Lifestyle

Mumbai, July 24 (IANS) Shares of Star Health and Allied Insurance Company fell more than 1 per cent on Friday after the company's June-quarter shareholding pattern reflected a sharp change in Rekha Jhunjhunwala's direct holding. However, the change was the result of a succession-related transmission and an off-market transfer of shares to promoter entity Sitara Partners LLP, and not a sale or exit by the promoter group.

Rekha Jhunjhunwala's direct stake declined after 7.82 crore equity shares were transferred to Sitara Partners LLP, a promoter entity in which she is a Designated Partner, following the transmission of shares inherited from the estate of late investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. The company stressed that the transaction did not involve any open-market sale, third-party disposal, or reduction in the promoter group's overall holding.

However, the transfer followed approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for the transmission of 8.28 crore shares previously held by late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala under the probate of his estate. Pursuant to this process, 7.82 crore shares were transferred off-market to Sitara Partners LLP on June 24, 2026, following which the LLP held 13.29 per cent of Star Health's equity share capital.

The Jhunjhunwala family's association with Star Health predates the company's stock market debut.

The insurer's red herring prospectus (RHP) for its 2021 initial public offering had shown that the late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala owned a 14.98 per cent stake in the company.

The family's shareholding has undergone several changes since then. Rekha Jhunjhunwala increased her personal stake from 3.04 per cent in the September quarter of FY26 to 15.57 per cent by the December quarter before reducing it sharply in the June quarter of FY27.

As per the latest corporate shareholding disclosures, Rekha Jhunjhunwala has publicly disclosed investments in 26 listed companies with a combined portfolio value of more than Rs 47,085.4 crore.

Star Health shares have staged a strong recovery over the past year after falling to a 52-week low of Rs 416.05 in July 2025.

The stock rallied nearly 50 per cent to touch a 52-week high of Rs 623.45 on July 14, 2026.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) The Centre has released Rs 266.64 crore as incentives under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Medical Devices up to FY 2024-25, while Rs 209.80 crore has been disbursed under the Medical Device Parks Scheme, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers JP Nadda informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

In a written reply, Nadda said that of the Rs 209.80 crore released for medical device parks, Rs 177.98 crore has already been utilised.

Under the Scheme for Strengthening of Medical Device Industry (SMDI), projects worth Rs 101.50 crore have been approved under the Marginal Investment Scheme for Reducing Import Dependence (MIS-RID), while projects worth Rs 88.67 crore have been approved under the Common Facilities for Medical Devices Clusters (CFMDC) component.

Of this, Rs 20.62 crore has been released so far, the Union Minister stated.

The minister said the government has implemented multiple schemes to promote indigenous manufacturing of medical devices, including high-end and high-precision equipment, with an emphasis on reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.

He said the PLI Scheme for Medical Devices has a total outlay of Rs 3,420 crore and provides incentives on eligible incremental sales across four target segments -- cancer care and radiotherapy, radiology and imaging, anaesthetics, cardio-respiratory and renal care devices, and implants.

According to the minister, 27 applications have been approved under the scheme, including 14 from MSMEs.

The approved projects have reported actual investments of Rs 1,153.07 crore and have started domestic production of products such as MRI and CT scanners, linear accelerators (LINACs), mammography systems, C-arms, ultrasound equipment, heart valves and stents.

Nadda said the Medical Device Parks Scheme, with an outlay of Rs 300 crore, supports the creation of common infrastructure such as testing facilities, sterilisation units, warehousing, incubation centres and prototyping facilities, with central assistance of up to Rs 100 crore per park.

Three parks are currently under implementation in Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu).

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) The government’s new Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices provides for setting up an Ethics Committees for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices and appointment of Ethics Officers by pharmaceutical companies, a structured complaint redressal and appellate mechanism, submission of self-declarations regarding compliance and disclosure of prescribed marketing expenditure, the Parliament was informed on Friday.

