Tag: healthcare

myCGHS iOS app launched for Central Government Health Scheme beneficiaries

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Health Ministry launched the myCGHS app for iOS on Wednesday to provide easy access for the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries to their Electronic Health Records, information, and other resources.

“The myCGHS iOS app is developed by the technical teams of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Himachal Pradesh and NIC Health Team. It is a convenient mobile application offering features aimed at enhancing information and accessibility for CGHS beneficiaries,” the ministry said in a press release.

The app is said to offer a range of services, including online appointment booking and cancellation, downloading CGHS card and index card, accessing lab reports from CGHS labs, checking medicine history, monitoring medical reimbursement claim status, accessing referral details, locating nearby wellness centres, staying updated with news and highlights, and finding nearby empanelled hospitals, labs, and dental units.

Additionally, users can access the contact details of wellness centres and offices conveniently. To ensure data security, the app also features security measures such as two-factor authentication and mPIN function to be able to access the app once they are logged in.

Users on the Apple ecosystem can find the app on the App Store and download it free of charge. The ministry has not mentioned which version of iOS will support the app, so it is suggested to keep your Apple device updated.

The myCGHS app has been available for Android users since February 2022 and has over a lakh downloads on the Google Play Store, according to data available on the platform.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Indian-origin teen first to get UK’s life-changing cancer treatment

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Yuvan Thakkar, an Indian-origin teenager diagnosed with cancer, says he is now able to enjoy the things he loves after life-changing treatment thanks to a fund set up by the UK’s state-funded National Health Service to make innovative therapies accessible to thousands of patients.

According to NHS England, 16-year-old Thakkar from Watford near London was the first child in the UK to benefit from a pioneering CAR T therapy called tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) thanks to its Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).

It comes as the National Health Service (NHS) marks a milestone this weekend of 100,000 patients benefitting from early access to the latest and most innovative treatments with the help of CDF.

The undisclosed cost of such treatments is covered by the fund.

My life has changed so much since I received the CAR T therapy, said Thakkar, who thanked Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London for the incredible care he received.

I remember I had to take so many trips to hospital and had long periods out of school.

They have helped me recover to a state where I am able to enjoy so many things I love doing, such as playing snooker or pool, meeting friends and family, and going on wonderful holidays.

It’s hard to imagine how things would have been if the treatment wasn’t available, he said.

Thakkar, diagnosed with a form of leukaemia aged six, received a treatment which modifies a person’s immune cells to recognise and attack cancer cells.

His treatment began in 2019, when he was 11 years old after he relapsed following other treatments such as chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

His mother Sapna said the family had received a second chance at life since the success of the treatment.

Without the fast-track access available through the CDF, the 45-year-old said there may have been no other way for her son to receive the life-saving treatment.

It felt like our prayers were finally answered. We still feel so grateful for this chance that’s been given to us and not a single day passes by when we haven’t felt thankful for all the doctors and nurses that have helped us through this long and difficult journey, said Sapna Thakkar.

The CDF, which opened in its current form in July 2016, is used by NHS England to provide fast-tracked access for patients to all new cancer treatments approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), in addition to gathering further evidence of long-term effectiveness for promising drugs.

It allows faster access to more than 100 drugs to help improve, extend or in some cases save their lives.

Treating 100,000 cancer patients in England with innovative treatments through the Cancer Drugs Fund is a fantastic milestone for the health service to reach, and testament to the hard work of oncologists and their teams across the country, said Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director.

This vital fund is helping ensure patients get access to the most promising drugs far quicker than would otherwise be the case, helping people with cancer like Yuvan receive a life-changing intervention that sets a path for a longer, healthier life spent with family and friends, he said.

The fund benefits people with common cancers, such as breast, lung, colorectal and prostate, as well as those with less common cancers, such as ovarian, cervical, kidney, skin, myeloma, lymphoma and leukaemia, and rare cancers, including thyroid and biliary tract.

The current CDF budget of GBP 340 million is 70% more than the previous CDF and is used alongside NHS England’s Innovative Medicines Fund of GBP 340 million, which the health service said means a total of GBP 680 million is ringfenced for fast-tracking new medicines.

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Samantha Prabhu slammed for promoting herb for liver detox? What’s Ayurveda-Allopathy debate?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu is facing backlash after a video surfaced online, which accused the actor of spreading misinformation about “liver detoxification” to her fans and 33.5 million followers on Instagram.

