Focus more on swine flu as it is highly contagious: AzadNovember 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday said his ministry was focusing on tackling swine flu more than dengue, which had infected 783 people in the national capital, as the former was a "highly contagious" disease. "Swine flu is a communicable disease whereas dengue is spread by the mosquito bite.
India developing own influenza vaccine for first time: AzadNovember 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - An influenza vaccine is for the first time being developed in India that would be effective against the swine flu pandemic, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here Friday. "Public health challenges will continue to put pressure on our system and we have to be better prepared to respond to these challenges through effective regulation, surveillance, capacity building, supervision and care," he said.
Azad hikes funds for cancer control, treatment of poorNovember 1st, 2009 MUMBAI - Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Sunday announced enhanced funding for the cancer control programme, a fund for treatment of poor cancer patients and more emphasis on study of the disease. Addressing the Annual Breast and Gynaecological Cancer Conference at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital (TMCH) here, the minister said the allocation for the National Cancer Control Programme in the 11th Five Year Plan will be increased ten times - to Rs.2,400 crore.
UAE issues pre-marriage health check guidelinesOctober 23rd, 2009 DUBAI - The health ministry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has published a booklet on medical check-ups to be undertaken by couples before marriage, WAM news agency reported Friday. The booklet was launched in accordance with the personal status law issued by the UAE government in 2005.
Azad asks rich nations to help more in health sectorOctober 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Sunday urged the developed countries to invest more in areas of population control and family planning in the developing countries despite global financial crisis. The global economic downturn....in most developed countries, has had a significant impact on the availability of resources with international aid agencies in the health sector, such as the Global Fund, the World Bank, etc.," Azad said at the ongoing 5th Asia Pacific Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Beijing.
Software for better data on immunisation: AzadOctober 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is not happy with data on the outcome of immunisation drives and his ministry is developing a software which will keep a thorough record of all such health campaigns. The outcome of immunisation drives is not satisfactory.
Don't leave for greener pastures, Azad tells AIIMS doctorsSeptember 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Friday appealed to the faculty and doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) not to be lured by highly-paying private hospital jobs but stick on "for more satisfaction". "As a health minister, both private and public sector are the same for me, but as the president of AIIMS I will ask the doctors not leave," said Azad.
PM undergoes check-up, is hale and heartySeptember 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday underwent a routine medical check-up, eight months after his coronary bypass surgery, and doctors said he was hale and hearty. "Everything is normal," prime minster's personal physician K.
Azad bats for therapeutic cloningSeptember 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Friday urged the scientists to tap the potential of therapeutic cloning to heal and regenerate damaged body parts and find treatment for complex medical problems. "Although India remains totally opposed to reproductive cloning owing to the doubtful nature of its safety, success utility and ethical acceptability, therapeutic cloning can be considered on case-to-case basis," Azad said at an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) function.
Doctors to get extra money to work in rural areas: AzadSeptember 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Doctors who opt to work in rural areas will be duly compensated with extra money and weightage points that will help them while going for higher studies, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced Thursday. "The only way to attract the attention of doctors to work in difficult, most difficult and inaccessible areas is through incentives.
Swine flu toll rises to 16 in AndhraSeptember 16th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Three more people died of influenza A (H1N1) virus in Andhra Pradesh, taking the swine flu toll to 16 in the state, a health official said Wednesday. Two women died in the government-run Gandhi Hospital while a man succumbed at a private hospital here.
India to have national patient safety policy: AzadSeptember 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India will soon have a National Patient Safety Policy to provide patients with a safer healthcare environment, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here Monday. Noting that the country has many national programmes to control and eradicate various diseases but nothing on patient safety, he said: We are proposing to put in place a National Patient Safety Policy.
Private sector can start medical colleges in backward areas: AzadSeptember 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government will allow the private sector to set up medical colleges in backward states, hilly areas and the northeast region, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Monday. "We will allow the private sector to set up medical colleges in backward states, hilly areas and the northeastern region," Azad said here at a healthcare meet organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), an industry lobby.
Open colleges at district hospitals, Azad to private sectorSeptember 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday invited the private sector to set up medical colleges along with government district hospitals in backward, hilly and northeastern states of India - a reformative step that private players termed as "music to ears". "We will soon allow the private sector to set up medical colleges along with our district hospitals in backward states, hilly areas and the northeastern region," Azad said here at a healthcare meet organised by industry lobby Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Swine flu here to stay, but India geared to control it: AzadSeptember 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Swine flu, which has already claimed 132 lives in India, is here to stay and will spread despite best efforts, but the country is controlling it by early detection, proper treatment and creating mass awareness, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Monday. Azad said authorities have "learnt some lessons" while tackling the spread of the disease that has become a global pandemic.
