Medical research has huge role in patient care: Gadkari
Nagpur: "Integrated development is crucial in any sector, and for that, continuous research is crucial. In the medical field too, new research has significantly contributed to patient care," said Union minister for road transport and highways
Nitin Gadkari
while inaugurating the National Paediatric Epilepsy Conclave jointly organised by Maharashtra Academy of Paediatric Neurology and Indian Epilepsy Society in Nagpur on Friday.
The inaugural session saw the presence of leading doctors including IAP national president Dr Vasant Khalatkar, Dr Pramod Giri, Dr Lokendra Singh, Dr Amarjeet Wagh, Dr Wankhede, Dr Vinayan, and Dr Vilas Jadhav.
Gadkari said, "Nagpur is at the heart of India, and I am truly pleased that a significant conclave on paediatric neurology is being held here. The use of advanced technology and science in the medical field is invaluable.
New research in medical science, coupled with doctors' experience, is playing a crucial role in treating many previously incurable diseases."
He noted that the city is moving steadily towards becoming a health hub. "Being centrally located, Nagpur is increasingly attracting patients from neighbouring states for medical treatment," he added. Gadkari emphasised that forward-looking research is essential in every field, including medicine, and proudly noted how Indian doctors have earned significant acclaim in the United States and Europe.
Before the formal inaugural ceremony, the conference featured several scientific sessions on paediatric neurology. Topics covered included neonatal seizures, challenges in managing drug-resistant epilepsy, epilepsy surgery in children, genetic testing and its implications in paediatric epilepsy, and role of advanced neuroimaging in epilepsy diagnosis.
Dr Wagh said that experts from across the world will be in Nagpur for the next two days to share practical insights and the latest updates aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment outcomes for children with epilepsy and neurological conditions.
"This event has brought together paediatric neurologists, epilepsy specialists, and healthcare professionals from across the country, aiming to enhance knowledge sharing and collaboration in the management of childhood neurological disorders," said Dr Wagh.
Discussions to be held on Saturday:
- Status epilepticus management protocols
- Ketogenic diet therapy in epilepsy
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with epilepsy
- Psychological and social aspects of pediatric epilepsy
- Workshops on EEG interpretation in children
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Startup Mantra: Giving nurses wings
Pune: After spending 10 years with his earlier venture upGrad, Mayank Kumar left in October 2024 to start another company — BorderPlus — with his co-founder Ayush Mathur (who was earlier with OYO). The genesis of BorderPlus began when Mayank was in Germany and happened to visit an old age home. Lack of healthcare professionals at a foreign country triggered Ayush to set up his second startup BorderPlus that aims to meet the increasing demand for skilled nurses in Europe to begin with. (AP (PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)) 'I noticed there that despite having capacity they could absorb maybe 70%-80% elderly people. The reason? They lacked staff that could care for them. This was the case in most of the old age homes there. While their population was growing old, they did not have enough young, able-bodied people to look after them. Also, about 90% of the residents were women. And besides having someone to care for them, they wanted a person who they could talk to, someone to share their day with. And, unfortunately, this was missing.' 'To address this demographic crisis – this huge shortfall of caregivers, in such homes, Germany was planning to hire thousands of Indian nurses over the next few years.' And so, Mayank's entrepreneurial mind began to work in overdrive. 'This was something we noticed in countries around the world. They were struggling to find skilled workers, especially in healthcare, logistics, and construction. A key driver of this shortage is the aging population in many developed nations. In Japan, nearly 30% of the population is over 65. Germany isn't far behind, with 22% of its population in the same age bracket. As older populations grow and birth rates decline, the pressure on essential services, especially healthcare, is increasing sharply. At the same time, India has a large, young, and trained talent pool. But most people don't have access to the right support systems to take their skills global,' he said. This was an opportunity knocking at the door. Mayank Kumar (HT) Mayank set out to build a solution for this need. He met with several stakeholders across countries- hospital recruiters, healthcare administrators, and policymakers. 'What we consistently heard was that the talent gap wasn't just about skills or degrees. It was about language proficiency and real-world readiness.' Mayank understood that to serve the need in those countries he had do more than just send out blue-collar workers on the next plane to Germany. 'There's no shortage of qualified professionals in India. But without strong language training, cultural preparation, and the ability to meet local standards, most would never get access to global opportunities.' And so, he got down to fill that gap in their qualification. 