Blood pressure measures among women in south India

Blood pressures were measured using standard techniques on a random sample of 961

rural and 1073 urban women chosen from North Arcot District in Tamilnadu State of south India.

The mean (SD) systolic blood pressures (mm Hg) were 101-4 (10.5) in the rural women and 105-3

(14. 1) in the urban. The mean (SD) diastolic blood pressures were 65 9 (9.9) in the rural women

and 68-0 (10-8) in the urban. For both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, the urban values were

significantly higher than those in the rural. The correlations of blood pressures with selected

socioeconomic, obstetric, and maternal factors were examined. For the rural women, blood

pressures showed significant associations only with parity and weight. In the urban women

significant associations were also noted for age and income. The implications of these findings are

briefly discussed.

 

 

Continue Reading: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1052315&blobtype=pdf

Alarming issue of High Blood Pressure (Hypertention) in India

WHO 1999 reports that 1 out of every 3 deaths in India is due to heart diseases. Amongst several risk factors associated with this growing menace, hypertension or high blood pressure has been established as a key risk factor for heart diseases.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is synonymous with high blood pressure. Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against the walls of the arteries, which are the conduits that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body.

In some people, the blood cannot flow easily through these arteries. For example, if the arteries are narrowed for some reason, the pressure will go up to keep the blood flowing. This is high blood pressure.

If you have it, you are not alone. Hypertension is a very common condition; however, if left untreated, it can become serious.

What are the symptoms of Hypertension?

If you have hypertension, chances are that you may not have any symptoms at all. Hypertension is often called the "silent killer" because most people who have it do not feel sick, but if left uncontrolled, it can lead to a heart attack or kidney disease. This is why it is so important to treat hypertension even if you feel fine. Many people can keep their hypertension under control by making some changes in their daily activities, such as increasing exercise and eating a healthier diet. Other people may need to take medicine in addition to diet and/or exercise.

How does one cope with Hypertension?

It is important that you become an active partner with your doctor in taking care of yourself. At first, as you adjust your daily habits to the treatment program advised to you, making these changes may seem difficult. After a while, these changes will become routine. So the sooner you begin to make these changes, the better.

Most treatments include a combination of diet, exercise and medication. Here are some important suggestions to consider.

Continue Reading: http://www.pfizerindia.com/health_hy.html

Search Engine for Healthcare Professionals

Search engines have been a critical factor in making the web so useful. I am personally partial to Google. I also find Google Scholar useful when researching complex medical topics. I often tend to use it even before PubMed. In fact, Google Scholar can be used as a portal to search medical article archived in PubMed. Here is a brief description of PubMed:

PubMed is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that includes over 17 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1950s. PubMed includes links to full text articles and other related resources.

Now comes news about some recent refinements of a search engine designed specifically for healthcare professionals but also available to healthcare consumers (see: SearchMedica Offers Medical Professionals Six New Specialized Clinical Web Searches). Below is an excerpt from the article with boldface emphasis mine:

 

Continue Reading: http://labsoftnews.typepad.com/lab_soft_news/2008/05/search-engine-f.html

Sneha Diagnostics plans 10 medical diagnostic centres

Introduction

Sneha Diagnostics has unveiled plans to open 10 diagnostic centres in all major district centres across the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. After completing the first phase, it desires to go for a public issue and / or venture capital with a focus to reach remote corners of India. Sneha Diagnostics currently owns and operates three diagnostics centres in the towns of Ongole and Chirala of Prakasam District and Kavali of Nellore District in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Location

The new facilities will be located in all major district centres of Andhra Pradesh, India. The organisation has plans to set up more centres in second-tier cities and remote places all over India.

Budget

Sneha Diagnostics is planning for an investment of US$ 1.3 million (Rs. 5 Crores). The investment constitutes 35 per cent private investments and 65 per cent bank investments.

Features

All the centres will be linked with a high speed Internet using software tools and technology. All the centres are integrated enabling patients to give their sample at one location and collect their report at another centre, if needed.

