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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Assam Health Minister issues certificates to 5 institutions to establish ART clinics, surrogacy centres
Guwahati: In a significant step toward improving reproductive healthcare services in the state, Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal distributed official certificates to five institutions for establishing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Clinics, ART Banks and Surrogacy Clinics in a programme held in Guwahati. The institutions that received certification include Apollo Fertility, Guwahati; Downtown Hospital in Guwahati, GMCH Fertility and IVF Centre, Guwahati; The Institute of Human Reproduction in Guwahati and Swasti Hospital in Rangia. During the programme, Minister Ashok Singhal on Friday stated that today is an important day in Assam's health and family welfare sector, as the process of surrogacy has now come under formal government regulation in Assam. He added that the certification of these institutions will help bring hope and happiness to distressed couples who have been struggling to conceive a child. This milestone follows the implementation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, by the Government of India, along with their corresponding rules notified in 2022. In alignment with these national regulations, the Government of Assam established the State Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board and the Appropriate Authority for ART and Surrogacy in December 2023. To facilitate the application process for institutions seeking to establish ART and surrogacy services, the Appropriate Authority launched a state-wide drive through newspaper advertisements on January 30, 2025. Applications are processed via the National ART & Surrogacy Portal, where institutions must submit their information online, followed by the submission of printed documents and payment of registration fees. Once verified, the institutions are inspected by the Appropriate Authority before receiving certification. Earlier this year, the first certificate was issued to an intending couple and surrogate mother after evaluation by the District Medical Board in Dibrugarh, marking the beginning of regulated surrogacy services in Assam. Minister Singhal emphasised the government's commitment to ensuring safe, ethical and high-quality reproductive care. He said the state is dedicated to creating a transparent and accountable system that guarantees access to advanced reproductive services for couples in need. The programme was attended Dr. P. Ashok Babu, Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department; Barnali Shama, Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department; Dr. Umesh Phangcho, DHS, Asam and Dr. Heremba Bhattacharyya, Joint DHS(HQ) and Nodal Officer, Surrogacy and august presence of Senior Health Officers and other departmental officials.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Fresh COVID-19 case detected in Odisha after two-and-a-half years, patient stable
A fresh COVID-19 case has been detected in Odisha after a gap of two-and-a-half years, and the condition of the patient is stable, a senior government official said in Bhubaneswar on Thursday (May 22, 2025). Health and Family Welfare Secretary S. Aswathy said, "The patient is stable at present but the only concern is that the infected person has several comorbid conditions." 'Till now, neither the Union Government nor the National Centre for Disease Control [NCDC] has issued any advisory on COVID-19 transmission,' she said. "The Health Department has been asked to monitor the situation and we are alert," she stated. As per available information, sporadic COVID-19 cases are being detected in various parts of India and the patients are found infected with a mild strain, with the possibility of severity being very low, the Health Secretary said. 'Excess deaths in 2020 and 2021 not equal to deaths by COVID-19, increase attributable to several reasons' "We have nothing to worry. We are monitoring the situation and are waiting for a fresh advisory from the Centre or the NCDC. Once we get it, we will take necessary steps accordingly," Ms. Aswathy said. She said no advisory has been issued for the public so far. "The situation is completely under control and there is no need to worry," she claimed. According to sources, the Covid-infected patient is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here. As per the Covid dashboard of the Odisha Government, 26 cases were detected in the State on November 8, 2022.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
UP's Banda records hottest temperature in country at 46.2 degrees Celsius
LUCKNOW: As many as five cities in Uttar Pradesh recorded the maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above since Friday. Banda in the Bundelkhand region remained on top in the list of hottest places in the country, with the maximum temperatures soaring to as high as 46.2 degrees Celsius. After Banda, Ganganagar in Rajasthan was the second hottest at 45.9 degrees Celsius. Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh was a close third at 45.8 degrees Celsius. In UP, after Banda, Prayagraj (45.4), Kanpur (45.2), Jhansi (45.1) and Varanasi (45) kept the residents struggling with the sweeping heat wave. However, a dip in the day temperatures was recorded in the state following sporadic showers and thunderstorms on Saturday. Meanwhile, amid intense heatwave conditions prevailing in the state, UP CM Yogi Adityanath issued directives to the Relief and Health Departments to issue alerts and ensure public safety. According to senior scientist Mohammad Danish at the state met centre, the main reason behind this heatwave is the strong westerly winds coming from the desert region of Rajasthan. The weather conditions are likely to remain the same till Sunday. Thereafter, an easterly and westerly trough is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms, providing some relief from the scorching heat in the state. In line with the CM's instructions, the state Health Department released official guidelines on Saturday to make the public aware of the measures to be taken to prevent heatstroke. The guidelines included suggestions for avoiding exposure to extreme heat, staying hydrated, and recognising early symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Additionally, posters and pamphlets are being circulated across the state to educate people on safety precautions. Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma, Principal Secretary of the Department of Medical, Health, and Family Welfare, said that the officials were instructed to issue necessary guidelines to protect people from the extreme conditions. The guidelines talk about covering the body properly and opting for light-coloured, breathable clothing while stepping out of the house. Everyone is advised to carry an umbrella or wear sunglasses as protection against the blazing sun. "Keep oneself hydrated with plenty of fluids like lemon water, shikanji, or coconut water throughout the day." Moreover, the guidelines also talk about the use of curtains or shades to block direct sunlight while being indoors.
