Recently, JP Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Affairs, released the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017. Patting the back of the minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the policy as a ‘futuristic’ document which places the interests of the citizens foremost.
According to Nadda, NHP 2017, which is patient centric and quality-driven, provides the much-needed policy framework for achieving universal health coverage and delivering affordable quality healthcare services to all. The Union Health Minister said that under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the Health Ministry has formulated the policy after a gap of 15 years to address the current and emerging challenges necessitated by the changing socio-economic and epidemiological landscapes since the last National Health Policy was framed in 2002.
NHP was drafted by the government and placed in public domain on December 2014. Based on suggestions and feedback, the document was improved and endorsed by the Central Council for Health & Family Welfare in February 2016.
The launched policy has raised the bar and has set ambitious targets such as raising of public expenditure on healthcare to 2.5 per cent of GDP from the current level of about 1.5 per cent. It also entails introducing yoga much more widely in schools and workplaces. The policy also envisions increasing life expectancy to 70 years from 67.5 years and proposes free diagnostics and drugs at all public hospitals.
The policy will provide free medicines and "assured" health services to all and aims to reduce out of pocket health expenditure, said Nadda. He said the newly unveiled policy unlike the earlier one stresses on "preventive and promotive" healthcare and also has a “target-oriented” commitment for elimination of diseases for which an implementation framework has also been envisaged.
Esta historia es de la edición April 2017 de Bio Spectrum.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 2017 de Bio Spectrum.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
How Tech Innovations Impact Cardiac Care
Cardiac care has seen a transformation over the years with technology playing an important role. Armed with Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), cardiac care providers, with the right technology, have received the right impetus to revolutionise treatment mechanisms. Let us delve into the new technologies which the industry is offering to mankind and decipher the way forward.
Mynvax Offers ‘Warm Vaccine' For COVID-19
Biotech startup Mynvax, incubated at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, has developed heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine formulations.
“R&D outsourcing has become a ‘must have' than ‘good-to have' strategy”
Aragen Life Sciences (formerly GVK BIO), a leading contract research and development organisation headquartered in Hyderabad, is marking its transition to a new brand identity in its 20th year. Established in 2001, the company is poised for growth in the outsourced discovery, development, and manufacturing services sector across both large and small molecule platforms with new investments and collaborations. In conversation with BioSpectrum, Manni Kantipudi, Chief Executive Officer, Aragen Life Sciences, Hyderabad reveals more about the company’s recent rebranding and growth plans. Edited excerpts;
Premas Biotech to commercialise VLP vaccine tech against Delta variant
Gurugram-based Premas Biotech has signed a licensing deal with Oravax Medical for the development and commercialisation of its virus-like-particle COVID-19 vaccine technology.
SARS-CoV-2: A Biochemical Treatise on its Past, Present & Future
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is unprecedented but equally unprecedented is the contribution of scientists who have helped us in understanding the mechanisms by which it infects human beings and also, developing a variety of vaccines to protect the masses, in a year’s time, which can be called truly groundbreaking. This article gives an overview of the progress made by scientists around the world working round the clock in developing an understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 evolution and COVID-19 disease pathogenesis, and also makes an attempt to suggest the possible ways of coping with this pandemic if we have to co-exist with it forever!
Merck launches Pergoveris Pen for fertility treatment in India
Merck Specialties, the healthcare business of Merck in India, has launched Pergoveris Pen for advanced infertility treatment in India.
GUNG-HO PHARMA R&D INVESTMENTS SURPASS $3B
While the pharmaceutical industry helped combat COVID-19, from R&D actions on potential treatment strategies to balancing the medicines supply chain in the time of crisis, it struggled to maintain the natural market flow. As a result, many pharma companies had to abort some of their ongoing R&D investment plans. However for FY20-21, the average R&D expenses constituted 7.2 per cent of the total revenues of the pharma companies, with Lupin, Alembic Pharma and Dr. Reddy’s spending more than others. The cumulative R&D expenditure of the leading 10 pharma companies has been around Rs 10,627 crore ($1.43 billion) in the previous fiscal. This figure eventually reaches an approximate amount of Rs 22,500 crore ($3.03 billion) after considering the cumulative expenditure by other small and medium players of the India pharma industry.
Glenmark ties up with SaNOtize to commercialise COVID-19 nasal spray
Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Canadian biotech firm SaNOtize Research & Development Corporation
CEPI prioritises Rift Valley fever vax
Sep 01, Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has signed an implementing partner agreement with Integrum Scientific (US) as part of its ongoing efforts to combat Rift Valley fever (RVF)—one of its priority diseases with epidemic potential.
3D printing moulds healthcare innovations
Pharmaceuticals, bio-medicine, aviation, and automobiles industries have rapidly adopted 3D printing over the years, worldwide, to develop new solutions and prototypes. It is also helping many industries, healthcare, in particular, increase productivity. Despite all its advantages, 3D printing technology is currently posing a number of challenges in the market such as initial costs, limitation to the metals and plastics used for 3D printing, lack of policy standardisation, etc.
