
Union minister inaugurates north India's first technology-driven cancer laboratory
Union minister Jitendra Singh
has inaugurated north India's first technology-driven cancer diagnostics laboratory that will lower radiation exposure by 60 per cent and ensure safer and faster scans while delivering high-resolution images. Mahajan Imaging and Labs developed the next-generation digital PET-CT scanners with
AI-powered imaging
.
"As someone who has served both in the medical field and public service, I understand the pivotal role that early and accurate diagnosis plays in the battle against cancer. The introduction of advanced digital PET-CT technology in north India marks more than a technological achievement, it is a beacon of hope for countless families," Singh said after inaugurating the system on Saturday.
According to a statement, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered 128 Slice Digital PET CT- Omni Legend scanner has the industry's best spatial resolution of 1.4 mm enabling early cancer detection and accurate staging. With the most advanced digital detector and other features such as Precision DL, AI-based lesion identification, and 60 per cent lower radiation exposure, the system ensures safer, faster scans while delivering high-resolution images.
"It exemplifies how we are leveraging innovation with empathy to build a healthier, more equitable future for our citizens The Central government recognises the cancer burden and has taken serious measures to ensure access to cancer care by setting up 200 Day Care Cancer Centres in district hospitals this year besides full Customs Duty exemption on 36 cancer, rare and chronic diseases," Singh said.
Dr Harsh Mahajan, Founder and Chairman, Mahajan Imaging and Labs, shared his thoughts and said, "The launch of our new 128 Slice Digital PET-CT scanner in Gurugram marks a major leap forward in delivering technology-driven cancer diagnostics."
"With next-generation digital PET-CT scanners, AI-powered imaging, and integrated pathology support, we are empowering clinicians with the precision tools needed for early, accurate detection and better treatment outcomes," Mahajan said.
In India, cancer remains a significant public health challenge, with over 14.9 lakh new cases estimated in 2023 according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The crude incidence rate stands at about 100 cases per one lakh population.
Concerningly, projections indicate that cancer incidence will further increase to 1.57 million new diagnoses by 2025, representing a 12.8 per cent rise compared to 2020, he added.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
With more than 3,000 monthly cases, dog bite menace in Chandigarh far from over
The recent death of a state-level kabaddi player from rabies after rescuing a puppy from a drain, and another fatal case in Sirsa where a woman bitten by a stray dog succumbed to the disease, have brought the menace of dog bites and rabies back into sharp focus. In Chandigarh, the fear is palpable. Years ago, a six-year-old from Manimajra died at the PGIMER after a rabid dog bit her on the face. In another case, an 11-year-old was mauled by a stray dog that also attacked several others. A class 2 girl in Sector 13, chased by a pack of dogs, died of a panic attack. Such incidents have forced many, especially senior citizens and children, indoors, too afraid to walk in their sectors, visit markets, or take a stroll in parks, where packs of stray dogs are now a common sight. Fresh data from the UT Health Department reveals that from January to July this year, Chandigarh has recorded 23,198 dog bite cases. July alone saw 4,018 cases, and each month this year has averaged over 3,000 incidents. Meanwhile, neighbouring Panchkula has reported over 3,000 dog bite cases this year. 'Cases of rabies are referred to the PGIMER, while dog bite victims are treated at Sector 19 and Sector 38 dispensaries,' Dr Suman Singh, Director, Health Services, said. Calling for accountability from those who feed stray dogs, Singh added: 'Animal lovers who feed dogs should also take complete responsibility for their vaccination, shelter, and medical needs. Common people cannot be made vulnerable, there has to be safety and security for them.' Others said the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, should neuter stray dogs and provide a designated feeding area in sectors. For Harjit Lakhari, a retired mathematics teacher in Sector 11, the fear is now a part of daily life. 'For the last five years, I have stopped going for walks in my sector or to the Leisure Valley. Packs of stray dogs chase residents. We are scared of falling, breaking our bones, and ending up in the hospital with dog bites. It is unfair that for no fault of ours, we have to be confined to our homes,' the 69-year-old said. Costly treatment While anti-rabies vaccines are available free of cost at government facilities, Human Rabies Immune Globulin — needed for deeper wounds — can cost up to Rs 15,000 in private care. India accounts for over one-third of global rabies deaths, according to The Lancet. National Health Profile data shows 2,863 rabies cases nationwide between 2005 and 2020. Expert advice Experts stress that even after minor exposure — such as licks on intact skin, nibbling of uncovered skin, or small scratches without bleeding — the wound must be washed with mild soap and running water for at least 15 minutes to reduce viral load. 'The victim must rush to the nearest health facility where doctors can begin treatment and vaccination. This must not be ignored,' Singh said.