In a widely circulated clip from the podcast on Prabhu’s show, the guest talks about the benefits of herbs such as “dandelion” for liver health and detoxification. But is liver detoxification actually real or is it more like a myth than a medical reality?

Medical experts have criticised the concept of detoxification and asserted that the use of herbs can lead to irreversible damage to the liver.

Some doctors told News18 that the efficacy of the liver detox concept, particularly those promoted by alternative medicine or home remedies, should be studied carefully. While the idea of “detoxifying” the liver may seem appealing, it’s essential to understand the science behind it.

The liver is a powerhouse organ, naturally equipped to detoxify the body. It already possesses highly efficient mechanisms for detoxification. These include enzymatic processes that break down toxins and the excretion of waste products through bile and urine. Therefore, the notion of needing additional detoxification methods beyond what the liver naturally performs is not supported by scientific evidence.

Despite strong words of caution from the medical community, ayurvedic experts support the concept.

AYURVEDA VS MODERN MEDICINE

Doctors practising modern medicine or allopathy advised to apply caution.

According to Dr Sanjay Goja, programme director, liver transplant and robotic liver surgery, at Gurugram-based Narayana Hospital, the notion of needing additional detoxification methods beyond what the liver naturally performs is not supported by scientific evidence.

Some liver detox practices, Goja said, such as extreme fasting or consuming large quantities of specific juices or supplements, can be counterproductive and potentially harmful.

“I have encountered several cases where patients have experienced adverse effects from attempting liver detox regimens. For instance, one patient developed severe liver inflammation after following a strict juice cleanse for an extended period. Another individual experienced liver toxicity from excessive consumption of herbal supplements purported to cleanse the liver.”

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He further said certain home remedies or practices rooted in Ayurveda – despite being traditional – can pose risks to liver health if used improperly or in excess.

“For example, the indiscriminate use of certain herbs or herbal concoctions without medical supervision can lead to liver toxicity or drug interactions,” he cautioned.

On the contrary, ayurveda experts swear by the concept. They say the concept of liver detoxification helps for healthy as well as unhealthy liver.

For instance: Anurag Varshney, head, drug discovery and development research at Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar, explained to News18 the other side of the story.

“There are multiple published research suggesting that the extracts of dandelion, either leaves or roots, have good potential to take care of liver ailments… This work has been done by several research laboratories across the globe and has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. These herbs can be used even to keep the liver healthy,” Varshney said.

Contrary to many medical experts, Varshney thanked Samantha Prabhu for bringing forth the power of herbal medicines and open endorsement of the natural way of staying healthy.

WHAT DO STUDIES SAY ABOUT DANDELION?

While dandelion has been traditionally used in various cultures for its supposed health benefits, including liver support, contemporary research offers “mixed results”, several studies shared by Ayurveda experts showed the protective effects of dandelion.

Research published in The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology in July 2020 showed that dandelion prevents the progression of “hepatic fibrosis”. “The dandelion’s anti-fibrotic effects could be attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals and to attenuate inflammatory cell activations,” said the study. It was, however, conducted on adult male albino rats and not humans.

Similarly, another study published in Food and Chemicals Toxicology in 2013 showed that dandelion leaf extracts (DLE) significantly suppressed lipid accumulation in the liver, and reduced insulin resistance. “These results indicate that the DLE may represent a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.” This study was again conducted on mice.

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Another study published in the Journal of King Saud University in 2022 showed that dandelion seed extract treatment resulted in a marked decrease of liver enzyme activities in addition to hepatic tissue improvement. But this study again was conducted on Swiss albino mice.

Given emerging evidence on the liver protective effects of dandelion, the majority of ayurvedic studies have advised designing large human clinical studies.

Dr Sarathchandra Gorantla, consultant gastroenterologist, hepatologist (liver doctor) and advanced therapeutic endoscopist at Hyderabad-based Yashoda Hospitals said the concept of “detoxifying” the liver with specific herbs or supplements, including dandelion, is a popular notion.

“For instance, research has indicated that dandelion root extract might help prevent liver damage in rats with induced liver failure and may have antioxidant properties beneficial for liver health.”

