in augmenting India’s disease control efforts and enhancing surveillance capacity.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched AI-based tools for genomic surveillance, capable of predicting potential zoonotic outbreaks even before transmission from animals to humans occurs. Such predictive capabilities, she emphasized, represent a paradigm shift in preventive public health.

The minister also highlighted the deployment of AI-enabled handheld X-ray machines and Computer-Aided Detection tools for tuberculosis (CA-TB), which have brought advanced diagnostics closer to communities.

These innovations have contributed to approximately 16 percent additional case detection in TB. Furthermore, AI-based tools predicting adverse TB treatment outcomes have helped achieve a 27 percent decline in negative treatment results, strengthening India’s fight against tuberculosis.

The government has actively worked towards building a strong AI ecosystem in healthcare, including the establishment of three Centres of Excellence for AI at AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh to integrate world-class AI expertise into public healthcare delivery.

Artificial Intelligence is poised to become a transformative force in public health, provided it is deployed responsibly, ethically, and at scale, said experts at the session.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, on Tuesday underscored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India’s healthcare sector, asserting that technology must serve as a force multiplier to promote inclusivity and health equity.

Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in the national Capital, Patel said the true strength of AI lies in its ability to bridge health inequities and support India’s governance model.

“The real measure of the power of AI lies in the extent to which it is able to touch and address health inequities. That's the governance model we follow, in which AI becomes an enabler and a force multiplier, and it is able to take us closer to the goals of inclusivity and health equity,” she said.

Emphasising the government’s long-term vision, the Union Minister said India is moving ahead with the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, with health as a central pillar of that vision.

“Marching ahead with a big vision of building a developed nation by 2047. And when we envision a developed India, health becomes an extremely important pillar. India has unique challenges, our vast and diverse population, the rural-urban divide, and also the dual burden of non-communicable as well as communicable diseases. So when we look at these unique challenges, it becomes extremely important that we make use of technologies,” Patel said.

She added that India’s approach goes beyond mere adoption of technology and represents a strategic response to structural healthcare challenges.

“We have had comprehensive technological integration in our national healthcare framework, which we don’t see only as adoption of technology but a strategic response to the unique challenges that we have. Today, we have integrated AI across the entire health sector, from disease surveillance to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It is everywhere, and it shows the power of AI in bringing about transformation,” she noted.

Citing examples, Patel highlighted the use of AI-driven tools such as the Media Disease Surveillance System.

“One popular example of AI tools we have used is the Media Disease Surveillance System. It helps monitor digital news in as many as 13 languages, generates disease alerts, and helps us manage real-time data. It showcases the power of AI in augmenting our efforts towards disease control and enhances our surveillance capacity,” she said.

The Minister reiterated that leveraging AI responsibly will be key to strengthening India’s public health infrastructure and ensuring equitable healthcare delivery across the country.

--IANS

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Seoul, Feb 15 (IANS) The cremation rate in South Korea continues to be on a steady rise, data showed on Sunday, prompting concerns over potential shortages of cremation facilities, especially in densely populated major cities, such as Seoul, amid the rapid aging of the population.

The national cremation rate came to 94 percent in 2024, up from 92.9 percent a year earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK) and the welfare ministry, reports Yonhap news agency.

The figure has been on a constant increase over the past decades, rising from 33.5 percent in 2000 to 67.5 percent in 2010 and further to 89.9 percent in 2020.

The supply of cremation facilities, however, has failed to keep pace with growing demand, with shortages particularly severe in Seoul and other major cities.

The share of cremations conducted within three days of death fell from 86.2 percent in 2019 to 73.6 percent in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, standing at 75.5 percent in 2025.

The rate in Seoul and Busan stood at 69.6 percent and 67.1 percent, respectively, last year, both below the national average.

Experts say additional cremation facilities are needed, given rapid population aging and prevailing funeral practices.

South Korea officially became a super-aged society last year, with more than 20 percent of its population aged 65 and older. The government projects the annual number of deaths to rise from 310,000 in 2020 to 700,000 in 2070.

