Latest news with #AyushmanBharat
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Can't Turn Blind Eye To Diabetic Retinopathy
N ew Delhi: India, often labelled the diabetic capital of the world, faces an alarming crisis with over 77 million people diagnosed with diabetes and 25 million as pre-diabetics. In 2019 alone, India recorded a staggering one million diabetes-related deaths. The most notable complication for diabetics is diabetic retinopathy (DR), an eye condition resulting from damage to retinal blood vessels caused by high blood sugar. Shockingly, 16.9% of diabetic individuals suffer from DR and 3.6% are at imminent risk of complete vision loss. Leading experts in the field say that without swift, decisive action in screening and treatment, the prevalence of blindness due to DR will escalate. AT the round table hosted by The Times of India on Wednesday, experts said that the time to act was now — delays would cost not only money, but sight and lives. The experts called for DR screening to be made a fundamental right for diabetic patients by 2030. Experts flagged early detection as the most effective way to stop DR-related vision loss. They stressed the urgent need for training frontline health workers and equipping primary care centres with screening tools like fundus cameras. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo They wanted DR prioritised under the National Non-Communicable Disease Programme to ensure it became a core part of routine diabetic care across all health systems. They were emphatic about DR screening under Ayushman Bharat, currently operational in only 12 states, being rolled out nationwide without delay. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Public awareness was another major gap. "Most diabetics don't know DR exists until they lose vision," experts said, urging large-scale awareness campaigns to promote regular eye checks. The panel also highlighted the need for accessible and affordable treatment, especially in rural areas, and pushed for stronger public-private partnerships to expand reach and innovation. India had 101 million diabetics in 2024 — a figure originally projected for 2030 — signifying the alarming pace of the disease's spread. Dr Manisha Agarwal, general secretary, VSRI, and vitreo-retina department head at Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, noted that nearly half of the world's diabetics lived in China, India and the US. Dr Chaitra Jayadev, senior consultant, vitreo-retinal services, Narayana Nethralaya, Bengaluru, said that India had national frameworks like the National Control of Visual Impairment and National Programme for Control of Blindness, but stronger policy enforcement was essential to effectively address DR. A national mandate should require diabetologists, endocrinologists and physicians to physically stamp prescriptions with a clear message: "Get your retina screened by an ophthalmologist. " Many patients skipped screening simply because their doctor didn't advise it, Jayadev pointed out, adding that this gap could only be addressed through govt action. Taking advantage of the widespread smartphone use, the experts suggested a monthly voice alert reminding diabetics to get their eyes screened. "It's simple, cost-effective and could prevent avoidable blindness," one expert said. DR remains a neglected health crisis in India, commented Dr Rajni Kant Srivastava, ICMR-chair, disease elimination, founder-director, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, and visiting professor at SEARCH, Gadchiroli. "To bring real change, we must present a strong policy document that identifies existing gaps and actionable solutions," he said. He urged for the integration of diabetic eye care into the national programmes, citing Kerala's successful screening model and the potential of telemedicine in remote areas. "Retina health is closely tied to the twin silent epidemics of diabetes and hypertension in India," noted Dr Indu Bhushan, independent director, Corporate and Non-Profit Boards, ex-CEO, Ayushman Bharat, ex-director-general ADB and former IAS officer, while calling for preventive screening at health and wellness centres, use of AI-enabled teleophthalmology, and task-shifting to trained non-doctor staff for first-line checks. He also wanted retinal surgeries included in PM-JAY. Speaking virtually, Dr K Madan Gopal, advisor on public health administration at NHSRC, a premier think tank of the Union health ministry, said that over 1.7 lakh health and wellness centres were operational for daily consultations. Trained workers conducted initial screenings and connected patients to doctors at district hospitals or medical colleges. "States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are piloting tele-ophthalmology for diabetic eye care. Urban centres with stronger infrastructure are also testing this," he said. While implementation was currently limited, he added, the model held promise though scaling it nationally would require significant investment. Rajwinder Mehdwan, MD & CEO, Roche Pharma India, urged health leaders to frame a sharp, actionable policy to bring DR into govt focus. "We have expertise in public-private partnerships, screening, and treatment access. But for real change, we need a clear narrative that gets govt's attention — like it did with polio or cataract," she said. She emphasised Roche's readiness to support with proven models and called for unified action to move from problem recognition to policy impact. Other experts who participated in the round table were Dr Bhavna Chawla, professor, retinoblastoma and ocular oncology services, and Dr Vinod Agarwal, professor, vitreo-retina services, AIIMS, Delhi, Dr Muna Bhende, director, vitreo-retinal services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nine flagship government schemes exempt from standard appraisal till 2031