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Odisha govt sets 15-day deadline for fire safety inspection in hospitals
The Odisha government has asked officials to complete the fire safety inspection of government-run healthcare facilities in their respective areas in 15 days in the wake of fire incidents in some government and private hospitals during the past few and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S issued the instructions to fire officers, electrical inspectors, engineers of the roads and building department, and chief medical and public health officers during a meeting held last evening, a health department official said on READ: US labour dept to end mental health, child care benefits for own staffDuring the meeting, Aswathy directed the officials to prioritise operation theatres (OTs), intensive care units (ICUs), special newborn care units (SNCUs), and heavy power load installations such as CT scan or MRI machines which are more prone to electrical also directed to ensure proper and safe connections of the generators with the electrical wiring system in the buildings to prevent any possible short READ: Study finds men more likely to fall sick, die from 3 common health issuesIn the meeting it was decided to include fire safety structures right from the beginning or at the hospital building planning stage so that no structural retrofitting would be required for fire safety after completion of construction works, the officer the joint committees of fire officers, electrical inspectors, the engineers of the roads and building department, and chief medical and public health officers were asked to conduct field level inspection, identify the fire-safety gaps and submit a detailed list of the required corrective measures with estimated plans within 15 days, he districts were asked to take all corrective measures according to the parameters required to get electrical safety and fire safety READ: Delhi Cabinet approves three health reforms, including OPD outsourcingThe official said that the state government has kept a provision of around Rs 300 crore to ensure fire safety in government health health secretary assured that necessary funds would be provided to all the districts according to their corrective plan. They were asked to complete their work in a time-bound also directed the officials to continue conducting mock fire drills in coordination with local fire officers at regular intervals, conduct review meetings with different stakeholders, and ensure timely maintenance of electrical and fire safety state-level joint team was advised to closely monitor the progress of the works through field visits.
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Government continuously working towards 'malaria-free India': Anupriya Patel
The government is continuously working towards achieving the goal of 'Malaria Free India', said Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Singh Patel on World Malaria Day on Friday. World Malaria Day is observed every year on April 25 to raise awareness against the disease. This year's theme 'Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, reimagine, reignite' aims to re-energise efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress toward malaria elimination. 'On the occasion of World Malaria Day, it is the responsibility of all of us to spread awareness about a deadly disease like malaria and make collective efforts to eradicate it,' Patel shared in a post on social media platform X. 'The Government of India is continuously working towards the goal of 'Malaria Free India'. Let us all together make this campaign a success,' she added. Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable. India aims to eliminate malaria by 2030. The government is committed to achieving zero indigenous cases by 2027. The latest World Malaria Report 2024, released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in December last year, showed that India achieved major progress in malaria elimination, with a 69 per cent drop in cases and a 68 per cent reduction in deaths between 2017 and 2023. Contributing just 0.8 per cent of global cases in 2023, India also exited from the WHO's High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group in 2024, marking a significant public health achievement. "Every year millions of people are affected by malaria, whereas it is a preventable and curable disease," Patel said. To prevent the disease, she urged people to "keep cleanliness, protect yourself from mosquitoes, wear full sleeve clothes, use a mosquito net and repellent. Get yourself checked immediately if you have a fever." Globally, about 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths due to the mosquito-borne disease have been averted since 2000, said WHO. To date, the WHO has certified 45 countries and 1 territory as malaria-free, and many countries with a low burden of malaria continue to move steadily towards the goal of elimination. Of the remaining 83 malaria-endemic countries, 25 reported fewer than 10 cases of the disease in 2023. Despite significant gains, malaria remains a major public health challenge, with nearly 600,000 lives lost to the disease in 2023 alone. The African Region is hardest hit, shouldering an estimated 95 per cent of the malaria burden each year.
