Lifestyle

Mumbai, Nov 7 (IANS) NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawar was discharged on Saturday from Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital in a stable condition after receiving treatment for a chest infection and a bronchitis attack.

Pratit Samdani, the doctor treating the NCP-SP Chief, confirmed that Pawar is recovering well and will continue his medication and recovery at his Silver Oak residence in Mumbai.

Given his age, Pawar has been advised to follow essential precautions and rest.

"Sharad Pawar has been discharged in a stable condition . He will continue his treatment at home... He had suffered from a bronchitis attack and a chest infection, which are now improving... He has been asked to continue his treatment at home and to take standard precautions that every citizen of the country should take... Given his age, a few additional instructions have been provided. He is very compliant, and I am very sure that he will take care of himself," Samdani said.

Pawar was on Wednesday discharged from Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune on following treatment.

His health condition is stable and has shown improvement.

He will be going straight to his Mumbai residence from the hospital, according to an official statement issued by Parvez K Grant, Chief Cardiologist, and Chairman and Managing Trustee of Ruby Hall Clinic.

Pawar was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic on Monday after experiencing a cough and chest discomfort. He had embarked on a tour of rural areas to assess the drought situation in Maharashtra.

During this tour, he was interacting with farmers in drought-affected regions to understand issues such as water scarcity, crop conditions, and agricultural challenges.

However, after feeling uneasy during the tour, Pawar cut his trip short and was subsequently hospitalised for a medical check-up.

Upon complaining of chest pain while coughing and breathing, he was evaluated by doctors. He received treatment under the supervision of Parvez Grant and was kept under observation as a precautionary measure.

After two days of treatment, Pawar's condition improved.

Grant clarified in the statement that Pawar was discharged on Wednesday, his health is stable, and he is doing fine.

On Wednesday, the NCP-SP Chief was admitted to the Breach Candy hospital and kept under medical observation. This was the third time Sharad Pawar was admitted to the hospital this year.

Earlier, on February 9, he was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic due to a chest infection and cough, after which he was discharged on February 14.

Later, on February 22, he was hospitalised again due to mild dehydration and discharged on February 25.

In November, he had to be hospitalised once again due to ill-health.

On Sharad Pawar's discharge from the hospital, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said, "Sharad Pawar ji is a senior leader of Maharashtra and the country. Political parties may be different, but Pawar Saheb was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital two or three days ago. I was in Delhi, so I had decided to meet him today. However, the news that he has been discharged from the hospital and that his health is fine is good news."

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Sharad Pawar and warmly requested the veteran politician to prioritise his health and rest.

The Prime Minister told Sharad Pawar that "Supriya Sule (daughter of Sharad Pawar) and we will handle the country; you take care of your health and rest. Let your blessings remain with us."

The hospital stay gained political traction following a phone call from PM Modi who reached out early on Friday morning to inquire about Pawar's well-being.

Pawar thanked the Prime Minister for his call, reassuring him that he was taking rest and added, "With all of you around, I have no worries about the country."

Thereafter, NCP Working President Praful Patel met Sharad Pawar on Thursday night that sparked the political buzz of merger between the NCP factions.

Veteran NCP leader and Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and former Minister and Congress leader Vishwajeet Kadam met Sharad Pawar and inquired about his health.

On Friday, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Deputy Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council Sachin Ahir, former Minister Balasaheb Thorat and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut also visited Sharad Pawar.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) India's move to cap trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines has led 70 companies to cut maximum retail prices by an average 20 per cent to 70 per cent on 120 medicines, with estimated patient savings of Rs 3,357.49 crore, an official factsheet said on Friday.

The government said the price revision for 120 drugs have been made as of November 4, with the steepest reduction reaching 96.45 per cent and that the revised prices will take effect from November 9.

The government has capped excessive markups along the pharmaceutical supply chain, in retail and hospital pharmacies across the country, to make cancer treatment in India more affordable.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on October 17 capped the trade margin on medicines, including patented drugs, at 30 per cent of the maximum retail price (MRP), aiming to reduce excessive mark-ups across distributors, retailers and hospital pharmacies.

