Digital healthcare: Is it the road ahead for healthcare systems? Digital healthcare: Is it the road ahead for healthcare systems? Content Editor: Dr. Prachi July 31, 2024 Social trends Digital health, Technology, Innovation, Telemedicine Telemedicine has increased the accessibility of healthcare and reduced the burden on doctors as well. Since 2013, Indian doctors have taken 20 million appointments online on Practo, compared to 638,000 in 2009, a trend supported by the American Medical Association (AMA) . Doctors in Bangalore and Delhi were the earliest in this digital race, followed by Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai. The greatest increase in digital appointments is seen in gynecology, orthopedics, pediatrics, physiotherapy, and psychiatry. This digital revolution is helping to create a healthcare system that is more efficient, accessible, and and patient-centered.

Child Poverty: Alarming rates in 40 wealthy global countries Child Poverty: Alarming rates in 40 wealthy global countries Content Editor: Dr. Rashmi Verma January 9, 2024 UNICEF Child poverty, Poverty risks, OECD UNICEF Innocenti's latest release reveals surges in child poverty in affluent OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) and EU (European Union) nations from 2014-2021 . It underscores the adverse impact of childhood poverty on education, earnings, and life expectancy disparities. Inequality in poverty risks is stark, notably affecting children with disabilities, minorities, ethnic/ racial backgrounds, and those in lone-parent families. Stable economic growth from 2012-2019 presents a recovery opportunity post-2008-10 recession. The report stresses the potential improvement in children's living conditions, independent of a nation's wealth. To eradicate child poverty , urgent measures include: Expanding social protection . Ensuring access to quality services. Generating employment opportunities with fair pay and family-friendly policies. Tailoring measures for minority groups and single-headed households . The Report Card emphasizes the immediate impact of cash benefits in alleviating poverty, urging decision-makers to prioritize and increase expenditure on child and family benefits.

AIIMS New Delhi embracing 100% digital payments AIIMS New Delhi embracing 100% digital payments Content Editor: Prayag Khandelwal February 15, 2024 AIIMS, New Delhi website DIGITAL HEALTH According to an order released on 17th November 2022, it has been advised that AIIMS smart card system for patients and attendants should be introduced from April 1 2023 in partnership with SBI bank. In follow up to this, a new office order has been issued by the Office of Director at AIIMS which states: A 100% integrated digital billing system is important to ensure that no patient is defrauded and the institute's accounting is also auditable on end to end basis By 31st March 2024, AIIMS smart cards will be used across AIIMS New Delhi for all types of payments Cash payments will not be accepted at any counter other than the AIIMS smart card recharge counters All payments must be accepted at the installed payment endpoints closest to the patient's location Patients or their companions should not be required to go to the central registration counter for any payment

17th National Statistics Day celebrated on 29th June to commemorate birth anniversary of (late) Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis 17th National Statistics Day celebrated on 29th June to commemorate birth anniversary of (late) Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis Content Editor: Dr. Jasmin Nilima Panda July 18, 2023 Public Health, SDG, Statistics Press Information Bureau The 17th National Statistics Day was celebrated on 29th June to commemorate the birth anniversary of (Late) Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis , the Father of Indian Statistics and a Padma Vibhusan awardee. He has contributed immensely in the field of Official Statistics and Economic Planning of the country after independence. Some of his notable works include: Devised Mahalanobis Distance (useful statistical measure for comparing two data sets). Introduced the concept of pilot surveys and advocated the usefulness of sampling methods. Established the Indian Statistical Institute at Kolkata and Central Statistical Organisation. One of the members of the first Planning Commission post-independence. The objective of this day is to create public awareness, particularly among the younger generation, about the role and importance of statistics in socioeconomic planning and policy formulation. The theme for Statistics Day, 2023 is “Alignment of State Indicator Framework with National Indicator Framework for Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals” . This year, the main event of Statistics Day, 2023 was organized at Scope Convention Centre, New Delhi, where the Report on Sustainable Development Goals-National Indicator Framework, 2023 was released during the event.

Delhi Economic Survey-Key findings Delhi Economic Survey-Key findings Content Editor: Dr.Urmimala March 5, 2024 Delhi Economic Survey State Survey, Delhi Economic Survey The key findings of the survey, related to health are: Multi- and Super- specialty hospitals- 38 Aam Admi Mohalla clinics- 520 Polyclinics- 30 Dispensaries(allopathic)- 174 Dispensaries (ayurvedic)- 55 Dispensaries (Unani)- 25 Dispensaries (homeopathic)- 117 Seed PUHC( Primary Urban Health Centres)- 60 School Health clinics- 46 The bed-to-population ratio remained the same as the previous year (much below WHO recommendations) The number of medical institutions has decreased from 3507 to 3423 in 2022-2023. The per-capita health expenditure has increased by 2.22 times during the last 6 years. A slight increase in institutional deliveries has been noticed to 94.02% in 2022. Full immunization coverage of 93% in 2022-2023. 37590 PLHIV are receiving treatment in 12 ART centers across Delhi. 21 drug samples out of 639 have been rejected by government analysts based on Quality standards. Click here to read more

Government upheld the validity of guidelines on blood donor selection Government upheld the validity of guidelines on blood donor selection Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti March 13, 2023 Bar and Bench Public Health Laws and Regulations, Blood Transfusion, NACO A transgender rights activist raised a PIL in 2021 challenging the constitutional validity of "Guidelines on Blood Donor Selection and Blood Donor Referral, 2017 " issued by NACO and the National Transfusion Council, which prohibits transgender persons, men who have sex with men and female sex workers from donating blood or plasma as they are considered ' at risk of ' HIV, Hepatitis B or C infection. On March 11, 2023, Union Health Ministry filed an affidavit requesting the dismissal of the plea to the supreme court, putting public health responsibility above individual rights . Because of the limitation of tests in preventing infection via donated blood , providing safe blood to the transfusion recipient is deemed more important than the individual's right to donate blood. The Government supported its statement with substantial clinical evidence to prove the exclusion of the above categories of persons in the guidelines. Refer to the guidelines - Click here