PM hails Ayushman Bharat scheme's contribution to healthcare
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
(AB-PMJAY) has freed people from the habit of silently enduring illness and helped them get good healthcare.
Addressing the nation on Independence Day, Modi said, "When we help senior citizens with more than Rs 5,00,000 for their health needs, it shows our concern for their well-being".
He emphasised India's growing prowess in
domestic pharmaceutical innovation
and the urgent need to develop new medicines, vaccines and
life-saving treatments
entirely within India.
Modi emphasised the need for research in order to come up with the cheapest and most effective medicines for the welfare of mankind, which in times of crisis can be useful for humanity without any side effects.
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Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
CM hosp visit after heat lays kids low at I-Day event
Kolkata: Heat and humidity on Friday led to 39 girl students falling ill immediately after the I-Day Red Road parade in which they participated. All children were taken to the SSKM hospital, prompting a worried CM Mamata Banerjee to rush there and tend to the children personally. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now All children are safe and have been discharged, with only one girl requiring saline infusion. Kolkata was warm and humid on Independence Day with the maximum temperature touching 32.2°C. Humidity was high at 94%, and outdoor conditions were uncomfortable. It was humid and warm since there has been no consistent rain over the last five-six days, barring occasional short spells, and the cloud cover has moved away from the city. This has made the mercury to shoot up again, after a short respite, said weathermen. Speaking to reporters on Friday after meeting the girls at the SSKM hospital, the CM said: "They were given breakfast, but many of them did not have food. Also, there was this performance anxiety in their mind. Several had dehydration tendencies. The psychological effect of seeing one of their friends fall ill led to the unease among them. Only one girl – Fatema – was unwell. She had to be administered saline. Her oxygen saturation is at 99%. But she is also recovering. Everyone will be discharged once the doctors give their nod. A medical team is on standby. The teachers are with them, the parents have been informed." At the hospital, CM personally fed the students sweets. Noticing that some girls had their hairs tied up, she untied them. "They were all sweaty. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I untied their hair, and loosened up their uniforms. But I spoke to everyone. They were all sitting when I left," the CM said, informing the students were from the schools in Malda and Alipurduar, and from Sakhawat Memorial and Bhowanipore Girls in Kolkata. The CM also had to comply with multiple selfie requests by the students who spoke with her holding on to her hands. The doctors have advised caution due to the heat and humidity in Kolkata. Prolonged exposure to the heat and humidity can trigger heat-induced unconsciousness, nausea and vomiting, said intensivist Sauren Panja. "The body loses fluids quickly in the prevailing conditions, and the body temperature rises. Once it crosses the threshold level, the heat-control mechanism fails, and our system starts malfunctioning. It can lead to heatstroke and even death," warned Panja.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
32 students, 2 cops collapse at I-Day event due to extreme heat
1 2 Silchar : Around 20 students collapsed due to exhaustion during the celebrations of the 79th Independence Day in Silchar as the morning turned hot and humid following a short spell of rain. A total of 12 school girls and two police officers also collapsed during celebrations in Sribhumi district. Medical teams rushed to provide first aid, and the affected students were later shifted to hospitals. Officials said their condition was stable and the situation was under control. On the other hand, Assam minister for Barak Valley development, Kaushik Rai, on Friday said the Barak Valley was emerging as a model of transformation under the leadership of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Addressing a large gathering at the District Sports Association (DSA) ground after hoisting the tricolour on the 79th Independence Day, Rai listed major infrastructure, healthcare, education and welfare initiatives that he said had put the state firmly on the path of prosperity. Highlighting ongoing projects, Rai pointed to four-lane highways worth thousands of crores, the Rs 24,000 crore Barapani–Panchgram Expressway approved by the Union Cabinet, and the East-West Corridor slated for completion by 2026. He said work on the Shilghat Barak River Bridge, Madhuraghat Bridge and the Rs 700 crore Rangirkhari–Capital Point flyover were progressing rapidly. The Barak Valley secretariat is scheduled for inauguration in Jan 2026, he added. In healthcare, Rai cited the near-completion of a Rs 165 crore 500-bed block at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, a JICA-funded super-speciality hospital, a new medical college at Lakhipur and the sanctioned Sribhumi Medical College. He noted that Assam's maternal and infant mortality rates had fallen sharply in recent years, calling it a major achievement under the National Health Mission. The minister also touched on rural housing under PMAY-G, financial support to farmers via PM-Kisan, welfare schemes for women and tea workers, and the expansion of food security measures. He said Assam's GSDP was projected to reach Rs 7.25 lakh crore in FY 2025–26, reflecting robust growth. Minister Krishnendu Paul hoisted the tricolour in Sribhumi district, while Hailakandi deputy commissioner Abhishek Jain led the celebrations there. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Families wait for promised medication for kids with spinal muscular atrophy
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