The estimated patients savings estimate represents the difference between the original and revised prices, applied to the volume sold from April 2025 to March 2026. The cap responds to concerns raised by state authorities, patients and civil society about the gap between the procurement price and the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of anti-cancer medicines.

Consumers can verify prices using both the NPPA website and the official Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application. The new prices are worked out from the distributor price of March 2026.

Manufacturers must recalculate their maximum retail prices using their average distributor prices from March 2026. Free medicines given under patient assistance programmes and direct government sales do not count in this calculation.

NPPA has put up the revised prices of these medicines on its website, and the list is updated as and when companies submit their revised prices.

Trade margin is the difference between the price a manufacturer charges a stockist or distributor and the highest price (MRP) a patient pays for a medicine excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The government piloted a Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) intervention in 2019 covering 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, which successfully drove down patient costs to address high prices beyond these scheduled essential drugs.

Companies must inform NPPA of their revised prices. They must also publish the price cuts in newspapers, post them on their websites, and share them with all retailers and hospitals, the statement noted.

—IANS

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Hyderabad, Nov 6 (IANS) The Telangana Police Department is set to roll out ‘Fit Cop’, an app-based comprehensive health management initiative aimed at monitoring and improving the health and well-being of more than 90,000 police personnel across the State.

Director General of Police C.V. Anand said on Friday that police personnel, owing to demanding duties and work-related stress, often find little time to focus on their health. Emphasising that physically and mentally healthy personnel were essential for delivering better public service, he said the initiative was being developed with the support of the Helping Hand Foundation and other organisations.

The proposed TG FitCop, designed as a Police Health Management Profile System, will enable personnel to register their individual health details through a dedicated mobile application. The department is working on an action plan to implement the programme within the next 30 to 45 days.

According to a release from the DGP’s office, the application will collect information on major health parameters, including diabetes, hypertension, Body Mass Index (BMI), existing health conditions, lifestyle habits, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption. Personnel across the State will be able to access the system using their mobile phone number.

Based on the information submitted, personnel will be categorised into low-, moderate- and high-risk groups. The health risk assessment will help identify individuals who require medical attention and timely intervention.

Explaining the proposed support mechanism, Helping Hand Foundation founder Salman said personnel would be contacted through a dedicated call centre based on their health risk levels. Those requiring further attention would be facilitated with medical investigations, hospital-based treatment, health guidance and counselling.

The initiative is expected to help identify potential health complications, particularly kidney-related ailments, diabetes and hypertension, at an early stage and facilitate timely medical intervention.

The primary objective of Fit Cop is to promote health awareness among police personnel and encourage preventive healthcare before medical conditions become serious. The programme will be extended to all units and wings of the Telangana Police.

DGP Anand expressed the hope that Fit Cop would emerge as an important institutional mechanism for safeguarding the health of police personnel and ensuring their overall well-being.

Senior police officers, representatives of the Helping Hand Foundation and other participating organisations attended the meeting.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday invoked Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the entire National Capital Region, amid an increase in pollution levels in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The announcement comes two days ahead of the Diwali festival, after Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 382 on Friday, which falls in the "very poor" category.

While GRAP-III is typically invoked when the air quality turns "severe" and the AQI hits 400, the pollution board invoked it early as a precautionary measure.

In a post on X, the CAQM said: "CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP decides to invoke GRAP III in Delhi NCR as a precautionary measure."

The curbs under GRAP-III comprise a complete ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities, including earthwork, piling, trenching, and open-air operations of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants, and prohibition on movement of BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and neighbouring NCR districts.

The decision will lead to banning the transport of construction materials like sand and cement, especially on unpaved roads; closure of stone crushers, mining, and hot-mix plants not running on clean fuel; and a ban on diesel generator sets, except for emergency and essential services.

The stage III of GRAP will also restrict inter-state diesel buses entering or operating in Delhi.

