AIIMS signs MoU with Wipro GE Healthcare to set up AI health innovation hub

New Delhi: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wipro GE Healthcare Pvt Ltd, a leading global provider of healthcare technologies, to establish an AI Health Innovations Hub. 

The new hub will focus on the development of products and solutions that enhance healthcare delivery and outcomes through more precise diagnosis, innovative treatment protocols, and real-time patient data tracking.

As the technology partner, Wipro GE Healthcare will invest around $1 million over the next five years to co-develop, test, & deploy intelligent systems and workflow solutions in cardiology, oncology, and neurology. As clinical partner for the hub, AIIMS will provide multi-modal clinical inputs, and function as a real-world clinical environment for evaluation, feedback, and deployment of GE HealthCare’s AI-enabled solutions. A joint working committee from both organizations will oversee the collaboration, which will include clinical research and academic engagement.

Also Read:Dont like the food? Now give feedback to AIIMS on inpatient diet

According to The National AI Portal of India (INDIAai), AI technology promises a transformative leap for India’s healthcare system by 2025, potentially boosting the GDP by $25-30[1]. Connecting longitudinal data (i.e. imaging, lab results, medical records, etc.) and layering it with analytics and AI can significantly enhance diagnosis, streamline operations, and improve patient care nationwide.

Dr M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi said, “This partnership with Wipro GE Healthcare holds strategic value and is aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat through advanced healthcare. As an institution, AIIMS has been committed to advancing healthcare through clinical research and practical applications to improve patient care. With its forward vision of precision care and proven expertise in the field of AI, Wipro GE Healthcare compliments our vision. We are optimistic that with this collaboration we will be able to accelerate the development and validation of advance MedTech and offer more effective care for patients.”

Parminder Bhatia, Chief AI Officer, GE HealthCare said, “The Indian healthcare industry has experienced rapid growth, driven by supportive government policies, innovative domestic solutions, and the integration of digital technologies and AI.

We view AI not merely as a tool but as a transformative force to democratize healthcare and enable increased predictiveness, prevention, and precision. Our collaboration with AIIMS to establish the ‘AI Health Innovations Hub’ represents a significant advancement in this journey. We are excited to embark on this path and work towards accelerating the development and validation of cutting-edge healthcare solutions and enhance patient outcomes.”

Chaitanya Sarawate, Managing Director, Wipro GE Healthcare South Asia added, “Wipro GE Healthcare has a proud legacy of innovation in MedTech. The future of healthcare in India will be driven by technology with AI at the heart of innovation to enable predictive, personalized and preventive care at scale.

With its transformative vision, diverse patient pool and scale, AIIMS has been at the forefront of redefining care. This collaboration is a strong step forward in developing foundation models for transformative clinical care and applications for India and the world.”

Also Read:Garbage Spills Near AIIMS: Delhi Pollution Control Committee Raises Concern

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No Reinstatement, Compensate Doctors Terminated for Long Absenteeism: SC Orders UP Govt

New Delhi: Modifying the Allahabad High Court’s order directing the Uttar Pradesh Government to reinstate services of a large number of doctors terminated for their long absence from service, the Supreme Court bench directed the State to pay compensation to them instead.

The top court bench held that the conduct of persons who invoked writ jurisdiction must be considered before granting any relief and ordered that instead of reinstating these doctors, a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh should be paid to each of them.

Earlier, the Allahabad High Court, while considering the pleas of doctors employed in the health services of the UP Government, had quashed their termination order issued on May 3, 2010.

However, the State had challenged the High Court’s order dating back to 2015 before the Apex Court. While considering the appeal, the top court bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih took note of the admitted fact that the doctors had remained continuously absent for more than 4-5 years.

Also Read: TN Health Minister orders Disciplinary Action against Four Doctors of Maduranthakam Government Hospital for unauthorised absenteeism

As per the latest media report by Deccan Herald, the Apex Court found that none of the doctors had pleaded that after their termination, they continued to survive without either practicing medicine or taking any other employment. They also did not submit before the Court that they had no income from the date of termination.

Therefore, the bench observed, “After noticing that the respondents (doctors) have long absentation of more than 4 to 5 years, the High Court ought to have moulded the relief by not granting reinstatement. The writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution is always discretionary and the conduct of the persons who invoke the jurisdiction has to be taken into consideration while granting reliefs.”

