Category Archives: Health

BD Partners with Healthians to Increase Access to Cervical Cancer Screening in India

New Delhi, Delhi, India BD (Becton, Dickinson, and Company), a leading global medical technology company, today announced a strategic partnership with Healthians, India’s premier diagnostics service provider, to advance cervical cancer screening by offering an innovative option for women in India to self-collect a sample in the privacy of their own homes.

For women in India, social stigma around getting a pelvic examination, lack of time, embarrassment, fear, and inconvenience are among the key barriers to screening. At-home self-collection can help address the urgent public health challenge of reaching women who do not attend routine cervical cancer screening. The objective of this partnership is to improve the access of cervical cancer screening in India, where less than 2% of women are currently being screened.

Mr. Deepak Sahni, Founder & Chairman, Healthians said, “At Healthians, we envision a world where we’re not just fighting diseases but preventing them. With our HPV self-testing initiative, we’re providing a path to early detection of cervical cancer, levelling the playing field in a battle where time is of essence. With our strong foothold in the market as a Direct-to-Consumer player since our inception in 2014, we believe we are in the best position to bring about substantial awareness on cervical cancer risk screening, offering women a convenient platform to get tested from the privacy of their homes. We stand together in this journey with BD, for a future where the screening of ‘cervical cancer’ becomes a routine affair.”

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched its Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, recognizing the potential to virtually eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat. The strategy established clear targets to achieve by 2030 for HPV vaccination coverage (>90%), screening coverage (>70%) and access to treatment (>90%).

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Atul Grover, Managing Director, BD India/South Asia said, “Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer, however, is one of the most preventable and treatable types of cancer if detected early. The key to prevention and patient safety lies in timely screening. Our at-home self-collection, in partnership with Healthians aims to provide women exactly that – increased access to HPV testing by enabling them to collect a sample in the privacy of their homes. This is aligned with BD’s purpose of advancing the world of health by expanding access to healthcare for superior patient outcomes.”

As per IARC Information Center on HPV and Cancer, current estimates indicate that every year 123907 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 77348 die from the disease. Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most frequent cancer among women in India and the 2nd most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. Almost all cervical cancer cases (more than 95%) are caused by persistent genital high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Supportive and Palliative Care Physician Dr. Gibram Ramos Ortiz Joins New York Cancer & Blood Specialists

New York, NY, July 02, 2024 — New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (NYCBS), one of the Nation’s leading oncology practices, is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Gibram Ramos Ortiz to its Supportive and Palliative Care team. Dr. Ramos Ortiz will be seeing patients at the following NYCBS locations:

2330 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10469

12 East 86th Street, Suite 4C, New York, NY 10028

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Ramos Ortiz to NYCBS and to expand supportive and palliative care services to our New York City communities,” said Jeff Vacirca, MD, Chief Executive Officer of NYCBS.

Dr. Ramos Ortiz’s approach to patient care is centered around the individual, recognizing that each person has a unique set of values and preferences. He believes in shared decision-making, empowering his patients to be active participants in their healthcare. This philosophy ensures that every treatment recommendation is tailored to the patient’s specific needs and wishes.

Reflecting on his journey into palliative care, Dr. Ramos Ortiz shared, “Practicing as an internist in a busy hospital, I felt like I could only focus on treating patients’ medical needs, but not much else. Thankfully, I was able to work with colleagues who specialized in palliative care, who showed me that healing is so much more than just treating disease. I felt like a career in palliative medicine would allow me to treat patients in a more complete way by focusing on their comfort, treating their symptoms, and providing emotional and social support for them and their families. Also, I enjoyed that in palliative medicine, we can discuss advanced care planning and goals of care with patients more frequently than in other specialties. In doing so, we can respect and empower our patients by ensuring we honor their wishes.”

Dr. Ramos Ortiz is board-certified in Internal Medicine and holds a Doctor of Medicine from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and pursued a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, in affiliation with Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Ramos Ortiz speaks fluent English and Spanish. Originally from Puerto Rico, he has lived in New York City for over a decade and has formed deep connections with the community.

“I’m highly impressed by NYCBS’s commitment to its values and its impactful contributions to the community. The organization’s impressive growth trajectory is another indicator of its success. I’m confident that in this role, I can help a lot of people, and I’m very enthusiastic about joining the team,” said Dr. Ramos Ortiz.

