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 company, registered in Faridabad (Haryana), sells drugs, medical devices, and other solutions to pharmacies and hospitals.
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.
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.
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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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Budget 2024: As the interim budget is nearing, the healthcare, health insurance and pharma industries expect concessional tax rates, funds towards enhancing the pharmaceutical supply chain and distribution infrastructure, funds for digital advancements. The industry also expects to incentivise health insurance and preventive healthcare to make the sector accessible and affordable.
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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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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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 truckers community. 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, writes Pearl Tiwari, Director and CEO, Ambuja Foundation.
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.
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.
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Gujarat | Five dead after suspected consumption of contaminated ayurvedic syrup
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Preliminary probe revealed that the ayurvedic syrup, branded as ‘Kalmeghasav – Asava Arishta’, was sold over the counter to nearly 50 people by a shopkeeper in Bilodara village near Nadiad town of Kheda district.
At least five persons have died and two hospitalised over the last two days after suspected consumption of a contaminated ayurvedic syrup containing methyl alcohol in Gujarat’s Kheda district, police said on Thursday.
Preliminary probe revealed that the ayurvedic syrup, branded as ‘Kalmeghasav – Asava Arishta’, was sold over the counter to nearly 50 people by a shopkeeper in Bilodara village near Nadiad town of Kheda district.
“Blood sample report of a villager confirmed that methyl alcohol was added to the syrup before it was sold,” Kheda Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhiya said.
“While five persons have lost their lives after consuming the syrup during the last two days, two are still under treatment. We have detained three persons, including the shopkeeper, for further questioning,” he said. Methyl alcohol is a poisonous substance.
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Rahul Gandhi promises Rajasthan model healthcare scheme across country if voted to power in 2024
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Rahul Gandhi emphasised the need for a reevaluation of healthcare at the national level. He said that the union government should prioritise providing affordable healthcare to the poor as a fundamental guarantee to its people.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, November 30, hailed the healthcare programme for the poor initiated by the Rajasthan government, saying that if the party secures power at the Centre post the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, similar initiatives will be rolled out nationwide. Gandhi made these remarks while addressing the audience following the inauguration of a new block at a private hospital in Sulthan Bathery, situated within his Lok Sabha constituency, Wayanad.
The former Congress chief emphasised the need for a reevaluation of healthcare at the national level. He said that the union government should prioritise providing affordable healthcare to the poor as a fundamental guarantee to its people. “I think at the national level we need to rethink the way we think about healthcare and I think one of the guarantees that the national government should think about is healthcare at really low cost, especially to the poor people,” Rahul said.
“We have done some work on this in Rajasthan and hopefully if we come to power in 2024, we will try and implement these types of ideas across the nation,” Gandhi said. The Congress party has hailed its Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme in Rajasthan as a “model” for the entire country, asserting that increasing the medical coverage to Rs 50 lakh would provide significant relief to both the poor and the middle class.
During the Rajasthan Assembly poll campaign, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had praised the scheme as a boon for the people of Rajasthan, highlighting its comprehensive coverage, including free treatment for various medical procedures such as kidney and liver transplants, cancer and heart disease treatments, operation, dialysis, and implants. The party considers the ‘Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme’ as the best free treatment scheme in the country, with a promise to raise the coverage to Rs 50 lakh if re-elected in Rajasthan.
Voting for 199 out of the 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan was held on November 25. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.
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Employer-sponsored healthcare lacks personalisation and faces low adoption: Report
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Less than 30% employees participate in company sponsored wellbeing initiatives with 71% bearing last mile healthcare expenses out of pocket (which roughly averages to 5% of the annual income), the report said.
Plum, an insurtech company providing employee group health insurance and business insurance solutions, has launched the “Health Report of Corporate India 2023”. This comprehensive study sheds light on employee health and the gap between health benefits offered by employers and availed by employees.
Less than 30% employees participate in company sponsored wellbeing initiatives with 71% bearing last mile healthcare expenses out of pocket (which roughly averages to 5% of the annual income). A mere 8% avail discounted medicines and less than 1% of employees avail vision check-ups, the report said.
Adoption of employer-sponsored healthcare plans among youth aged 20-30 has been half as compared to employees aged 51 and above. 42% of employees (across age groups) expressed an interest in the availability of ‘flex benefits’, where they get to choose their own healthcare plans, Plum said.
