HC seeks timeline on revival of liver transplant unit at SCB
A division bench of Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh on Thursday directed the health secretary and the superintendent of SCB to apprise the court on the next hearing scheduled for Aug 21.
During the hearing, health secretary Aswathy S, who appeared in virtual mode, filed an affidavit dated Aug 13, stating that two hospitals — AIG, Hyderabad and Aster CMI, Bengaluru — were selected through a tender process in 2023 for supporting liver transplants at SCB. While Aster CMI continues with the screening process, the MoU with AIG expired in April this year. A meeting is scheduled with AIG later this week to discuss possible continuation of their services.
So far, two liver transplants have been conducted under the programme — one successful and another resulting in the patient's death. Chennai-based MGM Hospital, which is already conducting free heart transplants at SCB, has expressed interest in extending its services to liver and bone marrow transplants. A draft MoU has been submitted and is currently under govt review.
However, the health secretary informed the court that she was unable to provide a definitive timeline for establishing a comprehensive transplant system, as the matter is under active govt consideration.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now
Tips and Tricks
Undo
The court, emphasising the urgency of the issue, observed that the matter "cannot be deferred indefinitely".
The court also directed the govt to conduct a comparative assessment of AIG and Aster CMI based on expertise, success rate and responsiveness to determine the most suitable technical partner.
In a separate affidavit, SCB superintendent Dr Goutam Kumar Satpathy highlighted that liver transplants require extensive preoperative evaluations.
Currently, five patients are being screened, but two do not have donors and others have not completed the required tests. He added that no meetings of the authorisation committee have been held in the past six months due to incomplete documentation.
The health secretary further informed the bench that a team of doctors recently visited Karnataka to study transplant models. Their recommendations are being evaluated to suit Odisha's requirements.
The bench directed that all developments, including the status of meetings with AIG and MGM, be submitted before the court on Aug 21.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
31 minutes ago
- Mint
Layoffs loom at weight loss drug Wegovy's maker Novo Nordisk as slowing sales threaten job cuts
COPENHAGEN, Aug 21 (Reuters) - As Novo Nordisk's sales of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy boomed, the Danish drugmaker raced to expand manufacturing capacity and sales outreach with a hiring spree that almost doubled staff numbers over five years. Now sales are slowing and layoffs loom. Annual reports show that Novo's workforce grew from around 43,260 employees in 2019 to 77,350 by the end of last year - an average of 131 new roles filled each week, far faster than rival Eli Lilly, whose headcount rose from 36,000 to 47,000 over the same period. Novo's rapid expansion is now under scrutiny from investors and even management, with the drugmaker facing cost pressure and heightened competition from Lilly's Zepbound and cheaper weight loss copycat compounds in the United States. "I don't want to limit myself in terms of where I look for savings, and salaries are a cost item. I will go through everything," said CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar on August 7, his first day in the job. Two weeks later, on Wednesday, Novo said it had implemented a global hiring freeze for non-critical roles. When asked for details of headcount reduction plans, a company spokesperson referred Reuters to Doustdar's comments. The five-year hiring surge saw employee costs almost double to nearly $9.9 billion by last year, company filings show. While the increased overhead barely registered as sales shot up, Novo's gross margin has been squeezed this year, reaching its lowest level in two and a half years in the second quarter. The stock market has wiped $490 billion off the company's market capitalisation since a peak last year when it was Europe's most valuable firm. It appointed Doustdar to turn things around after twice warning on profit this year and saying sales could dip in the second half of 2025 from a year earlier. "Their earnings had been so strong that you could ignore the cost side," said Lars Hytting, head of trading at Denmark-based investment firm ArthaScope, which holds Novo shares, adding the firm had grown "complacent" and now needed to slim down. 'Novo is now going on Wegovy.' SALES JOBS SEEN AT RISK Some analysts anticipate layoffs in the sales division - a common industry cost-cutting measure. Novo hinted at this during its second-quarter results, saying it would begin deprioritising sales of Rybelsus, its older type 2 diabetes treatment. Sales of the drug have declined, eclipsed by soaring demand for Ozempic, which shares the same active ingredient as Wegovy. "That is probably not a coincidence," said TD Cowen analyst Michael Nedelcovych. "When companies try to cut costs, they probably look first to a sales force for an ailing drug." Novo built a new U.S. sales force to market Wegovy to doctors rather than rely on staff who were already promoting Ozempic, three former employees familiar with the drug's launch told Reuters. That meant more costs, and at times the teams overlapped in outreach to the same healthcare providers, they said. All asked not to be named in order to speak frankly about a former employer. The Novo Nordisk spokesperson declined to comment on the structure of its business. In response to the initial unprecedented demand for Wegovy, Novo also invested billions to expand factories in Denmark and the United States. The company said in early 2024 that around 70% of new hires in the previous two to three years were in the manufacturing division. The spokesperson said that last year, 49% of new hires were related to manufacturing, including around 3,200 employees from Catalent, a contract drugmaker acquired last year by Novo Holdings, Novo Nordisk's controlling shareholder. Novo could also first turn to functions such as communications or administrative roles for cuts, because reductions in sales or manufacturing could hinder its ability to regain market share, said Simon Birkso Larsen, founder and head of Pipeline Clarity, a Copenhagen-based pharmaceutical industry consultancy that does not count Novo as a client. Larsen was a Novo Nordisk employee from 2015 to 2017. "Novo hired so rapidly that it has become difficult to figure out who does what in the are limits to how many people you can integrate and still be effective," he said. ($1 = 6.3995 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Maggie Fick and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Adam Jourdan, Michele Gershberg and Kirsten Donovan) Disclaimer: This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
12 reasons to remind your boss why working extra hours is bad for both of you
