Survey shows 80% govt health facilities do not meet Indian Public Health Standards

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Survey shows 80% govt health facilities do not meet Indian Public Health Standards

Of the over 200,000 public health facilities in the country only 43140 had filled in the data required for the survey

 

Of the 200,988 government health facilities in the country, data available with the government show that only 8204 are compliant with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS). 

The health facilities were required to self assess and submit data for their equipment and manpower availability but only 43140 had actually done so. Of these 176 are district hospitals, 236 are sub district hospitals, 1339 are community health centres, 5812 are primary health centres and 35577 are sub health centres.

Among these, 18977 scores less than 50%, 15959 scores between 50 to 80 per cent and only 8204 scores more than 80%. Facilities must score 80% or higher to qualify as IPHS compliant. The Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) are essential benchmarks that ensure the delivery of minimum essential services through public healthcare facilities, including District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centers, Primary Health Centers, and Ayushman Arogya Mandir ( erstwhile Sub Health centres).

Developed in 2007 and revised in 2012 and 2022, these standards align with recent public health initiatives and are fundamental to our healthcare system.

IPHS sets infrastructure, equipment, and human resources benchmarks, ensuring uniform service levels across all public health facilities. The guidelines outline essential and desirable services, helping states plan and meet these standards. By following these standards, facilities maintain consistent healthcare delivery and improve service quality. IPHS guidelines help evaluate public healthcare facilities at all levels, leading to better health outcomes and increased public trust in the healthcare system.

 

Indian scientists identify cell surface mechanism that can help treat cancers, report findings in Nature Communications

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Indian scientists identify cell surface mechanism that can help treat cancers, report findings in Nature Communications

The activation process of a cell surface enzyme known as VEGFR1 can show the way towards developing medical solutions for colon and renal cancers

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata have discovered the mode of activation of a cell surface protein – an enzyme – na finding that might hold the key to the development of treatment for renal and colon cancers. They have reported their findings in Nature Communications.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) are a group of proteins that are present on the cell surface which bind to external agents – eg hormones – in order to mediate cellular mechanisms such as cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, metabolism, and migration. These are also believed to have a role in the etiology of some cancers.

In a statement on the findings, the ministry of science and technology have said: “Researchers have decoded the molecular mechanism in which a cell surface receptor belonging to the family of enzymes that bind growth factors, regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, survival, metabolism, and migration, prevents cancers.

This enzyme called VEGFR1 withholds self-expression (autoinhibited) in the absence of a ligand—for example hormones. The research can show the way for developing medical solutions for colon and renal cancers by using molecules that preferentially stabilises the inactive state of VEGFR1.”

The activation pathway highlighted by the researchers led by Dr Rahul Das of IISER involves the binding of the protein to an external agent triggering a set of mechanisms that cause the addition of a phosphate to receptor that causes processes that are normally kept in check to be set in motion. The ministry’s statements says: “Spontaneous activation of RTKs (cell surface receptors), in the absence of ligands, is often linked to multiple human pathologies like cancers, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Researchers are exploring how a cell maintains an autoinhibited state of the enzyme and why such autoinhibition is breached during the progression of human pathology.”

Global report highlights how women drug users miss out on treatment

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Global report highlights how women drug users miss out on treatment

About a quarter of people the world over who use amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine or heroin are women

Just about one in 18 women drug users the world over is likely to get treatment; one in every seven male drug users is treated, found a global drug report, highlighting the gender disparity in medical help for drug users.

Globally, about a quarter of people who use amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine or heroin are women. In some countries, women users outnumber men in the use of synthetic drugs. These are the findings of the latest UNODC World Drug Report 2024. It highlights a concerning rise in global drug use and the emergence of potent new synthetic opioids, exacerbating the world drug problem and its associated health, social, and environmental impacts.

About the usage patterns in women, the report says: “While overall drug use remains lower among women than men, differences between genders vary substan- tially by region and by drug type. Globally, about a quarter of people who use amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine or heroin are women, but in the case of certain synthetic drugs the share of women is higher in some countries, and in some cases almost the same as that of men, in particular in the non-medical use of pharmaceu- tical drugs such as pharmaceutical opioids or stimulants, and sedatives and tranquillizers.”