85% of employees with a chronic illness do not feel supported by their employers. Less than 5% of companies offer comprehensive healthcare options to their employees that include insurance, telehealth, and other health benefits.
Nearly 1/3rd (30%) of all telehealth consultations were made in non-metro cities with 55% of them made by employees and 45% of them by their dependents. The most common consultations were for General Physician (24%), Mental Health (18%), and Dermatologist (21%). Yet, only 12% of companies provide telehealth support to their employees.
Saurabh Arora, Co-founder and CTO, Plum, said, “An average person spends 90,000 hours working. That’s almost a third of their life. Employee health should be a top priority for organisations, not only from a humanitarian perspective but also as a strategic investment in their workforce. Hence just health insurance is not enough – companies should adopt comprehensive healthcare benefits that accommodate insurance, primary, and preventive care.”
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DeHaat acquires export business of Freshtrop Fruits for ₹77 crore
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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While the fruit export business is sold to DeHaat, it retains the processing business. To talk about this deal and the synergies that arise from it is CNBC-TV18’s Ritu Singh spoke to Shashank Kumar, the founder and CEO of DeHaat.
Agritech startup DeHaat has acquired the export business of BSE-listed Freshtrop Fruits for ₹77 crore. The deal includes Freshtrop’s export network and grading, packing and precooling centers as well as manpower including the top leadership team coming into DeHaat.
Freshtrop was founded in 1992, and is one of the largest exporters of grapes and other fruits. While the fruit export business is sold to DeHaat, it retains the processing business. To talk about this deal and the synergies that arise from it is CNBC-TV18’s Ritu Singh spoke to Shashank Kumar, the founder and CEO of DeHaat.
Kumar said, “We feel that probably this is the best time to build an export business from India and especially within agri I think we all have seen how the overall export from India in agri got doubled in just the last three years. But yes, as far as Freshtrop is concerned, I think a couple of values basically, what we saw one, in general, the grapes, which is a new crop and category for DeHaat, so which is going to be a plug and play. Two the kind of brand Freshtrop has created in the category of premium fruits, we feel that probably at DeHaat, I think we will be able to leverage this relationship beyond grapes as well with all those buyers and that’s where we see a lot of scaling up potential.”
Sky-high hospital bills, especially for elective surgeries, are an accepted reality for the Indian middle class. But the fact remains that there are also several hospitals that contend with under-utilised capacity too. Bridging this demand-supply mismatch could be the key to reducing medical bills.
CNBC-TV18’s Jude Sannith spoke to Senu Sam, co-founder & CEO of Mykare Health, a startup that aims to help small and medium hospitals to get more demand and helps the patients to get seamless, transparent and quality healthcare in their elective surgery journey.
Watch accompanying video for more.
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World Pneumonia Day 2023: History, significance, theme, symptoms and preventive measures
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Though pneumonia can be fatal at times, it is curable and requires awareness and education to combat the disease, especially in children aged five and below.
World Pneumonia Day is observed annually on November 12 and is a global effort to educate people about the disease and its effects. On this day, health organisations, together with ordinary people, try to educate, raise awareness and promote advocacy that pneumonia is curable. It requires awareness to combat the disease, especially in children aged five and below.
History of World Pneumonia Day
On 12 November 2009, the first World Pneumonia Day was observed. On this day, the Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia launched the ‘Stop Pneumonia’ campaign, which was backed by governments and civil organisations leading to the enactment of sound policies. The campaign concentrated more on low and middle-income countries where children are affected by respiratory infections and malnutrition.
In 2017, a coalition known as Every Breath Counts was formed to empower low and middle-income nations in their fight against respiratory diseases like pneumonia. The UN agencies, international NGOs, institutions, and organisations are the members of this global coalition. Working together, they aim to educate the general public, provide healthcare assistance, and advance healthcare policy, especially in pneumonia prevention, diagnosis, and treatment which could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year.
These efforts have been reinforced by implementing the Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrohea (GAPPD), aimed at reducing infant mortality from the disease and addressing the underlying causes of respiratory infections in developing countries.
