Lifestyle

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) Niti Aayog on Thursday unveiled a strategic roadmap to accelerate the globalisation of Ayurveda, saying that expanding the traditional system of medicine worldwide can unlock significant opportunities in healthcare, wellness products and medical value travel while strengthening India's position as a global leader in traditional medicine.

In its report titled Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global, Niti Aayog said Ayurveda is already a well-recognised and regulated traditional system of medicine in India and has steadily expanded its international footprint through government initiatives, bilateral collaborations and academic partnerships.

The report said Ayurveda is now formally recognised in nearly 30 countries through different licensing models, academic collaborations and inclusion in national health policies.

However, it noted that global expansion remains uneven and requires a structured strategy to improve international acceptance and accessibility.

According to the report, Ayurveda has the potential to generate substantial economic benefits by boosting markets for health products, wellness services and medical value travel.

The study adopted a mixed-methods approach combining secondary research with extensive consultations involving government ministries, regulatory bodies, industry associations, academic institutions, research organisations, manufacturers, service providers and international organisations.

Niti Aayog said the roadmap is built around three pillars -- Availability, Acceptability and Propagation -- covering areas such as workforce development, manufacturing and exports, research, education, regulatory compliance, insurance coverage, cultural adaptation, branding and global visibility.

The report highlighted that India has a strong domestic ecosystem with more than 355,000 trained Ayurveda practitioners, although around 95 per cent of qualified professionals continue to be based within the country, limiting international practitioner availability.

It noted that Ayurveda products are currently exported to around 150 countries, with exports rising from USD 1.09 billion in 2014 to USD 2.16 billion in 2023. However, most products are marketed overseas as dietary supplements because of regulatory constraints, limiting the export of finished Ayurvedic pharmaceutical products.

The report also said international Ayurveda research now spans nearly 70 countries, supported by global institutional collaborations and the World Health Organization Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar. India has also awarded scholarships to 277 international students from 32 countries and established Ayush academic chairs in universities abroad, although globally standardised Ayurveda curricula are still evolving.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) The Central Government has amended the Drugs Rules, 1945 to bring cell or stem cell derived products, gene therapeutic products and xenografts under the Centrally License Approving Authority framework, a statement said on Thursday, adding that the move strengthens the regulatory oversight of advanced and emerging medical technologies.

The move expands the set of critical drugs and biological products that receive joint regulatory supervision by central and state authorities under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which already covers vaccines, large‑volume parenterals and r‑DNA based medicines.

Through the new amendment the government expanded the Centrally License Approving Authority (CLAA) Framework to include Cell and Stem Cell-derived Products, gene therapeutics and xenografts.

The amendment aims to ensure uniformity in regulatory standards nationwide for rapidly evolving medical technologies, the statement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

The amendment will increase regulatory rigour for emerging technologies and reinforcing India's regulatory framework in line with scientific advancements and global best practices, the ministry said.

Cell or Stem Cell derived products e.g. such as stem cell-based regenerative treatments, CAR-T cell therapies have seen increasing use in treatment of blood cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas.

Gene therapeutic products such as gene replacement and gene editing products are used in treating genetic disorders and various types of cancers. Xenografts are animal tissue-derived products such as heart valves which can be transplanted into humans used in cardiology and orthopedics.

As these technologies represent highly complex, specialized and rapidly evolving areas of medical science, they need enhanced regulatory scrutiny to ensure patient safety, the ministry said.

“This initiative reflects the government's continued commitment towards safeguarding public health while promoting innovation and quicker adoption of latest technologies in healthcare and life sciences sectors,” the statement noted.

—IANS

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New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) The government held an industry brainstorming session here to chart a roadmap for strengthening India's global leadership in the AYUSH sector through innovation, quality, exports and international collaboration, an official statement said on Thursday.

Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH and the AYUSH Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL), the session focused on opportunities arising from India's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), global branding of AYUSH, export facilitation, quality standards, WHO-GMP compliance, the Ayush Quality Mark, scientific validation, innovation, medical value travel, wellness services, and ways to address regulatory and market access challenges.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the government's objective was not merely to increase exports but to build globally competitive Indian AYUSH brands.

He described the AYUSH sector as a high-potential sunrise export sector and encouraged the industry to focus on innovation, branding, value addition and quality while leveraging opportunities created by India's expanding network of FTAs.

Agrawal also underlined the role of intermediaries, trade facilitators and other ecosystem partners in connecting Indian AYUSH products with international markets and said the Department of Commerce would continue stakeholder outreach, awareness programmes and capacity-building initiatives in collaboration with AYUSHEXCIL.

