Health solution by Health-Informationworld

With the high-end health care sector booming, IT solution companies are eager to participate in the growth story by providing electronic solutions for health care management.

Some of the leading IT companies operating in the country, like the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Novell India, Intel, HP and GE health care are scampering to enter the niche market of health care management.

For example, Intel was betting big on its latest product called the Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA), a device to electronically monitor a patient through a hand-held device.

The device is still in its trial phase in two hospitals — Ruby Hall in Pune and Satya Sai Baba Hospital at Bangalore.

The company hopes to launch it nationally by 2009, when detailed business plans will be drawn, according to Atul Bengeri, industry manager for digital health for Intel. “Currently, less than 3 per cent of a hospital's expense goes into IT. Intel has been in the business of chip-manufacturing for the last 40 years. However, for the last four-five years, we are trying to find out why IT has not penetrated into healthcare,” he said.

Similarly, the health care management division of TCS is planning a new product for pharmaceutical regulatory compliances during clinical trials. The product would improve the safety of persons undergoing trials, said Biplab Biswas, principal consultant of TCS.

P K Mishra, consulting architect of Novell India, said open source technology under the Linux platform could provide solutions like imaging, visualisation, signal-processing, bio-surveillance for an integrated health care management.

According to Faisal M Paul, country manager for high performance computing and OSLO at HP, the medical information system providing end-to-end infrastructure solution for hospitals developed by HP was a success in private and public hospitals in Maharashtra.

Areas like life sciences provided opportunities of growth in the health care sector, he said.

High Blood PressureAlistrol provides an absolute solution for avoiding high blood pressure symptom by giving services of natural high blood pressure supplement.



source from:-http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=8&subLeft=2&chklogin=N&autono=312975&tab=r

New Delhi (PTI): India must improve the health care system to realise its economic potential and the country is well positioned to tackle challenges in the sector, says a report.

Further, public-private collaboration for better insurance coverage, widespread health education and better disease prevention could improve the health care system.

"The problems facing the system are large -- but not intractable if business, government and civil society work together to solve them," said the report published by McKinsey Quarterly.

The report, titled "A Healthier Future for India", pointed out that subsidising health care and insurance for the country's poor people would be necessary to improve the system.

India is expected to become the most populous country by 2035 while it already has the youngest people -- home to about 20 per cent of the world's people under 24 years of age.

According to the report, India has the privilege of learning from and avoiding the costly errors of the advanced economies apart from having the opportunity to create new models for health care.

Moreover, increased availability of quality care, access to affordable health care services and creating awareness of the benefits of preventive measures are expected to help in the betterment of the system.

The report also pointed out that lack of qualified medical personnel is a serious problem.
source from:-http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200802061760.htm

NEW DELHI: Ringing alarm bells for the health establishment, a new WHO report has claimed that 10 per cent of the world's smokers live in this country.

According to the report, nearly two thirds of the world's smokers live in 10 countries.

While 30 per cent live in China, India accounts for 10 per cent, it said.

The report further said that the use of tobacco in India among young girls has risen with 9.7 per cent girls between the age of 13 and 16 years using some form of tobacco as against 3.1 per cent adult women.

Tobacco prevalence among adult men is a high 57 per cent, while 32.7 per cent of them smoke bidis, it said.

The WHO report warns that the "tobacco epidemic" is growing and could claim a billion lives by the end of the century.

Seventy-four countries still allow smoking in health care institutions and about the same number allow smoking in schools.

More than half the countries with two-thirds of the world's population allow smoking in government offices and workplaces.

The new report comes amidst the government's plans to ban smoking in workplaces.

source from:-http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

VISAKHAPATNAM: All arrangements are in place for the effective administration of polio drops to children in the 0 - 5 age group as part of the National Immunisation Day (NID), on Sunday.

Addressing a joint media conference in this connection on Friday, District Medical and Health Officer Balasundara Rao and District Immunisation Officer R. Syamala said that 5.80 lakh vaccine doses have been received and have been distributed to all Primary Health Centres (PHC s) and nursing homes in addition to opening of stalls at places where people gather in large numbers like parks and shopping malls.

The total enumerated children in the target age group in the district are 4,34,383.

They include 2,18,835 in the rural areas, 1,44, 269 in urban and 71,279 in the tribal areas. In all, 3625 PPI (Pulse Polio Immunisation) posts (including transit teams) have been opened in the district.

While 1,889 posts have been opened in the rural areas, 1,278 were opened in tribal areas and 458 were opened in GVMC (Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation) area.
Appointed

In all, 14,500 vaccinators and 366 supervisors have been appointed.

In view of the large population in the city, the programme will be held three additional days with volunteers going on a door-to-door survey to vaccinate uncovered children.
Across the globe

The PPI programme is being organised all over the world to free human race from the debilitating disease. Thirty two thousand polio cases were registered during 1994 in India.

The PPI programme was launched in India in 1995 and was taken up with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm all over the country resulting in a noticeable decline in the number of cases.

The number of polio cases registered in India was 66 in 2005, 676 in 2006 and 844 in 2007 and this year 21 cases have been registered all over the country so far.

A majority of the cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

In AP, only one case was reported from Srikakulam in 2004 and after that five cases have been registered in the State in 2007.

Polio would soon be eradicated from India.

