logo
Ayushman Bharat services start at private hospital in Delhi

Ayushman Bharat services start at private hospital in Delhi

Hindustan Times13-06-2025
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday launched Ayushman Bharat services at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.
At an event to mark Cancer Survivor Month, Gupta also inaugurated a new 3D digital mammography unit and announced a major push toward preventive care for women. The hospital will offer 10,000 free cancer screenings — 5,000 mammography and 5,000 Pap smear tests — as part of a women's health campaign.
The move enables eligible patients to access free cancer care under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which provides health insurance cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year to vulnerable populations.
'This unit is specially designed for the early detection of breast cancer in women, enabling timely treatment. Equipped with fully digital technology, it ensures quick and accurate diagnosis using the latest medical equipment. Cancer is a disease that causes emotional turmoil for entire families when it strikes. However, advancements in medical science today have made early detection and effective treatment possible,' Gupta said.
To improve outreach, the hospital also announced the rollout of a mobile diagnostic van equipped with mammography and lab services. It will travel across Delhi to underserved areas, offering clinical breast exams, cervical cancer screening, and lifestyle counselling.
Ayushman Bharat is a flagship health scheme of the government aimed at achieving health coverage. On April 5, an MoU was inked with the Union ministry of health and family welfare to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). With this, Delhi has become the 35th state to adopt the scheme.
Dr Emmanuel Rupert, managing director and group CEO of Narayana Health, said the new initiatives aim to combine advanced technology with strong community outreach to improve early detection.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

When your pet needs a blood transfusion: Govt's plan to set up a network of blood banks for animals
When your pet needs a blood transfusion: Govt's plan to set up a network of blood banks for animals

Indian Express

time4 hours ago

  • Indian Express

When your pet needs a blood transfusion: Govt's plan to set up a network of blood banks for animals

The Union government is working on ways to facilitate and standardise blood banking and blood transfusion in veterinary care. The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying invited comments from experts, institutions, and the public on draft 'Guidelines/ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Blood Transfusion & Blood Bank for Animals in India' that it prepared last month. What do the draft guidelines say, and what are the implications for the animal husbandry and dairying sector, as well as pets? Why are SOPs needed for blood transfusions in animals? India is home to a very large livestock population of 536.76 million, according to the 20th Livestock Census conducted in 2019, and is also seeing a boom in the practice of keeping pets or companion animals. Livestock include cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep, as well as animals such as horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, camels, and pigs. India has the world's largest population of cattle and buffalo, and the second-largest population of goats. The population of companion animals is estimated at 125 million, according to the draft guidelines. The livestock and companion animal sector plays a pivotal role in the country's agricultural economy and rural livelihoods. The animal husbandry and dairying sector contributes about 30 per cent of the agricultural GVA and 5.5 per cent of the national economy. Given this context, there is an urgent need to formalise critical and emergency veterinary care services, including blood transfusion support across species, the draft says. Blood transfusion, it says, is 'increasingly recognized globally as a life-saving intervention, essential for managing trauma, severe anemia, surgical blood loss, infectious diseases, and coagulation disorders'. India, the draft notes, 'lacks a national regulatory framework and standardized protocols guiding veterinary transfusion medicine with structured blood banking and transfusion practices'. Most animal blood transfusions are dependent on 'hospital-available or client-owned donors, without consistent screening, blood typing, or standard operating protocols'. According to the government, the SOPs will address this situation 'by providing structured, ethical, and scientifically sound guidance on donor selection, blood collection, processing, storage, transfusion procedures, and safety monitoring'. The volume of blood in both humans and animals ranges between 7 per cent and 9 per cent of body weight. Transfusion is required when the volume of blood falls below this level. Cattle have 55 ml of blood per kg of their body weight, and at an average weight of 300 kg, each head of cattle carries 16.5 litres of blood. Dogs, horses, goats and sheep, pigs, and cats carry blood volumes of 86 ml, 76 ml, 66 ml, 65 ml, and 55 ml respectively. Like humans, there are a large number of blood groups in animals, produced by species-specific antigens on the cell membrane of their red blood cells. There are 11 blood groups in cattle, 9 in dogs, 8 in horses, and 4 in cats, according to the draft guidelines. How will the animal blood banks be stocked? As per the draft guidelines, donor animals — whether canine, feline, or livestock — must meet laid-down criteria for being able to donate blood. These include: General health and suitability: The animal must be clinically healthy with no signs of systemic illness, and be free from tick-borne and vector-borne diseases. Age and weight requirements: Donor dogs must be between 1 and 8 years of age, with a minimum body weight of 25 kg; cats must ideally be of age between 1 and 5 years, with a minimum body weight of 4 kg, and not be obese; livestock must be selected from among healthy adults on the basis of species-specific clinical norms. Vaccination and reproductive health: Donor animals must be fully vaccinated, especially against rabies, and should have been regularly dewormed. Female donor animals must not be pregnant or recently lactating. Frequency of donations: Dogs are eligible for donation every 4-6 weeks, cats every 8-12 weeks. A minimum 30-day interval between successive donations is mandatory, as per the guidelines. And where will the veterinary blood banks be located? The veterinary blood banks will be hosted at veterinary colleges and universities, referral hospitals and polyclinics, large veterinary diagnostic centres, and multi-speciality animal hospitals operated by the government. The veterinary blood banks will function round the clock, according to the draft. Under the guidelines, institutions operating veterinary blood banks must maintain the following records for at least five years: donor registration and informed consent forms; donor health screening and testing records; blood collection and labeling forms; component processing logs; inventory, storage, and expiry tracking; transfusion monitoring and reaction management forms; post-transfusion outcome assessments; and waste disposal and biosafety logs. By what mechanism will the various components be integrated into a cohesive system? The draft document envisages the establishment of a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The N-VBBN will provide four core services: * Digitally integrated donor registries, which will have details on species, breed, location, and blood type. * A real-time inventory management system that will map the availability of whole blood and components across participating centres. * A helpline and online portal to connect veterinary clinics, hospitals, and donors in emergency situations. * A standardised set of practices, reporting formats, and adverse reaction logs across all registered blood banks. The draft SOPs also envisage the development of a mobile application for donor-recipient matching, and scheduling and logistics support in the future. Can owners charge for blood donations made by their pets or livestock? No. The draft document prohibits monetary incentives to pet owners or livestock owners for the donation of the animal blood. 'Voluntary, non-remunerated donation must be the cornerstone of veterinary blood banking. No monetary incentives should be offered to pet owners or livestock keepers,' says the draft. However, the consent of the owner is mandatory for every donation.