"Privately led, small-scale cremation facilities could be a solution, particularly the introduction of small cremation units at hospital funeral halls," the BOK said in a recent report, noting that hospital infrastructure is already widely distributed across regions.

"Modern technology allows cremation facilities to operate in an environmentally friendly manner," it added. "There is a need to boldly overhaul relevant laws and regulations."

—IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 15 (IANS) Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday praised the consortium-driven innovation model pioneered by IIT Madras Research Park, saying it has enabled immediate and appropriate commercialisation of technology and is now being adopted by several other academic institutions and universities across the country.

The Minister, who holds independent charge of the Science and Technology and Earth Sciences ministries and also serves in the Prime Minister’s Office, made the remarks during his visit to the Immersive Technology and Entrepreneurship Labs (ITEL) Foundation and other advanced research facilities at Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

“This model is now being keenly picked up by other academic institutions and universities as well,” he said.

During the visit, Dr. Singh reviewed ongoing projects in areas such as urban mobility, space technology, medical devices and brain research.

“The consortium approach, where industry partners are involved from the early stages of research and development, ensures that innovations are aligned with real-world needs,” Dr Singh stated.

“This integrated model allows research outcomes to be translated more quickly into practical and market-ready solutions,” he added.

The ITEL Foundation, established in July 2024 as a not-for-profit Section 8 company and recognised by the Department of Science and Technology, aims to position India as a global technology leader.

It brings together academic institutions, industry leaders and investors to jointly develop deep-tech innovations and transfer them directly to the commercial sector.

One of the key demonstrations during the visit was the HASHTIC mobility initiative, which aims to tackle traffic congestion in Indian cities.

The project proposes AI-enabled small electric vehicles running on elevated tracks above existing roads, with the goal of reducing a 15-kilometre commute to around 20 minutes.

Dr. Singh also reviewed the work of Agnikul Cosmos, a private space startup incubated within the IIT Madras ecosystem.

The company develops launch vehicles for flexible, on-demand satellite launches and successfully conducted its first mission in May 2024 with support from Indian Space Research Organisation and IN-SPACe.

The startup is now preparing for a commercial mission of its reusable rocket later this year -- reflecting the growing role of private players in India’s space sector.

--IANS

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Uttarakhand, Feb 15 (IANS) In a major step towards strengthening student well-being in higher education, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) on Sunday announced it has started drafting a comprehensive mental health policy for its campus community.

The initiative is being seen as a landmark move that could set a model for other IITs across the country.

The first draft of the policy has been prepared by the institute’s Wellness Centre, which serves as a mental health care facility for students, faculty and staff.

The draft was developed with inputs from the Dean of Student Welfare, Associate Dean of Student Wellness, clinical psychologists at IIT Roorkee, external advisors and faculty members, ensuring that the framework reflects both professional expertise and institutional experience.

The initiative was further strengthened through “SAHYOG 2.0”, a focused inter-IIT discussion aimed at sharing ideas and learning from the experiences of other IITs.

The goal of the dialogue was to understand the policies, protocols and governance systems already in place at different IITs and to incorporate best practices into a comprehensive and inclusive mental health policy for the entire IIT community.

SAHYOG 2.0 builds on the success of SAHYOG 1.0, which was held in 2024. The latest edition also aligns with recent directives of the Supreme Court of India and the University Grants Commission (UGC), both of which have stressed the importance of mental health governance in higher education institutions.

The discussions during SAHYOG 2.0 covered a wide range of issues, including how institutions can frame and implement mental health policies, the need for preventive and responsive support systems, and the role of Wellness Centres, counselling cells and student welfare bodies.

Participants also discussed how to standardise mental health policies across IITs and create clear standard operating procedures for handling crisis situations.

The event brought together delegates from all IITs, including Deans, faculty members and mental health professionals.