But, in the meantime it is essential to keep a watch on the new cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (FAP) that causes sudden weakening of the hands, legs, neck or any other part of the body in children below 15 years of age.

sourec from:-http://www.hindu.com

Are you concentrating on the physical aspects when contemplating the best cardio workout for weight loss? Don't stop there! Once you discover the psychological benefits, you will become hooked on fitness. Countless studies have proven the mood-enhancing effects of a 20 or 30 minute workout. From teens to seniors will experience this uplifting, invigorating result. Geared to create your new body? Ready to get ripped to burn belly fat? Let's see why a cardio workout for weight loss delivers the goods every time.

Ten vital benefits of a stretching, strength training, weight loss cardio workout:

1. Outwits osteoporosis

2. Trounces type 2 diabetes

3. Helps heart health

4. Whittles down weight

5. Diminishes mild depression

6. Spruces up sleep quality

7. Promotes mind-power

8. Improves self-image

9. Fine-tunes flexibility

10. Elevates energy levels

Food habits

• Eating nuts and dry fruits (in limited quantities )like Sesame seeds, Almonds, Cashews, Pistachio, Walnut, Hazel nuts, Dates, Apricots, Prunes, Raisins will provide necessary vitamins, natural oils and provide required nutrients to keep the body warm.
• Use spices like Black pepper, Garlic, Onion, Cumin, Coriander, Ginger, Asafetida, Mustard seeds to help in the digestion and elimination of abdominal gases.
• Vegetables like drum sticks, spinach, amaranth, bitter gourd, green banana, fenugreek leaves ( Methi), Mint leaves provides the necessary fiber and nutrition and at the same time are easily digestible.
• Sprouts have a lot of fiber and proteins in them. Their consumption will help provide enough energy without feeling heavy.
• A glass of fresh warm milk (preferably organic fresh milk) with a pinch of turmeric and black pepper will boost the immunity.
• Freshly prepared warm food will enhance circulation and increase enzyme activity.
• Fruits rich in Vitamin C like Gooseberry ( Amla), Orange, Lemon, Tangerine help flush out the toxins from the body.
• Fasting once a week at regular intervals is recommended to detoxify the body .

Living habits

• Regular body massage with fresh cold pressed vegetable oils to improve circulation
• Regular gargling with warm salt water or warm decoction of Triphala with salt will prevent throat infections.
• This is the best season for conceiving a healthy strong child.
• Wear warm clothes made of natural fibers like cotton , wool , jute etc .
• Must keep bowels clean by going to the toilet at least once a day.
• At least 60 minutes of physical exercise is recommended to maintain circulation and keep active.
• Apply oil on the feet and hands and dip in warm salt water for 10 minutes to improve circulation and reduce numbness.
• Inhale hot vapors of natural essential oils like eucalyptus, tulasi (holy basil), lemon grass, mint, menthol to prevent nasal congestion.
• Drink at least 2 liters of fresh warm water everyday to prevent dehydration and flush out toxins.
• Apply natural lavender oil on the forehead and nose to prevent depression.
• Panchakarma procedures are recommended regularly during this season.

Nothing is more exciting than a holiday in the sun in the middle of winter or exploring new and different countries during your summer vacation. It is wise to take some precautions before you travel so that you can stay healthy and enjoy your holiday.

Part of your holiday planning

Before travelling outside North America or Western Europe, you should seek travel health advice. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit provides travel advice and immunizations upon request by appointment. A public health nurse will enquire about your health and ask you certain questions such as when you are leaving, where you are going, what you will be doing while you are there, and how long you will be staying. An appointment will be made to meet with a nurse to talk about your travel plans and receive immunizations if required.

Eat, drink and be healthy

Watching what you eat and drink will help to avoid many problems. Drink only water that has been boiled or sterilized. Bottled drinks are usually safe to drink. Avoid ice, unless you are sure it is made from properly treated water. Eat food that has been carefully cooked and is still hot when served. Avoid raw seafood and other raw foods, except fruits and vegetables that you have peeled or shelled yourself. A good rule is: "Cook it, peel it or leave it." Boil unpasteurized milk before drinking it. Be sure that meals bought from street vendors are thoroughly cooked in your presence and do not contain any uncooked foods.

Vaccinations

Yellow fever vaccine is required in certain countries in Africa and South America. The health unit is an official yellow fever vaccination centre. Most other vaccinations, such as the hepatitis A and B vaccine, are recommendations only. Hepatitis A is a risk in most areas of the world except North America, Australia and Western Europe. You can get it from contaminated food and water. Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver, which can lead to yellowing of the skin (jaundice) that can last a month or more. Other symptoms are tiredness, stomach pains and general weakness. Children may show no signs at all. Hepatitis B, unlike hepatitis A, is found in bodily fluids such as blood. It is spread by having sex with an infected person, or by contact with contaminated body fluids.

Everyone should have a booster shot for tetanus and diphtheria every 10 years. There are other travel vaccines that may be needed in some cases. The public health nurses at the travel clinic are available to help you decide which vaccines will be needed. There is a fee for most travel vaccines however, some medical insurance plans may pay for part or all of the cost.

Mosquito precautions

Many diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, can be transmitted through mosquitoes. Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes that bite between dusk and dawn. It is a risk in many countries in the world. There is no vaccine against malaria, but medications, called anti-malarials, are available. The travel clinic has the most up-to-date information on what medication is recommended if you are travelling to a malaria infected area, as well as other useful information about malaria and preventing mosquito bites. You must get the anti-malarial medication from your doctor. No medication gives total protection; that is why it is important to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible:

source :-http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=877114