Tag: Nikkhil K Masurkar

Business

Year End Quotes from Healthcare, Telemedicine, Medtech & Pharma Industry

Dec 30, 2021 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Aashish Chaudhry, #Ashok Patel, #H S Chhabra, #healthcare, #Medtech, #Nikkhil K Masurkar, #Pharma Industry, #Telemedicine, #Vikram Thaploo, #Year End Quotes

Vikram Thaploo CEO Apollo telehealth

Mr. Vikram Thaploo, CEO, Apollo Telehealth (largest and oldest multi-speciality telemedicine network in the world. A unit of Apollo Hospitals Group,)

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in massive disruptions across different industries and the healthcare industry has definitely been hit hard. But thankfully, the healthcare industry effectively managed the outbreak owing to full support from the central and state governments. Although there has been slow adaptation of digital tools in the healthcare industry, everything changed with the outbreak of the pandemic. The effect of healthcare technology and digital solutions was felt in many different ways than we could have expected. During the lockdown, both the patients and the healthcare practitioners realized the importance of digitisation. The pandemic has almost entirely changed how the healthcare industry in India operates. With telehealth, hospitals are now also concerned about reaching patients online, how to deliver and protect patient information. Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring are being increasingly adopted by service providers to virtually manage patients, predict and prevent illnesses, and improve clinical outcomes. There’s been almost an 80 per cent rise in consumption of digital healthcare services after COVID-19. Digital technologies like extended reality, cloud systems, big data, and artificial intelligence are taking the center stage to enhance user- experience and increase process efficiency. These technologies have accelerated digital Health, remote patient monitoring and timely clinical protocols.  In the coming years too, digital health applications & therapeutics, personal health wearables, and AI, NLP(neural language processing), robotics process automation or the RPA-enabled process accelerators in clinical prediction, operational transformation and compliance improvement will further drive and shape the future of healthcare.
 
Mr Nikkhil K masurkar Executive Director entod

Mr. Nikkhil K Masurkar, Executive Director, Entod Pharmaceutical (specializes in Ophthalmology, Dermatology and ENT)

The healthcare market can increase three-fold to Rs. 8.6 trillion (US$ 133.44 billion) by 2022. In 2020, in a very short period, Covid-19 became an unparalleled disruption to every area of the healthcare industry. The overall response to the pandemic witnessed both the private and government sector working in tandem. The private Indian healthcare players rose to the occasion and have been providing all the support that the government needs, such as testing, isolation beds for treatment, medical staff and equipment at government COVID-19 hospitals and home healthcare. The healthcare industry, along with the central and state governments, undertook a robust response plan to tackle the pandemic by setting up dedicated COVID-19 hospitals, isolation centers and tech-enabled mapping of resources. Despite initial hiccups, the healthcare system in India managed to withstand the pandemic. The different efforts in manufacturing of medical equipment, disposables, drugs and the most recent vaccine efforts made by India has placed us as a global leader. Primary healthcare has become accessible to the needy and poor through digital interventions. Even in areas like clinical trials, there is less intervention in terms of human repetitive reviews due to use of technological tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Indian healthcare sector is diversifying and opportunities are emerging in every segment, be it providers, payers or medical technology. With growing competition, organizations are cognisant of new challenges and are looking to explore the latest business dynamics and trends impacting their segment. India is full of opportunities for players in the medical devices industry. The country has also become one of the leading destinations for high-end diagnostic services with tremendous capital investment for advanced diagnostic facilities, thus catering to a greater proportion of population. The country’s competitive advantage lies in the increased success rate of Indian companies in getting Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) approvals. India also offers vast opportunities in R&D as well as medical tourism. After the pandemic, governments and organizations are more focused towards building digital infrastructure and preventive healthcare which will surely pave the way to a brighter future for the healthcare industry in the years to come. ENTOD has grown by 45% year on year (YOY) in the Ophthalmic and Otological market as per the IQVIA MAT Nov 21 data. We have also gained the maximum market share 0.93% in this segment during this period. We expect to maintain the same growth in the next financial year too due to the momentum generated in the market and the launch of our new divisions, new innovative products and proposed increased field force numbers.
Mr. Ashok Patel, Founder and CEO, max Ventilator

Mr. Ashok Patel, CEO and Founder, Max Ventilator(India’s leading ventilator manufacturer)

Doctors say that the pandemic will always be there till at least  6 years. So all the businesses are prepared to deal with it. Even as Covid-19 has led to the rise of diagnostics and equipment along with an impressive rise in virtual and homecare-driven device segments, there has been an increased emphasis on making low-cost lifesaving devices such as ventilators and oxygen concentrators. Speaking especially of ventilators, from now onwards, the rule of 4 beds per ventilator will become more of a reality. With telemedicine and app-based online pharmacies becoming more of a constant surrounding our daily lives spurring innovations in related devices and equipment, the coming year will also see more action in big data, AI and machine learning-based disease prediction technologies, apart from a push to more sophisticated surgical devices meant for a range of conditions such as neurological, cardio-vascular, oncological, orthopedic or musculosketal conditions. However I must add that for AI-based ventilators to become a reality, more time would be needed. While make-in-India has gained momentum with the view to become more self-reliant, the Chinese products have received a setback. This means that quality will determine the entry of new products and more rigorous quality checks will increasingly become a norm. The coming year will also see major investment and focus on medical device components and parts in the country. At the same time, given the surging omicron cases outside India and a repeat of the same not totally being out of question in India, Covid-related devices and equipment will continue to remain a focus of attention of manufacturers in the country in the coming year.  