“However, these findings cannot be directly extrapolated to humans without further clinical trials,” Gorantla said while adding that “as a responsible celebrity, it is essential to present well-researched, scientifically accurate information to the public. Hence, promoting unsubstantiated claims about liver detoxification through herbal remedies like dandelion could lead to misconceptions and potentially harmful self-treatment attempts.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine stresses that the liver does not require detoxification products for daily health maintenance. Many products claiming to detox the liver are not regulated even by the world’s top regulatory authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration, lack uniformity, and have not been adequately tested in clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

Multiple studies shared by experts showed the protective effects of dandelion — hence, its factual that it works on liver, positively. But the majority of these studies are on animals. So, to say it will work the same way on human bodies is still fictitious, to an extent.

The liver is highly capable of detoxifying itself, and the best way to support liver health is through a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the safest and most effective way to support liver function is through healthy lifestyle choices, nothing else.

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Cancer-causing chemical detected in acne treatments from Clinique, Target and more – Reports

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Independent US laboratory Valisure revealed alarming levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene in select acne treatments, including those from brands such as Estee Lauder’s Clinique, Target’s Up & Up, and Reckitt Benckiser-owned Clearasil, according to a report by Reuters.

Valisure, based in New Haven, Connecticut, has petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall these products, conduct a thorough investigation, and revise industry guidelines.

Estee Lauder’s shares experienced a 2% decline following the disclosure. Benzene was also detected in other acne treatment products, including Proactiv, PanOxyl, Walgreens’ acne soap bar, and Walmart’s Equate Beauty acne cream, among others, as reported by Reuters.

Valisure cautioned that benzene levels could exceed acceptable limits in both prescription and over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide acne treatment products. Reckitt, Clearasil’s parent company, disputed the findings, stating they were based on unrealistic scenarios rather than real-world conditions.

Estee Lauder emphasised the safety of Clinique’s benzoyl peroxide product when used as directed.

Reuters reached out to Target and Walmart for comment but did not elicit a response, and the FDA has yet to respond to Valisure’s petition. The presence of benzene in acne treatment products presents a significant departure from previous instances where benzene was detected as an impurity in contaminated ingredients.

David Light, Co-Founder and President of Valisure, highlighted that in this case, benzene originates from the benzoyl peroxide itself.

Valisure’s tests indicated that some products could contain benzene levels exceeding the FDA’s concentration limit by more than 800 times.

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Private hospitals in India fear ‘armageddon’ if costs are standardised

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India’s top court, responding to a public interest litigation filed by an NGO, has given the government a month to fix standard rates for different medical procedures. Private healthcare heads now fear an ‘armageddon‘ if rates similar to Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) are mandated to be applied to procedures in private hospitals.

Viren Shetty, Executive Vice Chairman at Narayana Health, said: “The difference between CGHS and private hospital rates can range from 20% to 60%. Applying CGHS rates to all services would be an ‘Armageddon’ for private healthcare.”

India’s Supreme Court has raised its concern over the wide variation in medical treatment costs between government and private healthcare facilities. It has asserted that citizens of India have a fundamental right to healthcare, and the centre cannot evade its responsibility in ensuring this right.

The court highlighted the stark contrast in prices, citing an example of cataract surgery, which costs around ₹10,000 in a government hospital but can range from ₹30,000 to ₹1,40,000 in a private facility. This is despite healthcare costs in India being considerably lower than in other parts of the world.

Underlining the industry caters to people across the spectrum, Shetty of Narayana Health said there was a need to evaluate rates amid rising healthcare costs.

Bino Pathiparampil from Elara Securities also feels all listed private hospitals are likely to be impacted if this mandate is followed. “Everything cannot be priced at the same level when it comes to healthcare,” Pathiparampil told CNBC-TV18.

Downside risks for private hospitals

Financial services company Macquarie has presented a cautionary perspective, suggesting that cash-paying patients in private hospitals currently bear a considerably higher financial burden compared to those covered by CGHS.

The CGHS rates are 40-50% lower for medical procedures, so Macquarie said the move could result in a substantial drop in profits for private healthcare providers.

Private hospitals, particularly those with lower Average Revenue Per Occupied Bed (ARPOBs) and a higher proportion of cash-paying patients, may face bigger challenges if CGHS rates are mandated.

The industry, as a whole, is closely monitoring the government’s response to these directives.