Project Status

Sneha Diagnostics is in an advanced phase of negotiations to get the required finances from the banks. Negotiations with equipment suppliers are underway. Man-power recruitment, Site selection and lease agreements at few locations etc. are under progress.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.asianhhm.com/knowledge_bank/projects/sneha_diagnostics.htm

Trivitron JVs with intl cos. to set up India's first Medical Technology Park (MTP)

Chennai-based business group Trivitron has roped in international partners to give India her first Medical Technology Park (MTP).

Trivitron, which makes medical technology products, has inked three joint venture (JV) deals with Japan-based Aloka Company Ltd. (the innovator in ultrasound), Biosystems of Spain and Brandon Medical of the UK that would see India, for the first time, produce its own high-end, cost-efficient medical technology products, including critical care equipments.

While Trivitron would hold 40 percent stake in the JV deal with Aloka, in the other two deals with Biosystems and Brandon Medical, it would hold 60 percent and 51 percent stakes respectively.

Continue Reading: http://in.ibtimes.com/articles/20080521/trivitron-medical-technology-park-mtp-equipment.htm

Opto Circuits Completes Acquisition of US-based Criticare Systems Inc

Opto Circuits (India) Limited, India's leading manufacturer of medical diagnostics and interventional products, recently announced that it has successfully completed acquisition of Criticare Systems, Inc, a lead in g US-based healthcare company. Criticare Systems, Inc, is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Opto Circuits, effective April 10, 2008 .

 

Continue Reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200805/market23.shtml

India's In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Double Digit Annual Growth Drove Stronger Adoption of Automation With Over 1,800 Automated Systems Detected in 2007

Clearstate's IVD Gateway Database in India provides insights on instrument installation and test consumption trends by tracking market changes and usage patterns quarterly.

Singapore (PRWEB) May 7, 2008 -- Following the successful launch of its South East Asia (SEA) usage database for In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) in 2006, Clearstate has expanded its IVD Gateway Database coverage to one of the largest and most challenging market in the region, India.

India's large geography and non-homogeneous usage environment demand a large sampling of hospital and stand-alone laboratories to ensure a robust and well-represented analysis of the IVD market. The Gateway database screened over 5,000 labs and surveyed in detail over 800 of the highest test volume facilities in India. Clearstate also took an additional measure to increase the thoroughness of the survey input and sizing estimates through validation with major distributors and suppliers.

Similar to the SEA database, the India database details unit installation of diagnostics analyzers, the volume consumption of reagents and tests assays, and the penetration of key IVD brands by city, model and user segment.

However, according to Ms. Ivy Teh, Clearstate's Managing Director, "We have further improved our database offering by providing value-added interpretations of market insights and share analysis. Instead of just presenting data, we now provide analysis on test breakdown run on automated vs. semi-automated systems, we have average installation age of over 10 leading brands and models and where they are located to help clients determine where and when replacements are coming up."

 

Continue Reading: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/5/prweb916534.htm

Centre to set up medical genetics at NIMS

Hyderabad, May 6 The Union government has proposed to set up a department of medical genetics at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) for providing diagnostic, treatment and counseling services to children and families with inherited genetic disorders. The department will also train medical professionals in this discipline by offering DM and DNB programs, a release stated.

The proposal was conveyed in a letter to the State government by Union minister for science & technology and earth sciences Kapil Sibal. Accordingly, the department of medical genetics will be established as a joint collaboration between NIMS and Centre for DNA Fingerprinting abnd Diagnostics (CDFD). This is a first of its kind department in south India and the second in the entire country, the other being in Lucknow.

 

 

Continue Reading: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Centre-to-set-up-medical-genetics-at-NIMS/306400/

What Patients Really Want: An Introduction to the e-Patient

A recent webcast video editorial by Dr. Daniel Sands (ePatients: Engaging Patients in Their Own Care) described the needs and wants of e-patients in such clear and concise terms that I decided to quote part of it here. Below is an excerpt from the transcribed text of the editorial (boldface emphasis mine):

Every day, more people get healthcare online than those who see a physician. About two thirds of Americans have sought health information online ...and half changed their behavior as a result of their online activities. Many don't discuss this activity with their physicians, and most physicians don't welcome it. These eEmpowered healthcare consumers are simply behaving rationally...They know the traditional office setting is not user-friendly: It's hard to get a doctor on the phone for advice, difficult to get a timely appointment, and coming in for the appointment obligates up to a half-day away from home or work....

