FUJIFILM RECEIVES FDA APPROVAL FOR UNITY SPEEDSUITE

Stamford, CT - February 29, 2008 - FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc. is pleased to announce the FDA 510(k) clearance of its newest Fuji DR (FDR) system, the Unity SpeedSuiteTM. The Unity SpeedSuite is a cost effective and innovative DR system that can perform a variety of exams with only one detector. It provides both maximum clinical flexibility and productivity from a single DR detector system with Fujifilm's renowned image quality. Deliveries of Unity SpeedSuite are expected to begin as early as March.

 

Read complete story: http://www.fujimed.com/company-info/press-room/doc/press_fdr-unity-final.asp?location=3&area=25&id=0&subid=0

 

 

Dr.Lal Path Labs joins hands with Bengal Govt

Dr.Lal Path Labs, a medical diagnostics company, is planning a public private partnership (PPP) with the West Bengal Government for setting up pathology laboratories in the State, according to Dr.Arvind Lal, Chairman and Managing Director, Dr.Lal Path Labs.

PPP MODEL
"We were the first laboratory services provider to set up a laboratory under the PPP model in Agartala. We have similar plans in West Bengal also. Both the States have the Left governments, so there is no reason why we cannot have a similar model in West Bengal," Dr.Lal said. Dr.Lal Path Labs has opened two new laboratories in Kolkata taking the total number of pathology laboratories of the company to 26 across the country.


Read Complete story : http://www.lalpathlabs.com/NewlplSite/pressrelDesc.aspx?id=1

Dr.Lal Path Labs eyes South, West markets

DELHI-BASED Dr.Lal Path Labs (LPL) is eyeing the inorganic route to expand its presence across the nation. The Rs. 75 crore pathological lab firm has initiated talks with potential targets in the West and South, with plans to acquire at least four facilities by March 2009.
LPL currently operates with a three tier model - one central lab in Delhi, three regional labs in Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore and 26 satellite laboratories across the country. It has plans to expand its satellite lab network to 50 units, wherein comes the company's plans to acquire facilities.
Talking to newspersons here on Monday, LPL's chairman and managing director Arvind Lal said the company wants to acquire labs in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

 

Read Complete story: http://www.lalpathlabs.com/NewlplSite/pressrelDesc.aspx?id=4

Dr.Lal PathLab's targets Rs. 200 cr turnover

Medical diagnostics company Dr.Lal PathLabs is eyeing a turnover of Rs. 200 crore in the next three years, riding on the 20% growth of pathological laboratories in India. Its turnover at persent is Rs. 75 crore and has 26 laboratories across the country.
There are more than 40,000 independent pathological laboratories in the Rs. 3,000 crore medical diagnostics market in the country. While hospitals have 43% share of the market, independent laboratories have 52% market share.
Dr.Arvind Lal, chairman and managing director of the company, said. "The market is growing with increased opportunities in public private partnership, growing clinical train market and increase in test -based decision of doctors." "Our target is to increase the number of samples tested per day to 22,000 from 6,500 at present," he said.

 

Read Complete story : http://www.lalpathlabs.com/NewlplSite/pressrelDesc.aspx?id=2

Dr.Lal Path eyes rural markets

In a bid to have a pan-India presence, Dr.Lal Path Lab, one of the leading pathological testing company in India, plans to spread its network to rural areas using the hub and spoke model.
The Company plans to invest Rs. 200 crore in the next three years over setting laboratories of different sizes across the country.
The company plans to open 50 laboratories with an investment of Rs. 30 crore by the end of March 2009.
The laboratories, capable of conducting 650 types of pathological tests, will act as hub to several smaller laboratories located in rural parts of the country.