The government has decided to keep nine flagship schemes outside the ambit of the ongoing appraisal process for central sector programmes for the next five years, starting April 1, 2026. In a letter dated July 4, the Department of Expenditure instructed the respective ministries and departments to exclude schemes such as the Ayushman Bharat , Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana , PM Kisan , Ujjwala Yojana and PM Jan Dhan Yojana from the standard appraisal process as these, with far-reaching social implications, will be evaluated and appraised in detail by the Niti Aayog's Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Data Science Data Science Artificial Intelligence Product Management Finance CXO MCA Healthcare Leadership Cybersecurity Technology Digital Marketing Design Thinking Public Policy PGDM healthcare Management Operations Management others Project Management Degree Data Analytics Others MBA Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details "Some of these schemes have done well but require some structural changes and the Niti Aayog has been tasked to do the detailed exercise so there is no duplicity of efforts," a senior official told ET. The other four schemes are the PM Stand Up India, PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and the PM Suraksha Bima Yojana managed by the Department of Financial Services, and a scheme under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade to refund central goods and services tax and integrated GST to industrial units in north-eastern and Himalayan states. The Department of Expenditure has also kept the schemes related to the Department of Space and the Department of Atomic Energy outside the ambit of this exercise which require special appraisal and approval procedures. The National e-Vidhan scheme will also be outside the ambit of the appraisal process. Live Events
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Central govt committed to inclusive development: Union Minister
Jaipur: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, on Wednesday said the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to ensuring justice and development for all sections of society. Addressing a press conference in Jaipur, the Minister said that through various public welfare schemes, efforts have been made to uplift 25 crore people from poverty. He highlighted that due to the economic policies of the Central government over the last 10 years, India has become the world's fourth-largest economy. Athawale shared that in the Union Budget 2025-26, the government has allocated Rs 1,68,478 crore for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, an increase of 2 per cent or Rs 2,960 crore from last year. For Scheduled Tribes, Rs 1,29,249.75 crore has been allocated, up by Rs 4,340.8 crore compared to the previous year. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, over 55.69 crore bank accounts have been opened across the country, including 3.71 crore in Rajasthan. Under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, loans worth Rs 34.32 lakh crore have been given to 53.85 crore beneficiaries nationwide. In Rajasthan, 2.30 crore people have received loans amounting to Rs 1.81 lakh crore. Athawale said that under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, 10.33 crore LPG connections have been distributed nationwide, with 73.81 lakh connections in Rajasthan. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, around 4 crore houses have been sanctioned. He also informed that over 9.62 crore people across the country have benefited from the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. In Rajasthan alone, more than 73 lakh people have received healthcare benefits under this scheme between 2018 and 2025. He reiterated that the Central government is dedicated to the holistic development of the country, ensuring that benefits reach the last person in the queue.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Delhi: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami meets Union Health Minister JP Nadda to discuss healthcare in state
New Delhi: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday for a courtesy visit to discuss significant enhancements to the state's emergency healthcare services and ongoing medical education projects. According to a press release, during the meeting, CM Dhami requested an expansion of the AIIMS Rishikesh-operated air ambulance service, along with the provision of an additional helicopter dedicated to emergency operations in Uttarakhand's difficult and remote mountainous regions. He also urged the Centre to increase the per-family central contribution under the Ayushman Bharat scheme from Rs 1,052 to Rs 1,500 for SECC beneficiaries and expressed gratitude for the participation of AIIMS specialists in the Char Dham Yatra, suggesting that travel duty be included in travel residencies for postgraduate medical