Meanwhile, AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of flagship initiatives such as Ayush Mark and Ayurveda Aahar to strengthen quality assurance, branding and the global competitiveness of Indian AYUSH products.

He urged industry stakeholders to capitalise on the growing global interest in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine by improving product quality, packaging, branding and international market readiness. He also highlighted efforts to align Indian standards with international benchmarks to facilitate wider global acceptance of AYUSH products.

AYUSHEXCIL Chairman and Member of Parliament Dr. Anurag Sharma said India was well positioned to emerge as a trusted global hub for holistic healthcare amid the growing global acceptance of traditional medicine. He called for stronger collaboration among the government, industry and research institutions to boost scientific validation, quality assurance, innovation and global branding.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion during which exporters, manufacturers, MSMEs and startups shared suggestions on improving market access, regulatory facilitation, ease of doing business, innovation and international collaboration.

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New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) National Narcotics Helpline MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra) recorded almost 1 million (over 9.94 lakh) connection attempts since launch for confidential drug reporting and support, the government said on Thursday.

Nearly 2,65,673 drug‑related inputs were recorded on the portal as of June 2026 and MANAS has generated over 16,200 actionable drug‑trafficking intelligence inputs and connected over 47,500 calls to professional counselling services, an official statement said.

To strengthen citizen participation and improve access to support services, the government recognised the need for an accessible and confidential platform for reporting drug-related activities and seeking assistance.

To bridge this need, MANAS was launched on 18 July 2024 under the aegis of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with the Digital India Corporation (DIC).

Built as a secure, technology-driven platform, MANAS enables citizens to report drug-related activities, seek counselling, and access rehabilitation support at any time.

Over 32,900 citizens have been assisted for substance‑abuse concerns, and more than 12,800 rehabilitation requests have been addressed since inception.

The platform is accessible through the national helpline number 1933, the official portal, email and the UMANG app. Through these platforms, MANAS empowers citizens to actively participate in the fight against drug abuse instead of remaining silent bystanders, the statement noted.

Citizens can confidentially report drug trafficking, peddling, illegal cultivation, and related activities without revealing their identity.

People affected by addiction can access counselling and support, with calls transferred to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment helpline 14446.

Digital ticket generation and workflow management enable faster information sharing with concerned agencies, improving coordination and response time.

Inclusive features such as multilingual call support, a Smart IVRS, chatbot integration and regional language assistance are being developed to widen access further, the statement noted.

—IANS

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Seoul, July 2 (IANS) South Korea's exports of pharmaceuticals surpassed $10 billion for the first time last year, while production of such products also climbed to a new record high, government data showed on Thursday.

South Korean companies exported a total of $10.44 billion worth of pharmaceuticals in 2025, up 12.4 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, reports Yonhap news agency. Imports advanced 5.9 percent on-year to $8.93 billion.

Trade surplus from the product category rose 41.9 percent on-year to $1.56 billion, the highest on record, the data showed.

Biopharmaceuticals led exports, boosted by a growing market share of local biosimilar producers and improving competitiveness of their contract development and manufacturing capabilities, also known as CDMO.

South Korea produced a total of 33.8 trillion won worth of drugs last year, up 3 percent from a year earlier.

It marks the highest annual figure since the government started compiling such statistics in 1998, the ministry said.

Production growth grew the fastest in prescription-based medicine and finished drug products, advancing 5.3 percent and 3.7 percent on-year, respectively.

The annual average growth rate of drug production was 7.3 percent during the past five years, higher than the corresponding figure for South Korea's gross domestic product (GDP), which was 4.6 percent, the ministry explained.

There were four companies, including Celltrion Inc. and Hanmi Pharm Co., whose annual production surpassed 1 trillion won in 2025, according to the data.

In particular, Celltrion's drug production grew 27.6 percent on-year to top 3 trillion won (US$1.9 billion) in 2025, becoming the first local company to surpass the threshold.

Meanwhile, Seoul stocks opened sharply lower but pared earlier losses to trade nearly 3 percent lower on late Thursday morning, as an overnight selloff in U.S. semiconductor stocks pressured Korean chipmakers.

Due to the sharp drop, the bourse operator Korea Exchange (KRX) activated a sell-side sidecar for the KOSPI around 9:07 a.m., halting program trading for five minutes.

A sell-side sidecar is triggered when the KOSPI 200 Futures index decreases 5 percent or more for at least one minute.

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New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Agriculture Department, Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Blue Economy, Republic of Seychelles, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agricultural research and education, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The MoU was also signed to boost capacity building and technology transfer between the two countries in these areas, it said.