'That's when we realised that if we could integrate a finishing school with language training, career support, and employer demand and layer it with technology for scale and credibility, we could build something truly transformative. A platform that doesn't just move people, but prepares them to stay, grow, and thrive in their new environments. Getting down to work Simply getting blue-collar workers jobs abroad was not the goal was obvious. They had to be trained like in a finishing school. They had to have fluency in the foreign language, understand their customs and culture, get assistance with various legal procedures, be able to crack the visa interviews. BorderPlus helps people build global careers, not just get jobs abroad. Mayank said, 'Finishing school helps train participants in German language and healthcare-specific communication, prepare for cultural and professional expectations, help with documents, interviews, and visa paperwork, and connect to employers abroad.' With his tech skills and upGrad experience, Mayank devised an AI tool that can teach nurses German in 750 to 800 hours. 'If they put in five to six hours every weekday they can learn the language in seven months to about a year. Our AI-powered training platform supports learners with personalised feedback, real-time pronunciation correction, and self-paced practice modules. It complements the finishing school experience and makes sure candidates can build fluency and confidence even outside the classroom.' The programme fee for nurses is ₹ 2 lakh and the amount is reimbursed either through a BorderPlus scholarship or relocation support. 'Our revenue model is employer-based, meaning we only earn when a hospital or recruiter successfully hires someone we've trained,' he said. BorderPlus charges employers ₹ 4 lakh to ₹ 12 lakh per worker placed. Building the platform Since both the founders come with prior entrepreneurial background, assembling a strong early team and raising capital was not their biggest challenge. Mayank, 'What mattered more was to have clarity - a clear understanding of the problem, the systems we needed to build, and how to solve it meaningfully at scale. The real work now is focused execution, integrating training, tech, and compliance into one seamless experience for both candidates and employers. We're building for trust and long-term impact, and that takes time. We're not just trying to scale, we're trying to solve the problem in a way that actually works for everyone involved. We're still building it and there's a lot more work ahead.' The money story Up until now Mayank and his co-founder Ayush started with founder capital of ₹ 1 crore and a few small grants, keeping it lean and intentional. In February 2025, they raised $7 million in their first institutional round. Owl Ventures led the round, with support from investors like Binny Bansal, Ritesh Agarwal, Mithun Sacheti, Apoorva Patni, and Aakash Chaudhary. 'The funds are going into scaling our finishing school model, building AI-led tools like a language bot, expanding to new sectors, and setting up more training hubs across India and beyond.' Ayush Mathur (HT) Each candidate contributes roughly 40%–50% margin after accounting for costs. 'The current focus is on optimising delivery while maintaining quality and compliance.' In their first batch they enrolled 150 nurses who will complete their course in October-November this year. 'Even before our batch closure we are seeing our nurses getting placed.' The country in focus is Germany but plans are afoot to cater to Japan, the UK, Canada, Europe, GCC. Competition Mayank is not unduly concerned about competition because he knows that at the moment there aren't many players who provide the kind of services that they do. 'There are players who focus on either recruitment or training, but not many who do both in a structured, end-to-end way. What sets us apart is our full-stack approach. We don't just find people jobs, we train them, prepare them, and support them all the way. It's about outcomes, not just placements.' Plans to scale Their training hubs are in Pune and Kochi. This 'finishing school' model takes a candidate from language and soft skills to culture and documentation. It runs through both physical hubs and digital tools like AI-led language bots and modular training content. Parallelly, they are working closely with employers, hospitals and governments in their destination countries. The big picture According to Mayank, 'The global demand for skilled professionals, especially in healthcare, is not just large, it's also accelerating. The World Health Organization projects a global shortfall of 4.5 million nurses by 2030. Countries like Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK are actively expanding visa routes and relaxing norms to bring in foreign talent, with India emerging as a preferred source due to the strong reputation of its nurses. India has a growing, young workforce, but most lack access to structured global pathways. That's the gap we're solving. 'We're building structured global careers backed by training, technology, and trust. Our goal is to create 42 mobility routes across sectors, beginning with healthcare and soon expanding into other high-demand fields like logistics and construction. 'Our model is vertically integrated from language training and cultural preparation to documentation, placement, and post-arrival support. For destination countries, that means better-prepared, longer-retaining talent. For candidates, it means a smoother, more supported journey to global opportunity,' he said. Future plans BorderPlus has seen a 20%-30% increase in demand for nurses since its launch in January this year. 'We're setting up more hubs across Delhi NCR, the North East, and South India, and expanding quickly through a franchise model. We're also scaling in the Philippines and Brazil, and actively training 150+ nurses there right now. The goal is to train 100,000 nurses in the next few months. And we're also exploring strategic partnerships and acquisitions to grow faster in key regions.' Mayank and Ayush have set their sights across the globe. Time will tell how this will play out for India's blue-collared workers.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Iran a big draw for MBBS students from J&K