According to the report, the number of people using drugs reached 292 million in 2022, a 20 percent increase over the past decade.

Cannabis remains the most widely used drug globally, with 228 million users, followed by opioids (60 million users), amphetamines (30 million users), cocaine (23 million users), and ecstasy (20 million users). The report also underscores the environmental impact of drug production and trafficking, including the harmful effects of spraying illicit substances on crops.

Cannabis Presenting the findings of the report at the UN House in New Delhi, Marco Teixeira, UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia, said, “The situation is serious. Our responses cannot wait. Our responses cannot be disjointed.” “Evidence-based prevention programs give people, especially young people, the knowledge and skills they need to avoid drug use,” he added.

Free health insurance cover for all Indians aged over 70 years 

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Free health insurance cover for all Indians aged over 70 years 

President Draupadi Murmu in her address to Parliament announced the decision

In her address to a joint session of the Indian Parliament, President Draupadi Murmu announced that all Indians aged above 70 years will now be eligible for health insurance cover. This was one of the election promises that BJP had made ahead of the just concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Murmu said: “My Government is providing free health services to 55 crore beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The opening of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country is also progressing at a fast pace. Further, the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. Now all the elderly above 70 years of age will also be covered and get benefit of free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana.”

While the move to cover elderly citizens is laudable, there is considerable anxiety and interest about the feasibility of such a move and the resource implications of it. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, eligible families currently get an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh. Eligibility is based on data from the Socioeconomic caste survey of 2011. This is the first time an age criteria will be set.

Of the 55 crore targeted beneficiaries, so far only a little over half have actually been enrolled since the programme was rolled out in 2018.

Chronic loneliness identified as a strong risk factor for stroke

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Chronic loneliness identified as a strong risk factor for stroke

In a study researchers from the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health have identified it as one of the red flags for stroke

People who suffer from a chronic feeling of loneliness are more likely to suffer a stroke, irrespective of whether or not they suffer from depression or other related problems. Researchers from the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health have reported this in eClinicalMedicine.

Stroke refers to a condition where blood supply to a part of the brain has been cut off. This can happen either because of the rupture of a blood vessel or because of the blockage of a blood vessel because of a clot. The association between loneliness and stroke is a matter of concern also because it is important for stroke victims to get medical care as soon as possible to ensure minimal damage to the brain; while not everyone suffering from loneliness may live alone, many may come in that category and hence getting them to a place where medical care of available, may be a challenge.

“Chronic loneliness was associated with higher stroke risk independent of depressive symptoms or social isolation. Addressing loneliness may have an important role in stroke prevention, and repeated assessments of loneliness over time may help identify those particularly at risk,” the researchers reported. The prospective cohort study examined data from the Health and Retirement Study during 2006–2018; only, it included U.S. adults aged 50 years or older.

Stroke is a major matter of concern in India and one unique feature that has emerged in recent years is stroke in younger people. It is the fourth leading cause of death and the fifth leading cause of disability in the country. The incidence of stroke in India ranges from 105-152 per 100,000 population.

“Three mechanisms generally describe how loneliness can impact stroke risk: physiological, behavioral, and psychosocial. Potential physiological mechanisms previously described in the literature include risk of elevated blood pressure, increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical activity, and diminished immunity. Potential behavioral mechanisms include unhealthy behaviors such as poor medication adherence, smoking and alcohol use, and lower quality of sleep,” wrote the Harvard researchers.

“Mistake in rush”, Bharat Biotech adds ICMR as co-owner of Covid-19 vaccine patent

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“Mistake in rush”, Bharat Biotech adds ICMR as co-owner of Covid-19 vaccine patent

The Hyderabad-based company that had developed Covaxin from the vaccine isolated by and ICMR Institute had not given credit to ICMR earlier

Having earlier omitted the Indian Council of Medical Research from the Covaxin patent application, Bharat Biotech has now claimed that it was an unintentional mistake because of the rush in which the patent application was filed. It has now added ICMR as a co-owner, the company said in a statement.

