Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson of major drugmaker Biocon Ltd. urged the government to eliminate tax on drugs for cancer treatment and for chronic and rare diseases, ahead of the budget 2025 announcement, expected next month. She urges the government to consider making lifesaving therapies affordable and waiving tax on them. Any drug used for chronic therapy with a monthly cost of treatment exceeding 5,000 rupees should also be exempted from tax, she added.

Foetuses of women who gain excess weight in the first trimester of pregnancy are likely to have excess fat distribution in their body (upper arm and the abdomen.), according to a study led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For the study, the researchers analysed data from an earlier study of more than 2,600 singleton pregnancies. The findings, appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, may be key to developing early intervention strategies to prevent adult obesity associated with heavier birth weight.

Grey matter volume shrinks by about five per cent during pregnancy, followed by a partial recovery in the postpartum period, a study has found. The changes in grey matter were observed in 94% of the brain, particularly prominent in the default mode network, which is known to help with social cognition. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.

A hearing impairment developed with age could increase risk of Parkinson’s disease by up to 57% and thus, serve as an early warning sign, according to a study. While hearing loss has been associated with cognitive decline and considered a risk factor for dementia, this study, published in the journal Parkinsonism and Related Disorders. Previous studies suggest, low dopamine levels are found in both individuals with hearing loss and patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Our patients need to understand - “sugar-free” isn’t the same as “carb-free”. They assume these products are completely safe for diabetic patients. While “sugar-free” products don’t contain table sugar, they still have carbohydrates & fats that may impact one's health. For instance, sugar-free biscuits may be made with refined flour, which is a carbohydrate & can raise blood sugar levels. Many sugar-free products compensate for the lack of sugar by adding more fat to improve taste & texture. Consuming these without portion control, can still cause spikes in blood sugar or weight gain.

Industry experts expect the 2025 Union Budget to include reforms for the healthcare sector. They seek increased government spending, focus on preventive healthcare, tax uniformity, and better insurance policies. Stakeholders hope for measures to improve healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and initiatives to support urban low-income households and combat diseases like cervical cancer.

Brains of girl and boy infants differ at birth -- while boy infants tend to have bigger brains and more white matter, girl infants have significantly more grey matter that is known to help with learning, speech and cognition, a study has shown. The results, published in the journal Biology of Sex Differences, might reflect biological sex-specific differences as the brain is developing in the womb, according to researchers.

Mumbai-based startup Shashvi Remedies has developed a new ayurvedic formulation with a successful game-changer potent to revolutionise the world of breast cancer treatment. This invention successfully passed the most important tests. In-Vitro on the MCF7 human breast cancer cell line was done in both 2018 and 2024. Results showed a killing of more than 80% cancerous cells within 72 hours and showed an excellent safety profile. Click to read more..

Approximately 1 in 8 people globally live with a mental health condition - WHO. Shraddha who was pursuing medicine, failed her first-year exam. Ultimately, she was diagnosed with the milder 'Bipolar 1 Disorder'. But despite the initial challenges, with the help of medications, psychotherapy, her professors help she thrived academically & graduated with honours. She also earned a scholarship programme to pursue a master’s degree in her chosen field of study in the UK. She became a member of her university’s mental health awareness club.

Ischaemic stroke is the most common, accounting for about 70-80% of all strokes in India. Roughly a 4th of the Indian population has access to a rehabilitation centre within an hour of experiencing an ischaemic stroke. There is <1 ischaemic stroke centre per million population. In the recent study, researchers, including those from the US' Ascension Health and AIIMS, Hyderabad, found that a total of 566 stroke centres equipped with the 'intravenous thrombolysis' method of treatment were spread across 26 states and union territories.