 

Read complete story: http://www.lalpathlabs.com/NewlplSite/pressrelDesc.aspx?id=3

BAAP Diagnostics gets accreditation from CAP

Ahmedabad-based BAAP Diagnostics Ltd. Laboratory, has been awarded an accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The diagnostic laboratory is a part of BA Research India Limited, one of the leading Clinical Research Organisations, headquartered in Ahmedabad and specialising in conducting clinical phase and analysing samples for bioequivalence and bioavailability studies. The studies conducted by BA Research have been approved by USFDA and AFSSAPS.

Read complete story: http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressnews/baap-diagnostics-gets-accreditationcap/13/00/315157

India's Medical Market -- In Its Infancy but Growing Fast: September 1994

With a population nearing one billion and growing at around 2% a year, India is the second-most populous country in the world. The Indian people defy generalization – the government recognizes 16 official languages, and at least 24 are spoken throughout the country. Significant religious differences exist between the regions, as well as radical economic disparities. This profile has been compiled using information from Ames Gross and an ABHI report on India.

 

Read complete story: http://www.pacificbridgemedical.com/publications/html/IndiaSeptember94.htm

Profile: Medical treatment packaging company: Medical Tourism : India : Mediescapes India

Mediescapes India, was incubated and founded by D. Arun Kumar, and today it is run by team of hard core qualified professionals from the medical service industry to meet a growing demand from International Patients for their medical treatments in India that combined the advantages of;

Extremely favorable Rupee ~ GB Pound / US Dollars / Euro exchange rates coupled with first world treatment at third world pricings !

The high quality of medical care at some of its partner JCI / ISO accredited hospitals / clinics available in various cities in India; and last but not the least,

The absence of waiting lists for most of the medical treatment procedures in India due to burgeoning health care setups in various specialist tertiary-care accredited hospitals in India.


Visit the web site for complete details: http://www.mediescapes.com/

Profile: MedTripInfo

David Williams founded MedTripInfo in 2007. He has 20 years of experience in the international health care field as a management consultant and entrepreneur. He is co-founder and principal of MedPharma Partners, a strategy consulting firm serving large and small clients in technology-enabled health care services, pharmaceuticals, biotech and medical devices.

Visit: http://www.medtripinfo.com/

Quintiles Promotes Its "Globally Harmonized" Lab Network

I have devoted a number of previous notes to contract research organizations (CROs) such as Covance and Charles River. In prior notes, I have discussed how Covance has developed a global lab network (see:  A Look at the World's Largest Central Laboratory Network). Quintiles now is emulating Covance in this regard but with a slight twist by promoting itself as "the largest wholly owned CAP-accredited laboratory network in the world" (see: Quintiles Central Laboratory in India Receives CAP Certification). Below is an excerpt from the article (boldface emphasis mine):

 

Read complete story: http://labsoftnews.typepad.com/lab_soft_news/2008/03/quintiles-clini.html

Quintiles Central Laboratory in India Receives CAP Certification

 RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Quintiles Transnational Corp. today announced that its central laboratory in India has been certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

The central lab in Mumbai began supporting clinical trials in the first quarter of 2007. The facility has seen steady growth and has been adding services and analytical capabilities to a growing test menu.

"CAP certification validates our commitment to providing high-quality central laboratory services that fulfill rigorous regulatory requirements worldwide," said Tom Wollman, Senior Vice President, Quintiles Global Central Laboratories. "With the certification of the India laboratory, Quintiles Central Laboratory Services now has the largest wholly owned CAP-accredited laboratory network in the world. This tightly controlled network with CAP- certified laboratories in the US, Europe, South Africa, China, India and Singapore allows us to support global and regional trials in almost every country in the world. Because our customers are looking for the quality, flexibility and speed that come from running multi-regional global trials, we are well-positioned to meet this demand."

 

Read complete story: http://sev.prnewswire.com/medical-pharmaceuticals/20080213/CLW07213022008-1.html

A Look at the World's Largest Central Laboratory Network

Q, Name the world's largest central laboratory network. 