The restrictions will further include an advisory for private companies to implement work-from-home or hybrid mode to curb vehicular emissions and will require closure of schools up to Class 5, with classes shifted to online mode to protect young children from toxic air.

This comes days after the CAQM invoked GRAP-II in Delhi-NCR after the capital region’s daily average AQI rose to 324, placing it in the ‘Very Poor’ category.

According to the daily AQI bulletin issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi recorded an average AQI of 324 on November 2. The CAQM Sub-Committee for operationalisation of GRAP reviewed the current air quality scenario and the forecast provided by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), in collaboration with the ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (ICAR-NIVEDI), concluded a two-day national tabletop exercise on preparedness against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) serotype SAT-1, a strain that has not been reported in India but is increasingly being monitored due to its spread beyond Africa into parts of West Asia, it was announced on Friday.

Held under the theme “Detect Early, Confirm Fast, Contain Together,” the exercise focused on strengthening India's readiness to respond to potential incursions of the transboundary animal disease and safeguarding livestock health, farmers' livelihoods, and the broader livestock economy.

The exercise brought together 83 participants representing 25 states, three Union Territories, and key institutions, including state animal husbandry departments, ICAR institutes, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, veterinary universities, vaccine manufacturers, and defence and border guarding agencies.

Participants worked through simulated outbreak scenarios to assess preparedness in key areas such as disease detection, laboratory diagnosis, epidemiological investigations, animal movement controls, emergency vaccination strategies, risk communication, and coordinated response mechanisms.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Naveena B.M. stressed the need for advance planning, early disease detection, rapid response measures, and close coordination between central and state authorities. Dr. Baldev R. Gulati, Director of ICAR-NIVEDI, highlighted the evolving epidemiological landscape of FMD SAT-1 and underscored the role of risk-based surveillance, epidemiological intelligence, and early warning systems in mitigating disease threats.

Dr. J.K. Mohapatra, Director of the ICAR-National Institute of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (ICAR-NIFMD), emphasised the importance of laboratory preparedness, rapid diagnostic capabilities, and vaccine readiness, while Brigadier M.M. Ramachandra from the National Security Council Secretariat stressed enhanced border vigilance and inter-agency cooperation to prevent the entry of transboundary animal diseases.

The concluding session was chaired by Rama Shankar Sinha, Additional Secretary (Livestock Health), DAHD, who called for strengthening preparedness at both national and state levels and enhancing diagnostic infrastructure, including regional FMD laboratories and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, with technical support from ICAR-NIFMD.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Thursday reported a 56.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 264 crore for the quarter ended September 2026 (Q2 FY27), compared with Rs 610 crore in the corresponding period last financial year (Q2 FY26).

The drugmaker's revenue from operations fell 29.8 per cent to Rs 4,247.3 crore from Rs 6,046.8 crore a year earlier, according to its stock exchange filing.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped 63.4 per cent to Rs 864 crore from Rs 2,360 crore, while EBITDA margin contracted sharply to 20 per cent from 39 per cent in the year-ago quarter.

Despite the decline in reported earnings, the company said its underlying business remained resilient and that it continues to be on track to achieve its FY27 guidance.

The India formulations business delivered strong performance during the quarter, with revenue rising to Rs 1,327.4 crore and registering like-for-like growth of around 14 per cent year-on-year.

In North America, revenue stood at Rs 1,208.9 crore. The company said that excluding the recognition of deferred out-licensing income related to ISB 2001, its core North American business recorded growth of around 31 per cent year-on-year.

European operations also remained steady, with revenue increasing 6.2 per cent to Rs 792 crore.

Revenue from emerging markets rose 33.2 per cent to Rs 876.9 crore, as per its regulatory filing.

The company said its respiratory brand RYALTRIS continued to expand globally, with the recent launch in Brazil marking an important milestone.

It added that its partnered oncology pipeline is progressing toward commercialisation, with the first product launch expected by the end of FY27.