World Pneumonia Day Significance
Pneumonia is a treatable disease, yet a child dies from it every 20 seconds around the world. World Pneumonia Day provides a significant platform to educate the public about the disease, its symptoms, and possible treatment options. This underlines that pneumonia is a dangerous and lethal infection that could occur anywhere, anytime. In addition, it provides a platform for activists, groups, and individuals to work together in awareness campaigns. This is a global observance, of great relevance, happening in November annually.
World Pneumonia Day 2023 Theme
While the official theme for World Pneumonia Day 2023 has yet to be released, its primary objective remains unwavering: generate knowledge on pneumonia and reduce the number of child deaths of five years and below. Pneumonia is a preventable disease highlighting the significance of each breath and step in combating this disease. The campaign invites everyone to fight pneumonia together.
Types of Pneumonia
Bacterial pneumonia: This is caused by bacteria like Streptococcus pneumonia and Haemophilus influenza or Staphylococcus aureus.
Viral pneumonia: Often associated with influenza virus or RSV.
Mycoplasma pneumonia: It is caused by Mycoplasma pneumonia and is milder. The infection is often known as “walking pneumonia”.
Fungal pneumonia: This condition is caused by breathing of environmental fungal spores.
Aspiration Pneumonia: This infection happens when food or liquid substances are inhaled into the lungs.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia: You may contract this infection if you come in contact with an infected person in a hospital setting.
Community-acquired pneumonia: Occurs in the community and affects everyone who is a part of that group or community.
Pneumonia Symptoms: Fever, cough, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, fatigue, confusion, and bluish lips or nails in severe cases.
Measures to combat pneumonia
Influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccines.
Maintain good hygiene by frequent handwashing.
Stay away from sick people.
Cover the mouth and nostrils when sneezing or coughing.
Build a healthy immune system using a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep.
Give up smoking and cut down on alcohol.
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Charting the Path Forward: Insights from top CEOs in India’s booming pharma & healthcare industry
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Luminaries gracing the CEO Dialogues were Sanjeev Krishan of PwC in India, Ameera Shah of Metropolis Healthcare, Gautam Khanna of Hinduja Hospital, Umang Vohra of Cipla, Meenakshi Nevatia of Pfizer India, Sanjiv Navangul of Bharat Serums & Vaccines, Raj Gore of HCG, Dr. Tarang Gianchandani of Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Sujay Shetty of PwC and Rahul Purwar of ImmunoACT.
In a world where the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors are at the forefront of global attention, one nation has consistently taken centre stage. India, a powerhouse in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, has seen its contributions extend far beyond its borders. The recent confluence of top CEOs and industry stalwarts at CNBC-TV18 and PwC’s “CEO Dialogues” event provided a glimpse into the profound insights and achievements that have propelled India’s healthcare landscape to new heights.
The Unveiling of Remarkable Achievements
The episode, with the theme “Embracing Opportunities & Charting the Path Forward in the Indian Healthcare & Pharma Industry,” served as a tribute to the remarkable growth of these sectors in India. With medicines exported to more than 200 countries, India has firmly established itself as a critical player in the global pharmaceutical landscape. Impressively, it supplies a staggering 50% of all the drugs in Africa and contributes to 40% of the generic medicines consumed in the United States. When it comes to vaccines, India plays a pivotal role, accounting for approximately 60% of the vaccines sourced by the World Health Organization. These statistics paint a picture of an industry on the move, full of promise and potential.
The Indian pharmaceutical industry, currently valued at $50 billion, is set to witness an astonishing leap. Within just six years, projections suggest it will catapult to a staggering $130 billion. A sector characterised by remarkable growth, the private healthcare market in India is pegged at $48 billion, and its valuations continue to expand.
Industry Visionaries at the CEO Dialogues
The illustrious panel of leaders, who have been the architects of this success, gathered to share their experiences, vision, and insights. Shereen Bhan, the esteemed Managing Editor of CNBC-TV18, facilitated a compelling dialogue with these titans of industry.
Luminaries gracing the CEO Dialogues were Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson of PwC in India, Ameera Shah, Promoter & MD of Metropolis Healthcare Ltd, Gautam Khanna, CEO of Hinduja Hospital, Umang Vohra, MD & Global CEO of Cipla Ltd, Meenakshi Nevatia, Country President & MD of Pfizer India, Sanjiv Navangul, MD & CEO of Bharat Serums & Vaccines Ltd, Raj Gore, CEO of HCG Ltd, Dr. Tarang Gianchandani, Group CEO of Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Sujay Shetty, Global Health Industries Advisory Leader at PwC and Rahul Purwar, Founder & CEO of ImmunoACT.