What do patients want?

• Patients want to be able to communicate with their physicians asynchronously, so each person can communicate at his or her convenience....
• Patients want convenience. Booking appointments, requesting prescriptions, obtaining referrals, and other transactions shouldn't require a phone call to an overburdened office....
• Patients want information, ideally tailored to their needs....They even want access to their test results and medical records.

Continue Reading: http://labsoftnews.typepad.com/lab_soft_news/2008/01/an-introduction.html

The Meaning of Patient-Centric in Relationship to the LIS

When participating in a recent discussion group that was attempting to define the LIS of the future, the term patient-centric was raised.  I began to wonder whether the notion of patient-centricity has any relevance for the design of an LIS. Understanding that the term has become somewhat of a cliche recently, I decided to develop this note in order to begin to explore the relevance of of the concept for the LIS.

First of all, I suspect that most lab professionals will probably view physicians as the primary "customers" of the clinical labs. If they consider patients as customers at all, it's probably in a tangential manner with the physicians as the critical intermediaries. For the record and in order to pursue this discussion of the patient-centric LIS, I think that both physicians and patients should be viewed as customers of the clinical labs and therefore of the LIS.

Having gotten this point out of the way, I think that there are three important criteria for a patient-centric LIS:

• Patients should have ready access to their test results that are archived in the LIS, understanding that some test results such as reports of malignant disease need to be first presented to a patient by their personal physician in order to place them in the proper medical context.
• Lab test results need to be portable, which is to say that they can be electronically replicated to systems or media controlled by the patient such as personal health records. Such portability is critical if and when patients seek a second opinion about a diagnosis or wants to change healthcare providers.
• Lastly, the patient should be able to acquire some knowledge about the significance of various test results. Such knowledge can be provided by the laboratory generating the results or the patient can be guided to reliable sources of lab information on the web.

 

Continue Reading : http://labsoftnews.typepad.com/lab_soft_news/2008/05/the-meaning-of.html

Denmarc Announced Defeat Diabetes 2008

Diabetes Endocrine Nutrition Management and Research Centre (DENMARC) announced Defeat Diabetes 2008 at a press conference today. The event is being held at Mumbai's Nehru Centre, Worli, for a period of three days from 23rd - 25th May, 2008 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m) and would be inaugurated on 23rd May'08 by Ms. Nita Ambani.

19th May'08, Mumbai. Diabetes Endocrine Nutrition Management and Research Centre (DENMARC) announced Defeat Diabetes 2008 at a press conference today. The event is being held at Mumbai's Nehru Centre, Worli, for a period of three days from 23rd - 25th May, 2008 (10 a.m. to 7 p.m) and would be inaugurated on 23rd May'08 by Ms. Nita Ambani.

Defeat Diabetes 2008 is a novel healthcare initiative conceptualized and organized for the benefit of the Indian diabetic community by Dr. Chandalia's DENMARC and sponsored by Kishinchand Chellaram Educational Trust, Lokumal Kishinchand Charity Trust and Chellaram Educational Foundation.

Defeat Diabetes 2008 is the first concrete step towards spreading nationwide awareness, information and guidance about diabetes with focus on Obesity, Blood Pressure and Heart Attack. It is an event, dedicated to the cause of empowering the diabetes- affected citizens, their families and health care provider, diabetologists, physicians and pharmaceutical industry. The events aims to showcase latest array of drugs, treatments, diagnostics, insulin administrative kit and monitoring modalities.

On the occasion Dr.H B Chandalia, Diabetelolist and Endocrinologist and Director DENMARC said that, "According to projections based on a few surveys, India had 19.4 million diabetic patients in 1995 which is likely to triple to 57.7 million by the year 2025. These numbers are alarming! The objective of organizing Defeat Diabetes 2008 is to stem the tide of diabetes and to lend support and direction to patients and their families as well as medical community. Dr. H.B Chandalia has been an Honorary Professor of Medicine and Diabetes for 30 years at Grant Medical College, Mumbai. His area of specialization includes endocrinology, diabetes, obesity & nutrition science. He is affiliated to Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre. The book, Conquest of Diabetes by diet & exercise, the magazine "Diabetes Today" shows his multiple contributions towards the Diabetes World. He has formed and nurtured long lasting organisations such as Association for Diabetes Care and Prevention, Research society, Grant Medical College and National Diabetes Association of India. He is a fellow of American college of Physicians and a member of American Diabetes Association. He is guiding Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) as its Executive patron.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/health-care/200805189607.htm?aid=2583

