FICCI Health Wrap Jan - Feb 2024
FICCI Health Wrap Jan - Feb 2024
FICCI Health Wrap Jan - Feb 2024
WRAP
JAN- FEB 2024
CONTENTS
FICCI Leadership 2024
Industry Articles
• “Arogya Mandapam”- Hospitals of the Future- Lt Gen (Dr) AK Das
• Revolutionizing Healthcare: The Role of Pharmacogenomics in Precision
Medicine- Mr Amol Naikawadi
• Democratizing Diagnostics with Digitization- Dr Arjun Dang
India’s healthcare burden has shifted significantly from Maternal and Child health and common
communicable diseases to rising prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Incidentally, NCDs are now responsible for more than 65% of deaths in the country. Recognising
this, Government of India envisioned to a transformation in Primary Health, changing its focus
from very selective to comprehensive primary healthcare, delivered via upgraded primary
health facilities- Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs). As the first pillar of Ayushman Bharat,
more than 1.5 lakh HWCs (now known as Ayushman Arogya Mandir) were operationalised
between 2018-22.
Today, there are more than 1.6 HWCs across the country and HWCs have become a
cornerstone of India's public healthcare strategy. However, the sheer size of the population,
limited resources, and the expansion of services require a multifaceted approach.
(Hony) Brig Dr Arvind Lal
Private health sector, which caters to more than 70% of all healthcare needs of population, can Chair, FICCI Swasth Bharat TF
significantly contribute to better running of HWCs. The private healthcare sector brings a wealth
Executive Chairman
of experience and technological advancements that can enhance the quality of healthcare
Dr Lal PathLabs
services provided at HWCs. Collaboration allows for the integration of telemedicine services,
advanced diagnostic tools, digital health solutions and a more patient-centric approach.
Managing Trustee
ALVL Foundation
With this background, FICCI is leading a health industry movement on Primary Health via
‘Smart HWCs’, in association with NATHEALTH and OMAG (Organised Medicine Academic
Guild). Together, they bring the collective strength of over 300 member organizations from the
health sector.
contd…
Project Smart HWCs
NMC sets up a national task force to address concerns related to suicide among medical students
According to the terms and references, the task force shall study existing literature on mental health and suicide of medical
students, analyze factors contributing to these challenges and propose evidence-based strategies for improving mental health and
preparatory of suicides.
Union Budget 2024: Health sector believes Budget 2024 focuses on holistic well-being
Experts voiced that encouraging cervical cancer vaccination, maternal and child care programs, the U-Win platform boosting
immunization efforts and Ayushman Bharat for ASHA workers are major announcements that will bring in a major change in
strengthening the healthcare status of the population.
'Cashless Everywhere' to get a boost after SC's warning on standardizing hospital charges
The petition underscored the failure to enforce Rule 9 of the Clinical Establishment Rules 2012, which mandates hospitals to display
their service charges prominently and conform rate ranges set by the Centre, in consultation with state governments.
Standard Rate: Supreme Court urges Centre to take call Private hospitals say standardising rates will be catastrophic
on standard hospital charges or face implementation of for sector
CGHS rates Private hospitals have expressed apprehensions over the
Govt told SC though it had repeatedly written to states on intervention of the Supreme Court to curb exorbitant charges.
this, they didn't respond. SC said citizens have a Executives at private hospitals say that the move will be
fundamental right to healthcare and the Centre can't shirk "catastrophic" for the industry and will affect the quality of
its responsibility on this ground. healthcare.
Key Sectoral Highlights
Government & Policy
Lipid Association of India issues new updated heart disease guidelines for Indian patients
Under the new guidelines, patients have been categorised into different risk groups, Dr Raman Puri, a cardiologist and founder
chairman of LAI, told the newspaper. The guidelines suggest that individuals with metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD) should aim for LDL cholesterol levels below 70mg/dL.
Moderna cancer vaccine trial begins in UK, scientists hopeful of 'dawn of a new age of treatments'
This innovative treatment employs messenger RNA (mRNA) to present common tumor markers to the patient's immune system.
The goal is to train the immune system to recognize and combat cancer cells expressing these markers, potentially eliminating cells
that could suppress the immune response.
Health insurance: Cashless treatment at any hospital now as insurers launch new initiative
The General Insurance Council has announced a drive aimed at making cashless hospitalisation available for policyholders even in
non-empanelled hospitals. Hospitals with 15 beds, and registered with the respective state health authorities under the Clinical
Establishment Act can offer cashless hospitalisation now. In the event of hospitalisation, policyholders need not pay for treatment
out of their pockets as the expenses would be covered by the insurance companies concerned. This is subject to the claim being
admissible, as per the council. Under the drive 'Cashless Everywhere', efforts will be made to ensure that policyholders can get
treated in any hospital they choose with a cashless facility, subject to certain conditions.
Over four lakh oxygen-supported beds added in India since Covid
The number of oxygen-supported beds was just 62,458 in April 2020. But as the explosion in Covid cases in the three waves
underlined the need for more such beds, hospitals seem to have increased the number to 5,15,345 by February 2024, recording a
growth of 725 per cent.
AYUSH hospital, critical care unit in Aundh inaugurated by PM through video conferencing
A 30-bed AYUSH hospital and a 100-bed critical care unit in Aundh in Pune were among the several medical facilities inaugurated
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing from an event held in Rajkot in Gujarat on Sunday. The Rs 8 crore
hospital has been built under the National AYUSH Abhiyan and the facilities include a Yoga room, waiting area etc, officials said.