The agreement was signed during the official visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Republic of Seychelles.

The MoU provides a framework for promoting joint research programmes, exchange of scientists, researchers and students, and sharing of advanced agricultural technologies and best practices.

To operationalise the agreement, both sides also signed a five-year Work Plan (2026–2031), which focuses on key areas including climate-smart agriculture, horticulture, post-harvest management, livestock development and sustainable food and nutritional security.

The collaboration aims to strengthen institutional linkages, improve agricultural productivity, build technical capacity, and support sustainable agricultural development while addressing emerging challenges such as climate change and food security.

With more than 100 Memoranda of Understanding signed with partner institutions across the world, ICAR continues to expand India's global agricultural partnerships, the statement from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said.

The MoU with Seychelles further reinforces India's engagement with the Global South and its commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture, innovation and global food and nutritional security through international cooperation, the statement noted.

India and Seychelles earlier this week signed agreements to strengthen bilateral ties across trade, digital technology and agriculture following talks between PM Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie.

The two countries agreed on several major initiatives, including the umbrella line of credit agreement for Rs 1,250 crore between the Export-Import Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment of Seychelles, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

—IANS

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New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Noida-based Laxhar Evidence Labs Private Limited on Wednesday announced that it has received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for forensic testing, claiming to be the first private forensic laboratory in India to secure accreditation across multiple forensic disciplines simultaneously.

According to the company, the accreditation covers digital forensics, physical forensics and crime scene management, following an assessment of the laboratory's testing methods, quality management systems, infrastructure, equipment calibration and scientific competency of personnel in line with internationally accepted standards.

It further claimed to be the first forensic laboratory in Uttar Pradesh -- across both the government and private sectors -- to receive NABL accreditation for forensic testing.

Commenting on the development, Indrajeet Rai, Director of Forensic Services at Laxhar Evidence Labs, said this accreditation is not just a milestone for the company, it is a milestone for every citizen seeking justice through science.

“Our vision has always been to make accredited forensic services accessible beyond government agencies. Today, every individual, lawyer, business, and institution has the opportunity to obtain reliable, scientifically validated forensic evidence from an internationally accredited laboratory,” Rai added.

NABL -- an autonomous accreditation body under the Quality Council of India -- grants accreditation to laboratories after evaluating their technical competence and compliance with prescribed quality standards.

Laxhar Evidence Labs said the accreditation would enable individuals, corporates, legal professionals and investigating agencies to access accredited forensic examination services, including digital and mobile device forensics, document examination, handwriting and signature analysis, fingerprint examination, audio and video forensics, cloud forensics, crime scene investigation and Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures (TSCM).

The company said forensic examinations and expert opinions are provided in accordance with the provisions of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, for use in legal and investigative proceedings, subject to applicable laws.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday launched Aarogya Setu 2.0 and a series of digital health initiatives aimed at strengthening India's Digital Public Infrastructure for health.

The Health Minister described the occasion as “a significant milestone in India's journey towards building a healthier nation through digital innovation”.

“The revamped Aarogya Setu application will enable people of all age groups – from mothers and children to youth, the elderly and those living with chronic illnesses – to seamlessly access a wide range of health services,” he said.

He stated that “under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has continuously expanded the scope of healthcare through transformative initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, while strengthening linkages across primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care”.

He said that the launch of these digital health initiatives marks another important step towards making healthcare more integrated, accessible and citizen-centric.

The digital initiatives launched include Aarogya Setu 2.0, Ayushman App, Ayushman Sarathi WhatsApp Chatbot, National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), Insurance Plan FHIR Object Creator, e-Sushrut Clinic, Unified Health Interface (UHI), Drug Registry, Common LOINC Codes for India (CLCI) and Bharat Health Terminology Service (BHTS).

Those who attended the event included Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of AYUSH; Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; and Dr. M. Srinivas, Member (Health), NITI Aayog.

Jadhav described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening India's digital health ecosystem.

He highlighted that, under the leadership of PM Modi, the government has adopted a whole-of-government approach to integrate the AYUSH system with modern healthcare, creating a more holistic, patient-centric healthcare framework.

Anupriya Patel highlighted that digital health records will enable women to seamlessly access their medical information wherever they go, ensuring continuity of care.

She further stated that the initiative would also ease the administrative burden on frontline health workers, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers, thereby improving service delivery.

Nadda also launched the e-Sushrut@Clinic, a lightweight Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing), to address these challenges by providing a simple, affordable, and user-friendly digital solution tailored for small outpatient clinics.