BB had developed the vaccine from the SARS-COV2 virus isolated by the National Institute of Virology in Pune which is an ICMR institute. That is why the initial omission of the premier medical research body from the patent document had raised eyebrows.

In its statement, ICMR said: “The Covid vaccine development of BBIL was faced with multiple challenges and all organizations were in a rush to develop vaccines and file the appropriate patents, prior to any other entity or prior to any data being published in journals.  Bharat Biotech’s covid vaccine application was filed in above circumstances and since BBIL-ICMR agreement copy, being a confidential document, was not accessible. Hence ICMR was not included in the original application. Though this was purely unintentional, such mistakes are not uncommon for the Patent office therefore Patent Law provides provisions to rectify such mistakes.”

The company, in the defensive statement added that it was working on developing the COVID-19 vaccine as a top priority to ensure product availability at the earliest. It added:  “BBIL has great respect for ICMR and is thankful to ICMR for their continuous support on various projects therefore as soon as this inadvertent mistake was noticed, BBIL has already started the process to rectify it by including ICMR as co-owner of the patent applications for Covid-19 vaccine. Necessary legal documents are being prepared for it and BBIL will file those documents in Patent office as soon as those are ready and signed.  These actions are in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ICMR-NIV Pune and BBIL for joint development of COVID-19 vaccine in April 2020.”

India is looking at HPV DNA tests to improve cervical cancer screening 

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India is looking at HPV DNA tests to improve cervical cancer screening 

Tests by three Indian companies are currently being validated and a decision is likely to be reached by the end of the year

India is in the process of evaluating HPV DNA technology for cervical cancer screening. According to top government sources kits by three Indian companies are currently being tested and by the end of the year there will be more clarity. Cervical cancer kills an estimated 75000 Indian women every year.

This is a significant shift from India’s current position that the most effective method for cervical cancer is visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). However the uptake of cervical cancer screening in India is poor. According to the National Family health Survey 5, less than 2% (1.9%) of Indian women have ever been screened for cervical cancer. This, despite the fact that India started a programme in 2010 under which it aimed to screen the population for breast, cervical and organ cancer. However the uptake of cervical cancer screening has been poore for a range of reasons including lack of trained manpower and the resistance of Indian women to a pelvic examination. During VIA the cervix is examined with an instrument called colposcope after application of acerbic acid.

HPV DNA test is a RTPCR test which can be conducted with less invasion of privacy and is also more accurate. It is the test recommended by the World Health Organisation for cervical cancer screening.

Said a source: “We are in the process of evaluation HPV DNA tests. We are looking at three Indian companies and all of them are currently being evaluated in the field. We should get a decision by year end.”

India has in the past conducted a health technology assessment that found VIA suitable. In a piece published in 2021 in the Indian Journal of Gynaecological Oncology, researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research wrote: “Department of Health Research has recently released a Health Technology Assessment for early diagnosis of cervical cancer. There is sufficient evidence that suggests that screening leads to a reduction in the occurrence of cervical cancer cases with a decrease in cancer deaths. It also concludes that among various screening strategies, VIA every 5 year is the most cost-effective screening method in the context of India.”

Zero diarrhoea deaths in kids the goal, health ministry launches national campaign 

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Zero diarrhoea deaths in kids the goal, health ministry launches national campaign 

The STOP Diarrhoea Campaign will be implemented in two phases: from 14th to 30th June 2024 and from 1st July to 31st August 2024

Its eyes set on ensuring zero child deaths in children because of diarrhoea, the health ministry has launched a national campaign.

Union Health Minister, JP Nadda launched the  National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024 on Monday in the presence of Union Ministers of State,  Anupriya Patel and Jadhav Patraprao Ganpatrao

STOP Diarrhoea Campaign aims to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea. It involves a 2-month long drive with pre-positioning of 2 ORS packets and zinc as a co-packaging to under-5 children

Various initiatives of the Union Government like the National Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and expansion of the Ayushman Arogya Mandir network have cumulatively helped in reducing childhood mortality due to diarrhoea, Nadda said at the launch event. He also emphasised  on the importance of sensitizing health workers along with enhancing capacity building efforts to strengthen diarrhoea management effort in India

Nadda recalling his old association with the ministry of health said that “there is a unique relationship between Mission Indradhanush, Rotavirus vaccine and this STOP Diarrhoea Campaign as all were amongst the first initiatives launched during my earlier tenure as the Health Minister”. He highlighted that in 2014, India was the first country to introduce the Rotavirus vaccine.