National Institute Of Ayurveda: NIA signs MoU with Thailand's traditional medicine department for academic collaboration
The MoU was formalized at the 10th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi. BK Singh,
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, Director General, Department of Traditional
and Alternative Medicine Thailand signed the MoU in the presence of other dignitaries during the event.
Industry Article
In the realm of modern medicine, where drugs save millions of lives annually, the challenge lies in
their varying effectiveness and adverse drug reaction among individuals. The emerging field of
pharmacogenomics is poised to revolutionize healthcare, providing personalized and effective
treatments based on an individual's genetic makeup.
What is Precision Medicine?
Precision medicine aims to deliver healthcare tailored to each patient, and at its core is
pharmacogenomics. This discipline, explores how an individual's genetic makeup influences drug
response, is rapidly evolving. Over 200 medications now have designated pharmacogenomic
biomarkers, enabling the customization of treatments with quantitative genetic information.
Why is genomic information helpful for medication and treatment?
Mr Amol Naikawadi
When a medication is ingested, the body undergoes a critical process crucial to the drug's response. Joint Managing Director
Metabolism can either deactivate an active medication or enhance the activity of an inactive one. Indus Health Plus
The correct functioning of medication requires the active form to remain in the body for a specific
duration. Varied metabolism rates among individuals can impact the desired medication impact or
lead to delayed elimination, resulting in adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Genetic variations in drug-
metabolizing enzymes can affect individual drug response, making the same treatment less effective
or unsafe even at regularly prescribed dosage.
contd…
Industry Article
The first meeting of “FICCI Pharma committee” for the year 2024 Key Focus Area:
was held on 29th February at FICCI, Federation House. Over 35 Advocacy- Regulatory Harmonization across
members attended the meeting in person, with an additional 11 Pharma Sector
participating virtually. Mr Praveen Mittal extended a warm A ray of hope: Rare Diseases RoundTable
welcome to leadership for the year, including Mr Arjun Juneja as Sub-Groups 2024:
Chair, and Co-chairs Mr Siddharth Mittal, Mr Sanjiv Navangul, • Demand Generation & Trade Facilitation
Ms Swati Dalal, and Mr Amitabh Dube. The committee is • Pricing & Policy
privileged to have Mr Pankaj R. Patel, Chairman of Zydus • Regulatory, Compliance & EODB
Lifesciences, as its mentor. • Biotechnology &CRO
FICCI Update
The 3rd edition of the ‘International Arogya 2024’, was organized by FICCI, in association with
Ministry of Ayush and supported by Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce &
Industry, State Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Ayushexcil, concluded successfully after four
days of insightful discussions, workshops, and exhibition at the Avadh Shilpgram, Lucknow. The
event, held from February 22nd to February 25th, gathered over 80+ speakers and participants
from 60+ countries, facilitating discussions and knowledge exchange to shape the future of Ayush
in global healthcare. With 250+ foreign buyers and 100+ Indian exhibitors, it explored sector
challenges, fostered global collaborations, and promoted traditional medicine governance.
Multiple public lectures by Ayush doctors and thematic conference sessions enriched the event,
which also hosted over 6000+ B2B meetings, significantly advancing the Ayush sector.
FICCI Update
The conference on the theme ‘Ayush for One Health’ was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including:
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India (GoI);
Dr Munjapara Mahendrabhai, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Ayush and Women and Child Development, GoI;
Shri Dayashanker Mishra, Minister of State, Ayush, Food Security and Drug Administration, Government of Uttar Pradesh;
Smt Pratibha Shukla, Member of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Hon’ble Minister for Mahila Kalyan, Bal Vikas and Pushtahar,
Government of UP; Smt Leena Johari, Principal Secretary, Government of UP and FICCI Ayush Leadership.
The conference highlighted India's growing prominence in promoting traditional systems of medicine on the global stage.
Various sessions were held along with a CEO's Roundtable discussion that delved into the challenges and opportunities within
the Ayush sector. The event also featured the release of the Report "IndieExport”, and the Book titled "Ayush Works“, further
enriching the discussions and insights shared during the international conference.
FICCI Health Services Committee constituted in 2006, has been pivotal in
facilitating interaction among stakeholders to jointly work towards creating the
building blocks for achieving quality healthcare through initiatives like:
• Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) for tertiary, secondary and primary care
• National Costing Guidelines
• Categorization of healthcare providers • Health Services
• National Electronic Health Records
• Innovations in Healthcare [email protected]
• Tackling Non-communicable diseases
• Life Sciences
• Bridging the skill gaps and augmenting healthcare workforce
• Recommendations on recent programs and policies include National Health [email protected]
Policy 2017, Ayushman Bharat- PMJAY and H&WCs, National Medical
Commission, Personal Data Protection Bill, Augmenting Healthcare • MedTech
Infrastructure, Strengthening Healthcare Workforce, Nursing Reforms, Cancer [email protected]
Care, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, etc.
• Medical Value Travel
For COVID-19, FICCI was actively engaged with various government departments
at multiple levels through:
[email protected]
✓ Policy intervention- through Advocacy, Representations and Reports • AYUSH
✓ Strategic support- government-industry tie-ups; surveys for identifying resources,
facilitating logistics, supplies & mobility [email protected]
✓ Information, education and communication • Swasth Bharat (Public Health)
✓ Collaborate with Industry and State Governments for Crisis Management as well
as COVID Vaccination [email protected]
✓ Support to FICCI members for Vaccination of their Employees
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