Indian Hospitality Industry Leads Global Adoption of Alkaline and Hydrogen Water with Innovative 3TAP Technology by ACOHI

Pune, Maharashtra, India  In a groundbreaking move, the Indian Hospitality Industry is pioneering the adoption of alkaline and hydrogen water, aiming to enhance the industry’s standards and customer health worldwide. This marks a historic first for the global hospitality sector, introducing the innovative 3TAP Technology designed to revolutionize water usage in hotels, restaurants, and catering units.

“Japan has long been a leader in alkaline water benefits, but this is the first time such technology is being tailored for the hospitality industry globally,” said Dr. Sanee Awsarmmel, Chairman of the Hospitality Industry of India & ACOHI. “Our 3TAP Technology will set new benchmarks in water usage for cooking, drinking, and sanitizing, ensuring superior health benefits for customers.”

The Indian bottled water market, valued at USD 3792.39 million in 2023, is projected to nearly triple by 2030. Alkaline and hydrogen water, known for their health benefits, are expected to play a pivotal role in this growth. Panacea H20 Gold 444777, under the leadership of Dr. Shashidhar Gokul Iyer – Founder & Chairman, aims to secure a significant market share by focusing on creating awareness and ensuring the availability of these healthier options.

“We are proud to launch this advanced 3TAP Technology, a product of extensive research and innovation,” said Mrs. Arundhati Shashidhar Iyer, Co-founder & Director of Panacea H20 Gold 444777. “This initiative not only enhances the hospitality industry’s standards but also brings a healthier lifestyle to consumers across India and Asia.”

This initiative, mentored by ACOHI, promises to transform water standards in the hospitality sector, making India a global leader in alkaline and hydrogen water technology.

More information could be accessed at www.acohi.org. You also could get in touch with the organization at inquiries.asia-division@acohi.org.

Happiest Health Acquires the B2B Corporate Wellness Business of The Fuller Life to Expand their Offerings Under the HappiZest Brand

1st July 2024  Bengaluru, Karnataka, India  Happiest Health announced the appointment of Arvind Krishnan to lead its Wellness Division as its President & CEO. This comes along with Happiest Health acquiring The Fuller Life to expand its corporate wellness offerings. This business will be available to customers under the HappiZest brand name. This acquisition will help Happiest Health strengthen its offerings in the corporate well-being sector and expand its reach in the ever-growing wellness industry.

Arvind is an IIM Calcutta alumnus and an engineering graduate from Mumbai and has over 25 years of experience. His professional journey includes pivotal roles in companies as diverse as indya.com, Kale Consultants, and Amitabh Bachchan Corporation.

Speaking about the acquisition Davis Karedan, Co-Chairman of Happiest Health, said, “We are excited to have Arvind and his team join the Happiest Health family. This strategic move marks a significant milestone for Happiest Health as it extends its reach in the health and wellness industry. We admire their commitment to holistic wellness, which aligns with our vision of offering accessible and comprehensive health and wellness knowledge and solutions.”

Arvind Krishnan, President & CEO, Wellness Division, Happiest Health, said, “We are delighted that our corporate wellness services are now combined with Happiest Health’s offerings and delivered under the brand name of HappiZest. We look forward to building a wellness business that is of value to individuals and companies across the country.”

Ashok Soota, Chairman of Happiest Health said, “The vision of Happiest Health is to provide comprehensive support for physical, emotional, financial, and social well-being. The focus will remain on holistic wellness, with an aim to empower individuals and corporate employees to lead healthier, happier lives by nurturing every aspect of their well-being.”

ShopSee MD Unveils Patented, Innovative Medical Video Tool Streamlining Patient Procedure Comprehension and Consent,

Santa Barbara, CA, June 29, 2024 –Surgery procedures are often complex, expensive, and high-risk for both the healthcare organization and the patient. One area causing a significant financial loss is patient unpreparedness. Patients arriving unprepared for their surgery raise the financial risk for the healthcare organization and creates higher stress for the staff and patients, resulting in delays leading to higher costs in time and in money.

