Ranbaxy shares tumble after Lipitor ruling
Mon Dec 19, 2005 4:38 AM ET
By M.C. Govardhana Rangan
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Shares in Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. fell almost 9 percent on Monday after a U.S. judge ruled that India's top drug maker could not launch a copycat version of Pfizer Inc.'s $12 billion-a-year cholesterol drug, Lipitor.
The ruling comes as Ranbaxy (RANB.BO) is already fighting sharp price erosion in the crucial U.S. market amid intense competition, a slowdown in new product launches and higher research and development and litigation costs.
A U.S. federal judge on Friday upheld the validity of two of Pfizer's (PFE.N) U.S. patents on the cholesterol drug, blocking a generic version that Ranbaxy planned to introduce.
Ranbaxy has said it will appeal against the verdict.
One analyst said the ruling would boost the confidence of firms hesitant to spend money for research and development, but would not stop generic makers from challenging patents.
"The companies which believe in a high risk, high return strategy could continue to challenge patents," said Kavita Thomas, analyst at First Global Securities, adding that Israeli generics firm Teva (TEVA.TA) was still aggressive.
Drugs worth about $25-$30 billion are estimated to come off patent in 2006-07 and generic makers will have opportunities to grab six-month exclusivity deals before they become freely accessible, analysts said.
News of Pfizer's victory in the challenge that threatened the U.S. company's largest source of revenue had lifted its shares 10 percent in New York on Friday.
"This is the best-case outcome for Pfizer and the branded industry," said one dealer in London. "It should be a positive for the whole group and for Sanofi in particular."
Sanofi-Aventis SA (SASY.PA) is not directly involved in the cholesterol market but its shares were boosted by hopes the Lipitor ruling augured well for its own court fight over top-selling bloodthinner Plavix.
In Mumbai, Ranbaxy shares dropped to as low as 355.55 rupees, before edging back up to 366 rupees by 0926 GMT, still down 6.2 percent, while the benchmark BSE index was up 1 percent.
LOST OPPORTUNITY
Sanjeev Chiniwar, analyst at Anand Rathi Securities, said a Ranbaxy victory in the patent challenge would have been "a great opportunity" as the market had not really factored in potential earnings from a version of Lipitor.
He said he maintained a buy rating on Ranbaxy as earnings could improve in the coming quarters.
At Monday's low, Ranbaxy shares had fallen 43 percent in 2005, underperforming a 41 percent jump in the BSE index.
Ranbaxy President Malvinder Singh told Reuters on Saturday the U.S. ruling would have no impact on the company's business plans.
"If you look at the top line, bottom line, we have not factored anything on atorvastatin (Lipitor) into our business plan," he said.
Ranbaxy's net profit slumped 91 percent to 184 million rupees in the September quarter as competition in the U.S. generic market ate into its profit margins, though the company forecasts a much better 2006.
It plans to launch 15 products in the United States and has said sales will rise 18 percent, compared with a forecast of low single digits for 2005. It also sees an operating margin of more than 16 percent in 2006 against 8 percent expected for 2005.
Ranbaxy had lost its challenge of the basic patent on Lipitor in the UK in October, a ruling it is appealing.
"When you're running a marathon, you don't judge yourself at the 100-meter or 400-meter point, you have to look at running the full course," Ranbaxy's Singh said, adding he expected a final judgment in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Indian Health Care Sector
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George J
I just hate it when they call Indian made generic version of branded drugs as copy-cats drugs. Its not like some sleazy Indian stole a lipitor pill (or bought one using flase names) brought it back to India and then crushed it and gave each part to another group of equally sleazy Indians and asked them to see if they can figure out how to make atorvastatin.
EVERYTHING about the molecule is known coz its PUBLISHED in literature: its structure, intermediates, purity and quality stds. and then all you need to go is get its bioavailablity information from another public entity: FDA and just need to establish bio-equivalence.
Its like saying that you make palak paneer the way Sanjeev Kapoor makes it after he has broadcasted on TV and Print the EXACT recipe. The MAJOR difference is that unlike Palak Paneer that you make at home which might/will differ in taste from Sajeev Kapoor's, the standards laid out for drugs demand that the generic perform EXACTLY as the originator.
I just dont get it...how they call it reverse-engineer/copycats when EVERTHING is known, its not like a fake chinese rolex which only looks like a rolex but its internals are different its performance is different and the engineering drawings and designs of the OEM Rolex is NEVER available to anyone from a public source???
EVERYTHING about the molecule is known coz its PUBLISHED in literature: its structure, intermediates, purity and quality stds. and then all you need to go is get its bioavailablity information from another public entity: FDA and just need to establish bio-equivalence.
Its like saying that you make palak paneer the way Sanjeev Kapoor makes it after he has broadcasted on TV and Print the EXACT recipe. The MAJOR difference is that unlike Palak Paneer that you make at home which might/will differ in taste from Sajeev Kapoor's, the standards laid out for drugs demand that the generic perform EXACTLY as the originator.
I just dont get it...how they call it reverse-engineer/copycats when EVERTHING is known, its not like a fake chinese rolex which only looks like a rolex but its internals are different its performance is different and the engineering drawings and designs of the OEM Rolex is NEVER available to anyone from a public source???
The Forgotten Practice
Isn't it a pity that whenever health of our systems - education, health etc are always compared with western standard, though india being a pioneer in such fields once upon a time? Say, the first hospital in the world, or brain surgery or Takshshila and Nalanda Universities.
Why we are not discussing Ayurveda over here?
Medical tourism connected to Ayurveda is also gathering steam. Kerala is in the forefront.
The scene is changing. You can have a feel of professionalism yourself by visiting a Himalaya Drug Store in Metros! Or mushrooming kerala Aushadhshala in Metros.
It is said that global ayurveda market is $62 billion where India's size is $ 814 million !!!
Likewise Yoga is also used for curing disease.
these should also be discussed over here to get the holistic health system in India.
After the advent of Firangs in India, all native skills were lost to stupid systems which are rather money centric while Firangs themselves turning to Ayurveda and Yoga while Candle Wallahs misguides !!!
I believe, there should be a separate thread on Indian Ayurveda and Alternate Therapy its Global Impact and Effect on Indian Economy.
Why we are not discussing Ayurveda over here?
Medical tourism connected to Ayurveda is also gathering steam. Kerala is in the forefront.
The scene is changing. You can have a feel of professionalism yourself by visiting a Himalaya Drug Store in Metros! Or mushrooming kerala Aushadhshala in Metros.
It is said that global ayurveda market is $62 billion where India's size is $ 814 million !!!
Likewise Yoga is also used for curing disease.
these should also be discussed over here to get the holistic health system in India.
After the advent of Firangs in India, all native skills were lost to stupid systems which are rather money centric while Firangs themselves turning to Ayurveda and Yoga while Candle Wallahs misguides !!!
I believe, there should be a separate thread on Indian Ayurveda and Alternate Therapy its Global Impact and Effect on Indian Economy.
Air ambulance concept fast catching up in India
Air ambulance concept fast catching up in India
C H Unnikrishnan & P R Sanjai in Mumbai | February 11, 2006 03:37 IST
Air ambulance -- airlifting patients or doctors in emergency cases -- is a concept fast catching up in the country.
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, the new avatar of Dr Mandke Heart Hospital in Mumbai, is the latest to have this facility.
The hospital, scheduled to be commissioned by early 2007, is planning to introduce the service in collaboration with a leading aviation company. The multi-speciality hospital will have a helipad on its terrace to ferry patients in the case of emergency.
Escort Hospitals in New Delhi recently renovated its facility with a helipad on its rooftop and became the first hospital in the country to offer this service to its high-profile patients.
It now plans to tie up with Deccan Aviation, a subsidiary of low-cost carrier Air Deccan, to fly air ambulance as an integral part of the package of services which patients can avail of.
Manipal Hospital in Bangalore, too, is readying to launch this service in association with an airline company.