It is proposed to open this HMIS for government PHCs, HWCs, Subcenters and private clinics. Currently, 800-plus health facilities are onboarded on eSushrut@Clinic, generating over 680 health records.

C-DAC is also implementing the eSushrut software, which is being installed at more than 15 AIIMS and in various State government hospitals. The National Health Authority (NHA), as part of its role in increasing the adoption of Digital Health and ABDM, is signing an MoU with C-DAC.

The cost of eSushrut@clinic is estimated at Rs 499/month for 5 users. Under the NHA MoU, a discount of Rs 200 will be given, bringing the effective rate to Rs 299/month. The software will be offered at no cost for the initial 3 months. Each additional user beyond the included 5-user limit will be charged at Rs 50 per user.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) The Department of Pharmaceuticals has invited applications under the Scheme for Strengthening of Medical Device Industry (SMDI) to promote domestic manufacturing, reduce import dependence, support innovation and increase the depth of value chains in the medical devices sector, an official statement said on Monday.

The statement from the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said applications are open under two sub‑schemes -- the Marginal Investment Scheme for Reducing Import Dependence and the Medical Device Clinical Studies Support Scheme.

Selected applicants would be incentivised through a one-time capital subsidy of up to Rs 10 crore on reimbursement basis for manufacturing key components, raw material or finished devices or accessories to reduce import dependence under the Marginal Investment Scheme.

The department will provide financial support of up to Rs 5 crore under the MDCSS Scheme for conducting clinical investigation, clinical performance evaluation, post-market follow-up study, animal studies to the eligible applicants on reimbursement basis.

The statement said proposals must be submitted through the online portal on or before 6 pm on July 23.

Applicants can find details regarding eligibility, application procedure and other terms and conditions at the Department of Pharmaceuticals' website, the ministry said.

SMDI has a sub-scheme for capacity building and skill development in the Medical Device Sector Scheme to fill the gap existing in the education and research in the medical devices sector.

It aims to ensure quality teaching, training and nurturing excellence in Medical Technology education for generating a critical mass of trained human resources to meet the requirements of rapidly innovating multidisciplinary areas of Medical Technology while facilitating an R&D ecosystem for the sector.

FDI inflows in the pharmaceutical sector touched Rs 12,753 crore during 2024-25. From April 2025 to September 2025, FDI inflows (both in pharmaceuticals and medical devices) have been Rs 13,193 crore, up from corresponding period of previous year.

—IANS

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Kochi, June 27 (IANS) The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kerala State Branch, has urged the Kerala government to immediately revise the salary structure of junior doctors, describing the remuneration currently offered to young medical professionals as grossly inadequate and warning that poor pay could accelerate the exodus of doctors from the state.

The demand follows a recent notification issued by the Government Medical College, Thrissur, inviting applications for the post of Casualty Medical Officer (CMO), in which MBBS-qualified doctors were offered a monthly salary of just Rs 42,000.

The IMA has demanded that the minimum monthly remuneration for junior doctors be raised to Rs 80,000.

Describing the existing pay structure as inconsistent with the responsibilities entrusted to doctors, the association noted that young medical professionals undergo more than 5.5 years of rigorous medical education and compulsory training before entering one of the country's most demanding professions.

Despite being responsible for life-saving decisions in emergency departments and bearing significant medico-legal responsibilities, they are paid far less than many other government employees with substantially lower professional qualifications, it said.

The IMA cited the example of a Security Officer post at a Kerala university, which requires only a B.Sc. qualification but carries a starting salary of Rs 55,200 to Rs 1.15 lakh per month.

It clarified that the comparison was not intended to question the remuneration of other government employees, but to highlight the disparity in the compensation paid to doctors entrusted with safeguarding human lives.

Calling junior doctors the backbone of government hospitals, the association said they shoulder the bulk of patient care in casualty departments, intensive care units, medical and surgical wards and labour rooms, often working prolonged shifts under intense physical and emotional pressure.

The IMA warned that Kerala was already witnessing a steady migration of talented young doctors to other states and overseas in search of better salaries and working conditions.

Unless the government offers competitive remuneration at the entry level, the state would struggle to retain skilled medical professionals, ultimately affecting the quality of public healthcare, it said.

Urging the government to immediately review the salary fixed for Casualty Medical Officers and other junior doctors, IMA Kerala State President M.N. Menon and State Secretary Roy R. Chandran said ensuring fair remuneration was not merely a matter of professional dignity but essential for protecting Kerala's healthcare system and retaining its best medical talent.

--IANS

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