Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
New Delhi, Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) A wireless retinal implant showed potential to restore central vision in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to clinical trial results published on Monday. Advanced atrophic AMD, also known as geographic atrophy (GA), is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults, affecting more than 5 million people worldwide. The study, led by researchers from the University College London, University of Pittsburgh, and Stanford Medicine revealed that 27 out of 32 participants had regained the ability to read a year after receiving the device. The device, called PRIMA, is the first eye prosthesis to restore functional sight to patients with incurable vision loss, giving them the ability to perceive shapes and patterns -- also known as form vision. "It's the first time that any attempt at vision restoration has achieved such results in a large number of patients," said José-Alain Sahel, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine, US. "More than 80 per cent of the patients were able to read letters and words, and some of them are reading pages in a book," Sahel said. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that over 81 per cent patients achieved clinically meaningful improvements in visual acuity while 84 per cent reported using prosthetic vision at home for reading numbers or words. On average, participants improved by 25 letters -- about five lines -- on a standard eye chart when using the device. More than 80 per cent of participants gained 10 or more letters. As AMD progresses, the centre of vision becomes increasingly blurry due to the irreversible damage to the light-sensing cells in the central part of the retina. In a healthy retina, those cells capture ambient light from the environment and transform it into pulses of electricity, which are then sent to nerve cells lining the back of the eye and, eventually, to the brain through the optic nerve. The device called PRIMA replaces these lost photoreceptors with a 2×2 mm wireless implant that converts light into electrical signals to stimulate remaining retinal cells. A camera mounted on specialised glasses captures images and projects them onto the implant using invisible near-infrared light. The implant then converts the light into electrical pulses, restoring the flow of visual information to the brain. Patients can adjust zoom and contrast settings to enhance functional vision. After one year of using the system, all procedure-related adverse events had subsided, and the majority of participants showed significant improvement in their ability to read letters on the eye chart. One participant improved by as many as 59 letters, or 12 lines.
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 18: In recent times, many of us have encountered the term 'Progressive Myopia'. But what exactly is it? Progressive Myopia is a form of near-sightedness where the correction needed to clear vision increases by more than -0.5 dioptre within a year. This condition predominantly affects children and teenagers. The earlier Myopia develops, the faster it progresses. Consequently, children who develop Myopia early in life are more susceptible to progressive myopia and eventually high myopia. Dr Padma Priya G K, MBBS, DO, DNB, FPOS, FAICO Consultant Paediatric Ophthal ...Read More >
The Army Hospital in Delhi achieves a significant medical milestone by performing a rare hearing implant on a young child and introducing cutting-edge technology for complex eye surgeries like Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, setting benchmarks for Armed Forces medical facilities in India. The Army Hospital (Research and Referral) in Delhi has successfully executed a rare and intricate hearing implant surgery on a 1.8-year-old girl plagued by Michel Aplasia. This condition involves an underd ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 18: Myopia, or near-sightedness, is a condition where nearby objects appear clear, but distant objects look blurry. It is the most common refractive error, typically affecting the younger population worldwide. With its rising prevalence, it is estimated that by 2050, half of the global population will be Myopic. Quote: Myopia, or near-sightedness, is rapidly increasing among children, Today children are spending less time outdoors and more time on screens, and these lifestyle factors, along with genetics, are contributing significantly to the rise in myopia. Once myopi ...Read More >
Hyderabad: A brain tumour diagnosis often triggers fear -- not just from the disease but from the invasive treatments that follow. Surgery, radiation, long hospital stays and uncertain outcomes overwhelm patients and families. But this World Brain Tumour Day on Sunday brings new hope, as doctors highlight emerging non-invasive therapies that could transform care. Advances in medical technology are introducing targeted, non-surgical treatments that promise better outcomes with fewer side effects and faster recovery. One such breakthrough is Focused Ultrasound Therapy. "It uses sound energy, l ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) Biocon Ltd on Friday said its arm Biocon Biologics has been granted a notice of compliance by Health Canada for its biosimilar Yesafili injection used to treat various ailments of the eye. "Health Canada has granted a Notice of Compliance (NOC) for Yesafili(aflibercept), a