Latest news with #e-Sanjeevani
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Southern Railway launches telemedicine link to bring specialist care to remote railway units
SR general manager R N Singh inaugurated the telemedicine facility. CHENNAI: Southern Railway has launched an integrated telemedicine facility in railway hospitals and health units, allowing patients in remote areas to access specialist and super-specialist care without travelling long distances. Inaugurated by general manager R N Singh at the Southern Railway Headquarters Hospital in Perambur on Friday, the system links divisional hospitals and health units to the headquarters hospital here. The facility was developed under the Government of India's e-Sanjeevani scheme. Using real-time video consultations and live streaming of diagnostic reports such as ECGs and X-rays, medical officers at remote locations can now consult directly with specialists at Perambur, streamlining treatment decisions. Officials said the facility proved crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic and is now the first of its kind in Indian Railways. During the launch, Singh witnessed a live consultation from the Divisional Railway Hospital in Madurai and urged officials to ensure high-speed internet across all health units. He reviewed new digital queue systems and signage boards at the Perambur OPD block.
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Business Standard
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Health-tech sees IPO rush fueled by digitisation, govt ease, AI adoption
Health-tech IPOs (initial public offerings) are on the rise in India's healthcare sector — in fact, five out of the 12 healthcare IPOs in the last one-and-a-half years since January 2024 are health-tech companies. According to data shared by PRIME Database, the healthcare sector has seen 12 IPOs since January 2024, with a total issue size of Rs 20,576 crore. Of these, five companies — Entero Healthcare Solutions, Indegene, Sagility India, Sai Life Sciences and Inventurus Knowledge Solutions — are health-tech firms that have collectively raised over Rs 11,000 crore. Other major healthcare IPOs include Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Akums Drugs and Dr Agarwal's Healthcare. The Covid-19 pandemic had a deep impact on the sector and accelerated digitisation, strengthened public and private focus on tech-enabled healthcare solutions, facilitated government easing, and encouraged the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across the spectrum — from diagnostics to personalised treatment. Amitabh Malhotra, vice-chairman of investment banking at HSBC India, noted that the combination of rising incomes, greater insurance penetration, growing demand for medical infrastructure and India's cost competitiveness positions the healthcare industry for sustained, multi-decade growth — driven largely by the private sector. 'The Indian healthcare services market presents a compelling growth story, underpinned by its significant potential and current under-penetration. With healthcare expenditure around 3 per cent of GDP and per capita spend of $57 — among the lowest globally — the sector is ripe for transformation,' Malhotra noted. Health-tech IPOs in India have witnessed significant growth in recent years, fuelled by increasing digitisation of healthcare and a rising focus on technology-driven solutions — spurred by both public initiatives such as e-Sanjeevani and private sector tech-focused offerings, said Vivek Tandon, vice-president at Primus Partners. 'The pandemic played a major role in highlighting the importance of digital health infrastructure, boosting investor interest in companies offering telemedicine, diagnostics and health data solutions. The growing use of AI in healthcare, from diagnostics to personalised treatment, has further enhanced the appeal of these companies. Additionally, government focus and ease of reforms has made it easier for health-tech firms to scale and access public markets,' added Tandon. More firms are gearing up for IPOs over the coming years, including QubeHealth, Vitraya, Practo, Medulance, among others. Mumbai-based B2B health-tech-fintech firm QubeHealth has announced plans to file for an IPO by FY31, with a proposed issue size of approximately Rs 800 crore. 'We expect to process Rs 1,000 crore a year in healthcare payments by FY30, by the time we are ready for our IPO, growing at an average of 70 per cent year-on-year,' said Chris George, CEO, QubeHealth. Vitraya, a Delhi-based health-tech company, said it plans to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) within the next 24 to 36 months. The company is targeting an IPO issue size of Rs 500 crore. 'The tech sector is heavily regulated, so going public through an IPO offers added credibility and reassurance to both our customers and regulators. For us, the IPO is more about embracing transparency and navigating regulatory frameworks than raising capital or seeking liquidity. Currently, around 80 per cent of our revenue comes from India and 20 per cent from international markets. Post-IPO, we expect the domestic share to further outpace international contributions,' said Mrinal Sinha, CEO and co-founder, Vitraya Technologies. Most of the listed players in the healthcare sector are trading at substantial valuation premiums, making IPOs an important factor, said Chokkalingam G, founder of Equinomics. 'The sector's outlook remains strong, supported by inelastic demand — healthcare is a necessity, and consumers are unlikely to cut back on related expenses even in challenging times.' 'Previously, IPO activity was largely concentrated in pharmaceutical companies and standalone hospitals. However, the landscape is now expanding to include a wide range of ancillary businesses that support healthcare providers. Many of these companies are seeking growth capital and providing liquidity for existing investors. As a result, we are likely to see a significant number of IPOs from this space over the next three years.' healthcare IPOs 1.1.2024 onwards Industry: Hospitals/Diagnostic Services, Medical Equipment/Supplies/Accessories & Pharmaceuticals & Drugs SNO. COMPANY OPENING DATE OFFER PRICE (Rs.) ISSUE AMOUNT ( 1 ENTERO HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS LTD. 09/Feb/2024 1,258 1,600.00 2 GPT HEALTHCARE LTD. 22/Feb/2024 186 525.14 3 INDEGENE LTD. 06/May/2024 452 1,841.76 4 EMCURE PHARMACEUTICALS LTD. 03/Jul/2024 1,008 1,952.03 5 AKUMS DRUGS & PHARMACEUTICALS LTD. 30/Jul/2024 679 1,856.74 6 SAGILITY INDIA LTD. 05/Nov/2024 30 2,106.40 7 SURAKSHA DIAGNOSTIC LTD. 29/Nov/2024 441 846.25 8 SAI LIFE SCIENCES LTD. 11/Dec/2024 549 3,042.62 9 INVENTURUS KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS LTD. 12/Dec/2024 1,329 2,497.92 10 SENORES PHARMACEUTICALS LTD. 20/Dec/2024 391 582.11 11 LAXMI DENTAL LTD. 13/Jan/2025 428 698.06 12 HEALTH CARE LTD. 29/Jan/2025 402 3,027.26
