Opinion

Scientists decipher how J.E virus enters brain cells

Scientists decipher how J.E virus enters brain cells

By : Yogesh Sharma

Japanese Encephalitis, a leading form of viral encephalitis is a major problem in India. It is caused by mosquito-borne JE virus .....

India falters on breastfeeding

India falters on breastfeeding

By : Jyoti Singh

About 15 million babies out of 26 million born every year in India are not able to get the benefit of mother’s milk within one hour of their birth .....

Exclusive: Can data save lives?

Exclusive: Can data save lives?

By : Jisha Krishnan

Data has the power to to facilitate better patient outcomes as data will prevent doctors from making mistakes, asserts Dr. Devi Shetty.

Scientists help the way for a vaccine against TB

Scientists help the way for a vaccine against TB

By : Sunderarajan Padmanabhan

The scope for developing a new vaccine against the dreaded disease of Tuberculosis through the biological route has become brighter....

Vitamin D deficiency and pre-diabetic women

Vitamin D deficiency and pre-diabetic women

By : Dr PK Mukherjee

Lower vitamin D levels may be linked to higher blood glucose levels in Indian women with pre-diabetes condition, according to a new study.

What is ICD and why is it important?

What is ICD and why is it important?

By : Rohan Gupta

Despite International Classification of Diseases being introduced in 1993, a majority of hospitals in India are not ICD compliant. 

An initiative that brings data into the mainstream

An initiative that brings data into the mainstream

By : TEEMU HENRIKSSON

A data boot camp series is helping Asian journalists connect with data scientists, medical doctors & policy makers.....

L​ess open defecation key factor in reducing anaemia

L​ess open defecation key factor in reducing anaemia

By : Rohan Gupta

Reduction in open-defecation, increased age at pregnancy and education are three key factors in reducing anaemia among pregnant women in India.

Mystery deaths: Can our healthcare prevent them?

Mystery deaths: Can our healthcare prevent them?

By : Jisha Krishnan

From itchy skin rashes and water retention problems to scarring of lungs, there are numerous conditions whose genesis medical science fails

Social Media and fake news in India

Social Media and fake news in India

By : Rohan Gupta

The rapid spread of internet and social media users in India has led to misinformation about health as fake news travel faster, farther and deeper, with WhatsApp becoming...

Of policy aspirations and implementation

Of policy aspirations and implementation

By : Oommen C. Kurian and Rakesh Kumar Sinha

Karnataka is one of the first states to put a state health policy in place. But there is still wide gap between policy aspirations and implementation.

 

10 Facts About Cancer In India

10 Facts About Cancer In India

By : Rohan Gupta

As the government plans to launch free cancer screening for oral, breast and cervical cancer in 165 of the country's 700 districts, here is the quick look at toll of cancer in India.

Is India ready for universal health coverage?

Is India ready for universal health coverage?

By : Jisha Krishnan

Of its 1.3 billion population, over 1 billion Indians are currently uninsured. At 62%, Indians account for the highest ‘out of pocket expenditure’ in the world...

New ideas to improve women and child health

New ideas to improve women and child health

By : Jyoti Singh

A cream that may fulfil daily nutrient requirement, a diagnostic strip to test cervical cancer, an app to address postpartum depression are some of the innovative ideas selected...

What you should know about the Nipah virus?

What you should know about the Nipah virus?

By : Dr. Jai Prakash Narain

It was in 1998 when the first outbreak of Nipah Virus was reported in Malaysia. Over the years the epidemiology of Nipah appears to have evolved.

Uncovering a puzzle of macrophage activation

Uncovering a puzzle of macrophage activation

By : Ratneshwar Thakur

Macrophages are one of the sentinels of human immune system. However, in some cases uncontrolled or hyper-activation of macrophages can cause cancer or autoimmune disorders. 

What is the Nipah Virus Outbreak?

What is the Nipah Virus Outbreak?

By : Rohan Gupta

The Nipah virus is a highly contagious and deadly virus with a death rate of about 75%. It re-emerged in Kerala for the third time this month after it was reported...

Can India eradicate Tuberculosis by 2025?

Can India eradicate Tuberculosis by 2025?

By : Rohan Gupta

Tuberculosis is India’s most pressing health issue. About 480,000 people die every year in India due to TB. But the problem is bigger, there are more than a million missing TB cases...

Isabgol: A new material for diabetic wounds

Isabgol: A new material for diabetic wounds

By : Jyoti Singh

Wounds in diabetic patients do not heal rapidly. This leads to chronic non-healing wounds that can result in serious complications like amputations. To address this...

Mapping the air pollution sources in Delhi

Mapping the air pollution sources in Delhi

By : Dinesh C Sharma

Industry and transport sectors are apparent sources of air pollution, there are scores of other contributors to deteriorating air quality. Emission inventory can...

New technique to detect Chronic Kidney Disease

New technique to detect Chronic Kidney Disease

By : Umashankar Mishra

Researchers have developed a technique which can potentially help in rapid detection of chronic kidney disease. It is a highly sensitive electro-chemical technique...