In Mumbai, a couple of other hospitals, including the proposed multi-speciality hospitals of the Apollo group, are planning helipads at their complexes.
Medical evacuation by air is not a new concept in the US or the UK. However, the focus there is on transporting medical experts and surgeons from one hospital to another to attend emergency cases or even routinely scheduled surgeries. This helps the hospitals share the time of visiting specialists.
With the concept coming into vogue here, constructing a hospital structure with a basic plan of a helipad on the terrace in compliance with the air safety norms is turning out to be an essential part of new projects.
Medical evacuation in the twin-engine air ambulance costs between Rs 65,000 and Rs 70,000 an hour.
"We had originally planned a helipad on the terrace of the hospital. The air ambulance service would become functional along with the commissioning of the hospital," said Dr Alka Mandke, director, KDAH.
Deccan Aviation Director Capt Jayant Poovaiah said the company had tied up with hospitals such as Escorts in New Delhi and Manipal in Bangalore.
"We are in the process of joining hands with a leading hospital in Mumbai," Capt Poovaiah said.
Deccan Aviation does not have specialised air ambulances. It plans to reconfigure helicopters according to the requirement of the medical evacuation. Seats are being relocated to accommodate patients.
Deccan Aviation is a leading player in medical evacuation with 10 helicopters and two aeroplanes. Other players in the business include Million Air, India International and Span Air with two helicopters each.
A regular air ambulance service attached with multi-speciality hospitals in the metros would also help boost medical tourism.
Currently, very few new hospital projects like the Rs 400-crore BMC-Sun Hills Hospital in Mumbai are being planned in the vicinity of airports, offering easy access for medical tourists.
Once air ambulance service becomes part of a hospital's package, heavy traffic will not be a deterrent factor for the patients to visit hospital in
emergencies.
--- we need helicopters not only for this for trafiic monitoring too...
Air ambulance concept fast catching up in India
C H Unnikrishnan & P R Sanjai in Mumbai | February 11, 2006 03:37 IST
Air ambulance -- airlifting patients or doctors in emergency cases -- is a concept fast catching up in the country.
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, the new avatar of Dr Mandke Heart Hospital in Mumbai, is the latest to have this facility.
The hospital, scheduled to be commissioned by early 2007, is planning to introduce the service in collaboration with a leading aviation company. The multi-speciality hospital will have a helipad on its terrace to ferry patients in the case of emergency.
Escort Hospitals in New Delhi recently renovated its facility with a helipad on its rooftop and became the first hospital in the country to offer this service to its high-profile patients.
It now plans to tie up with Deccan Aviation, a subsidiary of low-cost carrier Air Deccan, to fly air ambulance as an integral part of the package of services which patients can avail of.
Manipal Hospital in Bangalore, too, is readying to launch this service in association with an airline company.
In Mumbai, a couple of other hospitals, including the proposed multi-speciality hospitals of the Apollo group, are planning helipads at their complexes.
Medical evacuation by air is not a new concept in the US or the UK. However, the focus there is on transporting medical experts and surgeons from one hospital to another to attend emergency cases or even routinely scheduled surgeries. This helps the hospitals share the time of visiting specialists.
With the concept coming into vogue here, constructing a hospital structure with a basic plan of a helipad on the terrace in compliance with the air safety norms is turning out to be an essential part of new projects.
Medical evacuation in the twin-engine air ambulance costs between Rs 65,000 and Rs 70,000 an hour.
"We had originally planned a helipad on the terrace of the hospital. The air ambulance service would become functional along with the commissioning of the hospital," said Dr Alka Mandke, director, KDAH.
Deccan Aviation Director Capt Jayant Poovaiah said the company had tied up with hospitals such as Escorts in New Delhi and Manipal in Bangalore.
"We are in the process of joining hands with a leading hospital in Mumbai," Capt Poovaiah said.
Deccan Aviation does not have specialised air ambulances. It plans to reconfigure helicopters according to the requirement of the medical evacuation. Seats are being relocated to accommodate patients.
Deccan Aviation is a leading player in medical evacuation with 10 helicopters and two aeroplanes. Other players in the business include Million Air, India International and Span Air with two helicopters each.
A regular air ambulance service attached with multi-speciality hospitals in the metros would also help boost medical tourism.
Currently, very few new hospital projects like the Rs 400-crore BMC-Sun Hills Hospital in Mumbai are being planned in the vicinity of airports, offering easy access for medical tourists.
Once air ambulance service becomes part of a hospital's package, heavy traffic will not be a deterrent factor for the patients to visit hospital in
emergencies.
--- we need helicopters not only for this for trafiic monitoring too...
Stem cells: Bio-insurance for your child
http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/feb/22spec3.htm
Shobha Warrier in Chennai | February 22, 2006
When Neha and Vivek Saxena decided to bank the cord blood cells of their baby more than a year ago as an 'insurance,' little did they realise that they would have to use it so soon.
Although their families did not have a history of any health problems, they decided to bank the stem cells of their baby.
"We did it for our child. But I took some time to be convinced mainly because it involved big money. I consulted my family doctor, my sister and father who are scientists, to know whether it was worth it. It is a kind of bio-insurance for our child," Neha explained the thoughts that went behind the decision.
Unfortunately, her son developed intolerance to milk from the fourth month onwards. "This has made him extremely vulnerable to diseases. My son is also anaemic, and is on antibiotics. I just hope and pray that some scientist would do some research on this area. I pray that the investment that we made will solve these issues. I feel this is the best insurance we have taken for our son."
Neha had post-delivery complications due to the negligence in the hospital, and a blood patch surgery on her back a week after the delivery has made the situation even worse. Now she has severe back pain, headache and many other health problems. "The only hope I have now for spinal injury is the stem cells of my son that we have banked. We are told a lot of research has gone into spinal injuries. What we had done for our child might come to use for me, I think. Strange!"
Stem cell bank
S.Abhaya Kumar, the founder and managing director of Shasun Drugs and Chemicals, is the man behind India's first private stem cell bank, LifeCell. Marketing guru Dr Jagdish Sheth one of the directors of Shasun helped set up this project as Dr.Sheth was also on the board of Cryo-cell International Inc. in Florida, USA. Set up in 1992, Cryo-Cell International is the world's first and largest cord blood stem cell bank.
"Dr Sheth was very interested in bringing the technology of preserving the stem cells from the (umbilical) cord blood for the family's future use. Since it had not come to India, we thought of this as a platform to do a lot of research," Abhaya Kumar said.
But he knew how difficult it would be to introduce something of this sort in India. "As I was aware of the mindset of the Indian doctors, I knew selling this concept to Indian public will be the most challenging job, more challenging than setting up a lab of international standards."
He went ahead with the idea and a lab was set up with an investment of Rs.12 crore (Rs 120 million) as per USFDA standards. He also set aside Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million) for marketing the concept.
As his daughter-in-law was expecting her first child by November, they decided to race against time to set up the lab in just six months' time. On 14 November 2004, LifeCell, India's first cord blood cell banking was inaugurated. "We wanted my grandson to be our first customer! It was a massive effort, and we were happy that we could store my grandson's cord blood." The first enrolment happened on the 28th of November and the first collection on the 5th of December.
What are Stem cells?
Stem cells are master cells that act as the building blocks of our blood and immune systems. They can develop into white cells that fight infection, red cells that carry oxygen throughout the body and platelets that promote healing. This ability allows them to act as a repair system for the body, replenishing other cells throughout our lives. Stem cells are found in our bone marrow where they continue to regenerate cells.
What is cord blood?
It is the baby's blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta at the time of birth. Cord blood has a high concentration of stem cells. Stem cells in cord blood have a number of advantages over those from bone marrow. They are easier to obtain than stem cells from bone marrow. The collection of cord blood is a quick and painless procedure with no risk to the mother or the child. They also have the advantage of being available for transplant if ever needed as the they are stored in the labs.