With the aim of preventing unethical marketing and ensuring responsible promotion of pharmaceutical products, the code provides for regulating interactions between doctors and representatives of pharmaceutical companies.

The Centre’s Department of Pharmaceuticals notified the new Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), 2024 on April 12, 2024, replacing the earlier UCPMP, 2015. The Code was subsequently amended in September, 2025, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Anupriya Patel, stated in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The UCPMP, 2024 supersedes the earlier version of the Code and incorporates revised provisions to strengthen the framework governing ethical marketing practices by pharmaceutical companies.

These include the constitution of Ethics Committees for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMPs), appointment of Ethics Officers by pharmaceutical companies, a structured complaint redressal and appellate mechanism, submission of self-declarations regarding compliance and disclosure of prescribed marketing expenditure, the minister said.

The Code also contains enhanced provisions governing interactions between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals as well as healthcare organisations with respect to promotional activities. The amendments, notified in 2025, further streamlined the implementation and disclosure requirements by requiring companies to submit annual statements with respect to marketing expenditure incurred by them on the relevant platform, the minister further stated.

With the aim of preventing unethical marketing and ensuring responsible promotion of pharmaceutical products by regulating interactions between doctors and representatives of pharmaceutical companies. The code outlines guidelines regarding promotion of drugs among doctors.

Pharmaceutical companies are accountable for the actions of their medical representatives and other employees. The code prohibits provision of gifts, monetary benefits and hospitality to doctors and their family members by pharmaceutical companies.

It includes requirements for pharmaceutical companies to self-declare adherence to the code and disclose expenditures related to conferences, seminars and workshops organised for continuing medical education and continuing professional development. Companies may undergo independent, random or risk-based audits. The code establishes a two-layer complaint adjudication process, with appeals handled by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) The 21-year-old woman who sustained critical injuries during a protest-related incident at Jantar Mantar earlier this week is now conscious, breathing on her own, and responding appropriately to commands, according to a statement by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Friday.

The hospital said the patient has shown significant clinical improvement since being admitted in a critical condition following the incident.

"She is showing clinical improvement. She was successfully extubated (removed from the ventilator) almost 48 hours back and is breathing on her own. She is conscious and responding appropriately to commands," the hospital said in a statement.

The woman has been undergoing intensive treatment at the hospital since she was brought in from the protest site with severe injuries.

Doctors said her condition has stabilised, although she continues to require close monitoring and advanced medical care.

"Her clinical condition is currently stable. However, she needs and continues to receive comprehensive critical care under the close supervision of the multidisciplinary treating team," the statement added.

The student was injured during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. According to reports, she suffered serious injuries after allegedly colliding with a police barricade during a crackdown on demonstrators attempting to march towards Parliament.

The incident occurred amid chaotic scenes during the CJP's 'Sansad Chalo' march, which began at Jantar Mantar and aimed to proceed towards Parliament. Protesters were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging irregularities in various competitive examinations, including the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak.

Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party has said that its protest at Jantar Mantar will continue even after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day fast on Thursday and reiterated that the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains its primary demand.

--IANS

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Jaipur, July 23 (IANS) A 29‑year‑old woman died nearly 34 hours after undergoing a Caesarean delivery at the Government Zanana Hospital in Sikar, prompting her family to allege medical negligence and stage a protest outside the mortuary of Shri Kalyan Government Hospital.

The deceased, Deepa Nayak, had given birth to a baby girl on July 21. Her husband claimed her condition deteriorated after a nursing staff member administered an injection the following day and alleged that doctors failed to provide timely treatment or refer her to a higher medical facility.

According to Deepa’s husband, Lalchand Nayak, a resident of Raipura, his wife was admitted to the Government Zanana Hospital on July 20 after experiencing labour pains. She delivered a healthy baby girl around 11 am on July 21 through a Caesarean section and was later shifted to the general ward.