Accordingly, the bench modified the High Court’s order by directing the State to pay a lump sum compensation of Rs 2,50,000 to each of the doctors in lieu of reinstatement within a period of three months.

Filing the appeal before the top court bench, the State argued that the High Court did not take note of what was stated in the termination order, since it was impracticable to hold inquiry against few thousand doctors who remained absent for years. Further, the State submitted that which is why a recourse to clause (b) of the second proviso to Article 311 (2) of the Constitution was taken and the employment of the doctors was terminated.

Further, the top court bench observed that the High Court’s order showed that the only argument canvassed by the State Government was that the doctors were absent for a long period and public interest was suffering.

It was observed by the bench that if according to the State Government, submissions actually made were not noted by the High Court, the remedy of that was before the High Court.

However, noting that it was not done, the bench modified the High Court’s order and directed the payment of lumpsum compensation to the doctors.

Also Read: Gujarat Medical Council suspends 2 doctors for misconduct

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NBE notifies on fee refund for deferred Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Exam October 2024, check details

New Delhi : Through a recent notice, NBEMS (National Board of Examination) has informed about the Refund of Examination Fees for the Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination in October 2024.

The conduct of the Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination (DPEE) – October 2024 has been deferred. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has decided to defer the DPEE October 2024 to a future date. With this, the revised schedule as well as change in scheme, if any, will be informed to the applicants in due course. Therefore, candidates are advised to refer to the NBEMS website from time to time for further updates in this regard.

DPEE October 2024 session will be conducted by NBEMS on a computer-based platform at various exam centres across the country. The exam was to be conducted on three days i.e. October 3, 4 and 5, 2024 respectively and the result was to be declared by November 4, 2024.

NOw as per recent notice, it has been decided to refund the examination fee deposited by the candidates who had successfully submitted their applications for DPEE – October 2024 to their respective source of payment. The corresponding applications submitted by the candidates shall also be treated as “Null and Void”.

As per the information bulletin, Below are the scheme of the DPEE October 2024 examination-

1 There will be three papers of multiple choice questions in subjects/knowledge areas covered in the syllabus as per the Diploma in Pharmacy Education Regulations 2020 (ER 2020) issued by the Pharmacy Council of India. Questions in each of these three papers will be asked from the subjects as per the blueprint prescribed by the Pharmacy Council of India.

2 Each paper will comprise 150 multiple-choice questions which need to be attempted in 180 minutes, therefore, each question paper for DPEE will be divided into multiple time-bound sections. Each question will have 4 response options/distractors in English language only. Candidates are required to select the correct/best/ most appropriate response/answer out of the 4 response options provided in each question. However, there will be no negative marking.

3 A candidate will be declared as having passed only, if the candidate obtains a minimum of 50% marks in each paper separately. With this, a candidate will have to pass all three papers in the same attempt.

5 Results (Pass/Fail) for provisionally eligible candidates will be displayed on the NBEMS official website. There is no provision for re-totaling/re-evaluation/grace marks. A ‘certificate of eligibility for enrolment and practice’ will be issued by NBEMS to the successful candidate which will be presented before the State Pharmacy Council for registration as a pharmacist.

6 There will be no restriction on the number of attempts to appear in the examination. However, DPEE is a qualifying examination, once a candidate qualifies the DPEE, he or she will not be eligible to take the DPEE again. Any examination taken by a candidate in violation of this clause will be treated as void and as cancelled.

To view the offiical Notice, Click here :  https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/viewnoticephp-1-264867.pdf

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Bayer acquires HiDoc Technologies, Cara Care app for irritable bowel syndrome

Leverkusen: Bayer has announced that it plans to acquire HiDoc Technologies GmbH in the first quarter of 2025 and to start commercialization of the digital health application, Cara Care. Cara Care is a prescribed digital health application for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and offers a novel, holistic therapeutic approach for patients with IBS.

“Patients with irritable bowel syndrome have generally already been through a lot by the time they receive a formal diagnosis, and they face numerous daily challenges and obstacles associated with their symptoms that impair their quality of life. To be able to provide patients with a personalized, independent concept of supplementary guideline-compliant therapeutic offerings in addition to medical treatment and pharmacological therapy, Bayer has acquired HiDoc Technologies GmbH and taken over the commercialization of its digital health application Cara Care. Thanks to its personalized modules, patients learn to understand their condition better, as well as getting better control over the symptoms and achieving an improved quality of life,” the Company stated.