SRINAGAR: Iran has emerged as an increasingly popular destination for students from Jammu and Kashmir aspiring to pursue MBBS degrees since 2016. Each year, over 300 students get admitted to different medical universities in Iran. 'Iran has left behind Bangladesh, which was once the favoured destination of Kashmiri for medical education. In Bangladesh, living expenses are much higher compared to Iran,' said Wajid Rizvi of Rizvi Educational Consultancy. The seven-year MBBS degree costs between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 35 lakh in Iran. However, with an emphasis on quality intake, the country offers scholarships to students with a minimum of 95 per cent marks. The admission process for MBBS starts in Iran from June to mid-August, and according to Wajid, they are receiving queries from people in J&K despite Iran's war with Israel. Persian (Farsi) is the primary language of Iran, but many Iranian universities offer MBBS programs in English, with basic Farsi taught in the foundation year. Students from J&K find it easier to pick up Farsi because it's similar to Urdu, which is widely spoken in Kashmir, Wajid said. He said students also prefer Iran due to its cultural affinity, quality of education, and safe environment. He pointed out that even when Iran was at war with Israel, the country ensured the safe evacuation of Indian students by opening its airspace for Indian flights.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Why India needs comprehensive school mental health programmes
India finds itself at a critical juncture concerning mental health, with the most recent surveys and studies painting a stark picture. The National Mental Health Survey 2015-2016, though about a decade old, revealed alarming statistics: approximately 10.6% of the population has grappled with mental health issues at some point, with 13.7% currently affected as of then. Scope of the issue A study published in a journal, Scientific Reports (2022) on mental health status in students revealed that 27% of children and adolescents experienced depression, 26% had anxiety disorders, 7% exhibited hyperactivity, and 9%, 19%, and 15% experienced emotional, conduct, and peer problems, respectively. Moreover, the student suicide rate reported in this study is 9%, which surpasses the rate reported by the National Crime Record Bureau (2022), standing at 7.6%. There has been a staggering 32% increase in student suicides from 2017 to 2022. Depression and suicides are not the only mental health issues of rising concern in the country: a study published in General Psychiatry (2021) found that internet addiction among students in 19 states of India ranges from 19.9% to 40.7%. This high prevalence highlights the growing issue of internet dependency among young people in the country. Further, recent clinical and community-level observations underscore the rising tide of behavioural addictions among Indian youth, most prominently related to excessive use of social media, video games, online pornography, and mobile phones. These addictions are often linked with poor academic performance, sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation, and familial conflict. Data from de-addiction clinics like SHUT Clinic at NIMHANS shows that technology-related behavioural issues now constitute a significant proportion of youth mental health concerns. Despite this, such addictions are often under-recognised and under-treated, due to stigma, lack of awareness, and insufficient inclusion in mainstream school mental health discussions. This emerging pattern necessitates urgent attention in policy and programming. How far have we reached? In the past, India has taken some necessary steps to tackle public mental health issues. Now, it is crucial to carefully assess these actions' scale, strategy, and impact. This assessment will guide us in taking further steps that are both effective and efficient, ensuring maximum benefit for all. One such impact of our decision is India's relative success in curbing suicide rates compared to other countries. A study published in the journal, World Journal of Psychiatry (2022) examined and compared suicide rates globally, regionally, and nationally from 2000 to 2019. An analysis of the published results of this study demonstrated significant progress in India in reducing suicide rates from 19.1 to 12.9 per 100,000 persons over the last two decades (2000-2019). This decline surpasses Japan's reduction to 5.9 per 100,000 persons and South Africa's to 3.1 per 100,000 people. Canada and Australia saw marginal decreases of 0.4 and 0.5 suicides per 100,000 persons, respectively, while the United States experienced an increase to 4.5 suicides per 100,000 persons. Proactive steps to tackle mental health issues include initiatives like the National Mental Health Programme running since 1982, the District Mental Health Programmes, and the newly-introduced National Tele Mental Health Programme. Gaps persist Despite these efforts however, a stark treatment gap persists, with the National Mental Health Survey revealing that only 29% of individuals with psychiatric disorders receive treatment, leaving 71% untreated. This gap underscores