Sanjeev Krishan on Private Equity Investments, Consolidation, Sustainability and Digital Transformation
Sanjeev Krishan explored the dynamic Indian market and the ongoing wave of consolidation. He emphasised on how over the last five years, limited private equity investments were observed in the sector due to its capital-intensive nature. However, investments in technology-driven areas, such as online pharmacies, have been increasing.
He further said, “Consolidation is a significant driver for private equity investments as large deals become less common. To attract investments, scale is crucial, and creating platforms for consolidation is seen as promising.”
In continuation he said, “Sustainability in healthcare, as a contributor to environmental pollution, presents another opportunity. And the ongoing digital transformation in the healthcare sector holds the potential for growth and innovation.”
Meenakshi Nevatia Navigated a New Regulatory Landscape
Meenakshi Nevatia emphasised the evolving regulatory landscape for drug approval in India. She underlined the growing transparency and systematisation in the regulatory process. She said, “A lot has changed in the positive direction in India. First, is about how quickly we are able to now bring drugs into the country and make new launches. The acceleration in the drug launch process aligns with India’s growing global connectivity, where both doctors and patients have access to information about the latest developments in the medical field worldwide.”
Sujay Shetty and Umang Vohra Shared The Strategies for Growth, Sustainability and Innovation
Sujay Shetty delved into strategies to solidify India’s prominent position in the United States, considering factors like pricing erosion and specialty pharma. He emphasised the need to make innovation more affordable, especially in areas like cell and gene therapies and biosimilars.
Shetty also touched on the environmental impact of the pharma and health sectors, emphasising the need to meet societal expectations in terms of sustainability and climate action. He also raised the importance of initiatives like AYUSHMAN Digital Mission and the PMJ in elevating the standard of care across the nation, with a focus on making India an attractive destination for clinical trials and medical tourism.
In continuation, Umang Vohra discussed the notable activity in the healthcare sector, emphasising its significance for India. He highlighted several key drivers for potential consolidation – a global shift to preventive healthcare, the move from chemical to biological synthesis, and the growing importance of data utilisation.
“As healthcare evolves, it becomes more biologically sensitive, but innovation is costly. The affordability of healthcare in India needs to expand significantly, and insurance coverage must expand to support innovation. This financial aspect also drives the need for consolidation, as fewer contributors can sustain innovation in the sector”, said Umang Vohra.
Ameera Shah and Gautam Khanna on Future Healthcare Integration and Affordability Challenges
Ameera Shah highlighted the nascent state of genetic testing in India, emphasising the need for affordability and financing, similar to the models found in the US and the western world where insurance companies often cover genetic testing. She feels that, in India, insurance is yet to catch up in this domain, hindering the utilisation of genetic testing insights by doctors.
Ameera Shah envisages a future where healthcare is more integrated for patients, with comprehensive data integration and care coordination, allowing professionals to work seamlessly together. This approach aims to eliminate the fragmentation often seen in healthcare services.
Gautam Khanna discussed the shifting paradigm in healthcare. He said, “Hospitals have historically been focused on sick care, treating patients after they fall ill. However, the industry is transitioning towards wellness care, where healthcare providers like Hinduja Hospital aim to proactively manage the health of the community. This transformation demands robust data collection, predictive analytics, and a shift in the delivery of care from hospitals to homes.”
Furthermore, the digital revolution in healthcare is evolving beyond improving patient convenience and logistics. It’s moving towards digital health delivery, involving data collection, vital sign monitoring, and telemedicine. Khanna stressed the necessity of extending these services to tier 2 and tier 3 regions to enhance healthcare accessibility.
Dr. Tarang Gianchandani on Healthcare in 2032: Accessible, Advanced, and Preventive
Dr. Tarang Gianchandani envisioned the healthcare landscape in a decade as more accessible, advanced, and prevention-oriented. The shift towards prevention (60% focus) rather than cure is a significant trend. Strategies will involve integrating technology for personalised and predictive medicine, utilising AI and data to enhance patient outcomes and overall accessibility.
