#8: Bacteria-sniffing dogs, first homegrown MRI scanner, and medicine price hikes!

This week in healthcare: India’s first homegrown MRI scanner is set to slash costs by 50%, reducing imports dependence. Meanwhile, Jodie, the bacteria-sniffing Labrador, is transforming non-invasive diagnostics. On the pharma front, medicine prices under the National List of Essential Medicines will rise by 1.74%. Read on to know more!

• 🩻 India’s first homegrown MRI scanner will arrive at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi by Oct 2025, slashing scan costs by 50%! An affordable healthcare solution that reduces reliance on pricey imports. (Mint) 

• 💉 Endo is the first pharmaceutical company to launch a Spatial Computing Injection Stimulator. With its new mixed-reality training tool on Apple Vision Pro, hand specialists can perfect their technique in a virtual space before ever pricking a patient. (PR Newswire)

• 🐶 Meet Jodie, the golden Labrador with a nose for bacteria. Researchers at Imperial College London are training dogs to detect infections in cystic fibrosis patients by scent, paving the way for non-invasive diagnostics and a new ally in the fight against antibiotic resistance. (The guardian)

• 🧠 The Oxford Drug Discovery Institute is using AI-powered knowledge graphs to sift through mountains of biomedical data at lightning speed—identifying drug targets nearly 10x faster. Smarter tech, faster breakthroughs, and a step closer to tackling Alzheimer’s! (WSJ)

• 💉 The FDA just approved Sanofi’s Qfitlia, a hemophilia treatment that works for all patients, even those with inhibitors—no more frequent IVs, just a simple shot every two months! With its convenience and effectiveness, Qfitlia is set to shake up the market and could hit $1 billion in sales by 2030. (FP)

• 🤝 United Laboratories (TUL) just struck a deal with Novo Nordisk, handing over global rights (except some regions) to develop UBT251, a promising obesity and diabetes drug. The deal comes with a $200M upfront payout, up to $1.8B in milestones, and tiered royalties! (PB)

• 📈 The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has approved a 1.74% price hike for scheduled drugs under National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), adjusting for wholesale price index (WPI) changes. While pharma companies get some relief from rising costs, your medicine bill might feel the pinch! (BS)

• 🏥 The Indian government is integrating the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme with the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). With no expenditure cap, 150 million people get unlimited, cashless treatment at 30,000+ hospitals! (BS)

• 🫁 A recent survey of insurance claims by Reliance General Insurance reveals a sharp rise in respiratory-related hospitalisations in winter. Rising healthcare costs and worsening air pollution highlight the urgent need for better air quality, preventive care, and awareness. (EH)

🇮🇳 India

• 👁️ The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is taking eye care to new heights—literally! In a groundbreaking pilot, drones successfully transported corneas, proving that aerial medical logistics could revolutionise transplants—a game-changer for eye banking in India. (BioS)

• 🧾 Indian government plans to implement a uniform billing format for all clinical establishments, including hospitals, nursing homes, and diagnostic centres, ensuring clear, itemised charges breakdown. Say goodbye to billing confusion—hello, transparency! (MD)

• 🔬 India has sequenced 10,000 Mycobacterium Tuberculosis genomes, unlocking genetic secrets to tackle drug resistance. This breakthrough under the Data Driven Research to Eradicate TB (Dare2eraD TB) program promises faster, smarter diagnostics to outpace the disease. (The Week)

• 🤖 AI is taking center stage in Indian healthcare as the Ministry of Health has designated AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh as Centres of Excellence for AI— spearheading innovations like AI-driven disease tracking, smarter clinical decisions, and next-gen TB detection. (ehealth)

• 🧑‍⚖️ The Supreme Court has launched a National Task Force (NTF) and ordered its funding, to tackle the student mental health crisis, highlighting the crushing pressure of academics and extreme competition.(BS)

🇮🇳 India

• 🚀 DCDC Kidney Care, India’s top dialysis chain, has secured a massive ₹150 crore investment from ABC Impact, to expand its reach across India. This funding will power 150+ new clinics,  making high-quality dialysis care more accessible. (BS)

• 👀 Remidio, a global leader in AI-driven eye care, is backing Occuity to bring cutting-edge, non-invasive disease screening to India. This powerhouse partnership is set to make early detection of chronic illnesses sharper and faster. (EH)

• 💰 Kotak Alternate Asset Managers has pumped ₹1,050 crore into Tirupati Medicare, a nutraceutical contract manager for giants like Pfizer and Abbott. The investment provides a complete exit for previous investor Affirma Capital. (ET)

• 💙 Karnataka’s Prashanthi Balamandira Trust just made history by launching India’s biggest Social Stock Exchange (SSE) listing on the NSE! The funds will support the Emergency and Trauma Care Wing of its soon-to-open 600-bed hospital—offering life-saving services completely free of charge. (EH)

• 🎗️ Narayana Health, W Health Ventures, and 2070 Health have teamed up to launch Everhope Oncology, a cutting-edge cancer care platform backed by a $10M seed fund. With advanced facilities set for Delhi and Mumbai Everhope has plans to scale across 10 cities in the next three years. (ehealth)

🌏️ Global

• 🏭 AstraZeneca is betting big on Beijiing, pouring $2.5 billion to create its sixth global strategic R&D centre. This investment will boost biotech collaborations, including with Harbour BioMed, Syneron Bio, and BioKangtai, and expand the workforce to 1,700 employees. (PB)

• 💲 Johnson & Johnson is investing $2 billion on a cutting-edge biologics factory in North Carolina, fast-tracking breakthrough treatments for cancer, immune, and neurological diseases. But that's just the start—J&J is going all-in on US expansion, with a whopping $55 billion investment planned over the next four years!(PB)