the mismatch between demand and supply in mental health services. To bridge gaps, policy-makers must focus on community-based services and school mental health initiatives. Urgent investment in mental health is crucial to reduce disparities and address this escalating crisis. It is essential for stakeholders, such as governmental bodies, policy-makers, educational institutions, parents, students, media, and researchers, to prioritise mental health care. Integrating mental health education, resilience building, and coping skill training into regular school and college activities and school curricula will create a supportive environment to promote mental well-being in educational institutions in India. Why do schools hold strategic importance? A mental health study published in another reputed international journal in 2024 on students' suicide in India provides insight into how to tackle this public particular mental health challenge. It identifies patterns, trends and crucial risk factors, emphasising the urgency of improving school-based mental health interventions in India to tackle rising suicide rates. Global mental health agendas, such as the World Health Organization's Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030, emphasise the pivotal role of schools in promoting mental health awareness and supporting adolescents. School-based suicide prevention, early socio-emotional skills development and anti-bullying programmes are essential components of comprehensive mental health strategies. The World Mental Health Report (2022), WHO, emphasises the vital role of schools in addressing mental health issues through education, supportive environments, and collaboration with health services. By enhancing mental health literacy, training educators, and involving parents and communities, schools can effectively promote the mental well-being of young people. Key strategies in implementation and call for action Given India's vast student population, integrating digital mental health services like the nationwide helpline Tele-MANAS (1-800-891-4416) in educational institutions is essential. Establishing a Mental Health Advisory Board (MHAB) comprising trained teachers under institutional leadership can facilitate structured mental health initiatives. Schools must conduct mental health orientations for teachers and students, fostering resilience through workshops and peer support. Providing structured psychological support before, during, and after exams can help students manage anxiety and distress. Also, parents and teachers should adopt stress-free communication strategies to foster a positive environment, emphasising that education is just one aspect of personal growth and development. Institutions should promote helplines such as Tele-MANAS and others to ensure students seek timely support. Embedding these mental health initiatives in education will foster student well-being, resilience and academic success, creating a more inclusive learning environment. Therefore the main recommendations are : establishing a Special Task Force on Mental Health in Educational Institutions to prioritise the well-being of students and staff; integrating mental health services in educational institutions through district mental health services, Tele-MANAS and other possible alternative ways and having district mental health teams train ASHA and Anganwadi workers in illness identification, psychological first aid for children and mothers and to recognise the need for referral to advanced mental health services if needed. Role of educational regulatory bodies To prioritise mental health in education, mental health audits should be included in the accreditation process of educational institutions from primary to higher education. Integrate tele-counselling skills into master 's-level psychology and social work courses to prepare students for remote mental health support. The establishment and implementation of Mental Health Advisory Boards (MHABs) as per directives from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and the Government of India agencies should be mandated. A team of school counsellors trained and led by mental health professionals (e.g., psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and psychiatric social workers) should be formed. This team could collaborate with the institute's MHAB to train teachers and students to promote mental health in educational institutions. Media also plays a vital role -- publishing weekly editions of educative, informative and skill-building editorials, along with dedicated sections in local language newspapers, to enhance mental health awareness; providing insights into treatment options, and improving accessibility to mental health services can go a long way. Hosting weekly programs on television, news channels, radio, YouTube and Instagram featuring discussions, mental health bulletins and informative shows for parents and students will help. In conclusion, school mental health programmes play a crucial role in promoting mental well-being, preventing mental illnesses, and reducing stigma. With comprehensive efforts and national implementation, these programmes can potentially transform mental health outcomes for students and communities across India. (Dr. Manoj K. Pandey is professor & head, department of clinical psychology, Post Graduate Institute of Behavioural & Medical Sciences, Raipur, CG. manojpandey813@ Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma is professor, department of clinical psychology, SHUT Clinic (Service for Healthy Use of Technology), National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bengaluru. shutclinic@
