01.26.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:31 pm by heaven
PUNE: A do-it-yourself (DIY) kit, on the lines of the pregnancy test, for early detection of cancer is what you need to take preventive steps against that dreaded disease. Developed by Chinese researchers and manufactured by the Wuhan Chenkang Technology Co in Wuhan City, this screening test gives results in three to five minutes.
The Indian importer for URC (Urine test reagen for cancer), Ramesh Kripalani, who packages it here to be sold as an over-the-counter product, pointed to the possible applications of the test. If theres a lump and one suspects cancer, then one can take the test. And if the test is positive, then one should rush to an oncologist because early detection of a cancer is critical, said Theodoma India managing director Mr Kripalani.
Dr Minish Jain, medical oncologist, Ruby Hall Clinic, was emphatic that this is a screening test and not a diagnostic one. If the test is done following the steps listed on the package, that is, fasting, no medication for the stipualted period prior to taking the test and the urine sample collected in a sterile container, then the chances of accuracy are high. The success rate of the test has been an enormous 90%, on the 150 patients we conducted it on. Now, we have begun to do it commercially at the hospital and have already done 30 patients, Dr Jain said.
There is a note of caution being sounded by other oncologists who prefer to wait and get more definitive evidence. I would be rather sceptical about this unless there is more research done on it, after more trials and experiments are done, followed by peer review and publication in scientific journals and the food and drug administration authorities accept it.
After all, a test like this one could show that a patient has a cancer but where? That does not show up and it is not possible to locate the cancer, either, said one prominent city oncologist on condition of anonymity.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 3:31 pm by heaven
KOLKATA: Wockhardt Hospitals is planning to make a major foray into the organ transplantation segment. The hospital chain is closely working with its partner, Harvard Medical International, to finalise the finer modalities and treatment protocol. Wockhardt plans to offer transplantation services for liver, kidney and heart.
Wockhardt Hospitals chief operating officer Lloyd Nazareth told mediapersons here on Friday that the hospital is currently building a team for transplantation procedures.
A lot of senior Indian doctors who are specialists in transplantation are joining from abroad. We intend to replicate our success in super-speciality care in organ transplantation as well, Mr Nazareth said.
Wockhardt already performs transplantation surgeries in a small way for liver and kidney. We intend to make it mainstream and start cardiac transplantation surgery as well. These surgeries will be performed in the groups existing hospitals and may be later expanded, Wockhardt Hospitals MD Anil V Kamath said.
The hospital chain is building its Bangalore and Mumbai facilities as centres of clinical excellence where the transplantation procedures will be initially practised. The hospital will perform these surgeries at nearly one-fifth to one-eighth cost of their treatment in the West.
Accordingly, the cost of liver transplantation will be around Rs 14-15 lakh and kidney around Rs 3 lakh. Analysts feel this will also help Wockhardt to attract a lot of patients from western nations as part of its global medical tourism initiative. Wockhardts current focus areas are cardiology, cardiac surgery, orthopaedics, neurology, neuro-surgery, urology, nephrology, critical care and minimal invasive surgery.
Publishers Disclosure: Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited holds 1.55% of the post-public issue equity capital of Wockhardt Hospitals Limited.
The company has a strategic partnership with Harvard Medical International, a subsidiary of the Harvard Medical School. Wockhardt has also drawn up plans to expand its network from 15 hospitals currently to 31 facilities by 2010.
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01.24.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:30 pm by heaven
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to restructure the complete network of Veterinary Hospital and Poly Clinics in the state by spending Rs 30 crore on their upgration.
A decision to this effect was taken in a high level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
It was informed in the meeting that under this prestigious project 5 new poly clinics and 20 hospitals would be constructed besides upgrading 10 existing polyclinics and 850 hospitals.
Expressing deep concern over the nuisance caused by the stray cattle, Badal directed all the Deputy Commissioner in the State to establish at least one Gau-shala in their respective districts to tackle this menace efficiently.
He pointed out that a proposal of Rs.5 crore had already been sent to Government of India for its approval. He said that he would take up this issue with the concerned Ministry during his next visit to New Delhi to fetch a grant of Rs.25 lakh each for a new Gaou-shala under GOI Scheme. Animal Husbandry and Fisheries and Diary Development Minister Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike informed in the meeting that the state government had planned for the sterilization of about 2.75 lakh stray dogs in the state that would cost Rs.440 per operation. He further informed that initially this project would be launched from the Ludhiana City on pilot basis and would cover the entire state in a phased manner
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Posted in Uncategorized at 3:30 pm by heaven
NEW DELHI: An AIIMS like Ayurveda institute will be set up in the capital to carry out clinical research, drug safety evaluation and scientific validation of the traditional Indian system of medicine.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, today approved the establishment of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) as an autonomous organisation under the Department of AYUSH.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to appoint a Director with supporting staff to oversee project implementation, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters here.
An 11-acre plot in Sarita Vihar in south Delhi has been identified for setting up the AIIA, which will also have a 200 bed research and referral hospital for facilitating clinical research.
The institute will initially be set up as an autonomous registered body of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and will be fully funded by the Central government with the objective of raising it to the status of Deemed University in 10 years.
AIIA will be developed as a Centre of Excellence focussed on fundamental research, drug safety evaluation, standardisation, quality control and scientific validation of Ayurveda medicine, officials said.
The institute will offer post-graduate and doctoral programmes in the identified fields of research.
It will have four major divisions -- Department of Fundamental Research, Division of Drug Development, Standardisation, Quality Control and Safety Evaluation, Division of Clinical Research and Teaching, and Research and Referral Hospital.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 3:30 pm by heaven
NEW DELHI: Singapore's Parkway Group, which owns one of Asia's largest hospital chains, plans to pick up 50% stake in Mumbai-based Khubchandani Hospitals for Rs 155 crore. Mauritius-based investment holding firm Koncentric Investments will hold the remaining 50% stake in the firm which plans to set up chain of hospitals and healthcare facilities in India.
Currently, Khubchandani Hospital has 10,000 equity shares paid up capital. These are held by Dr Prakash Khubchandani who is the MD of the hospital and Mrs Tarana Khubchandani. Khubchandani Hospital was incorporated in May 2006 to set up, acquire and maintain hospitals and associated businesses such as health parks and medical colleges. Parkway will invest through additional issues of 40 lakh shares at a premium of Rs 377.5 per share as against its face value of Rs 10 for the shares.
As per the plan, Khubchandani Hospitals intends to set up a $80 million multispecialty hospital in Mumbai soon. The hospital is close to acquiring 10,000 sq feet of land in the city. The construction of the hospital is expected to start by the end of the year and could be completed in three years, sources said. When contacted, Khubchandani Hospital officials declined to comment.
At present Parkway has a joint venture (JV) with Apollo Group, India's largest hospital chain, to set up hospitals in West Bengal. Currently the JV has a hospital in Kolkata. Parkway Group also has another company Apollo Gleneagles with Apollo Group to set up PET CT Scan centre in Hyderabad. The Singapore-based firm is learnt to have received a no-objection nod from the Apollo Group and has sought approval from the government to go ahead with the new venture.
Parkway Group runs a chain of hospitals, clinics, laboratories and other healthcare facilities in Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. Parkway Group has been looking at expanding its presence in the healthcare sector of the country. Koncentric Investments is a holding entity owned by two Indians, atleast one of whom is related to the existing promoters of Khubchandani Hospitals.
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