CM Siddaramaiah launches Dr Ballal's biography, praises lifelong commitment to patient welfare
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao added a touch of admiration, saying, 'Maybe he should join public life. He has all the qualities of a true leader.'
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Last Updated : 26 May 2025, 21:51 IST
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Nephrology unit in Mysuru to get permanent hospital infrastructure
Mysuru: The nephrology unit, established eight years ago by the Institute of Nephro Urology (INU) on the KR Hospital premises, is set to get a dedicated hospital building. The state govt has sanctioned Rs 117.7 crore for the construction of a permanent nephrology hospital on the PKTB hospital premises. With the govt's approval, the building will soon be constructed on a five-acre plot on the PKTB hospital campus on KRS Road in the city. The establishment of this centre will help 69,000 kidney patients avail dialysis, facilitate kidney transplants, and address other health disorders. The unit on the KR Hospital premises was the second state-run, full-fledged nephrology unit set up by the govt, after Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru, for the benefit of kidney patients from Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Madikeri, and other adjoining districts. The aim is to reduce pressure on the nephrology unit of Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru and to provide dialysis and other treatments to patients suffering from kidney-related ailments from Mysuru and adjoining districts. Since the establishment of this unit on KR Hospital premises in Sept 18, 2018, it provided treatment to 69,000 patients suffering from kidney-related problems after admitting them as inpatients. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Find out: this is how you clean your yoga mat! Kingdom Of Men Undo Additionally, 7,078 individuals were treated as outpatients. About 94,000 dialysis processes were conducted for patients at the unit. As chief minister Siddaramaiah is keen on establishing a permanent building for the unit, he sanctioned Rs 117.7 crore after making necessary budget announcements in 2025-26. The process of constructing permanent buildings for INU has gained momentum on the PKTB hospital premises adjacent to the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research Institute in Kumbara Koppal on KRS Road in the city. Speaking to TOI, dean and director of Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI), Dr KH Daskshayini, said MMCRI has already provided five acres for the establishment of this unit on the PKTB premises. "As the funds were released after necessary administrative and financial approval, the foundation stone was unveiled by the CM at the recently held Sadhana Samavesha at Maharaja's College grounds in Mysuru. The initial stage of construction work for this building has been expedited by the engineering section of the state health and family welfare department," she said. This 100-bed hospital will have 50 beds exclusively to provide dialysis treatment for kidney patients at different timings, 20 ICU beds, four modular surgical treatment blocks, a digital library, parking facilities, restrooms for patients, and several other facilities, she said. Dr JB Narendra, chief of the INU Mysuru unit, said the establishment of this facility will significantly benefit patients in Mysuru and surrounding areas who require dialysis or are dealing with kidney-related issues. With the number of such patients steadily increasing, the new unit will play a vital role in delivering effective and timely treatment.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Siddaramaiah launches water project at Pavagada
Pavagada: After battling fluoride-contaminated water and its devastating health impacts for decades, residents of Pavagada taluk and town are set to receive safer water, with chief minister Siddaramaiah Friday inaugurating a major supply project that draws water from the backwaters of the Tungabhadra reservoir. He said the multi-village project would be completed within two years and a plan was also in place to fill 23 lakes and implement the Upper Bhadra Project through the minor irrigation department. The ambitious project, expected to benefit 17.5 lakh people and cover 270 villages and Pavagada town, is designed to meet drinking water needs until 2050. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "This scheme will benefit citizens until 2050, delivering clean drinking water to 17.5 lakh people and helping them avoid serious health conditions like physical deformities," Siddaramaiah said. Alongside the water project, the CM also announced a 2,250 MW solar power plant, laid the foundation stone for several developmental initiatives in the Pavagada assembly constituency, and distributed benefits under multiple govt schemes.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
ICMR study finds shortfall in radiotherapy utilisation across all cancer types