residents. Chief Minister Dhami further highlighted the rapid construction of two new medical colleges - Jagjivan Ram Medical College in Pithoragarh and Pandit Ram Sumer Shukla Medical College in Rudrapur, and requested the Union to approve their academic launch for the 2026-27 academic session. He also sought expedited permissions for the Tehri Medical College, which is being developed in collaboration with THDC, the press release stated. Additionally, he appealed for immediate central assistance to establish a modern trauma centre at Srinagar Medical College, emphasising its vital role in serving local communities, pilgrims of the Char Dham Yatra, and tourists in the surrounding Himalayan area. Union Minister JP Nadda assured CM Dhami of the Union Government's full cooperation in all requested initiatives. According to the release, this meeting highlights the collaborative efforts between the Centre and Uttarakhand to strengthen health infrastructure, enhance emergency care in remote and pilgrimage-heavy areas, and support the state's ongoing expansion of medical education.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
To make hospital visits smoother, PGI to launch smart app for crowd management and hospital navigation
Vivek Lal, director, PGIMER, has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to redefine patient experience and hospital functioning, with the highlight being the announcement of a smart mobile application developed in collaboration with C-DAC Noida. The upcoming app will integrate real-time indoor mapping, QR code-based patient identification, and crowd management features to streamline hospital navigation and reduce wait times. 'This app will transform how we serve our patients and manage hospital systems. It is designed to make hospital visits smoother, more efficient, and patient-friendly,' stated Lal. He also shared significant progress on the institute's digital transformation journey, including the complete digitisation of the Hospital Information System, which now handles processes such as indenting and medicine procurement under schemes like Ayushman Bharat entirely online, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency. To ease payment systems, the effort is to introduce scan and share bill payments and online payments. The PGI director elaborated on the institute's robust infrastructure pipeline, led by the Rs-987 crore Sarangpur project that will house a new 100-seat medical college, modern OPDs for 16,000 patients, and a 200-bed emergency block. Additional developments include an all-weather swimming pool for staff and students, a trolley way to streamline patient transfers between high-traffic blocks, and a doctors' cafeteria soon to open on the fourth floor of A Block. 'When opened in July 1987, it had 10 seats and till now that has not changed, we are now going to have a new cafeteria with many amenities,' he added. Lal emphasised that the PGIMER is also addressing rising patient loads, especially in emergency and trauma care, by securing approval to recruit 300 ex-servicemen through outsourcing over the next four to five months to strengthen campus security. Additionally, 82 new faculty members have been recruited strictly as per DoPT norms, including EWS reservation, reinforcing the institute's commitment to transparency and meritocracy. The director spotlighted Project Sarathi — PGIMER's flagship NSS student-led patient navigation initiative. Now scaled across 34 states with over 6,400 active volunteers, the Sarathi based model has been green lit for expansion to 1,467 hospitals nationwide under reaffirming PGIMER's role in mobilizing youth for social commitment through compassionate care. The institute's focus on affordable healthcare also continues, with nine AMRIT stores accounting for 85 per cent of all medicine sales on campus, and a new AMRIT Pharmacy facility set to open near the Emergency Block to ensure uninterrupted access to subsidised medicines under Ayushman Bharat and PMJAY. The director further informed that the institute is set to operationalise the OPD of the upcoming Advanced Neurosciences Centre within three months, with equipment procurement under review. There was a proposal to procure an AI-enabled MRI machine for the centre, but due to budget constraints, the institute was told by the SFC to revisit the cost. 'The machines for the upcoming Mother and Child Centre have already been procured, and only 8 per cent of the work is now remaining, and the centre should be operational by early next year,' Lal added. Meanwhile, the construction of the Sarangpur satellite centre is progressing steadily, with completion expected in about three years. He also spoke about the Sangrur Satellite Centre of PGIMER, which now offers dialysis, cancer, gynaecology and gall bladder surgeries, knee replacements, with a designated bus stop here to help patients access the hospital. The director also lauded the medical team from the institute that included, doctors, nurses, paramedics and transport staff, for their exemplary courage in responding to the Jammu & Kashmir humanitarian crisis during Operation Sindoor. 'Every initiative, whether digital, structural, or social, is driven by a singular goal: to ease suffering, deliver equitable, high-quality care, and prepare our institution for the future, all while keeping the patient at the centre of everything we do,' Lal said.