Dr H S Chhabra, Director, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre

Dr H S Chhabra, Director, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre


“The year 2021 was a challenging one for India’s health sector, as the lethal second wave of coronavirus struck. As a result, an unprecedented number of people lost their lives and there was unparalleled suffering for countless others. It did, however, serve as a valuable lesson for the entire healthcare industry, leading to the resurrection and upgrading of health infrastructure in both the public and private sectors. We not only have a completely functional oxygen plant but are also now fully equipped to face new challenges, such as Omicron, with a team of experienced doctors and paramedical staff. As we approach 2022, I strongly advise everyone to take both the doses of the vaccine, if already not taken. Also, continue to observe social distancing measures, wear masks, practise hand hygiene and adhere to all the guidelines issued by the Indian government.”

Dr. Aashish Chaudhry, Managing Director, Aakash Healthcare

Dr Aashish Chaudhry, Managing Director, Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka


“Aakash Healthcare is ready for 2022, with a solid infrastructure in place to help counteract the possibility of Covid’s third wave. Since last year, the hospital has been working in close collaboration with the government to provide critical care to COVID-19 patients in the pandemic, and has earned the reputation of being one of the most sought-after centres for personalized care during COVID times. As the New Year approaches, we hope to complete the trials for the children’s Covid vaccine. As a  part of our overall development and expansion plans, we will establish a World Class Bone and Joint program/hospital in Gurgaon by next year. The new venture will serve as an Orthopedics, Joint Replacement, and Spine Hospital. In addition, we intend to open a new Cancer Hospital in Dwarka. which will provide comprehensive cancer care  including Radiation and BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant).
We are almost about to launch our State of the art Liver Transplant Program at our existing Dwarka Hospital, Multiple clinics as well as Super Speciality Hospitals are about to crop up in North India. A couple of our international projects  are also in the pipe line for 2022.” 
Health

World Sight Day: ENTOD Pharmaceutical to Organise Free Eye Check-up Camp

Oct 18, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Consultant Ophthalmologist (Pune) & Medical Consultant, #Dr. Aarti Heda, #ENTOD Pharmaceuticals, #Executive Director of ENTOD Pharmaceutical, #Nikkhil K Masurkar, #World Sight Day

New Delhi– On the occasion of World Sight Day, ENTOD Pharmaceuticals has conducted around 30 free eye check-up and cataract camps across different locations. Apart from offering free screenings to people, the campaign will raise awareness on the importance of eye health, diseases that can occur and even offer free medication samples to people.

Raising awareness about the importance of regular vision screening is crucial in India where poor vision affects nearly 550 million people and costs the economy US$37 billion every year in lost productivity. The situation is adversely impacted by low awareness regarding the seriousness of the issue and limited access to proper vision care, especially in rural areas. Cultural stigmas, misconceptions and myths surrounding glasses also prevent people from seeking the treatment they need.

Speaking about the initiative, Nikkhil K Masurkar, Executive Director of ENTOD Pharmaceutical said “Irrespective of how much you care for your eyes, there are times when you tend to miss certain symptoms which can lead to dry eye, red-eye, eye rashes or other eye problems. Though the minor problems can cause very little damage to the eyes, some can lead to vision loss, gradually. Keeping in mind the severity of the issue, we are conducting free eye check-up and cataract camps across different locations on the occasion of World Sight Day. ENTOD will be responsible for arranging the camps, providing necessary support to the doctors, arrange awareness or talk sessions and provide eye medicine samples to be delivered to the public for free. With the support of our 400 fellow workers on the ground for this latest campaign, we will ensure that more people attend the campaign and inform them of the importance of eye health and regular check-ups.”

There will be two types of camps to be organised for the event – OPD camp and cataract camp. While the OPD camp will be held for general eye diseases like glaucoma, dry eyes, red eyes, etc. the cataract camp will address the concerns of people who have eye issues like blurry vision which results from the formation of cataracts. Both government and private hospital ophthalmologists will be a part of the initiative.