Across industries, working late has long been seen as proof of commitment. Yet experts warn that the habit often does more harm than good, draining energy, straining relationships, and reducing long-term productivity . With conversations around work-life balance becoming more urgent, professionals are now challenging the belief that staying past office hours is a measure of success. Adding to this discussion, London-based entrepreneur Dan Murray outlined twelve reasons why leaving on time benefits not only employees but also their organisations. Taking to LinkedIn, Murray argued that while work will always remain, the time spent on family, self-care, and personal pursuits cannot be regained. He described overwork as an unsustainable habit that may initially appear productive but ultimately reduces efficiency and erodes quality of life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Murray's 12 Reasons to Leave on Time In his post, Murray outlined twelve reasons why employees should not sacrifice personal time for extended office hours. His list emphasised that: Work is a continuous process and will never be fully completed. Mental and physical health must remain a priority. Time with family and friends is invaluable. Rest and recovery are essential for productivity. Setting boundaries protects personal space. A balanced lifestyle enhances overall well-being. Burnout is real and damaging. Hobbies and passions provide fulfilment. Exercise and self-care strengthen resilience. A job does not define identity. Life is too short to spend solely at work. True happiness comes from safeguarding well-being. He concluded that employees who take care of themselves outside work return more motivated and contribute more effectively to their teams. You Might Also Like: Long duty hours, night shifts but she still cracked UPSC. Meet doctor-turned-IAS office Dr Anjali Garg, from Delhi Safdarjung Hospital Online Reactions to the Post Murray's reflections quickly gained traction, drawing thousands of views and hundreds of comments within days. Many professionals echoed his views, agreeing that long hours are often mistaken for dedication but, in reality, diminish creativity and energy. One user wrote that boundaries and rest are what sustain enthusiasm and innovation at work. Another described protecting personal time as one of the smartest long-term investments in both career and life. Others noted that balance helps regulate mental and physical health, making individuals more effective in the long run. Some described Murray's post as more than just advice, calling it a practical manifesto for sustainable success. A commenter noted that leaving on time should not be seen as laziness but as an example of leadership and healthy ambition. You Might Also Like: Boss refuses WFH amid Mumbai rains. But employee's two-word reply shuts him down Who Is Dan Murray? According to his LinkedIn profile, Murray studied English and Art History at the University of Nottingham after completing his schooling at University College School. He co-founded a fashion-focused mobile app that ran for more than four years before moving on to other ventures. Over the years, he has launched or co-founded several start-ups, building a reputation as a founder who advocates both professional innovation and personal balance.
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
Expand AYUSH-based services to promote integrative oncology approaches: Parliamentary panel
ANI Representational image. A parliamentary committee has recommended taking proactive steps to expand the institutional footprint of AYUSH-based healthcare services across the country to promote integrative oncology approaches and enable patients to benefit from diverse therapeutic options rooted in India's traditional knowledge systems for combating cancer. Headed by Narain Dass Gupta, the Committee on Petitions of the Rajya Sabha noted in its 163rd report presented on Wednesday that the penetration of alternative systems of medicine -- namely Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani and Siddha -- within the domain of cancer care remains significantly limited in comparison to allopathic treatment modalities. The Ministry of AYUSH has reported ongoing advancements in cancer-related research across these traditional systems. It also recommended the establishment of dedicated institutions for AYUSH-based cancer care in every state and Union Territory (UT), modelled on the All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi. "Such a move would broaden access, promote integrative oncology approaches and enable patients to benefit from diverse therapeutic options rooted in India's traditional knowledge systems," the panel said. The Committee further recommended that cancer be declared a notifiable disease across all states and UTs. It said reliable data is vital for assessing public health issues, particularly cancer, where comprehensive information is essential to track trends, design policies and plan infrastructure. At present, cancer data is primarily drawn from the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), which covers only about 18 per cent of the population, which is insufficient for a national picture. Healthcare professionals have long advocated for declaring cancer a notifiable disease. At present, the government's position is guided by WHO norms, which limit notification to communicable diseases. "However, given the rising cancer burden in India, this stance warrants a serious reconsideration. Given India's rising cancer burden, the Committee is of the view that declaring cancer notifiable would ensure systematic reporting, generate real-time and credible data, strengthen surveillance and enable evidence-based policymaking. "It would support targeted interventions, rational resource allocation, region-specific strategies and development of appropriate infrastructure," it said in the report. While some states have already made cancer notifiable, a national mandate would ensure uniform documentation and a clear picture of the disease burden. The Committee also noted that while banks, PSUs and corporates invest substantially in corporate social responsibility (CSR) largely in healthcare, education and women's empowerment, these efforts are often compliance-driven and concentrated around operational areas. It, therefore, recommended that a defined share of CSR funds be earmarked for cancer care to complement government efforts, particularly by establishing diagnostic centres, radiotherapy units and palliative care facilities in underserved and rural regions. Corporates should realign CSR strategies with national health priorities, shifting to a needs-based outcome-driven model that meaningfully addresses gaps in the cancer care ecosystem and contributes to inclusive nation-building, the panel said. Patient Assistance Programmes are a commendable initiative by the government aimed at ensuring access to affordable medicines, particularly for economically vulnerable sections of society, the panel noted. Programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) play a critical role in providing low-cost medicines to patients from low-income groups. It noted that while some pharmaceutical companies do offer patient support programmes, their presence remains limited. It recommended engaging more pharmaceutical manufacturers to implement such initiatives, particularly in areas where access to healthcare services is inadequate. "This would greatly enhance the accessibility and affordability of essential treatments for disadvantaged populations. The Patient Assistance Programmes must also educate the patients about the treatment methodologies available and ensure that they adhere to the treatment plan. "They should also be educated about the different government schemes available," the panel recommended.