 

 

India: Diagnostics is a second major contributor to the total biopharma revenues

Diagnostics is a second major contributor to the total biopharma revenues. It accounted for about 19 percent to the total

biopharma sector. The sales of diagnostics kits have been on the rise in the recent years in India with increase in per capita income, changing life style and urbanization. The revenue of diagnostics kits has gone up from Rs 601 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 905.33 crore in 2005-06.

The market is witnessing both rapid growth and increased competition. With only two companies in 1976, now the diagnostic sector has about 25 manufacturers besides over 30 players including the multinationals who are doing diagnostic business in the country. Transasia Biomedicals, Roche Diagnostics and Tulip Group of Companies dominate the Indian diagnostic sector with each contributing over Rs 100 crore.

 

Continue Reading: http://biospectrumindia.ciol.com/content/CoverStory/30607142.asp

 

 

Diagnostic Laboratory Market

Increasing participation by the private sector in healthcare services is stimulating change in the Indian healthcare industry. The in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) industry is experiencing rapid technological developments. The need for a highly accurate and wider test menu has resulted in the introduction of new test parameters. The majority of diagnostic laboratories are restricted to routine biochemistry tests (e.g., enzymes and substrates) due to the low level of automation. Though the demand for these tests is high, laboratories remain subject to low profitability and intense competition. Laboratories are trying to differentiate themselves by offering specialized tests such as drug screenings, extended lipid profile, and therapeutic drug monitoring.

According to a 2005 ICRA report on Indian Medical Care Industry, India spends 5.10 percent of its GDP on healthcare. While India's overall expenditure on healthcare is comparable to most developing countries, India's per capita healthcare expenditure is low due its large billion-plus population and low per capita income. This scenario is not likely to improve because of rising healthcare costs and India's ever-growing population (estimated to increase from 1 billion to 1.2 billion by 2012). According to a 2002 McKinsey & Co. report on Healthcare, only 14 percent of the population is covered through prepayment because of poor healthcare coverage. Of total healthcare spending, 64 percent is out of pocket expenditure or direct household spending. Thereis ongoing government and private support to develop basic health infrastructure.

Both the government and private sector provide healthcare in India, but patients increasingly turn to private hospitals and clinics for quality treatment and better facilities. According to estimates provided by industry sources, there are approximately 30,000 laboratories that service 1 to 1.25 million patients per day. This includes specialized laboratories, laboratory facilities in hospitals and nursing homes, and small testing centers with basic facilities. The quality of services and facilities provided by these laboratories varies widely. The National Accreditation Board of Laboratories (NABL) has been established to accredit the laboratories, yet the number of accredited laboratories remains minimal. Currently, there are only a few large national players including SRL Ranbaxy, Max Healthcare, Dr. Lal's Laboratory, Metropolis, Thyrocare and Apollo Clinics.

It is estimated that the total market for IVD equipment and reagents is Rs. 6.75 billion ($147 million). Equipment constitutes 40 percent of the total IVD market while reagents account for 60 percent of the market. The market for IVD is segmented into biochemistry (including microbiology), hematology, immunoassays, hispathology and cytology, and consumables.

Continue Reading: http://www.trade.gov/td/health/indiaIVD05.pdf

Niche diagnostic players in expansion mode

Preeti Mehra

Focus on value-added services, better technology

New Delhi Feb. 21 To capture the opportunities present in the booming healthcare segment, niche diagnostic players are spreading their wings to upgrade, diversify and establish a pan-India presence.

Reputed in their fields, players such as Delhi-based Dr Lal PathLabs, Diwan Chand Integral Health Services (DCIHS) and RG Stone Urological Research Institute (RG) are in the process of establishing a corporate presence, even as they value-add to their services and offer world-class diagnostic technology.