Irritable bowel syndrome affects approximately 11.1 percent of the population in Germany and represents a considerable burden for these patients. Treatment is often difficult, as the underlying pathophysiology is complex, and symptom patterns and severities vary from patient to patient. In addition to pharmacological therapy, such as treatment with plant-based pharmaceuticals such as Iberogast, the current German S3 guideline recommends a multimodal and multidisciplinary therapeutic model comprising additional components, such as psychology and dietary recommendations.

Cara Care integrates multidisciplinary approaches for the treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach and irregular bowel movements. Based on the recommendations of the S3 guideline, apps like Cara Care provide an educational model with information on the disease and evidence-based support in the non-pharmaceutical therapeutic areas of diet and psychotherapeutic options, along with support for sufferers in the form of personalized therapy plans.

“The application features integrated “Diet” and “Psychology” elements in a biopsychosocial model to enable comprehensive care of IBS sufferers. Patients can undergo the treatment autonomously and receive targeted support, thus increasing their competency in living with their condition. The prescription app is budget-neutral and does not require additional payment for patients,” the release stated.

“The Cara Care digital health app is another important therapeutic component that enables physicians to provide sustainable, guideline-compliant care for their patients,” explains Linda Obermeyr, Senior HCP Marketing Manager at Bayer Vital. “We are confident that with the digital support of the Cara Care app, patients will be able to expand their own understanding and modify their behavior to find effective relief from the symptoms of IBS and return to a markedly higher quality of life.”

For patients, Cara Care offers an individualized, tailor-made, evidence-based therapy based on medical questionnaires and enabling a personalized modular setup. Additional features like tracking and personalized recipe ideas help patients with their therapy. What’s more, the digital health application also addresses psychological co-morbidities such as anxiety and depression, which often cannot be taken into consideration in everyday clinical practice. Treatment with Cara Care is time- and location-neutral, and represents a valuable addition, or follow-up, to existing therapies. It also helps patients cope with disease-related challenges in daily life.

“We saw an opportunity to combine a strong, scientifically sound app with our many years of experience in the field of gastroenterology, and in this way to create added value for patients. We will work to make sure that this digital health application becomes even more user-friendly and instructive through training sessions, test accounts, videos and dialogs with Bayer’s field force,” explains Tobias Boldt, Cluster Head Germany & Austria Consumer Health, Bayer Vital.

“IBS is common and highly disruptive to sufferers, but its complexity means that many patients struggle to understand the condition, risk factors and preventive measures,” explains David Evendon-Challis, Head of R&D and Strategic Marketing & Digital for Bayer’s Consumer Health Division. “This latest milestone in our precision health strategy means that we will be able to offer a digital tool to help them understand, manage and treat their IBS better. It will also give them greater control over the condition by facilitating conversations with their HCP.”

The planned strategic acquisition of HiDoc Technologies expands Bayer’s portfolio in the field of digital healthcare and extends the company’s engagement in the area of self-medication. “Many people are looking for ways to become more self-reliant, and that applies to the area of healthcare as well. Digital health applications are a good way of providing holistic, sustainable therapeutic approaches. This was always our goal for Cara Care and it is also perfectly in line with Bayer’s vision of ‘Health for all, Hunger for none’,” said Jim Mapes, the CEO of HiDoc Technologies.

Read also: Bayer receives USFDA Clearance for MEDRAD Centargo CT Injection System

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Goa Dental Surgeon dies of Heart Attack hours after completing 32 km Marathon

Panaji: In an unfortuante incident, a 39-year-old dental surgeon who was a fitness enthusiast and participated in a 20-mile (32-km) marathon in Goa died of a massive heart attack at home hours after completing the race on Sunday.  

The deceased has been identified as Dr Mithun Kudalkar from Vasco City in South Goa. He had taken part in the 20-mile category marathon held annually alongside the Zuari River in South Goa’s Chicalim village. Despite receiving timely CPR from his family who are all doctors, Dr Kudalkar did not survive. 

Dr Kudalkar was a fitness lover who routinely participated in marathons, cycling events and badminton tournaments and also won medals the past few years. His father claimed that he was extremely fit as he was an active person who did regular workouts. 