“ Visual impairment deters the ability to perform daily tasks independently and the majority of the causes of visual impairment are treatable Sadly, awareness in the general public regarding early detection and prevention of eye diseases is very low. A significant number of people with blindness or visual impairment are above the age of fifty years, the most common causative factors being cataract, glaucoma refractive errors and diabetic retinopathy. Regular consultation with an ophthalmologist can identify the cause for visual impairment in time and timely intervention can help the patient get the vision back or at least prevent further loss of vision. With the help of the community outreach camps, we would like to spread awareness and knowledge regarding the common eye diseases . Such awareness programs could lead to better understanding and acceptance of the importance of routine eye examinations for the early detection and treatment of common eye diseases, thereby reducing visual impairment in the society” said Dr. Aarti Heda, Consultant Ophthalmologist (Pune) & Medical Consultant, ENTOD Pharmaceuticals

Apart from conducting eye check-up camps, to further spread the message on the importance of eye health, regular check-ups and precautions to be taken, ENTOD will be sharing video recordings from young ophthalmologists on their YouTube channel ‘Eye Health by ENTOD’ on World Sight Day. Young ophthalmologists will share their views on what needs to be done to avoid critical eye problems.Eye donation is another area of emphasis for ENTOD for which they have tied up with Dr S Natarajan (Padmashree Awardee and Director of Tele Ophthalmic Society of India) and created the website, Pledge My Eyes (https://www.pledgemyeyes.org/).

Health

Deafness or Hearing Loss: The Silent Scourge that Leads to Life-long Disability

Sep 25, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Biswanath medical hall, #Dr. Kisore Biswas ( DLO, #Executive Director of ENTOD Pharmaceuticals, #Kolkata, #MS ENT), #Nikkhil K Masurkar

Delhi–According to a recent report released by the World Health Organisation, 1 in 4 people or 2.5 billion people all over the world will suffer from some degree of hearing loss by 2050. The report also states that 700 million of these people will need better access to hearing care and other rehabilitation services if action is not taken on time. In India, the situation is equally concerning with 6.3 million people suffering from partial or complete deafness, and among these, 50 lakh are expected to be children. Sadly, hearing loss is the second most common and severe form of disability in the world. Early detection and consequent treatment are the keys to stop the progression of this disability right on its track and restore hearing in deaf people.

Hearing impairment or loss is a serious issue in India that remains grossly neglected. The country also suffers a huge economic loss resulting from higher unemployment, lost productivity and lower wages for those with hearing issues. Though the government has launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD) which is also being implemented at the primary healthcare level but lack of facilities and awareness are major deterrents in decreasing the burden of hearing impairment or deafness in the country.

Speaking of the same, Nikkhil K Masurkar, Executive Director of ENTOD Pharmaceuticals said “There is an urgent need to step up efforts to address and prevent hearing loss by investing and increasing access to ear and hearing care services. More than 27,000 children are born deaf every year in India. Hearing loss or impairment is often neglected across the country as it cannot be seen and in the majority of cases, the diagnosis is delayed. Also, there is low awareness among parents which is why a screening program needs to be implemented to identify hearing loss in children. The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) is a mandatory requirement for developed countries however, in India, Kerala is the only state that includes it as a part of mandatory health screening procedures.”

The major reasons behind hearing loss and ear diseases in the country as listed by the WHO include ear wax (15.9%), non-infectious causes like aging and presbycusis (10.3%), middle ear infections like chronic suppurative otitis media (5.2%) and serous otitis media (3%). Some of the other causes include dry perforation of tympanic membrane (0.5%) and bilateral genetic and congenital deafness (0.2%). Nearly 50% of all cases of congenital hearing loss can be attributed to environmental factors like ototoxic medication exposure, congenital hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal hypoxia, viral infections, and meningitis. The rest of the 50 per cent of cases are thought to be inherited. With rising levels of noise pollution, ototoxic chemicals, ototoxic drugs, the incidence of old age deafness is also on the rise. Nearly 360 million people in the world have disabling hearing loss, out of which 91% are adults and 9% are children.

“In most cases, people fail to recognise that they’ve hearing issues. Hearing loss usually takes place over time. The symptoms may include asking people to repeat themselves, ringing in the ear, dizziness or balance issues, not responding to all sounds, not getting startled by loud noises, headaches, weakness and numbness. If any of these show up, it is always a good idea to consult an ENT specialist check for signs of infection or other issues that could lead to hearing loss” said Dr. Kisore Biswas ( DLO, MS ENT), Biswanath medical hall, Kolkata.

“Timely medical check-up, avoidance of loud music, daily exercises and keeping in check upper respiratory chest infections are some of the ways to prevent the early onset of hearing loss, especially in children and those below the age of 50 years. Other than that, hearing aids can also help improve the ability to understand speech among those with hearing impairment. Surgical interventions like cochlear implants, middle-ear implants, electro-acoustic stimulation implants and auditory brainstem implants are highly recommended for children whose development and future are at stake” added Mr Masurkar.