Dr Lal PathLabs, which has 20 pathology labs currently, is planning a network of 50 labs by 2009 across India, which would make it the country's largest company-owned pathology lab chain. It is also mulling a public offer in the future.

Apart from the expansions being supported by venture fund Sequoia Capital that has a 26 per cent stake, and internal accruals, the company is also open to acquiring existing labs, though a majority of its ventures would be greenfield.

Continue Reading: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/22/stories/2007022200390200.htm

 

70 % of Treatment Decisions in India are Based on Lab Results

From its modest beginning in 1979 as a marketing firm for a few imported diagnostic equipment, Transasia Biomedicals has today become a leading Indian diagnostic instruments' manufacturer, exporter and marketing company. The company provides an entire range of solutions in the clinical diagnosis spectrum with a wide gamut of equipment for biochemistry, haematology, immunology, critical care, pipettes, coagulation, urine analysers and quality reagents. Suresh Vazirani, CMD, Transasia, talks to Sonal Shukla about the upcoming trends in Indian diagnostic market and the company's future plans.

 

How much is the Transasia's share in the Indian diagnostic segment?

The sale of diagnostics kits have been on rise in recent years in India with increasing per capita income, changing lifestyle and mass urbanisation. With only a couple of companies in the early 70s, the diagnostic sector has about 25 manufacturers today, besides over 30 players including MNCs who are doing diagnostic business in the country.
Diagnostic sector is divided into four major segments which are biochemistry, haematology, immunology and microbiology and Transasia is present in three. We are about 20 per cent of the whole diagnostic sector. We are a major player in haematology with 45 per cent market share, and in biochemistry segment with 25 per cent market share. We have plans to tap the microbiology segment in the future.

What are the strengths of Transasia?

Our strength has been customer service. Service support for Transasia equipment and the infrastructure that we have built to support this has helped to set benchmarks for the industry in terms of service expectations. When I started the business, the scenario was totally different. Healthcare had a great need of after sales service and engineering support. Since I was an engineer, many of them suggested that I should start a company with strong after sales service support. That has still remained our main strength. In Mumbai, our engineer reaches within two hours of the call for assistance. Besides, our prices are very reasonable as we manufacture our own products while most of our competitors are importing the machines.

Continue Reading: http://www.expresspharmaonline.com/20070315/healthcare03.shtml

India eyes 'diagnostic jobs' outsourcing

New Delhi, May 5: After business, knowledge and legal process outsourcing, the Indian industries are now eyeing 'diagnostics jobs' outsourcing from other countries.

According to industry experts, a number of hospitals in the US and Europe are outsourcing laboratory and diagnostic tests to India as it helps in saving cost and money while maintaining quality.

The Indian diagnostics and pathology laboratory business is around USD 864 million and is growing at a rate of 20 per cent annually, they say.

Accordng to FICCI, the size of the global clinical trials market was nearly USD 10 billion and predicted to have touched by USD 26 billion by 2007

"Diagnostics and lab testing outsourcing is certainly the most potential business domain. We are trying to tap available opportunities in it," says Dr G S K Velu, Managing Director, Metropolis Health Services India Ltd.

"There is an excellent outsourcing opportunity to test around one million samples a year," he says.

The other emerging sector --Clinical Research Outsourcing (CRO) -- is also witnessing surge in the country. The drug manufacturing units are outsourcing different phases relating to development of medicine to India.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/India-eyes-diagnostic-jobs-outsourcing/305620/

 

 

Integration of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology

Although I have posted a number of previous notes about the potential merger of pathology and lab medicine with radiology, I strongly believe that such a change must be preceded by a much tighter integration of clinical pathology (CP) and anatomic pathology (AP). Part of the value of the proposed merger for radiologists will be the ready availability of a total view of disease based on both molecular diagnostics and morphologic observations coming from the pathologists.

As I have noted before, one of the key practice models for this future direction for CP and AP will be the practice of hematopathology in which both the morphologic characteristics of malignant cells as well as their biochemical nature are taken into consideration when arriving at a diagnosis (see: Reinventing Pathology: The Hematopathologist as a Model for the Pathologist of the Future). In addition, hematopatholgists frequently participate in the selection of therapy for patients because such choices are frequently based on their diagnoses and thought processes.