Lalchand alleged that around 1:30 pm on July 22, a nursing staff member administered an injection to Deepa, following which she developed breathing difficulties and swelling across her body. He claimed that despite informing hospital staff, the family was asked to wait for the doctor. As her condition worsened, they repeatedly requested that she be referred to another hospital.

According to the family, Deepa’s condition had become critical by around 3 pm, but she was referred to Jaipur only between 8 pm and 8:30 pm, several hours later. Lalchand further alleged that while the ambulance was on its way to Jaipur, it turned back near Bajor and returned to Shri Kalyan Government Hospital in Sikar, where doctors declared Deepa dead.

The family has alleged that the delay in treatment and referral led to her death. Deepa is survived by her two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old daughter and her newborn baby girl, who was born just two days before her death. Speaking during the protest, Lalchand said he works as a painter and is the sole earning member of the family. He added that he is also responsible for caring for his mentally challenged father and expressed concern over raising his two daughters without their mother.

The deceased’s family, along with residents of Raipura village, staged a protest outside the mortuary demanding action against those responsible. Among the demands raised were strict departmental and legal action against the accused officials, Rs 11 lakh compensation for each of Deepa’s two daughters, a post‑mortem examination by a medical board, a contractual government job for Lalchand Nayak and inclusion of two representatives from the family in the inquiry committee.

The first round of talks between the protesters and hospital authorities reportedly remained inconclusive. Priyanka Aman, Superintendent of Shri Kalyan Government Hospital, said the family has submitted a formal complaint and that a committee of senior doctors will be constituted to investigate the incident. She said CCTV footage would be examined and statements of all concerned staff would be recorded.

She added that the guilty would not be spared if negligence is found. Aman said she was informed about the incident at around 7:45 pm on Wednesday and immediately reached the maternity hospital with senior officials. She also stated that when the 108 ambulance service could not be contacted, the hospital arranged an ambulance and nursing staff to shift the patient.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 23 (IANS) Pharma major Cipla Limited on Thursday reported a 39.2 per cent year-on-year decline in its consolidated net profit attributable to owners of the parent for the first quarter of FY27.

The company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 789.05 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, compared with Rs 1,297.91 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year (Q1 FY26), according to its stock exchange filing.

“We are pleased to share that we continue to make considerable progress across our focused markets. Branded prescription business delivered a robust growth, with key therapies outpacing the market, trade generics recorded healthy growth and anchor brands of Consumer Health Business maintained leadership position,” Achin Gupta, MD and Global CEO, Cipla Limited said.

“We expect continued sequential growth in North America, supported by upcoming product pipeline. South Africa private business continued to grow faster than the market,” Gupta mentioned.

Revenue from operations rose 2.3 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7,119.28 crore, up from Rs 6,957.47 crore in the June quarter of FY26.

Total income, including other income, increased 1.6 per cent to Rs 7,330.18 crore from Rs 7,216.03 crore, as per the regulatory filing.

The company, however, said the year-on-year revenue comparison was impacted by a change in the presentation of certain marketing and promotional expenses.

Effective April 1, 2026, these expenses are now being shown as a reduction from revenue from operations instead of being classified under sales promotion expenses within other expenses.

For the June 2025 quarter, the amount involved was Rs 115.24 crore. On a comparable basis, after adjusting for the presentation change, the revenue for the year-ago quarter works out to Rs 6,842.23 crore, indicating an underlying revenue growth of around 4 per cent.

Cipla clarified that the accounting presentation change had no impact on profit, earnings per share, total equity or cash flows.

Total expenses during the quarter surged 14.7 per cent to Rs 6,248.25 crore from Rs 5,446.10 crore a year earlier, according to its regulatory filing.

Profit before tax and share of profit or loss from associates declined 38.9 per cent to Rs 1,081.93 crore from Rs 1,769.93 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 22 (IANS) Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Wednesday reported a 69 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in its consolidated net profit for the first quarter of FY27, with earnings taking a hit from lower revenues in its global generics business, declining North America sales and disruptions in semaglutide supplies.