Glenmark's innovation subsidiary, IGI, continued to advance its multispecific oncology pipeline.

Phase 1 data for ISB 2001 has been selected for oral presentation at the 2026 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, while the company plans to submit an investigational new drug application for ISB 2301 by the end of the year.

Shares of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals ended 0.65 per cent lower at Rs 2,485.50 on the BSE ahead of the earnings announcement.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Nov 5 (IANS) Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday reviewed the progress of AIIMS in Awantipora town of Jammu and Kashmir and directed for early completion of the 750-bed tertiary healthcare facility.

The Union Health Minister arrived here earlier in the day and drove to the Awantipora town of Anantnag district during his first visit to AIIMS in the Valley.

Nadda reviewed the project progress and interacted with the staff associated with the construction of the tertiary healthcare facility. He directed that the project be completed early. The OPD is expected to start functioning by the end of the month.

J&K Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo said that 100 MBBS students will soon start their studies at AIIMS Awantipora, while the Outpatient Department (OPD) will also be made functional shortly.

Speaking to reporters after the visit of J.P. Nadda to AIIMS Awantipora, Itoo said the Union Minister took a detailed review of the ongoing work at the site.

She said it was a matter of great happiness that the Union Health Minister, who had earlier announced 50 MBBS seats, announced that 100 MBBS students will start classes here soon.

She said the start of OPD services at AIIMS Awantipora will make a huge difference for patients in Kashmir, who presently have to travel long distances for advanced treatment. She thanked the Union Health Minister for directing officials to make the prestigious institution functional as soon as possible.

She said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has visited the site several times during the last two years, and she herself has accompanied him so that AIIMS is completed and made functional at the earliest to strengthen patient care in the Valley.

AIIMS Awantipora was approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) as an Institution of National Importance.

Approved initially around 2019, construction started in November 2020 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,160 crore.

It is designed as a 750-bed tertiary care hospital and medical teaching institute comprising approximately 57 distinct buildings/blocks, including the main hospital, academic blocks, hostels, residential quarters, sports facilities (football ground, tennis courts), and medicinal plant gardens.

AIMS Awantipora will have a planned annual intake of 100 MBBS and 60 nursing students. Phased rollout of outpatient department (OPD), diagnostic labs, and core medical services starting by the end of the month.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a time-bound and reasoned decision by the Centre on the safety of Ranitidine, a widely used acidity medication, amid concerns over the possible presence of a cancer-linked impurity in the drug.

Issuing a notice, a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma sought responses from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on the petition.

The petition, filed by Dr Chandresh Jain, a qualified doctor and practicing advocate, seeks directions to the authorities to complete the pending regulatory review and publish a reasoned conclusion within a fixed timeframe.

The plea does not seek an outright ban on Ranitidine or a judicial determination of its scientific safety but contends that the Union government’s own regulatory review has remained inconclusive despite multiple expert committee recommendations and the expiry of a stipulated reporting deadline.

Ranitidine, marketed in India for over three decades under brands such as Aciloc, Rantac, R Loc, Ranitin and Zinetac, came under international scrutiny in September 2019 following concerns over the presence or formation of nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a probable human carcinogen.

In April 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested manufacturers to withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine products, while the European Medicines Agency recommended precautionary suspension of the medicines in the European Union.

However, the petition clarified that regulatory actions taken in other countries do not, by themselves, determine the safety of products currently being sold in India and that the country's own regulatory assessment remains without a disclosed final decision.

Referring to the proceedings of the 92nd meeting of the DTAB held on April 24, 2025, the plea said the statutory advisory body had recommended constituting a larger committee, conducting an ICMR safety study, monitoring NDMA levels and considering risk-based measures, including a possible reduction in shelf life.

Subsequently, through an Office Memorandum issued on July 24, 2025, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) constituted a 16-member Sub-Committee and prescribed a three-month deadline for submission of its report.