The impact of the invaluable insights shared by these industry giants continues to reverberate throughout the healthcare and pharmaceutical landscape in India. Their collective vision, accomplishments, and commitment to a brighter future have set a new standard of excellence. The “CEO Dialogues” is a testament to the unyielding spirit of innovation and transformation in the Indian healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
To watch the entire discussion, click below:
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Healthy India | Medical Devices Regulation — here’s why the industry is seeking an extension at the regulator’s cost
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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The medical devices manufacturers have cited ‘resource constraints’ at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) as the reason for demanding an extension for regulatory compliance for high-risk devices — thus implying that the regulator is delaying the process while the manufacturers are ready. Curiously, the CDSCO, which is directly under the Ministry of Health, has not mentioned these constraints to its parent, rather it was the industry which did so.
The medical device manufacturers in India have written to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare seeking a six-month extension to comply with the rules of quality licensing for high-risk medical devices.
These products — classified under the categories of Class C and Class D under the 2020 amended Drugs and Cosmetics Act — include ventilators, imagining equipment, oxygen therapy equipment, nebulisers, X-ray equipment, surgical robots, oncology treatment linear accelerator, among others.
The industry had been given time till September 30, 2023, to comply with the Medical Devices (Amendment) Rules, 2020. As per this mandate, the medical device manufacturers and importers in India were mandated to get licences for their high-risk category products by October 1, 2023. The transition period of 42 months — to complete the licensing of non-notified Class C and D medical devices — started from April 1, 2020.
While the regulation on Class A and B products — the non-risk medical devices — came into effect from April, 2020, itself, the industry players who were registered, but not licensed on this date, were allowed to continue manufacturing and selling. The regulators, the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) at the state level and (CDSCO) at the central level, have sought the due compliance and audit certification from them.
The industry is now expecting a similar extension for high-risk medical devices as well. While the industry’s request is understood, given the typical regulatory compliance issues in India, the main reason that it has cited for demanding further extension of the transition period is rather contradictory. The industry association, the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMED), has pointed to the procedural delay on the part of the regulators for issuing the licence as the reason for its request.
In a letter dated September 25 to the Health Ministry, AiMED’s Forum Coordinator Rajiv Nath has sought additional time for compliance citing concerns about the “…resource constraints of the CDSCO in conducting timely inspections and issuing manufacturing licences before the stipulated deadline of October 1 and this may lead to supply-chain disruptions for many Indian-made medical devices.”
Further, AiMED has pointed out that over 1,000 manufacturing licences are in process for 200-300 manufacturers of these high-end, high-risk medical devices — implying that the regulator is unable to complete its inspection on time despite the manufacturers being ready.
Curiously, the CDSCO, which is functioning directly under the Ministry of Health and is responsible for ensuring timely industry compliance, has not updated its parent about the “resource constraints.” Instead, it’s the industry, who is subject to the regulation, which is reporting the same to the ministry. In other words, had the ministry known about these resource constraints it would have acted on its own to ensure the implementation of the law in time.
It can be recalled that the Indian medical devices industry time and again resisted the government’s moves to regulate medical devices on par with drugs. The Medical Devices (Amendment) Rules, 2020, was incorporated within the Drugs & Cosmetics Act for this purpose and it met with strong resistance from the industry.
It is important to set the context for this resistance. India’s medical devices market imports at least 60-70 percent of both high-risk as well as low-risk products from various foreign sources and manufacturers. Several multinational medical device manufacturing giants are also present in this market, though the prices of their imported products are often exorbitant for the typical Indian customer. As a result, many of India’s domestic medical devices manufacturers import these products or components from cheaper sources, where quality is often not guaranteed.
Several manufacturers in India have been importing the device components and kits from these so-called sources and just assembling them in the country. Though of late, there is a visible change in the local capabilities, thanks to new-gen technologies and several tech startups, the domestic industry is still not fully capable of meeting the local demand.
There’s no doubt that the government wants patients to have access to good quality products at the locally affordable price by ensuring quality. However, when it comes to the quality compliance, one can only hope the industry should be transparent enough to admit its limitations and more committed to the much-needed changes. And the government should take adequate measures to weed out the inferior products for the sake of the patient, who is the ultimate sufferer.
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