A. That's easy! It's Covance.  Here is the company's description of itself from it's own web home page (emphasis mine):

We provide a portfolio of preclinical and clinical development and commercial service offerings — delivered through industry-leading nonclinical testing services, the world's largest central laboratory network, and a global team of clinical trial professionals and cardiac safety experts.

 

 

 

 

Read Complete story: http://labsoftnews.typepad.com/lab_soft_news/2006/02/worlds_largest_.html

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw launches 'Rad Gurukul'- first teleradiology training center by Teleradiology Solutions

Teleradiology Solutions, premier provider of teleradiology services, today launched 'Rad Gurukul' the first ever teleradiology training center in India. Located in Whitefield, Bangalore, the facility will be dedicated towards training and refining the skills of radiologists, technologists and IT personnel involved in health care IT.

Read complete story: http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/health-care/200803188165.htm?aid=2583

Computers diagnose Alzheimer's better than MDs

Computers are able to diagnose Alzheimer's disease faster and more accurately than experts, according to a study from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging (WTCN) in London. The findings may help ensure that patients are diagnosed earlier and more accurately: Whereas definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's can only be done by a trained clinician after death - earlier diagnosis is accurate only 85 percent of the time, according to WTCN - computers can identify the characteristic damage of Alzheimer's disease in a living person with an accuracy as high as 96 percent. According to WTCN Prof. Richard Fracowiak, the new method eliminates the need for human intervention - a particularly attractive option for places with a shortage of trained clinicians and when a standardized reliable diagnosis is needed, such as in drug trials.
For details, visit : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080222082429.htm

Medical tourism could be huge in India, study notes

India has the potential of becoming "an ideal healthcare destination," according to a study on healthcare tourism conducted by New Delhi-based Exim Bank. In 2006, an estimated 500,000 international travelers went to India specifically for its healthcare services, generating the country roughly $600 million in revenue - a fraction of the $150 billion worldwide market, according to "Healthcare Tourism: Opportunities for India." But promotion of healthcare tourism could help develop associated sectors, including telemedicine, medical equipment manufacturing, medical diagnostics, outsourcing of hospital administration and insurance. India's advantages in the healthcare sector include cost-effective healthcare solutions and availability of skilled healthcare professionals, as well as an increasingly popular traditional wellness system, Exim Bank Chairperson Shri T.C. Venkat Subramanian said.

 
For details, visit http://www.eximbankindia.com/press210208.asp

Philips to create sensor-based heart-check bed

Electronics giant Philips plans to develop a sensor bed that monitors the health of heart failure patients. The HeartCycle Project will use unobtrusive sensors built into a patient's clothing or bed sheets, and home appliances such as weight scales and blood pressure monitors, to help spot heart problems several days before they become life threatening, according to John Cleland, M.D., HeartCycle's chief medical officer. Public and private partners from 18 research, academic, industrial and medical organizations from nine European countries and China will team up on the project, scheduled to begin March 1. The European Union will fund approximately $20.8 million (USD) of the four-year program's $31.1 million budget, making HeartCycle one of the largest biomedical and healthcare research projects within the EU.

 

More details : http://www.newscenter.philips.com/about/news/press/20080221_heartcycle_project.page

Medical Tourism: The Next Big Thing In Indian Healthcare Industry

Medical tourism is the act of touring different countries or nations around the world to receive medications like dental, neurosurgery or surgical care and various other forms of specialized treatments. Medical tourism or healthcare facilitation is very cost effective and has grown to become very popular with time. Due to much technological advancement and improvement, standards of care and the affordability of international travel have become the primary factors leading to the popularity of medical tourism.

In the past few years, the costs of medical treatment or health care have soared high in industrialized nations and developed countries. And with this rise in health care costs, people from USA, Europe, Canada and Australia are seeking alternatives to reduce their expenses and build financial savings. This has prompted the people of developed countries serve as medical tourists.

