#1: The Relay Begins: Your First Dose of Healthcare Insights!

Technology and Innovation in Healthcare

• 👩‍⚕️ GOQii and Acrannolife Genomics have launched the GrafCare Program, which revolutionises post-transplant care by using genomic diagnostics, AI, and personalised health monitoring. This innovative initiative aims to enhance patient outcomes in India and expand globally to South East Asia and Middle East. (Express Healthcare)

Research in Healthcare

• 🏠️ Mayo Clinic, with its decentralised clinical trials, is pioneering patient-centred research by integrating tele-health and home-based care to make trials more accessible. Their innovative approach, accelerated by the pandemic, is reshaping the future of clinical research, bringing it directly into patients' lives. (Healthcare IT News)

• 😷 For patients who have cancer metastasised to more than 10 spots of the body, a safe high-precision therapy has been found in a new Phase 1 clinical trial from London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute. (LHSCRI) (Medical Dialogues)

Public Health and Policy

• 💉 ICMR is developing a vaccine for Avian influenza H5N1, a serious public health risk. While human cases remain limited, the high fatality rate exceeding 50% is a cause for concern. (ET)

• 🚰After contaminated water was confirmed as one of the causes for the spread of GBS, Pune Municipal Corporation is set to form SOPs for RO water plants in Pune. (HT)

Government

🔦 This Week’s Spotlight 🔦 : Union Budget 2025 - Implications in Healthcare

1. ₹ India's healthcare sector gets a 9.8% boost in Budget 2025, with ₹99,859 crore allocated to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (CNBC TV 18)

2. 🏥To combat the rising cancer burden in India, 200 Daycare Cancer Centres will be established in district hospitals. (Express Healthcare)

3. 💊36 life-saving drugs, including those for cancer and rare diseases, will be exempted from basic customs duty. (HT)

4. 🗞️Ayushmaan Bharat coverage announced for 1 crore gig workers, acknowledging their contribution. (The Indian Express)

5. 🩺 Plans to add 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years, with 10,000 set to be introduced next year. (HT)

• 🇮🇳 India has launched Hospital Engagement Module (HEM 2.0) to streamline hospital empanelment under Ayushmaan Bharat. The initiative guarantees reliable and ethical healthcare services for beneficiaries by incorporating advanced verification protocols, regular compliance reviews, and a robust grievance redressal system. (eHealth)

• 🇺🇸 Trump Administration Halts U.S. International Health Aid. President Trump has ordered a 90-day freeze on U.S. foreign aid, including critical health and food assistance, severely impacting USAID operations. (Forbes)

Institutions, Businesses, and Healthcare professionals

• 🏥 Manipal Hospital, Pune, has launched its Preventive Oncology Clinic on World Cancer Day. It offers early cancer detection, risk assessment, counseling, and regular screenings to improve treatment outcomes. (Express Healthcare)

• ℹ️ The “Unify to Notify” initiative was launched by Apollo Hospital on World Cancer Day to classify cancer as a notifiable disease. Through this initiative, real-time epidemiological data can be collected and accessed to ensure standardised treatments, accurate cancer insights, improved prevention strategies, and efficient research funding. (Express Healthcare)

• 🖥️ Virohan, a leading healthcare EdTech platform in India, has teamed up with Mahajan Imaging & Labs to bridge India’s healthcare workforce gap by offering students hands-on training with cutting-edge diagnostic technologies. This partnership empowers future Allied Health Professionals with the skills needed to thrive in the evolving healthcare landscape. (eHealth)

• ℹ️ Over 1 Million Medical Records Stolen in Major Healthcare Data Breach at Community Health Center, a Connecticut-based healthcare provider, exposing personal and health information. The attack underscores growing cybersecurity threats in healthcare, with experts warning of increasing risks to patient privacy and data security in 2025. (Forbes)

• 🏗️ India’s healthcare infrastructure is set for a revolutionary shift with the appointment of Joakim Weidemanis as CEO of Johnson Controls, a global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable building solutions. His leadership will bring innovative, AI-driven, and sustainable building solutions to improve hospital efficiency and patient care. (eHealth)

Drugs, Regulations, and Insurance

• 💊 Novo Nordisk is standing firm behind its next-gen obesity drug, CagriSema, after trial data shook investor confidence and slashed $125 billion from its market value. Despite the setback, the company remains optimistic, citing superior weight-loss results compared to its blockbuster, Wegovy. (Reuters)

• 📜 India, the 10th largest insurance market globally, is projected to experience rapid growth in its insurance sector, with total premium growth expected at 7.1%, surpassing the global average of 2.4% between 2024-2028. This growth is driven by increased private sector participation, technology, innovation, better distribution channels, and operational efficiencies. (Financial Express)

Healthcare Deals and IPOs

• 🧒 India’s first digital paediatric care platform, Babynama, has secured $700K in seed funding to revolutionise child healthcare with cutting-edge technology and expert pediatric support. Backed by top investors, Babynama is set to make quality pediatric care more accessible and affordable for families nationwide. (eHealth)

• 💰️ Mumbai-based dialysis chain, Apex Kidney Care, has received $10million funding from Tata Capital, a PE firm. The chain plans to utilise the funds to expand its operations from the current 180 centres to 300 centres, pan-India, within the next 2 years. (ET)

• Bengaluru-based caregiving-tech start-up LegUp has secured $250K in pre-seed funding from Bluebridge Capital. This funding will help LegUp transform India’s caregiving landscape, efficiently connecting families with skilled caregivers. (eHealth)

• 🦷 DentCare Dental Lab, Asia’s largest and the world’s second-largest dental lab, plans to acquire U.S. labs and expand across India to become a global leader. To fund this growth, the Rs 1,500 crore company is selling 10% equity, with ICICI Capital, Wipro, and Axis Bank shortlisted as potential investors. (The New Indian Express)

• 🧪 Teladoc Health, a virtual care company, is acquiring Catapult Health in a $65 million deal to expand its virtual preventative care and integrated health services. Catapult Health partners with employers and health plans to provide at-home diagnostic testing and virtual healthcare consultations. (mobihealthnews)