India Gazette
12-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
India has witnessed unprecedented digital revolution in past 11 years: JP Nadda
New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Union Minister and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda on Thursday highlighted India's 'unprecedented' digital revolution in the last 11 years, adding that the transformation has bridged the digital divide and ensured that technology reaches every citizen. In a post on X, Nadda said that governance is more transparent and efficient under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'Over the past 11 years, India has witnessed an unprecedented digital revolution under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. This transformation has not only connected millions but also bridged the digital divide, ensuring that technology reaches every citizen,' Nadda said. 'Today, governance is more transparent and efficient than ever before. Major government schemes are integrated with real-time digital dashboards, promoting transparency and delivering direct benefits to citizens,' he added. He mentioned that central schemes such as UPI, DigiLocker, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, U-WIN, CoWIN and e-Sanjeevani have empowered millions. 'Innovations like UPI, DigiLocker, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, U-WIN, CoWIN and e-Sanjeevani are not just digital platforms; they have empowered millions. 'Let's celebrate this Digital India journey as it paves the way towards a Viksit Bharat @2047,' he said on X. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India's digital and technological progress, stating that the country is making remarkable progress in the innovation and application of technology. The Prime Minister highlighted that the digital progress is also strengthening the country's efforts towards becoming self-reliant in the technology sector. Taking to his X social media platform, PM Modi shared a post by MyGovIndia, which talks about how India could become the next technology powerhouse of the world and the steps taken by the Union Government in the past 11 years in the sector. 'Powered by the youth of India, we are making remarkable progress in the innovation and application of technology. 'It is also strengthening our efforts to become self-reliant and a global tech powerhouse,' PM Modi said. India has recorded a surge of 2500 times in the volume of UPI transactions, with data showing that UPI transactions, which were at 0.93 crore in April 2017 increased to 1867.70 crore by April 2025. India is also leading the digital payment revolution, wherein more than Rs 260 lakh crore transactions have been processed with Rs 18,600 crore transactions annually. UPI's acceptance in the world has also increased and it is live in seven countries, including the UAE, Singapore, Nepal, France, Mauritius, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. India also stands as the world's cheapest mobile data provider, with more than 94 crore broadband connections and more than 120 crore telephone subscribers. A total of 2.18 lakh gram panchayats have been connected through optical fibre networks under the Bharat Net scheme and 6.92 lakh km of fibre cable has been laid. The Union Government has also showcased interest in Artificial Intelligence with three AI Centres of Excellence to be set up in top educational institutions. India is also working on the development of AI models such as BharatGen, Sarvam-1, Chitralekha and Hanooman's Everest 1.0. On June 10, Prime Minister Modi shared an article on the government's commitment to advancing India's digital connectivity over the past 11 years. (ANI)
News18
10-06-2025
- Health
- News18
‘Revamp E-Prescription Rules': Chemist Lobby Asks For Mandatory ‘Dispensed' Stamp To Curb Re-Use
Last Updated: The letter flagged that a patient could use the same prescription as a soft copy or a printout of the soft copy at different pharmacies to repeatedly purchase the same medicines The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) has written to the apex drug regulator demanding 'urgent modifications" to the current rules governing e-prescribing and e-prescriptions to 'prevent inconvenience, misuse and contravention of laws". In a detailed letter, seen by News18, the lobby of pharmacists has pointed out loopholes in the country's telemedicine practice guidelines and the health ministry's e-Sanjeevani guidelines. The letter sent to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on June 9 highlights concerns regarding the current guidelines, which allow prescriptions to be sent directly to patients following teleconsultations. 'The issue is that the same prescription, as a soft copy or a printout of the soft copy, could be shown or used by the patient at different pharmacies to repeatedly purchase the same medicines listed on it. This can lead to repeat dispensing and misuse and is detrimental to public health," the letter said. It added that current guidelines lack 'any means of checking, confirming, or stopping this". The IPA has called for the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and Rules to be revised so that 'the pharmacist must put a 'Dispensed' stamp on an original printout of the prescription," and that this provision be expanded to cover e-prescriptions as well. Adapt the global ecosystem According to the letter, which is also sent to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), e-prescribing systems are globally proven to enhance efficiency and safety, but India must tailor its approach to local conditions. The letter cites the example of Australia, stating that the country also introduced electronic prescribing in May 2020 after they built a robust system that allows doctors to electronically prescribe medications to patients in the form of an encrypted QR code or text message. The catch here is that upon visiting the pharmacy of his choice, the patient shows the QR Code or text message, and the pharmacy scans it. Following this, the prescription is generated. 