 

 

Read complete story: http://hafeez123.blogspot.com/2008/01/article3.html

Cleveland Clinic (one of the best medical facility in the world) Collaborates With Google to Enhance Patients’ Healthcare Experience

Cleveland Clinic is collaborating with Google to pilot features and services of a new health offering. The Google offering, not yet publicly available, will assist providers to create a new kind of healthcare experience that puts patients in charge of their own health information.

Today, more than 100,000 Cleveland Clinic patients benefit from Cleveland Clinic's electronic personal health record (PHR) system called eCleveland Clinic MyChart®. The pilot, an invitation-only opportunity offered to a group of Cleveland Clinic PHR users, plans to enroll between 1,500 and 10,000 patients

 

Read Complete story: http://cms.clevelandclinic.org/body.cfm?id=227&action=detail&ref=815

Remote Diagnostics: Now that’s Innovation

Neurosynaptic Communication, a Bangalore firm, has been recognized for the World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer award in Healthcare category, as innovative telecommunication solution.
The company has a portable diagnostic kit (priced approx Rs.9000) that performs five basic health tests, including blood pressure, temperature, and even an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Read complete story: http://www.carethics.com/2007/12/remote-diagnostics-now-thats-innovation.html

Birla Sun Life Insurance Names Quest Diagnostics its Exclusive Provider of Health Assessment Services in India

MADISON, N.J., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX), the leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Quest diagnostics india Pvt. Ltd. has entered into a long-term agreement to provide health assessment services, including diagnostic laboratory testing, for Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited (Birla Sun Life), a joint venture between The Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest business houses in india, and Sun Life Financial Inc., a leading international financial services organization.

 

Read complete story : http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/Birla-Sun-Life-Insurance-Names-Quest-Diagnostics-its-Exclusive-Provider-of-Health-Assessment-Services-in-India-12320-1/

Newborn Screening – What ails India?

Out of the approximately 25 Million new births in India, there are an estimated 1.6 Million babies born with birth defects including about 620,000 with genetic disorders. Despite very good evidence that early detection of conditions, such as congenital hypothyroidism, Phenylketonuria, Homocystinuria and others, is absolutely essential for appropriate management to be instituted there is no mandatory newborn screening program in place.

 

Read complete story: http://labnetworx.com/blog/2007/12/newborn_screening_what_ails_india.html

Sneha Diagnostics plans to open 10 state of the art medical diagnostics centers across AP,India

Sneha Diagnostics (one of the fastest growing medical diagnostic services provider based in Ongole,AP,India ) today announced it's plans to open 10 state-of-the art medical diagnostic centers at all major district centers in AP,India with a capital investment of 5cr.

Speaking with reporters in Hyderabad,AP,India via tele conference, the company founder and chairman Mr. Krishna Mohan Raju Kakarlapudi ( known as Mohan, an NRI based in Chicago,USA and a native of Prakasm Dt, AP, India ) said they have been very humbled by the trust of their patients who come to visit their one of a kind state-of-art diagnostic center at Ongole, AP, India for the quality services they offer at reasonable prices.

He says, Sneha Diagnostics is able to develop faith in their quality services by offering unparallel customer service not seen at any other medical facility.

"There're huge untapped opportunities in places like Ongole across India if you can provide quality services like, medical diagnostics at reasonable prices, considering 70-80% of Indian population doesn't live in urban areas" says Mr. Mohan.

 

 

Read Complete story at : http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/health-care/200803097927.htm

Urban Poor to Receive Primary Health Insurance

Urban Poor to Receive Primary Health Insurance

The Health Ministry has drawn up a plan to provide basic medical insurance to millions of poor people living in slums in cities and towns that have a population of at least 100,000. The plan will cover 55 million slum dwellers living in 489 cities and towns across India. Each slum dweller will get an insurance cover of Rs40,000-50,000 (US$987-US$1,234). Under it, a person can seek treatment or medical tests at an outpatient clinic. The insurance money will be paid directly to the government hospital or an accreditated private hospital. The programme, which needs to be approved by the Cabinet, is scheduled to be launched in four months' time.

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