biosimilar to Eylea injection, in vial and prefilled syringe presentations, 2 mg/0.05 mL on June 26, 2025," a regulatory filing by Biocon said. This approval paves the way for the launch of Yesafili in Canada, scheduled for July 4, 2025, it said, adding Yesafili is the first biosimilar to Eylea to b ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Firecracker-related eye injuries continued on the second day of Deepavali. Between Sunday and Tuesday, the total number of eye injuries treated in the city's eye hospitals touched 96, including 48 children. Most of the cases were minor injuries.On Tuesday, there were four cases, including one child, at Minto Hospital. Two were grievous injuries, while the other two were simple injuries caused by crackers such as bijli roll, atom bomb, flowerpot, Lakshmi bomb, and rockets. In the past t ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: A government doctor at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) in Thiruvananthapuram has been suspended following a shocking case of medical negligence involving a 59-year-old woman. The patient, Asoor Beevi from Beemapally, had visited the hospital for an eye injection as part of ongoing treatment for vision problems linked to high blood pressure. However, Assistant Professor Dr. S.S. Sujesh mistakenly administered the injection to the wrong eye, says reports. The error came to the forefront when Beevi's relatives noticed the mistake after the procedure. Hospital a ...Read More >
CHENNAI: With Deepavali approaching, doctors have urged the public to take extra precaution while handling fireworks to avoid eye injuries. Experts say improper handling often leads to accidents, with eyes being one of the most affected areas. According to Dr S Soundari, regional head of clinical services, Dr Agarwal's Eye Hospital, Chennai, most injuries reported during the festive season have a direct impact on the eyes. "Eyes are the second most affected area after hands and fingers. Many ocular injuries occur due to sparklers, bombs and 'chakra' crackers," she said. She added that more ...Read More >
Indore administration has banned dangerous carbide toy guns after 31 individuals, mostly children, suffered serious eye injuries during Diwali. The district magistrate prohibited their manufacture, storage, sale, and use, citing public health and environmental concerns. Police also banned social media content featuring these guns, with violations punishable by law. The Indore district administration on Friday banned the dangerous carbide toy guns after their use during Diwali led to at least 31 ...Read More >
Lupin announced the completion of its acquisition of VISUfarma B.V. (VISUfarma), a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on ophthalmology, from GHO Capital Partners LLP (GHO). The acquisition represents a significant milestone in Lupin's strategy to expand its specialty care portfolio and strengthen its presence in Europe. The integration of VISUfarma has significantly expanded Lupin's ophthalmology portfolio to over 60 branded products spanning dry eye, glaucoma, eyelid hygi ...Read More >
Rajkummar Rao clarified his recent physical transformation was for Ujjwal Nikam's biopic, requiring him to gain 9-10 kg. He's now shedding weight for the Sourav Ganguly biopic, emphasizing his commitment to authentic portrayals without prosthetics. Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao recently attended the Bolti Khidkiyaan Short Film Festival in Mumbai. Videos from the event showed the actor in a new look, leaving fans concerned about his well-being. Fans quickly noticed a visible change in the actor's ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) A study has documented an instance where genome sequencing and result interpretation were completed within just four hours, demonstrating the technique's feasibility for routine clinical use. Described in an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the time clocked to sequence one human genome surpassed the Guinness World Record of five hours and two minutes, which was achieved by a team from the US' Stanford University on March 16, 2021. Researchers and experts from Boston Children's Hospital and Broad Clinical Labs in the US and Switzerland-based Ro ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 2 (ANI): Lupin Ltd. has completed the acquisition of VISUfarma B.V, a European pharmaceutical company focused on ophthalmology, the company said in an exchange filing on Thursday. Lupin said the acquisition is a "significant milestone" in its strategy to expand the speciality care portfolio and strengthen its presence in the European region. "The integration of VISUfarma has significantly expanded Lupin's ophthalmology portfolio to over 60 branded products spanning dry eye, glaucoma, eyelid hygiene, blepharitis, retinal health, and specialty nutraceuticals," the compa ...Read More >
How to protect eyes: Vitamin C plays a vital role in maintaining eye health by combating oxidative damage and promoting vascular health. This powerful antioxidant helps protect delicate eye tissues from pollution-induced stress (Image: Canva) Pollution exposes your eyes to harmful particles, increasing oxidative stress, a condition where the body's natural defense against free radicals is compromised. With the retina's high metabolic activity, it becomes especially susceptible, leading to conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and glaucoma. Antioxidants neutralise ...Read More >
