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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
DRDO, AIIMS-Rishikesh ink MoU for clinical trials in field of biomedical devices
New Delhi: An institute of the DRDO has signed an agreement with AIIMS, Rishikesh for conducting " clinical trials " and advanced research in the field of biomedical devices related to human performance in extreme environments. The collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will facilitate the development of products, technologies and strategies for the "mitigation of effects" of extreme environments on human performance, officials said. Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) of the DRDO has signed an MoU with AIIMS, Rishikesh for "conducting clinical trials and advanced research in the field of biomedical devices and supplements related to human performance in extreme environments," a senior official said. This collaborative effort will facilitate the formulation and development of products, technologies and strategies for mitigation of effects of extreme environment on human performance, they said. The DRDO also shared some photos of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing in a post on X late Friday.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Himachal: AIIMS Bilaspur sets target to make state self-reliant in healthcare
Bilaspur: The All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Bilaspur is all set to make Himachal Pradesh a self-reliant state in health care. The AIIMS Bilaspur Director, Prof DN Sharma, shared significant milestones of the institute's progress with the media on Sunday, highlighting rapid infrastructure expansion, medical breakthroughs, and a focused drive toward cancer research and trauma care. In just less than three years since its inception, AIIMS Bilaspur has increased its inpatient capacity from 690 to 728 beds, catering to over 1,500 patients daily, with more than 4,000 indoor admissions every month. The institute also recorded its first successful kidney transplant, a major achievement in its clinical journey. Over 30,000 patients are being treated monthly, and the hospital has developed a strong community outreach programme, backed by interdisciplinary collaborations and state-of-the-art equipment, including an MRI facility. AIIMS Bilaspur is equipped with four times more ventilators than other hospitals in Himachal Pradesh, ensuring robust emergency preparedness. With a strong academic backbone, the institute now has 620 students, including 100 MBBS seats, and offers 17 broad specialities. However, Prof. Sharma noted that some faculty positions in medical gastroenterology remain vacant, though recruitment drives are ongoing. Cancer care remains a major focus area, with work underway for a dedicated Trauma Centre, and a proposal for Phase 2 expansion valued at Rs 178.05 crore. A feasibility survey for Rs 332 crore has also been conducted to support future developments, including enhanced cancer treatment infrastructure. AIIMS Bilaspur is also actively participating in ICMR-backed research projects on breast and cervical cancer and has seen high utilisation in its radiation oncology department, treating 83 patients regularly, with daily attendance ranging from 20 to 30 patients, nearing 900 total so far. Prof Sharma emphasised lifestyle-related cancers and rising cases such as lung cancer, along with Delhi topping the chart for prostate cancer prevalence. AIIMS Bilaspur is also expected to soon be equipped with PET scan and titration control facilities to enhance diagnostic precision. AIIMS Bilaspur is now among the fastest-growing AIIMS in the country, both in terms of infrastructure and services and aims to ensure that people in the region no longer need to travel outside Himachal Pradesh for advanced treatment. (ANI)


News18
3 hours ago
- News18
If Vaccines Hadn't Saved Us From Covid-19, We Wouldn't Be Here To Question Heart Attacks
Last Updated: There is no conclusive proof that Covid vaccines directly caused a spike in heart attacks but we can't ignore that Covid-19 itself has left behind a legacy of cardiovascular damage The rise in heart-related complications and sudden deaths post-Covid-19 has triggered several debates, especially around the role of vaccines. Social media amplifies claims—often anecdotal, rarely scientific—linking Covid-19 vaccines to cardiac issues. But here's a fundamental question: If these vaccines hadn't been developed in record time, would we have even lived long enough to speculate on their side effects? The latest debate was triggered by a post on the social media platform X, where Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote on July 1: 'In the past month alone, in just one district of Hassan, more than twenty people have died due to heart attacks. The government is taking this matter very seriously… It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that COVID vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks…" In response, what we saw throughout last week was a coordinated and deliberate effort from the Centre, leading medical institutions, and vaccine manufacturers to rebuild and reinforce public confidence in Covid-19 vaccines. Siddaramaiah's claim was strongly rebutted, not only by government-run institutions but also by top pharmaceutical executives, researchers, and well-known doctors. Sample this: The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA)—the lobby of domestic pharmaceutical companies representing Sun Pharma, Glenmark, Lupin, Cipla and many others—issued a strong statement supporting Covid-19 vaccines. Industry leaders like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon and Samir Mehta of Torrent Pharma also publicly backed vaccine safety and dismissed the unfounded claims. Top doctors from AIIMS and scientists at ICMR have taken to public platforms to bust myths and explain the science, stressing that panic must not replace facts. The Serum Institute of India (SII)—manufacturer of India's poster boy vaccine Covishield—also reaffirmed that Covid-19 vaccines are safe, scientifically validated, and critical in saving lives. Given that over 170 crore doses of Covishield have been administered out of the 200+ crore total vaccine doses in India, this clarification is not just welcome but vital. These clarifications were essential in addressing the growing public anxiety around sudden cardiac deaths, particularly among younger people. While these incidents are tragic and deserve a detailed investigation, the Union government has made it unequivocally clear: these deaths should not be automatically linked to Covid-19 vaccination. Let's understand this scientifically. As of today, there is no conclusive evidence that Covid-19 vaccines directly caused a spike in heart attacks or sudden cardiac arrests in India. However, we must not ignore a crucial truth: Covid-19 itself has left behind a legacy of cardiovascular damage. The virus is known to inflame blood vessels and affect heart muscle tissue. A 2022 study in Nature Medicine found a 63 per cent higher risk of heart attack in patients within a year of Covid infection. Multiple global studies, including those published in respected medical journals such as The Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine, have shown that the risk of myocarditis and other heart complications is higher after a Covid-19 infection than after vaccination. A study conducted by the Indian Journal of Medical Research—a peer-reviewed publication supported by ICMR—concluded that Covid-19 vaccination was not associated with an increased risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults. On the contrary, the study documented that vaccination reduced the risk of unexplained sudden death in this age group. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) have reiterated that adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs) remain extremely rare. India's official AEFI data shows less than 0.01 per cent serious reactions among the more than 2.2 billion doses administered. Add to this another critical factor: Indians are more genetically susceptible to heart diseases than Western populations. According to a Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia study published in February 2023, the cardiovascular burden in India is higher than the global average. The age-standardised death rate globally is 233 deaths per 1,00,000, while for India it is 282 per 1,00,000. Yet, unfounded narratives continue to gain traction—some fuelled by misinformation, others by genuine grief seeking answers in a complex post-pandemic landscape. What the available evidence shows is that vaccines, by reducing the severity and spread of the virus, likely played a role in limiting long-term cardiovascular consequences. They weren't just about immediate survival—they bought us time and prevented the invisible wave of complications that continues to unfold. Even if science someday finds a small causal link between certain vaccines and rare cardiac events, we must remember: public health is about trade-offs. During a pandemic, decisions must be made under pressure, aiming to save as many lives as possible. Vaccines were not perfect and they were never claimed to be. What they were, and remain, is effective and life-saving on a population scale. It's also essential to acknowledge the wider ecosystem of risk: lockdown-induced sedentary lifestyles, elevated stress, mental health challenges, and delayed chronic care. And also, the genetic structure of Indians, which is vulnerable to metabolic resistance, hence, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases develop relatively easily. These all contribute to rising cardiac cases—and must be part of the conversation. Blaming vaccines alone oversimplifies a deeply layered issue. top videos View all In short, this is not a defence of pharmaceutical companies or vaccine makers who profited heavily during the pandemic, nor is it a dismissal of the real grief of those who lost loved ones. This is a call for nuance. We need to look at the full picture, not just one side of the story. Let's continue investigating, let's strengthen pharmacovigilance and monitoring across India. Remember, we are alive to debate the side effects because the vaccines worked. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : AIIMS COVID-19 vaccine covishield health matters Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw news18 specials Serum Institute of India Siddaramaiah Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 07, 2025, 10:00 IST News india If Vaccines Hadn't Saved Us From Covid-19, We Wouldn't Be Here To Question Heart Attacks