More importantly, the cord blood stem cells are a perfect match for the child and his/her blood relations from whom it is collected, thus eliminating the difficult process of finding a matching donor and minimising the risks of rejection.
The Procedure
Once a pregnant woman enrolls herself with LifeCell paying an initial fee of Rs 27,000, she is given a kit. Post delivery, within ten minutes of cutting the umbilical cord of the baby, the blood is collected and stored in the bag provided in the kit. The kit is sealed and sent by courier to the stem cell storing facility in Chennai. Cord blood can be retained at room temperature for almost 36 hours.
Once it reaches the lab in Chennai, the cord blood is tested for all types of infectious diseases. Only if it is found to be safe, stem cells are processed from it. About 14 ml of stem cells are taken and stored at a temperature of -190 degrees. Every parent who has banked with LifeCell has to pay Rs 2900 every year for the safe keeping of the stem cells from cord blood. Though the stem cells belong to the child, the mother is the guardian of the stem cell till the child turns 21.
How successful are stem cells
So far, 6000 cases are reported globally where stem cell transplants have been successful. One of the first successes was the stem cell transplant in a woman paralysed by brain haemorrhage. Another successful case was of a South Korean woman paralysed for 20 years, walking again after scientists repaired her damaged spine using stem cells taken from cord blood.
In India, Adyar Cancer Institute and Apollo Speciality Hospital in Chennai, Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Global Hospitals, and NIIMS in Hyderabad, Christian Medical College in Vellore, Narayana Hrudayala in Bangalore, R&R Army Hospital and AIIMS in New Delhi, Inlaks Hospital and AFMC in Pune and Sanjay Gandhi PGIMS in Lucknow have stem cell therapy centres.
Ailments that stem cells can cure
Stem cells are already in use to cure ailments like acute leukaemia, chronic leukaemias, myelodysplatsic syndromes, stem cell disorders, myeloproliferative disorders, lymphoproliferative disorders, phagocyte disorders, inherited disorders like osteoporosis, B-Thalassemia, inherited metabolic disorders, inherited erythrocyte abnormalities like Beta Thalassemia mand Sickle cell disease, and other malignancies like multiple myeloma, plasma cell leukaemia, renal cell carcinoma and retinoblastoma.
Trials are on for cardiac diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury and stroke. Scientists are hopeful of stem cell applications in Alzheimer's disease, Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis in future.
Life Cell members
Life Cell has more than 1300 members. Some of the celebrity members are Raveena Tandon and Priya Dutt. So far, LifeCell has processed and stored around 1100 samples. Though it was expected that families with a history of cancer and other chronic ailments would enroll as members. Most of the 1300 members are using stem cell banking as an insurance for their child.
Dr. Prakash, who is a consultant psychiatrist with the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute in Pondicherry, decided to bank his first born's stem cells although no one in the family had any major illnesses. He and his wife had to think a lot before taking a decision, due to the high cost. As a doctor, I know the kind of unpredictability in everybody's life. I felt this will act like a buffer if something goes wrong not only for the child but others in the family too."
"We thought this would help not only the baby but the family as well. We felt this is an opportunity we are giving our child, which can help him in future," says Nilakandan and his wife Ameera.
The road ahead
Starting with one centre in Chennai, LifeCell plans to have centres in Gurgaon, Surat, Pune, Chnadigarh, Jallandar, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Nagpur and Vizag in India, and Dubai, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Riyadh and Bangkok abroad, by the end of the year.
Abhaya Kumar does not want to restrict himself to cord blood banking alone. His plan is to have therapy centres also, and as a first step, LifeCell is collaborating with the Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre in Chennai to start a stem cell transplant centre. Initially, the hospital plans to have transplants in the cases related to haematology and oncology. "We plan to set up more transplant centres across the country in association with other reputed hospitals," said Abhaya Kumar.
LifeCell also intends to have application research and clinical trials with focus on spinal cord injuries and then move on to cardiac and other diseases. LifeCell has tied up with Saneron to bring in therapy for neurological disorders, to India.
"We are at par with the developed countries. I would say we are one step ahead in therapy, as in the US, there are restrictions they cannot use stem cells for all therapies. Approval takes a long time but in India, rules are more encouraging for research. So we would like to conduct of lot of clinical trials and establish procedures for therapy. Once we are successful in therapy, we can propagate all over the world," Abhaya Kumar said.
LifeCell plans to start a public cord blood banking facility. Every mother who supplies cord blood to the public banking has to give a declaration that the cells can be used for research or for third party use. This will be operational in another two months. If you want to take stem cells from a public bank, it will cost you Rs10 lakhs.
LifeCell gets 300 clients every month, and has a target to have 2000 clients every month. They plan to have 10,000 members by 2006-07 and 18,000 by 2007-08 and 30,000 by 2008-09.
6 AIIMS type medical institutes to be set up
The six AIIMS-type medical institutes would come up in Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Utranchal and Chattisgarh, he said. Last year's budget had provided Rs 270 crore for this purpose.
The state government medical colleges or institutes that would be upgraded to AIIMS-level would be in Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Jharkand, Gujarat and West Bengal.
Ah, finally the GOI is increasing the number of AIIMS. I have always felt the need to increase the number of AIIMS from 1 to however many that are needed for India to achieve a healthy number of well qualified doctors. Somewhat similar to the IIT pattern of excellence. AIIMS entrance exam are tough. Good move by GOI.
Here is another article that says the same.
FM chidambaram AIIMS comments
He also announced that six AIIMS-type medical institutions would be set up in the States of Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Chattisgarh.
Here is another article that says the same.
FM chidambaram AIIMS comments
He also announced that six AIIMS-type medical institutions would be set up in the States of Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Chattisgarh.
http://www.pubmedinfo.com/
Pubmedinfo.com has great pleasure in presenting the following thought - provoking and important articles by the renowned educationist Prof.B.M.Hegde MD FRCP FAMS
Our viewers are invited to view these and send valuable comments and inputs.
Whither Evidence Based medicine - The Diabetologist Dilemma
Have you read these vitally important Books recently published.
Pubmedinfo.com has great pleasure in presenting the following thought - provoking and important articles by the renowned educationist Prof.B.M.Hegde MD FRCP FAMS
Our viewers are invited to view these and send valuable comments and inputs.
Whither Evidence Based medicine - The Diabetologist Dilemma
Have you read these vitally important Books recently published.
Let us analyze cocoanut oil's
Fats are more scientifically classified into three varieties based mainly on the number of carbon atoms they posses and the length of the chain-Short Chain having between C4-C6 carbon atoms, Medium Chain having between C6-C10 or so and Long Chain with C11-C24 atoms. The saturated, unsaturated classification is for the convenience of the fat lobby to sell their wares. Science is what scientists do. Science is only curiosity and, as such, could never be bad, but scientists could definitely be bad when the circumstances warranted. The problems for man would not cease as long as the present market economy lasts. God help mankind!
Little over 50% of cocoanut oil is medium chain fatty acid, Lauric acid and another 7-10% is a medium chain Capric acid. Lauric acid gets converted inside the human system into MonoLaurins. the best fat that mother's milk has.10 Other than mother's milk monolaurins are found only in cocoanut oil. New born babies and infants depend on the monolaurins for their immune system development and their capacity to withstand any infection.11 In addition, cocoanut oil can be digested by the salivary lipase, getting absorbed very fast to give energy like carbohydrates. All other fats need the pancreatic lipase for digestion that the infants do not have. The best alternative food fat for the infant when mother's milk is not available is cocoanut oil. (In baby foods). Other fats might be dangerous.12 Just this week there is a study published in the British Medical Journal showing the dangers of using Soya fat for babies. The article also warns adults to take Soya oils cautiously!13
Cocoanut oil is a low calorie fat and as such helps control body weight. In addition, cocoanut oil stimulates metabolism to get itself metabolized fast to supply quick energy unlike all other fats. This also helps control body weight. Changing the food fat to cocoanut oil could help reduce weight in obese individuals.14 It also helps to control blood fat levels in diabetics. Because most of cocoanut oil is medium chain fat it gets absorbed and metabolized so fast that it rarely gets transported to fat depots like other fats, altering the lipoprotein fractions of blood, another great boon. Cocoanut oil contains so many anti-oxidants that it resists oxidation even if it is preserved for as long as a year whereas all other fats would have been already oxidized and have become Trans fatty acids by the time they come on the food store shelves! Cocoanut oil resists oxidation even on boiling at 76 degree centigrade. So there are no Trans fats in cocoanut oil.15 While fried foods are not good for health, if fried in cocoanut oil, fried foods are not that bad, after all.