Hindustan Times
8 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Four new chip plants cleared
The Union cabinet on Tuesday approved four semiconductor units under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), taking the total semiconductor units in India to 10. The four upcoming units - two in Odisha's Bhubaneswar, one in Andhra Pradesh and one in Punjab's Mohali - will have total investments worth ₹4,594 crore. Four new chip plants cleared 'The highest value addition for electronics in the world is at 38% (China), which they achieved in three decades. India will reach there in 1.5 decades,' said Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of electronics and information technology, at a media briefing at Rail Bhawan. The minister said that with these four additional units, value addition in electronics in India will rise from the current nearly 20% to over 30%. The newly approved projects include SiCSem Pvt. Ltd. in Odisha, with a ₹2,066 crore investment, which will produce silicon carbide-based diodes and MOSFETs; Heterogeneous Integration Packaging Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (HIPSPL) which will invest ₹1,943 crore to produce 70,000 glass panels annually; Continental Device India Pvt. Ltd. (CDIL) which will set up a facility high-power discrete semiconductor components in Mohali with an investment of ₹117 crore and a production capacity of up to 158 million units per year; and Advanced System in Package Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (ASIP) which will invest ₹468 crore to manufacture 96 million units of chips used in consumer electronics annually. 'The industry is witnessing a shift from silicon to silicon carbide, as the latter remains stable under high temperatures and high voltages,' said Vaishnaw. 'In applications like missiles or rockets, where electronics operate in extreme conditions, silicon carbide is the preferred choice.' The minister added that a dedicated research unit for silicon carbide has been established at IIT Bhubaneswar with an investment of ₹45 crore. 'Researchers there have successfully experimented with making wafers from silicon carbide powder,' he said. 'They heat the powder to 2,400 degrees Celsius, turning it into vapour, which is then deposited in layers onto a seed-sized piece of silicon carbide. This process is repeated until the crystal grows to about the size of a potato. Then they slice and make wafers out of it.' The facilities are expected to start construction in the next six months, as was the case with the six semiconductor plants announced previously. HT has learnt that the SiCSem facility in Odisha will be completed by 2027. 'India is making rapid strides in the semiconductor sector, building a robust ecosystem to power our digital future and drive global innovation. Today's Cabinet decision relating to approval of semiconductor units in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab will boost manufacturing capacity, create high-skilled jobs and position India as a key player in the global supply chain' said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X. The ISM, launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹76,000 crore, has so far approved six units - four in Gujarat, one in Assam, and one in Uttar Pradesh. The minister said that the first made-in-India chip is expected to come out in the next two to three months, and that there is serious competition brewing between three of these units to produce the first made in India chip before 2025. A senior IT ministry official told HT that the three competing units are all located in Gujarat, namely the Tata-Micron OSAT facility, the CG Power-Renesas OSAT facility, and the Kaynes Technology OSAT facility. All three are located in Sanand. To be sure, the first 'made-in-India' chip will be a packaged chip, not one produced by a fabrication unit. The latest announcement positions India to meet at least 50–60% of its semiconductor demand in the coming decade, Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman of the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), told HT. 'There are significant geo-economic challenges and Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in a foundational industry, and friend-shoring are critical national policies for foundational industries like Semicon,' he added.


Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
High microbial contamination in herbal drugs, says ICMR-NIN study
Hyderabad: A microbiological risk assessment by the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Institute of Nutrition found that a majority of herbal formulations sold in Hyderabad contain bacterial contamination exceeding US Pharmacopoeia's permissible limits. The study, led by Surekha Mullapudi Venkata from the Pathology and Microbiology Division of NIN, analysed 170 herbal products and found that 52.4% were non-compliant with the standards. The study revealed that solid herbal formulations recorded the highest contamination levels, with 63.6% of the 110 solid samples exceeding aerobic bacterial limits. The research was published on August 5 in Science Direct's Journal of Herbal Medicine under the title "Microbiological Risk Assessment and Safety Evaluation of Widely Used Herbal Pharmaceuticals". The study found pathogens including Escherichia coli, faecal coliforms, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, yeast, and moulds in herbal formulations. Risk assessment using the Risk Ranger tool assigned the highest ranking of 75 to solid drugs, followed by semi-solids and liquids at 72 and 70, respectively. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Gold Rates Today in Hyderabad | Silver Rates Today in Hyderabad Findings and Health Implications NIN researchers conducted market surveys across the five zones of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to identify frequently consumed herbal products. Samples were collected from retail outlets in GHMC area using random sampling and tested according to US-FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual methods. Among the 110 solid samples, 96.4% had total viable counts. Viable count is a method used in cell culture to determine the number of living cells in the culture. Staphylococcus, which causes multiple infections in humans, was detected in 62.7%, faecal coliforms in 32.7%, Pseudomonas in 31.8%, E coli in 5.5%, and yeast and moulds in 84.6% of samples. Semi-solid herbal formulations showed 63.3% total viable counts, with Staphylococcus in 30% and yeast and moulds in 23.3%. Liquid herbal drugs had 23.3% total viable counts, with yeast and moulds detected in 10%. Specific solid products with 100% non-compliance included Ashwagandha powder, Shatavari powder, Shatavari tablet, Brahmi powder, Trikatu powder, Dry ginger powder, and Yashtimadhu powder. Meanwhile, Tanikaya powder, Lodhra bark powder, Triphala powder, Ashwagandha tablet, Amla powder, Triphala tablet, and Karakaya powder showed non-compliance rates for US Pharmacopoeia standards ranging from 25% to 75%. The scientists warned that consumption of contaminated formulations could cause gastrointestinal illnesses and severe infections. The researchers recommended to the govt to bring in strict regulatory guidelines and quality monitoring in the manufacturing and storage of herbal drugs. 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.