Lifestyle

Mumbai, Feb 9 (IANS) Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday said that thyroid disorders are a national concern linked to productivity, demographics and nation building.

Dr Singh urged the Indian Thyroid Society and the wider medical fraternity to intensify awareness, research collaboration and early detection, according to an official statement.

The minister told the endocrinologists at a conference of the Indian Thyroid Society that undiagnosed thyroid conditions, particularly hypothyroidism, reduce energy levels, workforce efficiency and long-term output in a country where over 70 per cent of the population are aged under 40 years.

As around 42 million Indians are living with thyroid disorders, Singh said the scale of the challenge demands proportionate research attention and public health response.

He called for stronger multidisciplinary coordination across life sciences, medical sciences, and allied sectors to address thyroid disorders in a comprehensive manner, adding that medical issues of this magnitude cannot be left to a single domain and require wider societal awareness and institutional collaboration.

Hypothyroidism affects nearly 11 per cent of adults and many remain undiagnosed. Undetected hypothyroidism in pregnancy causes congenital hypothyroidism and irreversible neurodevelopmental harm in children.

Further, the minister highlighted the Biopharma Shakti Mission, India’s biotech advances and the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and a Rs 1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation framework to strengthen research with private and philanthropic participation.

He cited India’s progress in biotechnology, including the development of the country’s first indigenously-developed antibiotic effective against resistant infections, successful gene therapy trials for haemophilia, and the rollout of the DNA vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

--IANS

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Seoul, Feb 9 (IANS) South Korea could significantly strengthen the competitiveness of its bio-health industry by leveraging its abundant, high-quality bio data through artificial intelligence (AI), a central bank report showed on Monday.

According to the report by the Bank of Korea (BOK) on measures to foster the advanced bio-health sector, South Korea lags behind leading countries in such areas as innovative new drugs and advanced medical devices, while the global market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5 percent over the next five years amid population aging and other factors.

From 2016 to 2023, the country ranked ninth worldwide in the number of bio-health patent applications filed in the United States, while it ranked fourth overall across all sectors, reports Yonhap news agency.

"AI can reduce new drug development timelines by up to 50 percent, significantly lower research and development costs, and create new markets," the report said. "Under these circumstances, South Korea has an opportunity to overcome the limitations of its current industrial ecosystem and overtake leading nations."

In particular, the country possesses health insurance and clinical data collected from 50 million people under a single national health insurance system, which is "exceptionally rare worldwide and a national strategic resource in the AI era," the BOK noted.

To capitalise on such advantages, the central bank proposed a national bio data approval system, under which an authority would conduct prior reviews and approve data use only for research that meets public interest criteria, and the government would ease regulations for approved projects.

Meanwhile, South Korea's biotechnology industry output grew nearly 10 percent in 2024 from a year earlier despite persistent global trade uncertainties, industry data showed.

The country's biotechnology industry production came to 22.92 trillion won (US$15.7 billion) in 2024, up from 20.87 trillion won in 2023, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) said, citing a survey by the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO).

The figure marked a recovery following a 12 percent on-year decline in 2023, signalling renewed growth momentum in the sector.

—IANS

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New Delhi/Beijing, Feb 7 (IANS) Rise in fake mental hospitals, and insurance scams in China shines a spotlight on how the country is struggling to deal with its ageing population, according to a media report.

The Diplomat reported a recent scam where private psychiatric hospitals were admitting patients on false pretenses to defraud the government out of vast quantities of medical funds.

Citing the Beijing News, the report noted dozens of psychiatric hospitals in Xiangyang and Yichang cities, which offer inpatient hospitalisation either for a small fee or for free.

This comes as treatment in China is usually covered by medical insurance programmes, where patients would generally be expected to pay at least a certain percentage of the cost of their treatment.

However, an undercover reporter recorded treatments worth about 140 yuan per day per patient and claimed reimbursement for most of that from government-run medical insurance.

While some of these scam hospitals only had a few patients, some had well over 100. The patients were mainly alcoholics and elderly people drawn in by the prospect of free food and shelter.