The monolaurins in the cocoanut oil have been found to be very powerful anti bacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents. Most viruses, including the retrovirus HIV, are sensitive to cocoanut oil. Cocoanut oil has been found to be an excellent moisturizer for dry skin conditions and is known to be even absorbed from the skin surface of preterm babies. A diet rich in coconut oil reduces diurnal postprandial variations in circulating tissue plasminogen activator antigen and fasting lipoprotein (a) compared with a diet rich in unsaturated fat in women.16 Cocoanut oil is said to penetrate hair roots to keep hair healthy and clean.17 They have even found some very interesting therapeutic values in cocoanut oil.18 A recent report shows how it could be used to treat aluminum oxide poisoning (agricultural pesticide content) for which there had never been any specific antidote so far.19 Cocoanut oil's regular use in diet would regularize blood fats and is known to increase the HDL cholesterol fraction while decreasing the LDL and triglycerides significantly; disproving the myth that cocoanut oil increases cholesterol and triglycerides.15, 20 Cocoanut oil has been now classified as a functional food. Functional food was defined as "food that provides health benefits over and above the basic nutrients." No other fat could claim that status except the Indian clarified butter-ghee, which according to Ayurveda is an excellent food for good health and strength. Even the west has now learnt a bitter lesson. After having realized the dangers of polyunsaturated fats in margarine they have coined a new slogan: "butter is better".
In conclusion, one could easily surmise that cocoanut oil that has been our staple food for thousands of years, could not have suddenly become so bad in the 1930s that it had to be thrown out of the window. Our thousands of years of observational research is any day more reliable compared to the short term cross sectional motivated research today. Although Aristotle did say that truth could only influence half a score of men in a Century, truth will have to triumph at the end. The sad state of the Polynesian migrants to the west coast of America is there for all to see. Prof. Castle's elegant studies did show the curse of acculturation of these long living sturdy people whose main food was cocoanut till they became American citizens. With modernity Polynesians were succumbing to all the degenerative diseases precociously. They never had atherosclerosis in their natural habitat what with 80% of their calories coming from cocoanut. Long live the cocoanut tree, the venerated kalpavriksha, for the common good of humankind.
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Bleck J. Disease Inventors. 2000. (German)
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Halden VW, Lieb H. Influence of biologically improved cocoanut oil products on blood cholesterol levels in human volunteers. Nutr. Dieta. 1961; 3: 75-88
Hierholzer JC, Kabara JJ. In vitro effects of Monolaurins on enveloped RNA and DNA viruses. J. Food Safety 1982; 4: 1-12.
Hodgson JM, Wahlqvist ML, Boxall JA, and Balazs ND. Can linoleic acid contribute to coronary artery disease? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1993;58:228-234
Siegel-Itzkovich J. Health Committee warns of the potential dangers of soya. BMJ 2005; 331: 254.
Willett W. Editorial: Challenges for public health nutrition in the 1990s. American Journal of Public Health. 1990;80:1295-1298.
Nevin KG, RajMohan T. Beneficial effects of cocoanut oil in lipid parameters and in vitro LDL oxidation. Biochem 2004; 37: 830-835.
Muller H, Lindman AS, Blomfeldt A et. al. A diet rich in cocoanut oil reduces diurnal postprandial tissue plasminogen activator antigen and fasting lipoprotein A. J. Nutrition 2003; 133: 3422-3427.
Rele AS, Mohite RB. Effects of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and cocoanut oil on the prevention of hair damage. J Cosmet Sci. 2003; 54:175-92.
Nanji AA, Sadrzadeh SM, Yang EK, et. al. Dietary saturated fatty acids: a novel treatment for alcoholic liver disease. Gastroenterology 1995;109:547-554
Shadnia S, Rahimi M, Pajoumand A et.al. Successful treatment of acute aluminium phosphide poisoning: possible benefit of coconut oil. Hum Exptl Toxicol 2005; 24: 215-8.
Ravnskov U. Quotation bias in reviews of the diet-heart idea. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 1995;48:713-719
PM launches Public Health Foundation
[quote]Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today launched the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), a public-private initiative that aims to strengthen the country’s public health system. It will establish five world-class public health institutes, each of which will train more than 1,000 public health professionals annually. It will also be a think tank for research on critical health policy issues.
Noting that the private sector was the “dominantâ€
[quote]Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today launched the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), a public-private initiative that aims to strengthen the country’s public health system. It will establish five world-class public health institutes, each of which will train more than 1,000 public health professionals annually. It will also be a think tank for research on critical health policy issues.
Noting that the private sector was the “dominantâ€
From the indian Express
‘Best news on AIDS: In South India, HIV down 35 per cent’
Prevention programs are working, apparently.
‘Best news on AIDS: In South India, HIV down 35 per cent’
Prevention programs are working, apparently.
Also targetted awareness campaigns work. Since red light distts are the primary infection mulipliers in India, the NGO backed programs focussed there a lot.While data from north India is still cause for worry, the Lancet study reports that prevalence of HIV-1 (the most common variant of the virus in India) prevalence fell in the southern states from 1.7% to 1.1%—a relative reduction of 35%.
UNAIDS, World Health Organisation and the Government of India all agree on an estimated 5.1 million people infected with HIV, 75% of them in the southern states.
“There have been many predictions, mostly based on guesswork, that India’s AIDS problem will explode—as it did in southern Africa—but we now have direct evidence of something positive,â€
The Trade in Fertility
India is attracting English-speaking couples looking for surrogates and other treatments.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Silvia Spring
Newsweek
Updated: 4:49 p.m. ET April 12, 2006
April 12, 2006 - When it comes to new ways to promote fertility, Bobby and Nikki Bains have been open-minded. They’ve tried herbal medicine, prayer, astrologers, soothsayers and babajis, the Hindu spiritual figures. They put a sign in their car windshield that read $18,000 FOR A SURROGATE TO CARRY OUR BABY. After five failed rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and two years of searching for a surrogate in Britain, the couple finally found an option they feel comfortable with: hiring an Indian woman to carry their child. Advertisements in several Indian newspapers led them to a willing surrogate whom Nikki describes as “very nice.â€
India is attracting English-speaking couples looking for surrogates and other treatments.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Silvia Spring
Newsweek
Updated: 4:49 p.m. ET April 12, 2006
April 12, 2006 - When it comes to new ways to promote fertility, Bobby and Nikki Bains have been open-minded. They’ve tried herbal medicine, prayer, astrologers, soothsayers and babajis, the Hindu spiritual figures. They put a sign in their car windshield that read $18,000 FOR A SURROGATE TO CARRY OUR BABY. After five failed rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and two years of searching for a surrogate in Britain, the couple finally found an option they feel comfortable with: hiring an Indian woman to carry their child. Advertisements in several Indian newspapers led them to a willing surrogate whom Nikki describes as “very nice.â€
Toronto Star: Tourists flock to India for a little body work
I am in the waiting room of the Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research in New Delhi, one of the many world-class medical facilities all over India.
I am here because I heard that medical tourism is starting to take off in India. Last year around 100,000 people came for everything from knee replacements to nose jobs, compared to 10,000 five years ago.