 

Continue reading: http://labsoftnews.typepad.com/lab_soft_news/2008/05/integration-of.html

 

 

Outsourcing is 'In'

Outsourcing diagnostics, payroll, medical records management, billing or soft skills are the newer trends in the healthcare industry, finds Sonal Shukla

 

A couple of months back, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai took the strategic decision to outsource its payroll activity to Mafoi, a leader in handling HR solutions for a range of industries. The key decision has saved manpower and time for the Hospital as the central HR team at Bangalore can collate the data and send it for further processing to the vendor company (Mafoi). The result is that the HR team is able to concentrate on other important aspects.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200710/strategy01.shtml

Quality Control in Diagnostic Laboratories

Quality control product is a patient-like material ideally made from human serum, urine or spinal fluid.

 

Achieving quality control in a medical laboratory requires the use of many tools. These include procedure manuals, maintenance schedules, calibrations, a quality assurance programme, training and quality control (QC).

QC in the medical laboratory is a statistical process used to monitor and evaluate the analytical process, which produces the patient results. The statistical process requires regular testing of QC products along with the patient samples, and comparison of QC results to specific statistical limits.

When a diagnostic test is performed in a laboratory, the result may be a patient result or it may be a QC result. The result may be quantitative, qualitative or semi-quantitative.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200710/knowledge02.shtml

Serving with a smile

'Serving with a smile' is a good gesture in hospitality. Dr N Padmanabhan, Medical Superintendent, Frontier Lifeline does wonders using the same principle in healthcare. K Deepalakshmi profiles him.

 

Frontier Lifeline Hospital is fondly known as 'Cherian Hospital' to the people of Chennai by association with its founder Dr KM Cherian. There is another name familiar to many who have paid a visit to the premises. He is Dr N Padmanabhan, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital. All he does to get acquainted with the patients, attendants and visitors is flash a captivating smile, utter a few warm words and lend his ears to what others say. In no time, Dr Padmanabhan has managed to earn the name of 'relationship personnel' of the Hospital.

Dr Padmanabhan joined as Medical Superintendent of Frontier Lifeline two years ago after retiring from the Railways as Medical Director. Not restricting himself to just administrative activities, he has carved his impression in every department through his tool— interaction.

Continue reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200804/healthcarelife02.shtml

Making Continuous Learning Creative

While most hospitals conduct CME programmes for the benefit of medical practitioners, some hospitals have been successful in making CME more interesting using novel methods, reports K Deepalakshmi

 

When a man's education is finished, he is finished— goes a saying. The medical fraternity has to constantly update their knowledge as a whole lot of new procedures and technology are being developed in the healthcare industry. "What is learnt say 10 years ago is not considered as acceptable now," says Dr Thankam Varma, Medical Director, Institute of Reproductive Medicine & Women's Health, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, and continues, "Clinicians should update themselves with the risks, benefits, advantages and disadvantages of new technologies."

For the benefit of doctors, hospitals conduct continuous medical education (CME) programmes which help them learn the latest innovations in the field of medicine, brush up their knowledge and cope with the latest medical practices.

Continue Reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200804/healthcarelife01.shtml

IT Making Inroads in Healthcare

The conference made an attempt to look beyond administrative management and charter a way forward for practising IT in healthcare

 

In an attempt to look into new avenues in health information technology, Hosmac Foundation organised a day-long conference on 'Emerging Role of Information Technology in the Healthcare' on February 29 in New Delhi. Against the backdrop of integrating IT in healthcare, the conference was aimed at bringing out global information technology (IT) solutions for healthcare that can be customised and adopted in India for taking a step towards ensuring healthcare to all by 2020.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200804/market26.shtml

Apollo Chennai Adopts NAT for Safe Blood

Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) facility was launched in Apollo Hospitals blood bank, Chennai. The facility was launched by Kanimozhi, Member of Rajya Sabha at the hospital premises. NAT has been made mandatory for all donors blood prior to blood transfusion. Speaking after the launch, Kanimozhi said, "I hope the facility extends to other hospitals, including the Government hospitals in the future for the benefit of the public."