Research management critical for Indian labs

Research management critical for Indian labs

By : Dr. Aditi Jain

Academic researchers in institutes and universities have to perform far more duties than just handling experimental work. They have to look after administrative...

China's urban healthcare​: The Lancet report

China's urban healthcare​: The Lancet report

By : Rohan Gupta

China is working on an ambition healthcare project. It wants to establish a basic health system to provide effective, low-cost health services to its more than 1.3 billion...

Tweaking time can make cancer drugs effective

Tweaking time can make cancer drugs effective

By : Sarah Iqbal

Changing the time of administering drugs can help doctors to improve outcome of cancer therapy. Aligning drug administration with internal rhythms of reactive species...

Are Indians wary of public healthcare? Data says yes!

Are Indians wary of public healthcare? Data says yes!

By : Jisha Krishnan

The top three reasons for not availing of public health facilities in India are: Poor quality of care (48.1%), lack of nearby facility (44.6%), and a long waiting time (40.9%).

Study finds antibiotic resistant gene in food

Study finds antibiotic resistant gene in food

By : Dinesh C Sharma

Antibiotic drug resistance is assuming dangerous proportions at global level and India is one of the worst affected countries. A new study in India has found...

Deep look into eyes can tell if you are diabetic

Deep look into eyes can tell if you are diabetic

By : Dr. Aditi Jain

In an emerging field of medicine called iridology, doctors use iris patterns and colors among other characteristics for early diagnosis of underlying health conditions.

UBS launches first Development Impact Bond

UBS launches first Development Impact Bond

By : Anand Chandrasekhar

Zurich-based UBS Optimus Foundation has announced first Development Impact Bond in healthcare which can save over 10,000 lives in Rajasthan.

Severe malaria infections posing new challenges

Severe malaria infections posing new challenges

By : Shikha T Malik

A new study has confirmed a drastic shift in malaria occurrence in India. There is an increase in the number of severe infections instead of mild form of malaria experienced earlier.

Delhi to start monitoring pollen pollution

Delhi to start monitoring pollen pollution

By : Umashankar Mishra

Delhi is struggling with the threat of air pollution. In addition, pollen grains of different plant species spread in the air affect people suffering from respiratory diseases.

India’s neglected tropical diseases

India’s neglected tropical diseases

By : J.Hotez, A.Damania

The high-disease-burden Neglected Tropical Diseases in India are not evenly distributed, but instead focussed in areas of urban and rural poverty.

NGO under scrutiny for Swiss bank accounts

NGO under scrutiny for Swiss bank accounts

By : Anand Chandrasekhar

Swiss authorities have received requests for information concerning potential secret Swiss bank accounts linked to a Delhi-based microfinance NGO.

Bael extracts can neutralise cobra venom

Bael extracts can neutralise cobra venom

By : Manu Moudgil

In India, 50,000 die of snake bites every year. Over 350 plant species have been identified as antidotes but there are very few studies to validate traditional medicines.

CSIR scientists working on new vaccine for malaria

CSIR scientists working on new vaccine for malaria

By : Sunderarajan Padmanabhan

Despite efforts over the decades by scientists across the world, malaria continues to be a major vector borne disease particularly in Asia, Africa and South America.  

Why India should price cap medical devices?

Why India should price cap medical devices?

By : Jisha Krishnan

India’s medical devices market is dominated by imported products, which constitute almost 80% of total sales. Yet, the medical device sector in India remains largely unregulated. 

Will India be able to curb TB by 2025?

Will India be able to curb TB by 2025?

By : Nabeela Khan Inayati

India bears a disproportionately large burden of the world's tuberculosis rates. Acc to WHO, India will need to invest at least US$ 3.4 bn in TB control over the next five years to have substantial impact. 

Database on Indian herbs may ease drug discovery

Database on Indian herbs may ease drug discovery

By : Manu Moudgil

A new online database has identified 960 phytochemicals present in Indian medicinal plants that can potentially be developed into drugs. This is good news for the pharmaceutical companies looking for new products

Indian scientists find asthma drug useful in TB

Indian scientists find asthma drug useful in TB

By : Dinesh C Sharma

Scientists at the IISc Bangalore have found that an existing anti-asthma drug is effective against TB. Researchers are exploring options as TB becomes resistant to the available drugs.

What I learnt from drug pricing authority report

What I learnt from drug pricing authority report

By : Nabeela Khan Inayati

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority was formed in 1997 to control the prices of drugs in India. In its latest report, it made shocking revelations how private hospitals are inflating medical bills to over 1,737%. 

Books in medicine: is the juice worth the squeeze?

Books in medicine: is the juice worth the squeeze?

By : Madhukar Pai

In my academic career, I have done my share of editing books and contributing chapters. But for those of us working in medicine or public health, are books and book chapters worth the effort? I don't think so.