Having been to India before, they also knew to stock up on cheap medicine, prescription glasses (she got two pairs, including prescription sunglasses, for $40 U.S.) and to see a dentist (he is contemplating nine teeth implants for $2,000 U.S.)
Finally it is all over for the day. I come back a few days later for follow-ups with a few of the doctors and a session with the dietician. End result: seven hours of tests, half a dozen doctor appointments, physio, a personalized diet plan, all my charts and scans to take back home, a nice lunch and a couple of slightly retracted eardrums. Total cost: $100 (U.S.)
National standards for hospitals in the offing
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will now be looking at the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) standards as the basic framework for evolving standards for hospitals across the country.
At present, there are no acts governing the registration of hospitals on a national basis. But there are state Acts, like the Delhi Nursing Act, which healthcare industry experts say have become obsolete.
BIS itself had framed standards for 30 bed and 100 bed hospitals. But these standards also deal primarily with building specifications and not with other important areas like hospital infection control, management of medication, HR management, facility management and safety, patients rights and education.
NABH standards, on the other hand, focus on all these areas, and can be applicable to small, medium and large hospitals.
The industry has reacted positively to the step. CII said with BIS getting involved, the NABH standards will carry more weight as the BIS is a government institution. This will eventually drive away the poor quality operators.
The work on hospital accreditation structure had been initiated by Indian Healthcare Federation (IHCF), a CII affiliate. IHCF’s accreditation committee comprising of leading Indian healthcare majors like Fortis hospitals, Apollo hospitals, Wockhardt, etc was instrumental in framing the NABH standards along with the Quality Council of India
Link
ICICI Venture invests Rs 35 cr in Metropolis Health Services
Private equity and venture capital management company ICICI Venture has invested Rs 35 crore in Metropolis Health Services, a chain of corporate diagnostic centres with presence in India and abroad. The investment was provided by India Advantage Fund-I, a fund managed by ICICI Venture. Metropolis would use the investment to fund its expansion plans of extending its geographical reach and entry into related areas of business.
The company is also looking at international acquisitions or joint ventures in countries like South Africa and South East Asia, investment in IT infrastructure development of new technologies and tests.
It would also continue with a spate of domestic acquisitions in cities such as Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi.
Metropolis has NABL and CAP accreditation in India. It has 17 laboratories, 200 franchisees and caters to over 3,000 small labs, nursing homes and hospitals.
The company has over 10,000 consultants across the globe and processes over 5 million samples a year.
Telegraph March21 2006
Shetty seeks land for health city
Cardiologist Devi Shetty called on chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Monday and urged him to expedite the proposal for a 5,000-bed international health city near his hospital, Rabindranath Tagore International Institute for Cardiac Sciences. “We’re seeking 20-30 acres for a health city near the hospital. The idea is to use the facilities of the hospital for the health city and bring down the charges. We plan to reduce the charges for a CT scan to Rs 350 and a heart surgery to Rs 35,000,â€
Shetty seeks land for health city
Cardiologist Devi Shetty called on chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Monday and urged him to expedite the proposal for a 5,000-bed international health city near his hospital, Rabindranath Tagore International Institute for Cardiac Sciences. “We’re seeking 20-30 acres for a health city near the hospital. The idea is to use the facilities of the hospital for the health city and bring down the charges. We plan to reduce the charges for a CT scan to Rs 350 and a heart surgery to Rs 35,000,â€
Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System Up And Running
by Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) Jun 28, 2006
A tsunami warning system for the entire Indian Ocean "is up and running as scheduled", the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which has been overseeing the scheme, announced on Wednesday.
A network of 26 national tsunami information centres have been set up in Indian Ocean countries, capable of receiving and distributing tsunami advisories around the clock, it said in a press release.
Twenty-five new seismographic stations have been created, providing data in real time to centres that analyse the location and depth of a quake and compute whether there is a risk of a tsunami.
The information is being supplemented by three deep-ocean sensors that detect and report tsunamis.
The system is being coordinated by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
UNESCO director general Koichiro Matsuura said countries could be "justly proud" of this achievement but stressed the need to beef up international coordination and for governments to work hard on grassroots preparedness.
"A timely, 100-percent accurate and precise warning will not provide any protecting if people do not know how to respond to the emergency," he said.
The warning system was set up after the December 26, 2004, tsunami, triggered by an earthquake just west of Indonesia. The wave killed some 220,000 people in a dozen countries.
A similar system has been in existence in the Pacific for more than four decades, and others are planned for the Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
What is the implication of linking up with
Association of Schools of Public Health (U.S.) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Will it give access to demographics and public health data such as aids to foriegn govts.
Association of Schools of Public Health (U.S.) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Will it give access to demographics and public health data such as aids to foriegn govts.
Montek, Nair on public health board
Special Correspondent
Foundation to train health workers
# One-time grant of Rs. 65 crore for corpus
# Foundation's goal to open first school of public health
# To open five centres across the country
NEW DELHI: Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, and T.K.A. Nair, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, have joined the governing board of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). Mr. Nair will be the ex-officio member.
At the second board meeting of the foundation here on Thursday, chairman Rajat Gupta said the Government had also approved the deputation of Prof. Srinath Reddy as PHFI president for a five-year term.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has already announced a one-time grant of Rs. 65 crore towards the initial corpus of the foundation, which seeks tostrengthen the public health system by training health workers at various levels and reaching out to the remotest areas.
Its immediate goal is to open the first school of public health (Indian Institute of Public Health) by July 2008. The foundation has undertaken innovative measures to build a strong faculty pool, for which it has entered into academic partnerships with the Association of Schools of Public Health (U.S.) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. These will soon be extended to include partnerships with institutions in other parts, especially in developing countries.
Partnership
The partnership entails the sponsored candidates to undertake courses in Master's in Public Health and doctoral programmes. This will help in applying technical knowledge of these programmes to India-relevant issues. PHFI aspires to create over the next 3-5 years a group of 100 permanent faculty members with a deep understanding of India-relevant issues.
According to Prof. Reddy, biodata has been received from 130 experts across the world, who are interested in associating themselves with these institutes.
Development programme
The foundation has selected 14 candidates from multidisciplinary fields for faculty development programme. It intends opening open five centres across the country. Offers have been received from private institutions and State Governments including West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Punjab and Jharkhand.
While the target is to strengthen the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the foundation aims at training 10,000 health workers every year for being sent to remote areas.
``We will try to train the people already working in these areas, instead of sending people against their wish, to ensure that they serve the purpose,'' Mr. Gupta said.
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George J
Just like the article says, we dont even have a SINGLE school of public health in the country, which is a real shame. Just like the IIT and IIM story the IIPH will also have to be set up with foreign collaboration, in this case with Schools of Public Health from the US.Acharya wrote:What is the implication of linking up with
Association of Schools of Public Health (U.S.) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.Will it give access to demographics and public health data such as aids to foriegn govts.
Most schools of public health have 4 core depts. 1) Biostatistic 2) Epidemiology 3) Community Health Sciences and 4) Health Policy and Management.
In India we do have expertise in statistics from ISI, Kolkatta but Biostatistics as practiced in the west is far more evolved and far more specialized than what they have in India. So you do need to have a some degree of orientation to do it right and to teach it correctly.
As far as a I know, epidemiolgoy is almost non existant coz till now it was not a field of any significant interest or inputs.
Community Medicine is taught as a subject to medical students but there is a lot more to it and needs to be taught to a broader audience. Since it involves setting up community based programs specific to the region you are in.
Health Policy is a multi disciplinary approach and draws from public policy, economics, statistics and healthcare practice. But this needs to be formalized in India and folks need to be taught how to view this as goal rather than just bring in inputs from your POV.
Each of these depts have various sub speciality that may not exist in India. Like Biostats has Biomathematics, Community Health will have Industrial Hygeine, Health Policy will have Health Economics etc.
So we do need as much help as possible to get these depts running with faculty coming in from the US to train/develop future IIPH faculty.