Over 1.11 cr BP, 64 lakh diabetes cases diagnosed and under treatment from Jan to June: Govt
Over 1.11 cr BP, 64 lakh diabetes cases diagnosed and under treatment from Jan to June: Govt

Hans India

time5 hours ago

  • Hans India

Over 1.11 cr BP, 64 lakh diabetes cases diagnosed and under treatment from Jan to June: Govt

New Delhi: More than 1.11 crore hypertension or blood pressure, and 64 lakh diabetes cases were diagnosed and are actively under treatment from January to June, the government informed on Tuesday. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, shared that nationwide screening and treatment for individuals aged 30+ has been implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) as a part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC). "A total of 1,11,83,850 cases of hypertension have been diagnosed and under treatment between January and June, while 64,11,051 cases of diabetes have been diagnosed and under treatment during the same period,' the Minister said. The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) is a key component of CPHC. 'The Programme focuses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, screening, early diagnosis, referral, treatment, and health promotion for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including hypertension and diabetes, as per need and proposal from the State and Union Territories. Under the programme, 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units and 6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres have been set up,' Jadhav said. 'Patients diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes under the NP-NCD programme are provided free access to medicines and regular follow-up services at different levels of health facilities,' he added. While essential drugs for hypertension are available at all levels of care -- Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and Community Health Centers (CHCs). Further, monthly follow-ups are also facilitated through the NCD portal, with scheduled visits recorded and medicines dispensed accordingly, and referral mechanisms are in place for patients needing specialised care. Separately, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a nationwide NCD screening campaign, including hypertension and diabetes, between February and March to achieve universal screening of individuals aged 30 years and above, the MoS said.

Sickle Cell elimination mission tackling genetic disorder to ensure equity, dignity: PMO
Sickle Cell elimination mission tackling genetic disorder to ensure equity, dignity: PMO

Hans India

time6 hours ago

  • Hans India

Sickle Cell elimination mission tackling genetic disorder to ensure equity, dignity: PMO

New Delhi: The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) is aimed at tackling the genetic disorder to ensure equity and dignity to the people affected, the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday. In a post shared on the social media platform X, the PMO lauded a media article by Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on NSCAEM, aiming for a Sickle Cell Disease-free India by 2047. 'From tackling a genetic disorder to ensuring equity and dignity, India's National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission marks a new era in public health,' the PMO India posted on the social media platform X. Sickle Cell Disease is a chronic, single-gene disorder that causes a debilitating systemic syndrome characterised by chronic anaemia, acute painful episodes, organ infarction, and chronic organ damage, significantly reducing life expectancy. The genetic blood disorder affects the entire life of the patient, as it leads to various severe health complications. 'India's fight against sickle cell anaemia is not just about addressing a genetic disorder, it is a commitment to equity, dignity and the health of our nation's most marginalised communities,' Nadda shared on X. Calling NSCAEM a 'landmark initiative', the Union Health Minister said it not only aims 'to stop the transmission of sickle cell disease but also to restore dignity and health to millions living with this condition'. To eliminate the disease, the NSCAEM was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023. The mission aims to eliminate sickle cell disease as a public health problem in India before 2047 by universal screening of 7 crore individuals aged 0-40 years in affected tribal areas by FY 2025-26. 'As India moves with determination towards the 2047 goal of eliminating SCD, the NSCAEM stands as a beacon of hope, showing what can be achieved when the government, healthcare professionals, and communities work together for a common cause,' Nadda said. Nadda's article highlighted the government's initiatives from mass screening and early diagnosis to awareness campaigns and improved treatment access with a focus on tribal communities most affected. Earlier this month, Nadda informed the Parliament that more than 6 crore people have been screened for sickle cell anaemia in the country. Of this, 2.16 lakh have been identified as diseased. He noted that the screenings under the mission were conducted in 17 states. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in a post on X shared how its low-cost Point-of-Contact device is enabling wider screening of Sickle Cell patients. 'Validation of a low-cost PoC device for #SickleCellAnaemia screening cut the price from Rs 100 to Rs 28, enabling wider reach in tribal areas. Proud to contribute to advancing India's commitment to health equity,' the ICMR posted on X.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store