In addition, the reporter found poor conditions in the hospitals, with physical and verbal abuse common. Patients were also forced into cleaning the hospital, bathing other patients, and performing other menial work.

Importantly, some hospitals also made it hard for patients to leave once they had been admitted, and it could stretch for years.

“This highlights the limitations of China’s current elder care system, which assumes that the vast majority of elderly people will be cared for at home, by their families,” the report said.

“Many of the elderly people recruited for the scam came from rural areas, where pensions are particularly tiny, and government services are weaker. Moreover, countless villages have been hollowed out as working-age people seek work elsewhere, leaving many rural elderly isolated from their families,” the report said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare JP Nadda on Saturday urged youth to work responsibly and to give back to society.

Addressing the convocation ceremony 2025-26 of Manav Rachna Educational Institutions (MREI), Nadda said it is not just the culmination of an academic journey but the beginning of a new phase of responsibility towards the nation and society.

He emphasised that the graduating cohort is privileged to be entering their professional lives during the second phase of Amrit Kaal, leading up to 2047, when India aspires to become a fully developed nation.

“This phase presents both immense opportunities and equally significant responsibilities; the youth must contribute meaningfully to the national development,” Nadda said.

“Always carry the sentiment that society has enabled their success and, in return, they must strive to give back by serving society selflessly and meaningfully,” said Nadda.

He also urged the graduating students to move forward guided by strong values, ethical conduct, and a commitment to public service.

During the ceremony, the Minister also highlighted the transformative progress achieved under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the last 11 years.

“23 AIIMS have been established, up from just six earlier, creating a robust network of state-of-the-art healthcare institutions across the country,” Nadda said.

He further stated that India has made remarkable advances across healthcare indicators, ranging from maternal and child health to communicable and non-communicable diseases, especially in tuberculosis and malaria cases and deaths.

The Minister also highlighted a significant drop in out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, with initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and large-scale population screening programmes, making healthcare more accessible and affordable.

A total of 2,150 students from diverse disciplines, including engineering, management, law, education, sciences, and healthcare, were awarded degrees during the convocation.

This included 521 undergraduate students, 58 postgraduate students, and 11 doctoral scholars, marking a significant academic milestone for the graduating cohort.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Health industry leaders on Saturday welcomed the interim agreement on the bilateral trade deal between India and the US.

As part of the interim framework, the US will slash reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent. The US will also remove the reciprocal tariff on generic pharmaceuticals, among other sectors like gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts.

Although full details are yet to emerge, the interim India-US trade deal framework indicates that India has received the "best deal’ from the United States compared to others, including all its neighbours.

“AiMeD welcomes the US-India joint statement on trade barriers and clarifies that CDSCO import licenses for US devices are already faster than for Indian manufacturers, who face mandatory inspections unlike overseas firms,” said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, the Association of Indian Medical Devices (AiMeD).

“The US leads imports at Rs 14,000 crore (20 per cent share), surpassing China's Rs 12,000 crore, with our US exports at $750 million vs. $1.6 billion imports last year. US FDA's preference for ACSA over NABL labs adds asymmetry. Indian medtech battles Chinese WANA dumping, EU CE delays, Japan's yen weakness, and Indonesia's biases, plus CDSCO hurdles. We urge reciprocal fairness, making trade mutually advantageous to empower both nations' innovations,” he added.

Further, the agreement noted that, based on the findings of the US Section 232 investigation of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients, India will also receive negotiated outcomes with respect to generic pharmaceuticals and ingredients.

“Strengthening the India-US medicines partnership is important, as medicine security is a part of national security. Generics are exempted from tariffs. As noted in the joint statement, overall pharmaceuticals (including generics) are subject to ongoing US Section 232 investigation. This is consistent with the approach across FTAs,” added Sudarshan Jain, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) India and the US have reached a framework for an interim agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade, which will include additional market access commitments and support more resilient supply chains.