Also read- Cardiac arrest during marathon: Fortis Cardiologist saves fellow runner’s life with CPR

It has come as a shocking incident for many that a person with a passion for fitness and health suddenly passed away. He was an inspiration for others on social media because he documented his achievements and daily health activities related to sports and marathons. 

The incident occurred when Dr Kudalkar felt unwell and was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him fit after the marathon. However, after reaching his home, he continued to feel unwell and complained of discomfort in his shoulder and stomach. 

Later he vomited, collapsed and unfortunately passed away. His father Dr Dynaneshwar Kudalkar, who is a former chief medical officer of Mormugao Port Trust hospital, told PTI that he died of a massive heart attack on Sunday. 

Explaining his condition, his father said, “Mithun had left home that day at 3:30 am to take part in the race. He was a regular at marathons and had taken part in such competitions in several cities, including Mangaluru.”

Speaking to the Indian Express, His father explained his condition, “I’m at a loss for words. He was extremely fit…his day started with some physical activity and training. In recent years, he took part in many running and cycling events and won medals.”

“He said he was unwell and wanted to rest. Around 12.30 pm, he was lying in bed for an hour. He vomited, drank some water and then collapsed on the bed. We are all doctors in the family…so we tried giving him CPR, but he was not responding. We rushed him to a hospital in Chicalim, where he was declared brought dead. I think he suffered a massive heart attack, nothing else.”

Mithun’s friend Jitendra Dhyani, who was running the full marathon, said the former was looking fine while waiting at the finish line.

“We competed in different categories. I was in the full marathon [42.2 km]. During the race, we crossed each other twice and he was absolutely fine. He finished his race and when I reached the finish line, he was waiting there for me. I saw him take photographs of his wife and son, who had also participated in the 5-km category. Later, he complained of acidity and was assessed by the medical staff at the venue. But he was declared fit and he went home. We both recently competed in a marathon in Mangalore. This has come as a shock”, Dhyani told Indian Express. 

Meanwhile, Dr Sudhir Kumar a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad expressed his heartfelt condolences to the DR Kudalkar’s family, friends and acquaintances. 

In a post on ‘X’, he said “Dr Mithun was a fitness freak and routinely participated in marathons and cycling events. He regularly played sports (such as badminton & squash) and did workouts. His dedication to fitness inspired many. He completed his 1st ever 20 miler (32 km run) last month (Nov 10th) during Mangaluru marathon in 4 hours 23 minutes. His average HR during the run was 158 bpm. He considerably slowed down after 21 Km mark (pace of 9 to 11 min/Km). However, avg HR remained on the higher side (143-168 bpm).”

Recommending others with some tips before participating in marathons, Dr Kumar said, “Zone 2 running (running at average HR of 60 to 70% of maximum HR, where max HR is 220 minus age), is supposed to offer several health-related benefits. It helps improve aerobic fitness and reduces the risk of injuries. One should aim to run 75-80% of the weekly mileage in zone 2. This could mean running at slower pace. However, over time, one would be able to run at a faster pace, while still maintaining HR in zone 2.”

Also read- Sudden death of senior resident doctor while on duty at RML Hospital shocks colleagues

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A low omega-6, omega-3 rich diet and fish oil may slow prostate cancer growth

A study led by UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center investigators offers new evidence that dietary changes may help reduce cancer cell growth in patients undergoing active surveillance, a treatment approach that involves regular monitoring of the cancer without immediate intervention.

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Japanese researchers test pioneering drug to regrow teeth

People with missing teeth may be able to grow new ones, say Japanese dentists testing a pioneering drug they hope will offer an alternative to dentures and implants.

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Prenatal SSRI exposure linked to functional constipation in offspring

Prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is associated with an increased risk of functional constipation developing in offspring, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in Molecular Psychiatry.

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SABCS: Omission of axillary staging noninferior for node-negative breast cancer

Omission of surgical axillary staging is noninferior to sentinel-lymph-node biopsy for patients with clinically node-negative, T1 or T2 invasive breast cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held from Dec. 10 to 13 in San Antonio.

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How cells repair DNA’s protective barrier: Addressing a rare genetic disorder characterized by rapid aging in children

Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, have discovered how a protein called lamin A helps repair the protective barrier around a cell’s DNA. The findings reveal lamin A’s unique role and its potential for treating Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare disorder that causes premature aging.

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