According to Axis Securities, the implementation of the Clinical Establishment Act 2010 (CEA) poses significant difficulties.

A plausible outcome could involve the Central Government proposing to the Supreme Court the formation of a committee comprising representatives from different state governments. However, building consensus among diverse stakeholders is anticipated to be a time-consuming process, possibly extending over several months if not years, the brokerage said.

This uncertainty is expected to cast a shadow over the hospital sector until clarity emerges.

Jefferies, in its analysis, said that the litigation surrounding the standardisation issue is still at an early stage.

Contrary to foreseeing any near-term adverse outcomes, the firm added that the price weakness in the sector gives a potential buying opportunity.

Jefferies highlighted that adverse news flows are not uncommon for the sector and have historically not always translated into tangible effects.

CLSA acknowledged the Supreme Court’s directive for standardising rates as a negative development for private hospitals, acknowledging the inherent difficulties in implementation.

Despite the challenges, CLSA retained an ‘outperform’ rating on Apollo Hospital, setting a target price of ₹7,000.

Government’s response and the way forward

The court has asked the central Government to set standard procedure rates within a month. A failure to comply may result in the court considering the implementation of standardised rates as prescribed in the CGHS.

The complexity of determining procedure rates, as suggested by the Clinical Establishment Rules 2012, requires collaboration between the Central government and state governments.

In the event of standardised rates being implemented, insurance companies are anticipated to align their reimbursement rates accordingly.

It remains to be seen how the government will address these concerns and whether a standardised approach to medical treatment costs will be implemented. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for both healthcare providers and the citizens of India seeking affordable and standardised healthcare services.

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Medplus defers fundraising for diagnostics until Hyderabad pilot shows profit

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A few weeks ago, shareholders of Medplus Health Services, one of India’s biggest chain of drug stores, approved a proposal to raise ₹1,200 crore to expand a two-year old diagnostics venture.

But the Hyderabad-based company has decided to not raise the money as planned before the pilot project in Hyderabad adds at least 200,000 subscribers and profitability becomes visible.

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Founded in 2006, and listed on the stock exchanges in December 2021, Medplus has 4,233 pharmacies spread across ten states in the country. Its experiment with diagnostics started in March 2022 with four full-service centres, two relatively smaller ones, and 120 collection points in Hyderabad.

It has taken almost two years for the company to get to 120,000 subscribers for its diagnostics experiment in Hyderabad. CEO Gangadi Madhukar Reddy wants this number to swell by another 80,000 before he takes a call on whether to build on it further.

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View| Budget ’24 rightly focuses on healthcare, but implementation will be critical

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Interim Budget 2024–25, with an allocation of ₹ 90,171 crore for health, aims to improve access to healthcare services and infrastructure in India. The government’s announcement to establish more medical colleges by utilising existing hospital infrastructure will address manpower shortages while also increasing access to healthcare education.

However, the implementation of these recommendations will be critical here and the financial and logistics issues which some of the private sector hospitals may face, needs to be looked into.

More colleges will require more teachers, which needs to be managed and also set-up robust processes to ensure education quality. We look forward to working with the committee to form recommendations and guidelines for the implementation of this plan.

The budget also has not addressed the issue of nursing shortage and migration of nurses from India. We await action on our demands on tax incentives for skill enhancement initiatives and DNB programs undertaken by private hospitals.

Encouraging preventive cervical cancer vaccination for young girls aged 9 to 14 is a positive step toward reducing cases of the third most common cancer in India. This move will also help to renew the focus on preventive healthcare in India, but its success will be dependent on effective implementation.

The announcement of extending health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to all ASHA and Anganwadi have been better if more families were covered under the scheme to achieve universal health coverage.

Bringing maternal and child healthcare schemes under one umbrella and upgrading anganwadi centers will result in efficient resource allocation and improve outcomes in maternal and child healthcare.

Allocating a substantial corpus, accompanied by a 50-year interest-free loan for private sector research and development, positions India as a global healthcare innovation leader. Offering attractive interest rates incentivises the private sector to contribute meaningfully.

We look forward to the budget’s key announcements being implemented, as well as an increase in health expenditure as a percentage of GDP. It would have been desirable if the government had implemented our long standing demand of either zero-rating GST for the health care sector with input tax credit or brought the healthcare sector under 5% GST with input tax credit to help create an attractive environment for domestic production of medical equipment, devices, and consumables.