As part of the pact, the US will also tariffs on certain aircraft and aircraft parts of India imposed to eliminate threats to national security found in Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018.

Similarly, consistent with US national security requirements, India will receive a preferential tariff rate quota for automotive parts subject to the tariff imposed to eliminate threats to national security found in Proclamation 9888 of May 17, 2019.

“Contingent on the findings of the US Section 232 investigation of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients, India will receive negotiated outcomes with respect to generic pharmaceuticals and ingredients,” according to a joint statement.

Also, India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products.

The US will now apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18 per cent under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, on originating goods of India, including textile and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber, organic chemicals, home décor, artisanal products, and certain machinery.

“Subject to the successful conclusion of the Interim Agreement, it will remove the reciprocal tariff on a wide range of goods identified in the Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners Annex to Executive Order 14346 of September 5, 2025, including generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts,” according to the statement.

The statement further stated that the US and India commit to provide each other preferential market access in sectors of respective interest on a sustained basis.

Recognising the importance of working together to resolve long-standing concerns, India also agrees to address long-standing non-tariff barriers to the trade in U.S. food and agricultural products.

India intends to purchase $500 billion of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products, and coking coal over the next 5 years.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) India has safeguarded the sensitivities of its agriculture and animal husbandry sectors in the interim US trade deal, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.

As part of the interim trade deal framework, the US will slash reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent, providing a huge market opportunity in key sectors such as textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber products, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal products, and select machinery in the world’s largest economy.

“The framework protects key farm and dairy products, spices, and staples, strengthening farmer incomes,” said FM Sitharaman.

The Agreement reflects India’s commitment to safeguarding farmers’ interests and sustaining rural livelihoods by completely protecting sensitive agricultural and dairy products, including maize, wheat, rice, soya, poultry, milk, cheese, ethanol(fuel), tobacco, certain vegetables, meat, etc.

The United States and India commit to provide each other preferential market access in sectors of respective interest on a sustained basis.

The United States and India will also establish rules of origin that ensure that the benefits of the Agreement accrue predominately to the United States and India., according to a White House statement.

“The United States and India will address non-tariff barriers that affect bilateral trade. Recognising the importance of working together to resolve long-standing concerns, India also agrees to address long-standing non-tariff barriers to the trade in U.S. food and agricultural products,” said the statement.

The White House further stated that they will work towards further expanding market access opportunities through the negotiations of the BTA. The United States affirms that it intends to take into consideration, during the negotiations of the BTA, India’s request that the United States continue to work to lower tariffs on Indian goods.

India will also get exemptions under section 232 on aircraft parts, tariff rate quota on auto parts and negotiated outcomes on generic pharmaceuticals, leading to tangible export gains in these sectors.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) A total of 17,990 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) have been opened across the country till December 31, Union Health Minister JP Nadda informed the Parliament on Friday.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the Nadda shared the state-wise number of JAKs opened across the country and the district-wise number of JAKs.

“Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme, a total of 17,990 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) have been opened across the country as on December 31, 2025, of which 1,058 JAKs have been opened in the State of Bihar,” the Minister said.

The flagship scheme, PMBJP, was launched in 2014 with just 80 centres.

The JAKs provide essential medicines more accessible to people and reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure. These government pharmacies provide generic medicines, which are available at lower prices but are equivalent to expensive branded drugs in quality and effectiveness.

“The product basket under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Yojna has 2,110 medicines and 315 surgicals, medical consumables and devices, covering all major therapeutic groups, such as cardiovascular, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-infectives, anti-allergic and gastro-intestinal medicines and nutraceuticals such as protein powder, protein powder for women, 100 per cent whey protein, etc,” Nadda said.

Jan Aushadhi Kendras are opened by inviting online applications from individual entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, societies, trusts, firms, private companies, etc.

So far, 767 districts have already been covered under the scheme, including 38 districts in Bihar, the Minister said.

Further, the government has also taken concrete measures to ensure continuous inspection, testing, and standardisation of medicines at JAKs.

