FM SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE - digital edition

web platform.
As the use of the
internet is becoming more
widespread in the semi-urban
parts of India, providing
consultations via the web
will help internet users
access healthcare services
via multiple devices including
mobile, laptops and desktops,
according DocsApp.
Started in 2015, DocsApp
has a user base of over
3.5 million customers
and provides 75,000+
consultations per month. The
app connects patients to
specialist doctors across 19
specialities within 30 minutes
on the app via chat or call.
DocsApp allows patients to
order medicines and lab tests
from home.
DocsApp received the
‘App of the year 2017’ award
from Amazon in the medical
category.
Sanofi Pasteur
launches 4-strain
flu vac in India
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine
division of Sanofi,
launched its four-strain
influenza vaccine FluQuadri
in India.
FluQuadri will be India’s
first quadrivalent vaccine to
provide broader protection
against influenza to
population above 3 years of
age, the company said.
The majority of seasonal
influenza vaccines currently
available are trivalent. They
offer protection against two
A strains and one single B
lineage (B/Victoria or B/
Yamagata) of the influenza
virus. However, over recent
flu seasons, co-circulation
of both B lineages has been
consistently observed, making
it difficult for the World
Health Organization (WHO)
to recommend which B strain
should be incorporated in
trivalent influenza vaccines.
Given the change in
epidemiology, quadrivalent
vaccination represent the
next logical step.
India has also seen
circulation of type B influenza
strains. The Integrated
Disease Surveillance Program
(IDSP) annual report of 2017
stated that in the wake of
high number of influenza
deaths and cases in Gujarat,
an expert committee noted
that one of the main reasons
of flu epidemic in Gujarat
Dr Mohan receives Harold Rifkin Award for diabetes care
Dr V Mohan, chairman and
chief of diabetology
at Dr Mohan’s Diabetes
Specialities Centre, has
received the prestigious
Harold Rifkin Distinguished
International Service in the
Cause of Diabetes Award
by the American Diabetes
Association (ADA).
Dr Mohan, who is also
the president and chief of
diabetes research of the
Madras Diabetes Research
Foundation, is the first
Indian doctor to receive this
award.
Dedicated to the memory
of Dr Harold Rifkin, an
internationally recognised
clinician, researcher and
educator in diabetes, the
award is one of the highest
scientific achievement
awards of American
Diabetes Association, given
was that during last year,
the H3N2 and B subtypes
of influenza virus were
circulating, but not H1N1,
leading to a build-up of the
susceptible population.
The WHO includes
quadrivalent influenza
vaccines in its
recommendations.
Philips launches
India’s Future
Health Index
The first edition of India’s
Future Health Index (FHI),
a research-based platform
by Royal Philips to help
determine the readiness of
Dr Mohan
annually to an individual
whose efforts have increased
the awareness of the
burden of diabetes
worldwide to improve the
care and lives of those with
diabetes.
The award recognises
Dr Mohan’s outstanding
countries to address global
health challenges and build
sustainable, fit-for-purpose
national health systems has
been launched.
Lack of access due
to low skilled-physician
density and a low number of
hospital beds impede value
the most, according to FHI.
The study also found that
despite a lower-than-average
data analytics score, Indian
healthcare professionals are
open to the use of futuristic
technology (AI, virtual reality)
in healthcare, even more so
than the general population.
FHI finds that healthcare
professionals could become
key promoters of connected
care technologies as they
consider themselves highly
knowledgeable about
connected care devices
and believe in a future
where everyone owns them
to manage their health,
potentially boosting data
collection and analytics in
India.
service to the cause of
diabetes in India and his
pioneering work in the field
of diabetes.
The award was conferred
on Dr Mohan during the
78th Scientific Sessions
of the American Diabetes
Association at Orlando
during the National Scientific
Achievement Awards
Presentation Ceremony
held on June 25 at WB4
Convention Centre.
Dr Mohan has worked
tirelessly to address the
challenges of diabetes
in India and developing
countries. He has actively
been involved in government
health policy and advocacy
programmes related to
diabetes, and has served as
the president of the Research
Society for the Study of
Diabetes in India.
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