Also, to ensure support to the Charitable Trust hospitals, to continue serving quality healthcare for all, the inconsistencies in tax exemption scheme should be resolved, and the approval-based category of exemption under Section 10(23C) be merged with the tax regime under Sections 11 to 13.3. 

 Synergy between government initiatives and operational objectives is paramount to fortify and enhance the Indian healthcare ecosystem, portraying a resilient and healthier India.”

—The author, Gautam Khanna, is CEO,  P.D. Hinduja Hospitals, and President, Association of Hospitals, Mumbai. The views expressed are personal.

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IPO proposal from one of India’s top three distributors of healthcare products is approved

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved an initial public offering (IPO) by Enterro Healthcare Solutions Limited, one of India’s top three healthcare product distributors by revenue in the financial year ending March 22.

The IPO will include ₹1,000 crore worth of fresh issues and sale of nearly 8.6 million shares by existing shareholders, including the promoters.

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ICICI Securities, Dam Capital Advisors, Jefferies India, JM Financial and SBI Capital Markets are the lead book runners for the issue.

What does Enterro Healthcare do? 

The company, registered in Faridabad (Haryana), sells drugs, medical devices, and other solutions to pharmacies and hospitals.

In the financial year ending March 2023, the company’s net loss narrowed to ₹11.1 crore from Rs 29.44 crore a year earlier. Revenue grew 31% year-on-year to reach ₹3,300 crore in the same period, according to data from India Infoline, a Mumbai-based broking firm.

This is developing story.

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Budget 2024: Healthcare and pharma sectors expect tax incentives and PLI incentives 

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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With less than 10 days left until the announcement of the interim budget, the pharma and healthcare sectors have lots of hope from the government. The sector expects more tax breaks, a further boost to the PLI scheme, more benefits for R&D and AI and a lot more.

Anil Matai, Director General, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), reckons that the concessional tax rates under Section 115BAB of the Income Tax Act, 1961, should be extended to companies engaged in R&D of pharma as well, beyond those in the manufacturing sector. 

Matai said, “We also hope for the elimination of import duties on life-saving drugs, recognising that individuals should not bear substantial taxes during health crises. Simultaneously, we call for increased incentives for innovation and to attract foreign investment in advanced research.”

Nikhil Chopra, CEO and whole-time director of JB Pharma, anticipates the allocation of funds towards enhancing the pharmaceutical supply chain and distribution infrastructure, which should be coupled with the integration of the latest digital technologies to ensure a streamlined and technologically advanced system.

Speaking about India’s goal of promoting indigenous manufacturing and reducing dependency on external sources, Chopra says, “Through the incorporation of digital advancements, the efficiency and transparency of the supply chain can be significantly improved. In our quest for self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on imports, implementing well-crafted measures to streamline the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme becomes a pivotal catalyst. The government should consider incentivising domestic API manufacturers.”

Highlighting the deaths of 58 lakh Indians to heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes, Gautam Khanna, CEO of PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, says, “The upcoming budget should focus on increasing healthcare expenditure, aiming for 2.5 to 3.5% of the total GDP, to move closer towards universal health coverage.”

Khanna further suggested incentivising health insurance and preventive healthcare will play a pivotal role in inching towards universal health coverage. To make the Indian healthcare system more accessible and affordable, ecosystems to aid the development of innovative digital healthcare delivery models and tax incentives on technology investments should be provided by the government, suggested Khanna.

Insurance Samadhan’s Co-founder and Insurance Head, Shailesh Kumar suggests initiatives toward five focus areas to help increase insurance penetration: financial literacy, encouraging health competition in the insurance industry, simplifying complex insurance terminology, increasing the sum assured and simplifying the tax implications of insurance.

Kumar reckons, “I believe that standardisation of health insurance and similar favourable announcements could be on the cards as there’s a rising interest in healthcare planning.”

Ankur Gigras, CEO and Co-founder of HexaHealth, a healthtech platform, stresses the need for a comprehensive approach to healthcare spending in the interim budget. He added that the government must prioritise equitable supply and utilisation, focusing on marginalised groups, outpatient care and dynamic cost coverage. 