The plea said the deadline expired around October 24, 2025, but the report remained undisclosed. The plea further relied on a RTI reply, furnished by the First Appellate Authority of CDSCO, which confirmed that the Sub-Committee's report was still awaited and that the matter continued to remain under review.

The petitioner has contended that the prolonged pendency of the regulatory exercise warrants judicial intervention to ensure that the authorities reach and disclose a reasoned conclusion within a reasonable period.

The plea clarified that the High Court was not being asked to substitute its judgment for that of scientific and regulatory experts or to direct a prohibition on the drug's manufacture, distribution and sale.

Instead, it sought a direction to the authorities to bring the review process, which has continued through successive expert committees, to a time-bound conclusion in the larger public interest.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Ayush, Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav has called on citizens to make health and preventive healthcare an integral part of Dhanteras celebrations, emphasising that good health is the foundation of prosperity and well-being, an official statement said on Wednesday.

While the festival is traditionally associated with purchasing gold, silver and other assets, Jadhav said it should also serve as an opportunity for families to invest in their long-term health through healthier lifestyle choices and preventive healthcare practices.

He encouraged families to prioritise disease prevention and make conscious investments in their long-term health. He emphasised that families should give as much importance to safeguarding their health as they do to securing their future prosperity.

The minister observed that healthcare discussions often begin after an illness has developed, but preventing diseases through healthy lifestyle choices must be equally emphasised.

Dhanteras, associated with Dhanvantari Jayanti, commemorates the emergence of Lord Dhanvantari during the Samudra Manthan, carrying the Amrit Kalash. Revered as the divine physician of the gods, Lord Dhanvantari is closely associated with Ayurveda, India's traditional science of life and health, the statement from AYUSH ministry said.

Referring to the Ayurvedic principle “Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanam”, he emphasised the preservation of the health of healthy individuals, and highlighted the relevance of this approach in addressing growing challenges such as non-communicable diseases, sedentary lifestyles and stress.

The minister underscored that everyday habits, including balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and stress management, play an important role in maintaining overall well-being.

He encouraged families to promote home-cooked and nutritious food, reduce excessive consumption of junk food, undertake regular physical activities and ensure that elderly family members receive appropriate care and attention. Regular yoga practice and timely health screenings were also highlighted as important steps towards preventive healthcare.

Jadhav noted that initiatives such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are helping expand access to Ayush-based healthcare services at the community level.

—IANS

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Ahmedabad, Nov 3 (IANS) A team of doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital successfully removed a pair of scissors lodged in the chest of a three-year-old girl, who was injured while playing with her five-year-old brother in Kutch on October 29.

The girl, daughter of a labourer couple, sustained a penetrating chest injury when the scissors accidentally pierced her chest at around 11 a.m.

She was initially taken to a local private hospital and later to another private hospital in Gandhidham, where a CT scan was performed before she was referred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

She arrived at the hospital at around 10 p.m. on October 29 and was immediately taken for surgery. The operation was performed by a team led by Assistant Professors Dr Kashvi and Dr Mrunalini, under the supervision of Dr Rakesh Joshi, Professor and Head of the Department of Paediatric Surgery.

Anaesthetists and other doctors were also part of the team. "The scissors were successfully removed, and the girl is now stable. She is expected to be discharged shortly," hospital officials said.

Doctors said the injury could have been considerably more serious had the scissors moved even an inch upwards or sideways, potentially damaging the windpipe or lungs, or injuring the area between two ribs and causing severe bleeding.

They said the child's young age and the relatively low force of impact prevented the scissors from penetrating the bone. "Had the object gone deeper and crossed the bone, it could have damaged major blood vessels and the windpipe, potentially making the injury life-threatening," they added.

Dr Joshi, the hospital's medical superintendent, urged parents to keep a close watch on their children's activities and the objects they use while playing.

"Parents should pay particular attention to what their children play with and continuously monitor their activities. A five-year-old child may not understand how harmful such objects can be," he said.

He added that parents should seek medical attention immediately if a child suddenly experiences difficulty breathing.

--IANS

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