According to the company's regulatory filing with the National Stock Exchange (NSE), net profit attributable to the owners of the company stood at Rs 4,435 crore during the April-June quarter, compared with Rs 14,178 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

Revenue from operations declined 5.5 per cent year-on-year to Rs 8,070.5 crore from Rs 8,545.2 crore in the year-ago quarter.

The company's operating performance also weakened during the quarter. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell 60.4 per cent to Rs 861 crore from Rs 2,173 crore a year earlier, while EBITDA margin contracted sharply to 10.6 per cent from 25.3 per cent.

Other income, however, increased to Rs 355 crore during the quarter from Rs 290 crore in the corresponding period last year, as per its filing.

Dr Reddy's said it made a provision of Rs 240 crore towards inventory and other associated costs arising from semaglutide supply disruptions during the quarter.

Earlier this month, the company had announced that supplies of its generic semaglutide would remain unavailable in India and continue to face disruptions in Canada until at least late October after an impurity issue in the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) forced it to suspend production of new batches.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient used in the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, has recently gone off patent in India, opening the market to domestic generic manufacturers.

The production disruption is expected to delay Dr Reddy's plans to strengthen its presence in the rapidly expanding semaglutide market.

The company's largest market, North America, witnessed a sharp decline in revenue, which fell 35.3 per cent year-on-year to Rs 2,205 crore during the quarter.

Reflecting the weak quarterly performance, shares of Dr Reddy's Laboratories ended 2.16 per cent lower at Rs 1,179.90 apiece on the NSE on Wednesday.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday agreed to examine a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the Centre's rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for adolescent girls under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

A Division Bench of Chief Justice, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice on the plea and directed the Union government to place on record, by next week, data relating to adverse events following HPV vaccination.

During the hearing, the CJ Upadhyaya-led Bench observed that the issues raised in the petition are of a serious nature, particularly as they concern girl children.

The Delhi High Court also asked Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma to assist the court in the matter.

The PIL, filed through advocate Rohit Kumar, seeks protection of the constitutional rights of young girls, including their rights to life, personal liberty, bodily autonomy and informed consent under Articles 21 and 19 of the Constitution.

The petition challenges the inclusion of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in the Universal Immunisation Programme and alleges that the vaccine is being administered to girls aged around 14 years in schools and public health facilities without proper informed consent or prior approval from parents.

It further alleged that frontline health workers, including ASHA workers, have been assigned enrolment targets, resulting in undue pressure on young girls to receive the vaccine.

"The entire programme has been launched without any credible data with respect to the efficacy of the vaccine and the actual requirement of the population," the plea stated.

Referring to an alleged case involving a 14-year-old girl from Tamil Nadu, the petition claimed that she developed severe neurological symptoms, including loss of voice, paralysis-like weakness, inability to walk and blurred vision, within days of receiving the HPV vaccine in March this year.

It also referred to similar reported incidents from Gwalior and Bihar to question the safety monitoring mechanism.

The plea contended that compulsory vaccination violates the settled constitutional principle of bodily integrity and personal autonomy under Article 21, arguing that no individual can be compelled to undergo vaccination or any other medical treatment without informed consent.

It also referred to concerns raised in the past regarding HPV vaccines, including the findings of the 72nd Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare (2013), which had flagged alleged irregularities in clinical trials of Gardasil and Cervarix, including deviations from protocol and lapses in obtaining participants' consent.

The petition further argued that HPV infection is only one among several risk factors associated with cervical cancer and claimed that the long-term effectiveness of HPV vaccines remains uncertain. It submitted that regular screening of women between the ages of 30 and 65 years remains the most effective strategy for preventing cervical cancer.

The petition also referred to international litigation involving Gardasil, claiming that Merck & Co. had announced a settlement exceeding $50 million in more than 200 lawsuits alleging serious health complications following vaccination.