ShopSee MD™ is introducing a patented, turnkey HIPAA Compliant solution that uses interactive video to simplify complex information, confirm patient comprehension, consent, and compliance. ShopSee MD™ uses the healthcare organization’s existing video library to create interactive videos that can be e-mailed to patients or delivered within their patient portals to fully explain upcoming procedures, answer patient questions and capture signatures on paperwork required by the healthcare organization prior to the procedure date.

Benefits of this AI driven technology include:

· Higher Retention: Patients retain more than 80% usage and retention rate when watching and interacting with a video rather than reading as most are “visual learners”.

· Legal Compliance: Automatically confirm patients’ understanding throughout the video through interactive checkpoints which go straight into the healthcare organization’s records automatically.

· Clarification: Patients can clarify any item by clicking on it and bringing up more detail which are then confirmed by the patient as understood, going into the healthcare organization’s record automatically.

· Save Money: Mitigate lawsuits and wasted time due to patients being ill-prepared and having a lack of understanding about their procedure.

· Reduce Stress: Lower stress levels for patients and medical staff by having better prepared patients.

· Compliance: Electronically confirms patient compliance and agreement through interactive confirmation and final sign-off.

ShopSee MD™’s patented technology is built explicitly for Healthcare Enterprise (Privacy, Regulations, etc.) and is based around centralized AI-driven data. The AI-driven data uncovers deeper insights and improves patient understanding, creating cleaner healthcare organization-patient messaging.

Kidney Care Partners Raises Concerns Around 2025 ESRD PPS Proposed Rule

Washington, DC, June 29, 2024 — Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s leading kidney care multi-stakeholder coalition representing patient advocates, physician organizations, health professional groups, dialysis providers, researchers, and manufacturers – today released the following statement in reaction to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule on End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS), Payment for Renal Dialysis Services Furnished to Individuals with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program (QIP), and End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices Model (ETC):

While our members continue to review the proposed rule, KCP is deeply concerned about the sustainability of the program given that the market basket fails to reflect the actual increase in costs incurred by facilities. Moreover, we are disappointed that CMS did not heed the kidney care community’s call for reforms to address the barriers the current payment policies have created in terms of patients being able to access innovative treatment options. Without changes in these areas, dialysis patients who are, as CMS notes, “disproportionately young, male, African American, have disabilities and low income” will continue to experience significant inequities when compared to patients with other chronic diseases.

Despite these concerns, KCP supports CMS’ proposal to expand access to home dialysis for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Increasing access for AKI patients is particularly important, as it can improve outcomes and enable patients to recover kidney function, avoiding permanent kidney failure that can lead to a need for life-long dialysis or kidney transplant. KCP also appreciates CMS’ ongoing attention to the cost and operational challenges associated with moving historically unbundled drug products into the PPS and urges CMS to provide sufficient funding to support these activities which are not currently covered by the base rate. We are also pleased that CMS seeks to better direct resources to low-volume facilities through the two-tiered low-volume adjuster. Moreover, KCP is heartened that CMS has addressed the community’s concerns and has proposed to reinstate the four individual dialysis adequacy measures and to remove the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) dialysis event reporting measure.

Need for a Sustainable Market Basket that Reflects the Cost of Providing Care to Individuals Requiring Dialysis Services

CMS proposes a market basket increase (minus the productivity factor) of 1.8 percent, based on the existing market basket methodology. We appreciate that CMS is trying to address this issue, but the rule falls short of meeting the actual increase in costs that dialysis facilities have experienced. In addition to failing to capture actual inflationary costs for the fifth year in a row, the dialysis market basket increase has historically been the lowest among Medicare providers, making it extremely challenging for dialysis facilities to compete against the wages provided by other providers, such as hospitals, which have seen significant increases in additional funding in recent years.

KCP continues to urge CMS to reexamine the market basket methodology in light of actual cost data demonstrating increases and provide a more sustainable update.

The Current Post-TDAPA Policy Continues to Stifle Innovation, Despite Efforts to Address the Lack of Adequate Funding for New, Innovative Therapies in the Base Rate

KCP appreciates language in the preamble demonstrating that CMS recognizes that the current policies negatively impact patient access to new, innovative treatment options.