To tackle the persistent issue of childhood diarrhoea and strive for zero child deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has rebranded its long-standing Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) as the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign. This initiative, which began in 2014, focuses on enhancing the Prevent, Protect, and Treat (PPT) strategy and increasing the use of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and Zinc. The campaign’s 2024 slogan, “Diarrhoea ki Roktham, Safai aur ORS se rakhen apna dhyaan” highlights the significance of prevention, cleanliness, and appropriate treatment.

The STOP Diarrhoea Campaign will be implemented in two phases: the Preparatory Phase from 14th to 30th June 2024, and the Campaign Phase from 1st July to 31st August 2024. Key activities during this period include the distribution of ORS and Zinc co-packages by ASHA workers to households with children under five, setting up ORS-Zinc corners at health facilities and Anganwadi centers, and intensifying advocacy and awareness efforts for effective diarrhoea management. Additionally, the campaign will strengthen service provision for diarrhoea case management to ensure comprehensive care and prevention.

Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary said: “Diarrhoea is a common disease faced by children. Earlier the government used to run a fortnightly campaign to reduce diarrhoea which is now reinvigorated into a much extensive and comprehensive campaign.”

Six different types of depression, treatment needs to be tailored says new research

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Six different types of depression, treatment needs to be tailored says new research

In new research published in Nature Medicine, researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine argue “one size fits all” may not work

There are six different kinds of depression with different presentations and different neurobiological dysfunctions that treatment needs to be cognisant of and account for, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine have argued in a new paper.

The paper published in the journal Nature Medicine used personalized and interpretable scores of brain circuit dysfunction to reach this categorisation. “To enable more precise diagnosis and selection of the best treatment for each individual, we need to dissect the heterogeneity of depression and anxiety. The dominant ‘one-size-fits-all’ diagnostic approach in psychiatry leads to cycling through treatment options by trial and error, which is lengthy, expensive and frustrating, with 30–40% of patients not achieving remission after trying one treatment,” the researchers wrote.

Depression remains one of the lesser understood physiological phenomenon with multiple level resistance in recognising, seeking help and treating it. For India there is an additional layer of complication in the lack of trained mental health personnel that can provide the required level of care.

“Although our identification of six biotypes is one of many possible solutions to disentangling heterogeneity, these biotypes indicate that there may be multiple neural pathways that result in the clinical manifestation of depression and anxiety. By combining imaging data with clinical symptoms and behavior, we delineated clinical patterns that are consistent with the putative function of the circuits underlying each biotype,” the researchers wrote.

Walking can reduce lower back pain, says new Lancet study

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Walking can reduce lower back pain, says new Lancet study

The world over, back pain is one of the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality, shows the Global Burden of Disease Study

A simple intervention, correctly implemented and gradually scaled could reduce one of the most prevalent afflictions the world over. Walking, according to an article published in The Lancet can help alleviate back pain.

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, globally, back pain is one of the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality. In 2020, 619 million people suffered from lower back pain globally. By 2050, 843 million people are projected to fall into this category.

“An individualised, progressive walking and education intervention significantly reduced low back pain recurrence. This accessible, scalable, and safe intervention could affect how low back pain is managed,” researchers reported in The Lancet. The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia.

The risk factors that contribute to the high incidence of back pain are work-related ergonomic factors, obesity, and smoking. The GBD study also shows low back pain increases with age and the peak age impacted is 85.

“Approximately 70% of individuals experience a recurrence of low back pain within 12 months following recovery from an episode.2Recurrences substantially contribute to the disease and economic burden on individuals and society. Individuals experiencing recurrences bear higher medical costs and longer work absenteeism than those without recurrence,” researchers report.

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