According to the plea, these developments raise additional concerns regarding the vaccine's long-term safety profile. Seeking judicial intervention, the petition has prayed for appropriate directions regarding the implementation of the HPV vaccination programme, contending that the present rollout raises serious concerns relating to informed consent, safety, scientific basis and public health priorities.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) Union MoS Ayush, Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh proposing the establishment of Ayush outpatient departments and Ayush‑based treatment services across Military and Field Hospitals, an official statement said on Wednesday.

Jadhav noted that while the Armed Forces have robust modern medical infrastructure, integrating India’s traditional systems of medicine could strengthen preventive, promotive and holistic healthcare for defence personnel.

In his letter, Jadhav highlighted the vital role played by the Armed Forces Medical Services in providing healthcare to the country's soldiers serving in diverse and often challenging operational environments.

He said many military and field Hospitals currently lack dedicated Ayush services and opening them would provide soldiers with greater access to evidence-based traditional healthcare, particularly in the areas of preventive healthcare, lifestyle management, rehabilitation and overall well-being.

Jadhav emphasised that the inclusion of Ayush services would complement the existing healthcare framework and contribute to a more comprehensive and patient-centric model of care for Armed Forces personnel.

He also noted that such an initiative would further promote the integration of India's rich traditional medical heritage with the country's public healthcare delivery systems.

He has also conveyed that the Ministry of Ayush is fully prepared to extend all necessary technical support, professional guidance and institutional cooperation, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to facilitate the implementation of the initiative.

The government has strengthened quality assurance, regulatory compliance of Ayush drugs, including those sold on e‑commerce platforms through several regulatory measures and schemes, another statement said.

The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945 provide exclusive regulatory provisions for Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa‑Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and require manufacturers to meet licensing conditions to manufacture for sale.

The Ministry has launched the Ayush Suraksha Portal for real-time reporting and monitoring of misleading advertisements and suspected adverse drug reactions.

—IANS

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New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) Analysts on Wednesday said that there would be minimal impact on Indian pharma companies supplying medicines to US market, as US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose tariffs on generic drugs from 2028.

Multiple Indian companies have subsidiaries in the US and there is considerable difference in the pricing at which goods are transferred to US market and then subsequently sold in US market. The tariff is presumably at pricing at which it enters US market.

Secondly, 90 per cent of generic prescription is imported by US, effectively increasing the tariff for everyone (as and when it happens) supplying to US market and it is not India specific, said Tushar Manudhane, SVP, Institutional Research Analyst–Healthcare, Motilal Oswal Financial services Ltd

“Also, the concept of outsourcing to countries like India is based on 40-60 per cent lower cost of manufacturing in India compared to that in US. Tariff implementation would still fall short and would not lower this advantage of low cost manufacturing from India,” Manudhane explained.

Even if the manufacturing plant is set up (which itself takes two years at least), it would be required to undergo plant inspection and subsequent product approval cycle of at least 12-15 months, further prolonging any competition to kick in.

“Above factors questions the economic viability of setting up a manufacturing plant in US for generics. This effectively would mean minimal impact on the Indian pharma companies supplying medicines to US market,” the analyst noted.

India is often called the "pharmacy of the world" as it supplies generic medicines to countries across the globe.

In the US, Indian generic medicines make up nearly 40 per cent by volume.

In financial year 2024-2025, India exported $9.7 billion worth of pharmaceuticals to the US, accounting for 38 per cent of its total global pharma exports of $25.8 billion, according to data from Global Trade Research Initiative.

Trump has announced that imported generic medicines will remain free of tariffs for two years from August 1, 2026, before facing duties of 100 per cent and later 200 per cent as part of his push to shift pharmaceutical production to the United States.

The announcement gives overseas generic drug manufacturers a two-year window to establish production facilities in the US or face steep tariffs on medicines shipped to the American market.

Trump said the phased tariff structure was intended to encourage drugmakers to invest in American manufacturing facilities.

—IANS

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