Only plants that are certified as WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliant by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) after direct inspection are eligible for supply at the centres.

Distribution is done only after 100 per cent pre-testing of all medicine batches.

The samples are tested only at labs accredited and periodically inspected by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and, in addition, assessed by PMBI for Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) compliance.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) A total of 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres across the country have been approved for upgradation as Saksham Anganwadis with improved nutrition and early childhood care and education till December last year, Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, told the Parliament on Friday.

Under Mission Poshan 2.0, two lakh Anganwadi Centres located in Government buildings at 40,000 AWCs per year are strengthened as Saksham Anganwadis.

“Saksham Anganwadis are provided with better infrastructure than the conventional Anganwadi centres with LED screens, water filtration system, Poshan Vatika, ECCE material, and BALA paintings,” Devi said, while answering a query in the Lok Sabha.

The Minister said that under Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0, IT systems have been leveraged to strengthen and bring about transparency in nutrition delivery support systems at the Anganwadi Centres.

In addition, the ‘Poshan Tracker’ application was rolled out to facilitate monitoring and tracking of all AWCs, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and beneficiaries on defined indicators.

“Technology under Poshan Tracker is also being leveraged for dynamic identification of stunting, wasting, and under-weight prevalence among children,” Devi said.

It has also facilitated near real-time data collection for Anganwadi Services, such as opening and closing of AWCs, daily attendance of children, growth monitoring of children, early childhood care and education (ECCE) activities, delivery of hot cooked meal (HCM)/take home ration (THR-not raw ration), growth measurement, etc.

The App also offers counselling videos on key behaviours and services which help disseminate messages on birth preparedness, delivery of the child, post-natal care, breastfeeding, and complementary feeding.

Further, for last-mile tracking of Service Delivery, a Facial Recognition System (FRS) has been developed in the Poshan Tracker Application for the distribution of Take-Home Ration to ensure that benefit is given only to the intended beneficiary registered in Poshan Tracker.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) As tuberculosis (TB) continues as the deadliest infectious cause of deaths globally, a new study has shown that artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled digital stethoscopes can help fill critical screening gaps, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

In a commentary published in the journal Med (Cell Press), global experts contended that stethoscopes combined with digital technology and AI can be a better option against the challenges faced in screening programmes, such as under-detection, high cost, and inequitable access.

“AI-enabled digital stethoscopes have demonstrated promising accuracy and feasibility for detecting lung and cardiovascular abnormalities, with promising results in early TB studies. Training and validation in diverse, high-burden settings are essential to explore the potential of this tool further,” said corresponding author Madhukar Pai from McGill University, Canada, along with researchers from the UAE, Germany, and Switzerland.

Despite advancements in screening and diagnostic tools, an estimated 2.7 million people with TB were missed by current screening programmes, as per data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Routine symptom screening is also likely to miss people with asymptomatic or subclinical TB.

While the WHO recently recommended several AI-powered computer-aided detection (CAD) software, as well as ultra-portable radiography hardware, higher operating costs and upfront hardware act as a deterrent.

This particularly appeared difficult in primary care settings and or among pregnant women due to radiation concerns.

At the same time, AI showed significant potential for screening, including applications beyond CAD of TB from radiographs, said the researchers.

“One application of AI for disease screening is to interpret acoustic (sound) biomarkers of disease, with potential to identify sounds that appear nonspecific or are inaudible to the human ear,” they added, while highlighting the potential of AI in detecting and interpreting cough biomarkers and lung auscultation to analyse breath sounds.

Studies from high-TB burden countries, including India, Peru, South Africa, Uganda, and Vietnam, highlighted that AI-enabled auscultation could hold promise as a TB screening and triage tool.

"AI digital stethoscopes may become useful alternatives to imaging-based approaches for TB screening, with the potential to democratise access to care for populations underserved by radiography," the researchers said.

"Importantly, AI digital stethoscopes offer a scalable, low-cost, and person-centered tool that could bring us closer to reaching TB case finding goals," they added.

--IANS

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