However, the proposed modifications do not go far enough to address the failure of the post-Transitional Drug Add-on Payment Adjustment (TDAPA) temporary base rate adjustment to meet its intended purpose of incentivizing access to new drugs and biological products. KCP had hoped that CMS would take a more patient-centric approach and reform this policy by revising its methodology in recognition that, as designed, the bundle does not include sufficient funding for new treatment options that address recognized gaps in care. As the real-world example of patients not being able to access the only FDA-approved drug to treat CKD-associated pruritis demonstrates, an inadequate payment rate for innovative products creates a significant barrier to patient access.

KCP urges CMS to consider the kidney care community’s concerns and looks forward to providing more specific feedback in forthcoming comments.

Surya Hospitals organizes a Health and Screening Camp with Tribal Community

29th June 2024 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India To promote health awareness and provide the necessary knowledge to the community, a health and screening camp on Sickle Cell Disease was organized by Surya Hospitals in the rural village of Vasai, Maharashtra recently.

The event featured educational talks by Dr. Vandana Bansal and Dr. Nisha Iyer, which reached over 100 students. Additionally, Adivasi residents at the camp were tested for the HPLB gene to evaluate their susceptibility to Sickle cell disease. Participants also had the opportunity to consult with doctors and receive valuable information on preventive care and healthy lifestyle choices.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vandana Bansal, Director, Department of Fetal Medicine, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecology, Surya Hospitals said, “Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic hemoglobin disorder common amongst the tribal population of India. According to the census, Scheduled Tribes constitute 8.6 per cent of the country’s total population and 11.3 per cent of the total rural population. Requiring lifelong management, Sickle Cell Disease contributes to significant morbidity and mortality amongst the affected infants and children. In India, there are many comprehensive guidelines for prevention of the disease developed jointly by the Government of Health and Family Welfare and the Government of Tribal Affairs. But because of lack of awareness those guidelines are not fructified. So, we have organized the camp to make people understand and give them a basic knowledge about the disease. Hope, through this initiative, we can strengthen our commitment to combating this disease.”

Dr. Nisha Iyer, Pediatric Hemato Oncologist and BMT Physician, Surya Hospitals stated, “The initiative aimed to enhance health literacy among college students and the Adivasi population, identifying individuals at risk of Sickle cell disease. Regular health screenings are important for early detection and prevention of diseases. Events like these play a vital role in promoting overall well-being and empowering individuals to take charge of their health.” She also added, “The success of the camp would not have been possible without the support of volunteers, and community members who came together with us to make this camp a reality. We, Surya Hospitals, extends its gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the health camp.”

Sickle Cell is an inherited blood type disease in which a genetic mutation causes abnormal hemoglobin to clump together and soften red blood cells. Sickle cells cause blood clots, leading to bleeding, pain, infections and other serious problems. People with sickle cell disease carry only one defective gene and usually live normal lives, but they can pass that gene on to their children. Therefore, adults and newborns must undergo medical examinations for the disease.

Dr. Stefie Deeds Featured in New York Times Article on Innovative Obesity Treatment Approach

Seattle, WA, June 27, 2024 –Dr. Stefie Deeds, a Seattle-based internist and obesity medicine specialist, was recently featured in a New York Times article exploring the emerging “obesity first” approach to treating chronic diseases. The article, published on June 18, 2024, highlights how treating obesity with medications can lead to improvements in other health conditions.

Dr. Deeds, who runs a private practice in Seattle, is at the forefront of this innovative treatment approach. “We are treating the medical condition of obesity and its related complications at the same time,” Dr. Deeds explained in the article.

The New York Times piece prominently features one of Dr. Deeds’ patients who experienced significant improvements in her arthritis and high blood pressure after being prescribed Wegovy, a new obesity medication. She not only lost over 50 pounds but also found that her arthritis symptoms improved and she no longer needed blood pressure medication.

Dr. Deeds’ approach exemplifies a growing movement in obesity medicine that focuses on addressing obesity as a primary condition, rather than solely treating its related health issues separately. This method has shown promising results in improving various chronic conditions associated with obesity.

“Being featured by The New York Times for our approach to obesity treatment is a tremendous honor,” said Dr. Deeds. “It underscores the importance of considering obesity as a treatable medical condition that can have far-reaching effects on a patient’s overall health.”