Unlike IIT or IIM where you are building on basics of physics, chem, math, electronics, computers, management sciences: marketing, finance, HR. There are no such skills available in India for Public Health.
Finally I dont know what you mean by access to data coz the quality of the data collected itself may not be upto par. You may find that after the IIPH is formed they will set up a multi disciplinary collaborative apporach to collecting National AIDS data with correct sampling frame and a more rigorous item selection process (i.e. not assuming that everyone interprets whats being asked the same way and will be tailored for each specific language).
There is a LOT of work to be done.
The bigger challenge will be to recruiting people who can be trained as faculty. In the absence of exsisting public health expertise in the country, we will have to depend on 'foreign' expertise to help kick start the program. The main problem will be generating funding for schools of public health and faculty.So we do need as much help as possible to get these depts running with faculty coming in from the US to train/develop future IIPH faculty.
Most schools of public health in the US are funded by federal and state monies as well as university support. All faculty actively work as consultants to other governmental and private agencies in various fields of public health. A part of the money they generate in this fashion goes to the University.
I suspect that this sort of funding system will be hard to develop in India unless there is consensus at the national and state level that public health is an essential part of health policy and administration. We do not even have enough funding for clinical health services. Public health will be pretty low in the priority list.
Bottom line: We need to sort out the funding situation before establishing sustainable schools of public health.
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George J
They will follow the IIT/IIM model. In less than a decade IIPH will certainly be up and running.
Initially I suspect a lot of desi PH faculty will want goto India (I know a lot of folks who are in India RIGHT NOW doing just that). They will bring in specialists as and when required.
The initial make up of desi faculty will draw from AIIMS and other allied health programs like TISS etc. They basically need to bring in the best of whats available in India and THEN figure out whats left and bring in the videshi folks.
Off course in 10 years IIPH itself will be churning out MPH, PhD, DrPH and they will inturn form the core.
Yes, there are a lot of fresh desi PhD who would love to go back to IIPH but at Rs.30K a month (and a leaky CPWD quarters) its not a very interesting proposition.
Initially I suspect a lot of desi PH faculty will want goto India (I know a lot of folks who are in India RIGHT NOW doing just that). They will bring in specialists as and when required.
The initial make up of desi faculty will draw from AIIMS and other allied health programs like TISS etc. They basically need to bring in the best of whats available in India and THEN figure out whats left and bring in the videshi folks.
Off course in 10 years IIPH itself will be churning out MPH, PhD, DrPH and they will inturn form the core.
Yes, there are a lot of fresh desi PhD who would love to go back to IIPH but at Rs.30K a month (and a leaky CPWD quarters) its not a very interesting proposition.
Question:
I am seeing GoI sponsored ads on Civil Defence Volunteer Programs in Delhi these days.... It's in the newsmedia, pamphlets, channels and right before movie screenings (brings back memories of a bygone age where you had painfully long and preachy videos on social awareness, shot in sepia filter and voiced by some Nizamuddin-Terminal announcer on acid
). Does the training and programs include community medicine, outbreaks and NBC hazards?
I am seeing GoI sponsored ads on Civil Defence Volunteer Programs in Delhi these days.... It's in the newsmedia, pamphlets, channels and right before movie screenings (brings back memories of a bygone age where you had painfully long and preachy videos on social awareness, shot in sepia filter and voiced by some Nizamuddin-Terminal announcer on acid
). Does the training and programs include community medicine, outbreaks and NBC hazards?http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... ome-nation
U.S. Employers Look Offshore for Healthcare
As costs rise, workers are being sent abroad to get operations that cost tens of thousands more in the U.S.
.....
Carl Garrett of Leicester, N.C., will fly to a state-of-the-art New Delhi hospital in September for surgeries to remove gallstones and to fix an overworn rotator cuff. His employer, Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. of Canton, N.C., will pay for it all, including airfare for Garrett and his fiancee. The company also will give Garrett a share of the expected savings, up to $10,000, when he returns.
Garrett chose to go abroad rather than have the operations locally, where he would have paid thousands of dollars in deductibles and co-pays.
"I think it is a great thing," the 60-year-old technician said. "Maybe it will drive down prices [of surgeries] here in the U.S."
U.S. Employers Look Offshore for Healthcare
As costs rise, workers are being sent abroad to get operations that cost tens of thousands more in the U.S.
.....
Carl Garrett of Leicester, N.C., will fly to a state-of-the-art New Delhi hospital in September for surgeries to remove gallstones and to fix an overworn rotator cuff. His employer, Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. of Canton, N.C., will pay for it all, including airfare for Garrett and his fiancee. The company also will give Garrett a share of the expected savings, up to $10,000, when he returns.
Garrett chose to go abroad rather than have the operations locally, where he would have paid thousands of dollars in deductibles and co-pays.
"I think it is a great thing," the 60-year-old technician said. "Maybe it will drive down prices [of surgeries] here in the U.S."
ABC is running series called 'India Rising'. This morning, it show a hospital found by Dr. Shetty. The hospital is world class equipped. The more impressive is how Dr. Shetty manages the hospital. It uses low cost of ‘IT model’ to run the facility and train the high school graduate to medical technician. The result is 99% success in heart surgery but cost only $2000 comparing same procedure would cost $10000 and more in US. I think this is great model for government which can provide quality health care to the mass.
]In India, more wealth and more diabetes
Diabetes at 28, I don't know what to say.
CHENNAI, India There are many ways to understand diabetes in this choking city of automakers and software companies, where the disease seems as commonplace as saris.
One way is through the story of P. Ganam, 50, a proper woman reduced to fake gold.
Her husband, K. Palayam, had diabetes do its corrosive job on him: Ulcers bore into both feet and cost him a leg. To pay for his care in a country where health insurance is rare, P. Ganam sold all her cherished jewelry. Gold, as she saw it, swapped for life.
She was asked about the necklaces and bracelets she was now wearing.
They were, as it happened, worthless impostors.
"Diabetes," she said, "has the gold."
And now, Ganam, the scaffolding of her hard-won middle-class existence already undone, has diabetes too.
In its hushed but unrelenting manner, Type 2 diabetes is engulfing India, swallowing up the legs and jewels of those comfortable enough to put on weight in a country better known for famine.
Here, juxtaposed alongside the stick- thin poverty, the malaria and the AIDS, the number of diabetics now totals around 35 million, and counting.
The future looks only more ominous as India hurtles into the present, modernizing and urbanizing at blinding speed. Even more of its 1.1 billion people seem destined to become heavier and more vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes, a disease of high blood sugar brought on by obesity, inactivity and genes, often culminating in blindness, amputations and heart failure.
In 20 years, projections are that there may be a staggering 75 million Indian diabetics.
"Diabetes unfortunately is the price you pay for progress," said Dr. A. Ramachandran, the managing director of the M.V. Hospital for Diabetes in Madras.
For decades, Type 2 diabetes has been the "rich man's burden," a problem for industrialized countries to solve. But as the sugar disease, as it is often called, has penetrated the United States and other developed nations, it has also trespassed deep into the far more populous developing world.
In Italy or Germany or Japan, diabetes is on the rise. In Bahrain and Cambodia and Mexico - where industrialization and Western food habits have taken hold - it is rising even faster. For the world has now reached the point, according to the United Nations, where more people are overweight than undernourished.
Diabetes does not convey the ghastly despair of AIDS or other killers. But more people worldwide now die from chronic diseases like diabetes than from communicable diseases. And the World Health Organization expects that of the more than 350 million diabetics projected in 2025, three-fourths will inhabit the third world.
"I'm concerned for virtually every country where there's modernization going on, because of the diabetes that follows," said Dr. Paul Zimmet, the director of the International Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia. "I'm fearful of the resources ever being available to address it."
India and China are already home to more diabetics than any other country. Prevalence among adults in India is estimated about 6 percent, two-thirds of that in the United States, but the illness is traveling faster, particularly in the country's large cities.