'The safety factor here is that the patient cannot repeatedly use the same prescription," the letter said. What should India do? 'We request you to please understand the situation: Very often, such e-prescriptions will be from doctors who are not from the patient's city or state. The pharmacist to whom the patient brings the prescription is in a dilemma as to whether the prescription is authentic or not." To eliminate such ambiguity, the IPA in the letter suggests a systemic overhaul. 'The law must mandate that the doctor either electronically send the prescription directly to the pharmacy or provide it in an encrypted mode to the patient, which only a pharmacy can decode, and not the patient." Highlighting the role of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), one of the flagship schemes of the Modi government, the letter said, 'The ABDM is already in the process of providing unique identities to pharmacies and pharmacists; integrating the receipt and access of e-prescriptions should be a natural extension of this initiative." Experts hold a different view While the IPA has called for a system that withholds direct prescription access from consumers, experts News18 spoke to hold a different view. 'The intention of IPA is in the right direction, but it won't be correct to take away the rights of patients. This will shift all power into the hands of pharmacists and pharmacies," said a former official from the National Medical Council (NMC) who was part of the panel framing the telemedicine guidelines. Echoing a similar observation, another official, an industry veteran running a successful e-pharmacy firm, told News18 that the suggestion 'restricts choice for a consumer and structurally will create a doctor-pharmacy nexus, taking away the freedom of choice from a consumer". 'Also, if the pharmacy to which the prescription goes does not have all the medicines in the prescription, which is very normal – then the consumer has no method of access," he said, adding that the pharmacies have no incentive to provide service and affordability to the patients since the consumer is helpless and dependent on them. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 10, 2025, 09:36 IST News india 'Revamp E-Prescription Rules': Chemist Lobby Asks For Mandatory 'Dispensed' Stamp To Curb Re-Use
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Prepare training courses considering need for skilled manpower with AI in various sectors: Ajit Pawar
Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday said that Microsoft and government departments should discuss and prepare skill development training courses keeping in mind the need for skilled manpower with knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in many sectors like agriculture, industry, trade, cooperation, education, health and urban development. There should be separate courses for Industrial Training Institute (ITIs), polytechnic, degree and postgraduate students, he said. To prepare the courses, the departments of industry, technical education and skill development should play the role of guide and coordinator, he said at the meeting held at the Mantralaya on Monday. 'Increasing the use of Artificial Intelligence in all departments of the state government, agriculture, industry, trade, cooperation and many other sectors has become the need of the hour and everyone, including Microsoft, who comes forward to help the state in this field, will be welcomed,' said Dy CM Ajit Pawar. He assured all cooperation and assistance from the Maharashtra government. 'An MoU has been signed between Microsoft and the state government for the effective use of AI technology, including the establishment of AI centres in the state. AI Centres of Excellence will increase efficiency, transparency, and digital literacy in the administration. 'On the lines of Microsoft Centre of Excellence in Noida and Google's IT Park in Hyderabad, efforts are being made to set up an IT Park or Innovation Centre through the initiative of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Baramati,' he said while chairing the meeting to review its present status. 'The meeting discussed the establishment of world-class laboratories in the state through Microsoft along with Vidya Pratishthan's proposed Centre of Excellence of AI in Baramati, starting training in the use of AI at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Baramati, increasing the use of AI technology in the agricultural sector, exchange of knowledge and information through collaboration between Microsoft and the government, effective use of AI technology, digital skill development, starting research centres, and making Microsoft's e-Sanjeevani technology used in the treatment process of cancer patients available to the Medical College in Baramati, Silver Jubilee Hospital, and other hospitals in the state,' said the release issued by the Dy CM's office. During his recent India visit, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the transformative impact of AI on agriculture in India. In a post on X, Nadella shared the story of small-town sugarcane farmers who have historically faced significant challenges, including debt and suicide, due to pests, droughts, and diseases affecting their harvests. He further said, 'The one example that I wanted to highlight was of the small farmers who were part of the Baramati Co-op, where you can take this powerful technology but make it have an impact, where small landowners are able to improve the yield of their land. And the numbers they shared in terms of reduction in chemicals, improvement in water usage and, ultimately, yield was phenomenal." Further, he also mentioned the use of geospatial data from drones and satellites which can help farmers in their own language.