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 18: Myopia, or near-sightedness, is a condition where nearby objects appear clear, but distant objects look blurry. It is the most common refractive error, typically affecting the younger population worldwide. With its rising prevalence, it is estimated that by 2050, half of the global population will be Myopic. Dr Sanchit Gupta Eye Surgeon, MS (Gold Medallist), FNIE,FMR Netra Drishti Eye Carer, Gandhinagar, Agra Quote: Myopia, or near-sightedness, is rapidly increasing among children, Today's children are spending less time outdoors and more time on screens, ...Read More >
The Armed Forces Medical Services, AIIMS, and MoHFW have launched India's first AI-based community screening for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). The initiative uses an AI tool, MadhuNetrAI, to prevent blindness in India's 65 million diabetics. In a landmark initiative that blends military discipline, academic excellence, and digital innovation, the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) in a joint collaboration with Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC), AIIMS, and the e-Health AI Uni ...Read More >
In recent times, many of us have encountered the term 'Progressive Myopia'. But what exactly is it?Progressive Myopia is a form of nearsightedness where the correction needed to clear vision increases by more than -0.5 dioptre within a year. This condition predominantly affects children and teenagers. The earlier Myopia develops, the faster it progresses. Consequently, children who develop Myopia early in life are more susceptible to progressive myopia and eventually high myopia.Dr Padma Priya G ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Every year, eye injuries such as burns, irritation, and corneal abrasions surge in the city during Deepavali as firecrackers lead to accidents, especially among children. If not attended to quickly, the injuries can even lead to vision loss. As the season kicks in, ophthalmologists have issued some guidelines for a safe and injury-free festival.At Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, the govt-run eye hospital, the number of outpatients during Deepavali surged in 2024. While there were only 15 in ...Read More >
Chennai, Aug 3 (PTI) Eye care provider Maxivision has launched 10 super specialty eye hospitals across the city marking its entry into the state capital. Maxivision currently operates eye care facilities in Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Salem, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Perambalur. With the launch of Chennai operations, Maxivision has committed investments of Rs 100 crore to expand in all districts and towns across Tamil Nadu over the next two years. Cricket legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni inaugurated a super specialty eye hospital in the presence of Maxivision Eye Hospitals Group Chairman and Managing ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) With the income tax return (ITR) filing date extended to September 15, taxpayers have more time to decide whether to choose the old or new tax regime. Salaried employees or pensioners without business income can change their tax regime at any time prior to filing their ITR every year by simply selecting the relevant option on the ITR-1 or ITR-2 form. With commercial or professional income, the regulations are stricter. Only once in your lifetime may you return to the old tax regime, and the choice is locked afterwards. For this change, you must file Form 10- ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) The All India Football Federation have congratulated Inter Kashi on being adjudged the I-League Champions following the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS has partially upheld an appeal by Inter Kashi Football Club (Inter Kashi FC) against Churchill Brothers FC Goa, Namdhari FC, Real Kashmir FC, and AIFF. CAS has ruled that the AIFF shall declare Inter Kashi FC as winners of the I-League 2024-25. After an unsuccessful first procedure initiated by several I-League clubs before the AIFF Disciplinary Committee, the AIFF Appeal Committee ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Drug maker Lupin on Monday said its subsidiary has inked a pact to fully acquire Amsterdam-headquartered VISUfarma BV at an enterprise value of 190 million euros. The company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Nanomi BV has signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of VISUfarma BV, a portfolio company of global healthcare specialist investor GHO Capital Partners LLP, the Mumbai-based drug maker said in a statement. The acquisition of VISUfarma, with its broad portfolio of eye health products and established commercial infrastructure, aligns with the company's strategy ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): All India Institute Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Director Dr Ajai Singh spoke to Free Press on problems and facilities at AIIMS. People feel that AIIMS doors remain closed for them in case of emergency. Earlier, there was infrastructure and manpower for 960 beds. Increased number of beds to 1400 with same infrastructure and manpower. So, there is acute shortage of manpower and facilities specially to accommodate more patients in case of emergency. We have sent the proposal to union health ministry for more hands. We launched e-ICU for better healthcare in districts wit ...Read More >