Throughout the world, Type 2 diabetes, once predominantly a disease of the old, has been striking younger people.
But because Indians have such a pronounced genetic vulnerability to the disease, they tend to contract it 10 years earlier than people in developed countries. It is because India is so youthful - half the population is under 25 - that the future of diabetes here is so chilling.
In this boiling city of 5 million perched on the Bay of Bengal, amid the bleating horns of the auto-rickshaws and the shriveled mendicants peddling combs on the dust-beaten streets, diabetes can be found everywhere.
The conventional way to see India is to inspect the want - the want for food, the want for money, the want for life. The 300 million who struggle below the poverty line. The debt-crippled farmers who kill themselves. The millions of children with too little to eat.
But there is another way to see it: Through its newfound excesses and expanding middle and upper classes. In a changing India, it seems to go this way: Make good money and get cars, get houses, get servants, get meals out, get diabetes.
In perverse fashion, obesity and diabetes stand almost as joint totems of success.
Last year, for instance, the MW fast- food and ice cream restaurant in this city proclaimed a special promotion: "Overweight? Congratulations."
The limited-time deal afforded diners savings equal to 50 percent of their weight in kilograms. The heaviest arrival lugged in 135 kilograms, or 297 pounds, and ate lustily at 67.5 percent off.
Too much food has pernicious implications for a people with a genetic susceptibility to diabetes, possibly the byproduct of ancestral genes developed to hoard fat during cycles of feast and famine. This vulnerability was first spotted decades ago when immigrant Indians settled in Western countries and in their retrofitted lifestyles got diabetes at levels dwarfing those in India.
Now westernization has come to India and is bringing the disease home.
Though 70 percent of the population remains rural, Indians are steadily forsaking paddy fields for a city lifestyle that entails less movement, more fattening foods and higher stress - a toxic brew for diabetes.
In Madras, about 16 percent of adults are thought to have the disease, one of India's highest concentrations, more than the soaring levels in New York, and triple the rate two decades ago. Three local hospitals, quaintly known as the sugar hospitals, are devoted to the illness.
The traditional Indian diet can itself be generous with calories.
But urban residents switch from ragi and fresh vegetables to fried fast food and processed goods. The pungent aromas of quick-food emporiums waft everywhere here: Sowbakiya Fast Food, Nic-Nac Fast Food and Pizza Hut. Coke and Pepsi are pervasive, but rarely their diet versions.
The country boasts a ravenous sweet tooth, hence the ubiquitous sweet shops, where customers eagerly lap up laddu and badam pista rolls. Sweets are obligatory at social occasions - birthdays, office parties, mourning observances for the dead - and during any visit to someone's home, a signal of how welcome the visitors are and that God is present.
"When you come to the office after getting a haircut, people say, 'So where are the sweets?'" said Dr. N. Murugesan, the project director at the M.V. Hospital for Diabetes.
The sovereignty of sweets can pose ticklish choices for a doctor.
Trying to set an example, Dr. V. Mohan, chairman of the Diabetes Specialities Centre, a local hospital, said he had omitted sweets at a business affair he arranged, and nearly incited a riot.
Last year, his daughter was married. Lesson learned, he laid out a spread of regular sweets on one side of the hall and on the other stationed a table laden with sugar-free treats. Everyone left smiling.
In the United States, an inverse correlation persists between income and diabetes. Since fattening food is cheap, the poor become heavier than the rich, and they exercise less and receive inferior health care. In India, the disease tends to directly track income.
"Jokingly in talks, I say you haven't made it in society until you get a touch of diabetes," Mohan said. He points out that people who once balanced water jugs and construction material on their heads now carry nothing heavier than a cellphone. At a four-star restaurant, it is not unusual to see a patron yank out his kit and give himself an insulin injection.
The very wealthy have begun to recoil at ballooning waistlines, and there has been a rise in slimming centers and stomach-shrinking operations. In high- end stores, one can find a CD, "Music for Diabetes," with raga selections chosen to dampen stress.
The rest of urban India, however, sits and eats.
In Madras, workers in the software industry rank among the envied elite. Doctors worry about their habits - tapping keys for exercise, ingesting junk food at the computer. Dr. C.R. Anand Moses, a local diabetologist, sees a steady parade of eager software professionals, devoured by diabetes.
"They work impossible hours sitting still," he said.
S. Venkatesh, 28, a thick-around-the- middle programmer, knows the diabetes narrative. Much of his work is for Western companies that operate during the Indian night. So he works in the dark, sleeps in the day.
"The software industry is full of pressure, because you are paid well," he said. "In India, if you work in software, your hours are the office."
His sole exercise is to sometimes climb the stairs. A year and a half ago, he found out he had diabetes.
Diabetes at 28, I don't know what to say.
the reality is many of this generation will be quite ill by mid-40s and perhaps deal/dying in mid-50s from lifestyle diseases. I really wonder whether those young girls tottering on high heels and a bit drunk outside the citys 'watering holes' have a long term plan? binge drinking of hard liquor among bideshi women is also on the rise.
Singha, unfortunately it does not stop there. This will have a domino effect on the country's health care systems too. The govt obviously has other priorities in caring for the rural poor who still do not have enough to eat.
A high decibel and high profile awareness campaign needs to be launched ASAP in IT cos and metros to make people aware of this looming crisis. These are after all educated people, and have access to the latest tech communication gizmos.
I worked at an MNC in Benguluru for a few months, noticed people coming down by the elevator to walk around the building after lunch. Well, if they took the stairs, they would burn twice the no of calories and get a better workout.
and why are the non IT janta also getting afflicted by this problem?
A high decibel and high profile awareness campaign needs to be launched ASAP in IT cos and metros to make people aware of this looming crisis. These are after all educated people, and have access to the latest tech communication gizmos.
I worked at an MNC in Benguluru for a few months, noticed people coming down by the elevator to walk around the building after lunch. Well, if they took the stairs, they would burn twice the no of calories and get a better workout.
and why are the non IT janta also getting afflicted by this problem?
Last edited by Paul on 29 Sep 2006 16:39, edited 1 time in total.
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Raju
thats easier said than done for indian diet. rice , roti, bread, vada, dosa, idli, potato are all carbs. even if we eat meat n fish, it doesnt dominate the discourse unlike a european diet. we cant survive on vegetables and dal alone. paneer has its own issue with fat.
but I do agree rice tends to pack the pounds quite fast. I started eating roti for dinner some months back and have managed to atleast stablize the weight, earlier it used to swing a lot. for lunch also I try to eat more roti and smaller amt of rice.
but I do agree rice tends to pack the pounds quite fast. I started eating roti for dinner some months back and have managed to atleast stablize the weight, earlier it used to swing a lot. for lunch also I try to eat more roti and smaller amt of rice.
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George J
Oh there are lots of cases of children in their teens getting adult onset diabetes in the US. WHy do you think they are banning all the soda and pushing for exercise and better food choices for these kids?
With Indian's I think there is a strong genetic link too that get exacerbated with sedentary lifestyles and calorie rich food.
You are not suppose to consume more than: your body weight in lb x 10 calories a day if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. If you weight 180 then 1800 cal is all you need. Heck if you lie in bed all day long you can live off 1200-1400 cals.
You loose weight when what you consume is less than what you burn. So if you burn 500 cals with 30 mins of cardio and you weigh 200 lb and consume 2000 cals. You can created a deficit of 500 cal thats taken from your fat.
For Indians giving up rice is very difficult. Also most of us DONT understand the concept of sugars/carbs. Ppl will fastidiously avoid putting 1 Tsp (5g) of chini in their tea (fructos + gluc) but will gladly chomp on down on 200-300 or even 500g of COOKED RICE. WTF is rice??? Its frigging 50% carbs (starch). What is starch?? Amylose (3x Gluc). Duh.