“Moreover, emphasis should be placed on innovative medical technologies like artificial intelligence, which may improve the quality of life for patients during operations, speed up insurance claims for required procedures, and raise the efficacy of healthcare delivery overall,” Gigras said further.

Anand Roy, MD and CEO of Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd. stresses the need for a reduction of GST on retail health insurance products from the existing 18% and says, “This reduction in GST rate would not only enhance the affordability of health insurance for the general public but also contribute to increasing insurance penetration and accessibility, particularly in tier-II, tier-III cities, and rural markets.”

Pristyn Care’s Co-founder Dr Garima Sawhney emphasised the expectations of female entrepreneurs for extra incentives and PLI schemes along with interest-free loans to support them. She also expects the government to provide low-cost funding to early-age start-ups founded by women to position India as an innovation-based economy.

A viable women-centric industrial policy is the need of the hour to get prominence for women’s entrepreneurship development. The startup sector would expect the budget for 2024 to continue with stability in the policies,” says Dr Garima Sawhney.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

World AIDS Day 2023 | Truckers’ health — as HIV/AIDS there other concerns as well to be addressed

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India’s economy sits firmly on the back of the country’s trucking industry, which sees approximately 8 million truck drivers and their helpers traversing the country to deliver much needed goods. Of this, almost 3–3.5 million are long distance truck drivers where nearly a third (36%) are clients of commercial sex workers — the potential carriers of HIV/AIDS virus.

However, with rigorous nationwide campaign, India’s HIV prevalence which peaked in 2000, is showing a continuous decline in the past 2 decades to 0.21% in 2021 with 1.48% of long haul truck drivers being affected with the disease.

Long haul truck drivers spend an average of 12 hours per day on the road,  driving valuable freight over long distances and spending months at a time on the road.  Irregular schedules, long hours, little physical activity, limited access to healthy food on the road, and stress make healthy living a challenge for long-haul truck drivers. And apart from HIV/AIDS there are other health concerns like Refractive errors, Cataract, Hypertension, Diabetes, Tobacco and Alcohol Addiction and Tuberculosis that are also prevalent among the community.

Also Read: World Aids Day 2023 — History, significance and preventive steps 

The trucking industry is one of the largest employers in India, providing a vital service to the smooth running of the country. According to industry experts, approximately 30 million people are directly employed by the trucking industry and more than 150 million people depend on it for their bread and butter.

It’s a very demanding job as truckers mostly deal with high-value and important goods – a source of stress, and limited their ability to focus on long-term health. A recent study revealed that about 50% of Indian truckers suffered from vision related issues which they are unaware of, 50% drivers are overweight and 41% suffer from hypertension.

More needs to be done to educate this marginalised community of the impact, methods of prevention, and treatment options of not only HIV/AIDS, but a wide array of other health issues too.  It is vital that we collaboratively work together to support this community in balancing their health indicators.

How it can be achieved

By taking health education directly to them through the healthcare centres that are setup at truck terminals that dot the country and see thousands of trucks stop at them each and every day. Additionally, frequent health checkup camps should be organised with medical consultation provided.

At times truckers might not have the time to visit healthcare centres at truck terminals, and during their long hours of driving favour listening to the radio or mobile recordings — for which there are multiple available online and mobile app-based resources which can be used to send pre-recorded messages on mobile phones on diabetes, nutrition and lifestyle modifications to promote better health.

Peer educators like the Dhabawalla’s and Chaiwallas, who proactively worked during HIV/AIDS campaigns to raise awareness among truckers on the issue, can once again be harnessed as volunteers to provide a crucial link between health services and truckers. 

Additionally, truck unions play a vital role in influencing the operation of truck drivers, and prove to be a crucial stakeholder to take charge in mobilising change in their communities. By leading from the front there is hope in improving indicators in health related issues among truckers.

The truckers population simply don’t have any health facilities available to them. It’s a migratory population and they don’t have time to wait in line at government hospitals to see a doctor.  For them, time is money! The logistics and transport industry are highly dependent on this vulnerable population, and health impacts can have a domino effect on these industries which could impact the entire country.

Resources like healthcare centres at truck terminals, peer educators and behaviour change communications campaigns need more support, with collaborations and partnerships of organisations and unions, to provide HIV/AIDS and other important healthcare services to this stakeholder group.

—The author, Pearl Tiwari, is Director and CEO, Ambuja Foundation. The views expressed are personal.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow