logo
Govt must compensate for sudden deaths: Samajwadi Party MP

Govt must compensate for sudden deaths: Samajwadi Party MP

News185 days ago
New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) Raising concern over the rising number of 'sudden deaths' among people across age groups, Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar on Wednesday called on the Centre to establish a mechanism to document such fatalities and compensate the affected families.
Speaking during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Salempur MP Rajbhar alleged that several people in his parliamentary constituency, ranging from children to the elderly, had died abruptly.
'A cricketer hit a six and collapsed; a man dancing at his nephew's wedding died on the spot. A schoolgirl fainted and died. A driver suffered a heart attack while driving and died. Whether it is brain haemorrhage or cardiac arrest — these sudden deaths are happening without warning," he said.
Criticising the absence of official documentation, he said, 'There's no post-mortem, no survey, and no official record of these sudden deaths. We cannot leave these families to fend for themselves in despair." He urged the central government to investigate the incidents and provide compensation. 'The government must find a solution to this — a way to monitor and address such sudden deaths. I demand that families of the deceased be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh," Rajbhar said. PTI UZM UZM MPL MPL
view comments
First Published:
July 30, 2025, 18:00 IST
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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Now, WhatsApp chatbot to track visit to Punjab's Aam Aadmi Clinics
Now, WhatsApp chatbot to track visit to Punjab's Aam Aadmi Clinics

Indian Express

time40 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Now, WhatsApp chatbot to track visit to Punjab's Aam Aadmi Clinics

Integrating 'WhatsApp Chatbot' into the existing 881 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMCs) in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday announced the ruling AAP government will soon open 200 more such primary health centres — taking the total to 1,081 — across the state. Calling the integration a 'major breakthrough' in Punjab's healthcare sector, Mann said: 'All the 881 Aam Aadmi clinics across the state have been connected to a WhatsApp Chatbot tool. These clinics cater to nearly 70,000 patients daily, and in today's digital age, WhatsApp Chatbot will be most beneficial for patients.' Asserting this initiative would bring 'revolutionary changes' in healthcare services, the CM said: 'Approximately 90% of Punjabis use smartphones, and now, they can be contacted directly through WhatsApp — patients will receive complete health-related information like diagnostic test reports and reminders for upcoming consultation, as well as access prescriptions. Regular WhatsApp updates will be provided on care for elderly people suffering from diabetes or blood pressure, pregnant women, and newborns… This will eliminate the need for patients to physically store and manage healthcare data. Patients will also be able to instantly share health reports with family members or consult another doctor on WhatsApp.' He said the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, will 'maintain a digital database of patients and their ailments, treatments'. On the upcoming 200 AAMCs, he said 'this will ensure every resident gets quality medical services.' Recalling that Punjab was the first state in India to implement the 'Mukhmantri Sehat Bima Yojana' — providing medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh per family — Mann said: 'The Punjab government is making significant efforts to develop the state in a medical hub.' The approval for the establishment of four new medical colleges in Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, and Nawanshahr has already been given. Further, slamming previous governments, Mann said 'their manifestos had no mention of Punjab's healthcare sector, due to which the public were left to fend for themselves. The situation deteriorated to the point where rural patients suffering from serious illnesses did not even opt for treatment due to high cost — often pushing their families in debt… It is the duty of the government to provide free, quality healthcare services to the public, and we are fulfilling this responsibility, with full dedication.' During his tenure as a Member of Parliament, Mann said data indicated that Punjab recorded over 150,000 fatalities due to road accidents annually. 'The formation of the 'Sadak Surakhya Force' led to a 48% drop in such deaths, setting an example for other states. The Force is working very effectively, and several states as well as the Union Government have appreciated our initiative,' he said.

'Irreplaceable For Americans': Pharmexcil Chief Says India's Low-Cost Drug Edge Can't Be Matched Overnight
'Irreplaceable For Americans': Pharmexcil Chief Says India's Low-Cost Drug Edge Can't Be Matched Overnight

News18

time2 hours ago

  • News18

'Irreplaceable For Americans': Pharmexcil Chief Says India's Low-Cost Drug Edge Can't Be Matched Overnight

Last Updated: The US remains dependent on India for affordable medicines – and that is unlikely to change anytime soon India has become too central to global drug supply to be marginalised – not even by the United States – so much so that it has made itself 'irreplaceable". The chief of India's pharmaceuticals export body, Namit Joshi told News18 that India exports 55 percent to the United States and United Kingdom – the most stringent markets in the world. 'We export 55% to the US and UK – the most stringent markets in the world. Imagine the level of compliance the Indian industry has achieved," said Joshi, who is the chairman of Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), a body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. For Joshi, the latest tariff talk is more about politics than policy. 'There is a big difference between announcement and reality," he said. 'On diplomatic levels, such announcements, I believe, are made to enter into bilateral negotiations." He cited US President Donald Trump's repeated threats – to India, China, Canada, and Mexico. 'All those deals are still open. Talks are ongoing. Nothing conclusive yet… hence, there is no need to panic only about the announcements." Joshi is clear: the US cannot replicate India's drug ecosystem anytime soon. 'As much as Trump wants to MAGA (Make America Great Again), the US can't replace India," he said. 'Fixed costs in the US are too high, 42% of the population is obese, average chronic disease-free life is just 63 years – there's huge demand for medicines. But they don't have the talent or cost base to make them locally," he said. He added: 'For now, and for the foreseeable future, the world still needs Indian drugs. And India is ready to deliver." GLOBAL DEMAND, LOCAL FRAGILITY The US remains dependent on India for affordable medicines – and that's unlikely to change anytime soon. 'The US won't be able to develop our capabilities to manufacture low-cost drugs overnight," Joshi said. 'It will take at least two to three years to develop a local industry – and I'm not sure they'll find the right skill and talent even then," he said. India's cost advantage isn't the only barrier. 'We spend 12% of industry earnings just to maintain US FDA-approved facilities," he says. 'Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka – they have all tried to compete. But they haven't matched us on quality or pricing, he added." China, despite its strength in chemicals and backward integration, still lags in formulations. 'It is a leader in producing KSMs and intermediaries, supplying to the globe, yet it is still not able to match India's capabilities and pricing." THE WORLD IS WATCHING – AND ALSO LEARNING Many governments may be pursuing localisation, but their strategies look very different from India's. 'Localising drug manufacturing is not everyone's play," Joshi said. 'The Netherlands is coming to iPHEX this year; they're developing a local pharma, but focused on high-end, expensive products. That won't hurt us. If anything, they're learning from us," he said. Pharmexcil is set to host its annual international expo, iPHEX, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from September 4 to 6. For the first time, it is being organised without any financial support from the Centre. 'The event will host 350 international delegates from over 100 countries, including regulators, buyers, and policymakers. Exhibitors will showcase Indian strengths in APIs, formulations, diagnostics, digital health, biosimilars, and more," Joshi said. India's pharmaceutical exports have grown at a compound annual rate of 11 percent over the past decade, with a 9.54 percent increase last year alone. But Joshi knows generics alone won't fuel the future. 'The next growth lever will be achieved via innovation," he said. 'Biologics, CAR-T therapies, oncology, transplant medicines, super-speciality areas – this is where the next frontier lies." He cites Wockhardt's Zaynich as a made-in-India innovation that marks a turning point. 'We can plan our generic pipeline around upcoming patent expiries like Semaglutide, but original innovation is what will add real value." 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 : Pharmaceuticals view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 04, 2025, 09:00 IST News india 'Irreplaceable For Americans': Pharmexcil Chief Says India's Low-Cost Drug Edge Can't Be Matched Overnight 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.

