News about Science and Technology

Many Lives Changed with The PMJAY Scheme

On August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will end deprivation to quality and equitable health care by launching Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) to provide health assurance to more than 550 million people and on September 23, the scheme was rolled out.

Within six months of Cabinet approval to the rollout, 32 states and UTs joined the Ayushman Bharat movement, irrespective of their ideology, as a shining example of co-operative federalism. As of today, a month after the launch, more than 100,000 beneficiaries across regions, states and territories have been treated in more than 14,000 hospitalized hospitals, and more than ? 150 crore released to the hospitals against claims.

What to do if health policy is discontinued?

Earlier this month, Bank of India (BoI) sent a letter informing its customers that the National Swasthya Bima Policy of National Insurance Company that they had purchased from the bank would no longer be available to them.

Migrating To Individual Health Insurance Policy

A group health insurance policy is always a popular option among salaried individuals. This is mainly because of the entire premium towards it is paid by the employer, which most employers do. However, on leaving the job, many wonder if the benefit of the group cover can be rolled over to an individual policy?

India Needs a Comprehensive Policy on OTC Drugs, Experts Explain

Many would be surprised that the term OTC doesn't exist as per Indian law. Neither the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 nor the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945 define OTC. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications that don't require a doctor's prescription to buy them have become a mainstay of Indian healthcare as most people self-medicate.

The Real India Growth Story; Nutrition Policy

India has world's third-highest number of billionaires. But at the same time, hidden hunger – micro-nutrient deficiency – continues to be a major public health issue. Today, India has an astounding 190 million undernourished people , the highest in the world. About 47.5 million Indian children under-5 years are stunted -again, the most in the world.

AB-PMJAY: Big Pharma Companies Propose Launch of Low Priced Second Brands

In the move that may bring huge relief to the patients, multinational pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline Pharma and Abbott have a low-priced second-tier brand of their products which can be introduced into government's flagship  Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, sources said.

Urging the government to create policy provisions to allow launching of second brands for introduction to the state-run insurance scheme, the US Indian Business Council (USIBC) asked for the government for a safeguard policy mechanism that they are exempted from price referencing.

Experts Urge Govt: Ayush to be included in Ayushman Bharat

The Centre's patronage for the traditional systems of medicine including Ayurveda is well known but what appears to be interesting is that AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) has not been included in the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY), National medical insurance scheme inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently.

Health Sector: India's spending Has Increased

India's expenditure on the health sector has risen from 1.2% of the GDP in 2013-14 to 1.4% in 2017-18, Health Minister J P Nadda said. He was addressing the concern of members of the Rajya Sabha about the low share of funds spent on healthcare as a percentage of the GDP.  

Integration of Ayush in Health Services a Priority in India

Integration of ayurveda, yoga and other Ayush systems in the delivery of health services is one of the thrust areas of the Indian government, Union Minister Sripad Yesso Naik said as the International Ayurveda Congress (IAvC) began on Saturday. Insurance coverage has been extended to Ayush treatments and 27 companies are offering 140 health policies to beneficiaries in India, Naik said after inaugurating the fourth IAvC at Leiden in the Netherlands. 

‘Modicare’ Figures: Budgetary Neglect of Healthcare Hidden

From the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, the Prime Minister once again kept to form and announced a big-bang programme. It was the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan or the National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPS) or ‘Modicare’, scheduled to be rolled out on September 25 this year. It is grandiose in size. More than 10 crore families or about 50 crore Indians are targeted with a hefty medical cover of `5 lakh. 

Health Experts: Triple Threat of Stunting, Anemia, and Obesity Poses Looming Crisis

A preview of what is to come in the “2018 Global Nutrition Report,” a multistakeholder report supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization, shows a growing number of people facing a triple burden of malnutrition — stunting, anemia, and obesity.

E-cigarettes Overlooked as Smoking Cessation Tool in India: Experts

Backing a recent UK Parliamentary Committee report on e-cigarettes, Indian experts have contended that despite being 95% less harmful than tobacco cigarettes, they are often being overlooked as a smoking cessation tool.

According to the recent House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report, e-cigarettes should not be treated in the same way as conventional cigarettes.