Agency: Last Updated: July 24, 2025, 21:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) A recent ICMR study has highlighted a substantial shortfall in radiotherapy utilisation across all cancer types and underscored the need for interventions to meet the gap in machines required for equitable cancer care. Published in the BMC Cancer journal, the study stated that 28.5 per cent of cancer patients receive radiotherapy, which is lower than the estimated optimal rate of 58.4 per cent. Breast, head and neck, lung and cervical cancer account for 60 per cent of India's radiotherapy needs, it said. Data from the Australian Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CCORE) were used by the researchers of ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, Bengaluru, for conducting the study. Epidemiological data on stage, subsite and histology from the National Cancer Registry Programme were used to assess the optimal utilisation proportion for India. A sensitivity analysis was carried out. Similarly, the optimal radiotherapy fraction has also been calculated. These measures have been used to estimate the existing radiotherapy utilisation gap by comparing with the current radiotherapy utilisation from the cancer registry as well as to estimate the optimal radiotherapy machines required for the country. 'This study provides a comprehensive assessment of radiotherapy demand and existing gaps in radiotherapy utilisation and in the number of machines in India based on an epidemiological analysis of the cancer burden from the National Cancer Registry Programme. Our analysis shows that approximately 58 per cent of all cancer cases in India should ideally receive radiotherapy based on clinical indications. 'However, the current radiotherapy utilisation in India is only 28.5 per cent, which is less than half of the required level," the researchers said. The study also recommended that India would require 1,585 to 2,545 machines, which may increase to a range of 2,016 to 2,291 external beam radiotherapy machines if the assumptions from previous benchmark studies are followed. The burden of four cancer sites — breast, head and neck, lung and cervical cancer — constitutes around 60 per cent of the total radiotherapy requirement for cancer care in India, the study said. This points towards an increasing demand for radiotherapy in the coming years as there is expected to be a 70-100 per cent increase in breast, head and neck and lung cancer in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Radiotherapy utilisation of most cancer sites is lower compared to optimal radiotherapy utilisation. Among the major indicated cancer sites, the deficit is more prominent in lymphoma and lung cancer (relative deficit of more than 70 per cent), followed by prostate, breast and oesophagus, it said. The study mentioned that India accounts for 7 per cent of global cancer incidence, ranking third after China and the USA. By the end of 2025, the incidence of cancer in India is projected to reach 1.57 million cases, posing a significant public health challenge. As the fifth leading cause of death in the country, cancer demands urgent attention to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment, it said. Radiotherapy, a cornerstone of cancer treatment, plays a crucial role in controlling tumour growth, reducing tumour size pre-surgery, and alleviating pain in advanced stages. However, its availability in low and middle-income countries like India remains insufficient due to high setup and operational costs, creating a significant gap between demand and resources. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of one radiotherapy machine (external radiotherapy machine) per million population, with an optimal target of four per million, the study stated. For India's projected population of 1.45 billion in 2025, this translates to a need for a minimum of 1,450 machines. Yet, only 794 megavoltage (MV) machines are currently available. The shortfall is about 45 per cent from the minimal required standard, the study said. The study highlighted that in India, greater investment is needed to expand radiotherapy facilities to meet the growing demands of cancer patients. 'Aside from increasing the number of equipment, addressing the inequitable distribution of radiotherapy services is also crucial. To align with the country's cancer burden and ongoing cancer control efforts, India must meet evidence-based targets for radiotherapy machine availability. 'As a part of this, India is also ramping up efforts to develop and deploy affordable indigenous radiotherapy machines to improve access and reduce dependence on costly imports," the study stated. Furthermore, a detailed situational study of radiation equipment deployment with its features and complexity, utilisation and throughput is required for informed planning and policymaking. Cancer screening and early detection programmes can facilitate the diagnosis of cancers at earlier stages. This could reduce the required quantum of radiotherapy shortly and thus, improve the overall survival of patients, the study said. The cancer registry data informs the policy-makers to identify gaps in radiotherapy access, assess resource needs and guide decisions to ensure equitable and effective cancer care delivery. Swipe Left For Next Video View all Optimal radiotherapy utilisation (RTU) calculated for India was higher than optimal radiotherapy utilisation estimation done for developed countries like 48·3 per cent for Australia and 51 per cent for European countries, the study said. The optimal RTU calculation for middle income countries also has an average optimal radiotherapy utilisation value of 52 per cent ranging from 47 to 56 per cent. PTI PLB KSS KSS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments News agency-feeds ICMR study finds shortfall in radiotherapy utilisation across all cancer types Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