"NAT screening ensures risk free safest blood to the patients," said Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group. Calling NAT as "one of the path breaking inclusion in transfusion medicine," Dr Rema Menon, Blood Bank Medical Officer, said "NAT identifies the DNA/ RNA of viruses and thereby reduces the window period infection." Currently, the facility is being used in the Hospital to detect Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV infections in the donors' blood.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200804/market10.shtml

Public Healthcare Service Takes the IT route

Information technology is here to redefine public healthcare service. K Deepalakshmi narrates the IT revolution in PHS.

 

Whilst corporate healthcare is gearing into fast track growth and using the latest technology to provide the best of services in this era of competition, the gradually collapsing and over-burdened public healthcare system has also opened its eyes and chosen IT to better itself and improve patient care and services. Here are some of the most remarkable projects that are changing the dynamics of healthcare services in the public delivery space through technology that is spearheading better services and efficiency to the people who need it the most.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200804/market01.shtml

MedPlus Launches Integrated Health Centres in India

Each centre will provide the benefit of more than three doctors including a general practitioner, gynaecologist and pediatrician and hence wider options for consumers

MedPlus Health Services Private Limited, India's fastest growing chain of full-service pharmacies, recently launched integrated health centres in India. These centres are the first of its kind, as they combine a family clinic, diagnostic lab and pharmacy all under one roof, based on a unique operating model. The company will, in the initial phase of development, set up 10 centres in Hyderabad and will soon launch the same in Bangalore, Chennai and Pune. MedPlus presently operates in four key states and has a marked presence with 300 pharmacy outlets.

 

Continue Reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200804/market25.shtml

Piccolo Xpress Chemistry Analyser

It is a near patient testing instrument for critical care and emergency for blood chemistries, electrolytes and blood gas

Anand Brothers, New Delhi, a leading company in the field of diagnostic kits and equipment has launched Piccolo Xpress Chemistry Analyser (Point of Care) from ABAXIS Inc., USA. It is a near patient testing instrument for critical care and emergency for blood chemistries, electrolytes and blood gas (tCO2).

The advance technology and full automation of the system ensure: exceptionally fast, easy and accurate results, comparable to the best of any other automation in chemistry testing.

 

Continue reading: http://www.expresshealthcaremgmt.com/200804/market32.shtml

MIT Study Quantifies Globalization Trends

By Deborah Borfitz

Feb. 25, 2008 | Outsourcing of biopharmaceutical clinical trials to China and India is growing at a substantial rate, but in real terms the much-ballyhooed nations are still "very minor players," says Ernst Berndt, PhD, professor of applied economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management. So is every other country except the U.S., which commands a 48.7 percent share of total trial activity and has eight times the number of trial sites of second-place Germany.

These were among the findings of a study by Berndt and his colleagues, based on an analysis of data on ClinicalTrials.gov and published in the January 2008 issue of Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. Eastern Europe, Latin America, and even Peru posted healthy growth, "not just Asia," notes Berndt. "I think a lot of people lump the outsourcing of technology with the outsourcing of trials."

India, a growing global hub for trial-related technology, is also well positioned to become a major clinical trials player, says Berndt. It has more biotech manufacturing activity than fast-growing Russia by virtue of its well-established generic drug and "fermentation" industries. "In a lot of places [including Germany] where beer is made, biotech springs up. They use similar principles in their manufacturing processes."

 

Continue Reading: http://www.bio-itworld.com/BioIT_Content.aspx?id=72452

US doctors offer online consultations

Washington (dpa) - When Dr Michelle Eads makes a house call, she no longer has to spend time in her car sitting in traffic.

For that matter, she also no longer has to pull the patient's chart and look up their phone number, hoping the patient will be available to take her call.

Eads, who practices medicine in Woodland Park, Colorado, checks on several of her patients by logging onto the internet and answering their questions online.

Eads says her practice is always seeking new ways to achieve better results for patients and to improve. She is convinced using the internet to respond to patients is a good idea.

Virtual Online Visits (VOVs) 'are more efficient and convenient since they don't require a telephone call, being placed on hold, missing work, arranging for a sitter, paying for parking, etc,' Eads said in an interview posted on the website www.transformed.com, a programme focused on redesigning US medical practices sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

 

 

Continue Reading: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1400921.php/US_doctors_offer_online_consultations