You tank up on complex sugars and then dont burn it waddya expect? Most folks with early onset are greatly benefitted by exercise. Its just a matter of burning all that sugar in your body. Off course you cant eat 500g of rice at one sitting, but exercise certainly helps burn a lot of that.
I agree with Paul, its a matter of education. All you is make it mandatory that your employees attend at least 1 session of healthy living seminar in a year and that will jolt most folks.
With Indian's I think there is a strong genetic link too that get exacerbated with sedentary lifestyles and calorie rich food.
You are not suppose to consume more than: your body weight in lb x 10 calories a day if you lead a sedentary lifestyle. If you weight 180 then 1800 cal is all you need. Heck if you lie in bed all day long you can live off 1200-1400 cals.
You loose weight when what you consume is less than what you burn. So if you burn 500 cals with 30 mins of cardio and you weigh 200 lb and consume 2000 cals. You can created a deficit of 500 cal thats taken from your fat.
For Indians giving up rice is very difficult. Also most of us DONT understand the concept of sugars/carbs. Ppl will fastidiously avoid putting 1 Tsp (5g) of chini in their tea (fructos + gluc) but will gladly chomp on down on 200-300 or even 500g of COOKED RICE. WTF is rice??? Its frigging 50% carbs (starch). What is starch?? Amylose (3x Gluc). Duh.
You tank up on complex sugars and then dont burn it waddya expect? Most folks with early onset are greatly benefitted by exercise. Its just a matter of burning all that sugar in your body. Off course you cant eat 500g of rice at one sitting, but exercise certainly helps burn a lot of that.
I agree with Paul, its a matter of education. All you is make it mandatory that your employees attend at least 1 session of healthy living seminar in a year and that will jolt most folks.
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Mort Walker
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Wait a minute. Although rice has lots of carbs, I thought that sticky rice was more of a problem for starch as opposed to Basmati rice which is suppose to have more complex carbs and is a better option for rice eaters.
500 cal. in 30 min. is a very intensive work out and may not be suitable for many people unless they are already in good shape. If you run or swim laps, you can burn that many calories, but bicycling, fast walking and tennis for 30 min. is not going to do that. The best many people will do is 350-400 cal. in 30 min.So if you burn 500 cals with 30 mins of cardio...
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Mort Walker
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I really don't think the problem is with rice, unless you're consuming 500g in a single meal, but the availability of junk food/sodas and a sedentary lifestyle has become common for many in the middle class. This something thats happening all over India and not just those in the IT field.
If you think about this in terms of human history its actually a great problem to have. For so long, getting food has been difficult.
If you think about this in terms of human history its actually a great problem to have. For so long, getting food has been difficult.
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George J
I think you should read up on complex carbs and high vs low fiber complex carbs. What what foods have high fiber complex carbs (veggies) and what has low fiber complex carbs (grains, refined products, etc). Rice is low fiber. Basmati vs Par boiled is really a moot point when you think of the quanities being eaten. Now polish vs unpolished rice have different nutritive values coz the unpolished rice has some fiber but its still mostly starch. Have you heard of a low carb rice?
Its not that hard to burn 500 cal. But it also depends on how much on your age, weight, % fat. If you get your target heart rate up to to 70-85% of max (220-age) for 30 mins you WILL burn that much. Effortlessly.
Its not that hard to burn 500 cal. But it also depends on how much on your age, weight, % fat. If you get your target heart rate up to to 70-85% of max (220-age) for 30 mins you WILL burn that much. Effortlessly.
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Mort Walker
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GJ,
Kind of OT, but yes you can burn 500 cal. in 30 min. in various exercises, but at that rate for someone who is exercising regularly, eating rice should not be an issue. For those whom exercise is not as regular, I would say 350 in 30 and do it every day. If you did 500 in 30, there could be a possibility of pain and injury on a daily basis and the person would skip days.
Eliptical trainers can get you 500 in 30, but they too can become boring and its more fun being outside.
Kind of OT, but yes you can burn 500 cal. in 30 min. in various exercises, but at that rate for someone who is exercising regularly, eating rice should not be an issue. For those whom exercise is not as regular, I would say 350 in 30 and do it every day. If you did 500 in 30, there could be a possibility of pain and injury on a daily basis and the person would skip days.
Eliptical trainers can get you 500 in 30, but they too can become boring and its more fun being outside.
MCD cancels leave of staff
NEW DELHI: With the government heightening its vigil against dengue, MCD has cancelled leave of its employees. Also, hospitals will have to report availability of platelets and shortage of diagnostic tools, if any.
Meanwhile, luring the Aedes Aegypti mosquito to an ambush will now be the health ministry's latest strategy in its war against the vector.
The ministry will increase use of an attracticide developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation which first attracts the female mosquitoes to lay eggs and then kills the larvae.
In Delhi, this attracticide has already been sprayed in 4,000 spots with stagnant water. The ministry plans to increase spraying on more sites.
This day-biting mosquito that breeds in pools of stagnant water is the main cause of nation-wide outbreak of dengue.
Speaking to TOI, Dr W Selvamurthy, chief controller (R&D), DRDO, said the larvisite and attracticide have proved to be a great success for the Indian armed forces serving in malaria and dengue endemic areas like the North-East.
According to Selvamurthy, the chemical is useful in attracting all dengue-causing mosquitoes at one place and then killing them.
"The larvisite and attracticide are drawn from a chemical called pheromone, that smells like the male mosquito. When the attracticide is added to water, it attracts female mosquitoes to lay eggs there.
These eggs hatch into larvae but do not transform into adults because the Insect Growth Regulator inside the attracticide kills the larvae. It's actually a lure-and-kill technology," Selvamurthy said.
He added, "Tests carried out by MCD and endemic states like Kerala confirmed its effectiveness. Several American companies, including Crompton Corporation, are showing interest in this technology.
However, DRDO has decided to first give it to an Indian institution fighting dengue before transferring the technology to a foreign firm."
Dengue has started to travel far and wide in north India. Rajasthan has confirmed 193 cases with seven deaths while 12 cases have been reported from Haryana and seven from Punjab.
Over 70 people in UP have dengue. Four people have died due to dengue in the state in the past month.
NEW DELHI: With the government heightening its vigil against dengue, MCD has cancelled leave of its employees. Also, hospitals will have to report availability of platelets and shortage of diagnostic tools, if any.
Meanwhile, luring the Aedes Aegypti mosquito to an ambush will now be the health ministry's latest strategy in its war against the vector.
The ministry will increase use of an attracticide developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation which first attracts the female mosquitoes to lay eggs and then kills the larvae.
In Delhi, this attracticide has already been sprayed in 4,000 spots with stagnant water. The ministry plans to increase spraying on more sites.
This day-biting mosquito that breeds in pools of stagnant water is the main cause of nation-wide outbreak of dengue.
Speaking to TOI, Dr W Selvamurthy, chief controller (R&D), DRDO, said the larvisite and attracticide have proved to be a great success for the Indian armed forces serving in malaria and dengue endemic areas like the North-East.
According to Selvamurthy, the chemical is useful in attracting all dengue-causing mosquitoes at one place and then killing them.
"The larvisite and attracticide are drawn from a chemical called pheromone, that smells like the male mosquito. When the attracticide is added to water, it attracts female mosquitoes to lay eggs there.
These eggs hatch into larvae but do not transform into adults because the Insect Growth Regulator inside the attracticide kills the larvae. It's actually a lure-and-kill technology," Selvamurthy said.
He added, "Tests carried out by MCD and endemic states like Kerala confirmed its effectiveness. Several American companies, including Crompton Corporation, are showing interest in this technology.
However, DRDO has decided to first give it to an Indian institution fighting dengue before transferring the technology to a foreign firm."
Dengue has started to travel far and wide in north India. Rajasthan has confirmed 193 cases with seven deaths while 12 cases have been reported from Haryana and seven from Punjab.
Over 70 people in UP have dengue. Four people have died due to dengue in the state in the past month.