Renowned external advisors from institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh, Government Medical College and Hospital Chandigarh, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, King George's Medical University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry Kolkata, O P Jindal Global University, Mariwala Health Initiative, University of Delhi and Uttarakhand Police Special Investigation Force also took part.

A Supreme Court advocate and an anthropologist were among the distinguished officials present.

Speaking about the effort, IIT Roorkee Director Prof K.K. Pant said that mental health and well-being have become critical pillars of excellence in higher education.

He said initiatives like SAHYOG 2.0 show a shared recognition of this responsibility among institutions.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) In a major step to strengthen cancer care in India, the government has announced the setting up of Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in district hospitals across the country over the next three years, according to the official statement.

The decision was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, with 200 centres planned to be established during 2025-26 itself.

The move aims to bring chemotherapy services closer to patients’ homes and reduce the pressure on big tertiary hospitals.

Cancer treatment usually requires multiple hospital visits over several months. Patients must undergo regular chemotherapy cycles and follow-ups for effective results.

For many people, especially those living in rural areas or from economically weaker sections, travelling frequently to city-based tertiary hospitals is both physically exhausting and financially stressful.

Costs related to travel, stay, food and loss of daily wages add to the burden. Patients undergoing chemotherapy are often weak and need a caregiver to accompany them, which further increases expenses and income loss for families.

By offering chemotherapy at district hospitals, the new centres are expected to significantly reduce travel distance and indirect costs. This will help families save money and reduce disruption to their daily lives.

Before approving the new centres, the government conducted a detailed gap analysis in consultation with states and Union Territories.

The selection of districts was based on cancer burden, patient load and availability of infrastructure.

The programme has also focused on training and capacity building. Medical officers and nurses from selected districts underwent four to six weeks of hands-on training at mentor institutes such as government medical colleges, regional cancer centres and State Cancer Institutes.

The training covered chemotherapy administration, dose calculation, management of side effects, emergency handling, infection control, safe handling of drugs and patient counselling.

This has helped ensure that district-level centres maintain proper safety and quality standards.

Another key feature of the initiative is the free supply of essential chemotherapy drugs at public health facilities.

Since medicines form a major part of cancer treatment costs, providing them free of charge will reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for patients.

The government has also strengthened procurement and supply systems to ensure regular availability of these medicines.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) The government on Friday approved the first national call for the Rs 2,000 crore BIRAC–RDI Fund, under the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) initiative to boost biotech sector.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra said the launch reflects a decisive shift in India’s approach to science-led growth and signals that the country is no longer a late entrant but an early mover in emerging technologies.

He said the transformation is visible in the expansion of the startup ecosystem -- from around 50 biotech startups in 2014 to more than 11,000 today, reflecting what he described as a quantum jump in scale and ambition.

The bioeconomy, which stood at about $8 billion in 2014, has expanded rapidly, placing India among leading global players.

The minister further added that biotechnology will drive the next phase of industrial growth, much like information technology shaped India’s earlier transformation.

“The coming industrial revolution will be powered by biotech innovation, advanced manufacturing, and new-age entrepreneurship,” he added.

“The RDI Fund has been structured to support long-gestation, high-risk research that requires patient capital and advanced infrastructure,” said Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology and Director General, BRIC.

“The initiative complements the BioE3 Policy and provides a framework to build next-generation products across biopharma, bio-industrial manufacturing, bioenergy, blue economy and biocomputation,” said Gokhale, also Chairman of BIRAC.

The objective, he said, is to move from research outputs to scalable industrial outcomes.

The BIRAC–RDI Fund is part of the national RDI initiative approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025 and launched in November 2025 under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

The fund aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale manufacturing by supporting technologies from TRL-4 to TRL-9 through a mix of equity, convertible instruments, and long-term debt.

BIRAC has built a nationwide innovation ecosystem over the past decade, including more than 100 bio-incubation centres, over 10 lakh square feet of incubation space, and engagement with more than 15 lakh startup entrepreneurs.

--IANS

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