Lenskart's IPO in-sight: What it reveals about optometrists, screen time, and global bets
Lenskart's IPO in-sight: What it reveals about optometrists, screen time, and global bets

Indian Express

time2 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Lenskart's IPO in-sight: What it reveals about optometrists, screen time, and global bets

Too much screen time, too few optometrists, and one company going global – Lenskart's IPO filing reveals more than just financials. The eyewear unicorn, which clocked Rs 6,653 crore in revenue in 2024-25 (FY25) and turned profitable (Rs 297 crore) for the first time, is looking to raise Rs 2,150 crore through a fresh issue. Over 13 crore shares will also be offloaded via an offer for sale, with early investors such as SoftBank and Schroders Capital expected to cash out. But beyond the numbers, its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) offers a lens into deeper trends shaping India's $10-billion eyewear market: worsening eye health among children, limited access to prescription eyewear, and the high-stakes balancing act of building a global brand from India. In India, the prevalence of refractive errors that cause blurry vision has grown rapidly among those under 19 years – from 21 per cent in FY20 to 39 per cent in FY25. For the overall population, the growth was relatively slower from 43 per cent to 53 per cent, according to Redseer research cited in Lenskart's DRHP. In the next five years, Redseer projects more than half (54 per cent) of children and teenagers will have refractive errors requiring prescription eyewear. 'Contributors include excessive screen time, particularly late-night smartphone use, prolonged near-work activities like reading and studying, limited exposure to natural light due to reduced outdoor play, and poor visual habits such as incorrect posture and inadequate lighting,' the DRHP said. The condition is more common in metro cities (64 per cent) than in tier-1 (59 per cent) or other cities (52 per cent). While India's overall prevalence (53 per cent) is lower than in Japan (68 per cent) and Southeast Asia (65 per cent), it still exceeds that of the Middle East (40 per cent) – and is expected to rise to 62 per cent by FY30. Though over half of Indians face refractive errors, only 35 per cent wore prescription eyewear in FY25, lagging Southeast Asia (40 per cent), the Middle East (60 per cent), and Japan (69 per cent). The penetration rate is expected to increase only slightly to 41 per cent by FY30, indicating that the market will remain heavily underserved, according to Redseer. Why? The World Council of Optometry (WCO) recommends 100 optometrists per million people, but India has just 35-50 such professionals trained to test vision and prescribe corrective lenses. In Japan, the figure stands at 80-100 per million, 110 in the US, and 200 in Singapore. Moreover, India has far fewer eyewear stores (60 per million people) compared to pharmacies (350-450) or jewellery stores (1,000-1,200). Over 70 per cent of prescription eyewear is still sold through unorganised channels, with just 11-13 per cent via D2C brands like Lenskart and Titan Eye+. 'We may face difficulties in finding, training and retaining qualified opticians and optometrists, especially in Tier 2 and 3 cities, where the availability and awareness of such professionals may be lower than in Tier 1 cities,' the DRHP said. Unlike most Indian-origin D2C brands, Lenskart has built a sizable overseas footprint, with international customers contributing 40 per cent of its FY25 revenue. The company operates over 2,000 stores in India, more than 250 each in Japan and Southeast Asia, around 40 in the Middle East, and another 100 across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Australia. Its presence in Asia was bolstered by the 2022 acquisition of Japanese eyewear brand OWNDAYS. In 2024, Lenskart made a minority investment in French brand Le Petit Lunetier, launching its products in India. More recently, it acquired an 80 per cent stake in Spanish sunglasses label Meller. While Lenskart's global reach gives it access to higher-margin markets, it also heightens its exposure to supply chain risks – particularly due to its reliance on imports from China, where it holds a 51 per cent stake in a joint venture that manufactures frames. 'Rising nationalism, protectionist policies, or shifts in customer sentiment against products associated with Chinese supply chains could further reduce demand. If we are unable to address these risks, or adapt to evolving market conditions, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be affected,' the DRHP said. In some good news, China's share in Lenskart's raw material imports has declined – from 54 per cent in FY23 to 42 per cent in FY25. Today, 98 per cent of its prescription eyewear is manufactured in Gurgaon and Bhiwadi, with the rest produced in Singapore and Dubai. A new Rs 1,500-crore greenfield facility for optical glasses near Hyderabad is also in the works. Aggam Walia is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, reporting on power, renewables, and mining. His work unpacks intricate ties between corporations, government, and policy, often relying on documents sourced via the RTI Act. Off the beat, he enjoys running through Delhi's parks and forests, walking to places, and cooking pasta. ... Read More

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store