Chemicals in soap and nail polish can make you obese, finds new study

Washington: Exposure to chemicals found in everyday products like plastics, soap or nail polish may affect the amount of fat stored in the body, a new study has claimed.Read More

Heart attack patients receive less treatment for depression: Study

People who have suffered a heart attack tend to be more depressed but are less often prescribed anti-depressants than individuals who have not had a heart attack, finds new research.Read More

'Teenagers receiving less sex education from parents, schools'

Sex education is important for teenagers to stay healthy but educating them about sex from either parents or school has significantly dropped than a decade ago, media reported on Monday.Read More

Karnataka to soon get SOTTO for cadaveric organ transplantation

Cadaveric organ donation in the State is set to get a boost with the government gearing up to establish a State Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation (SOTTO). Read More

Here's how you can deal with a migraine attack effectively

Migraines affect millions globally and is a condition that sometimes ends up affecting the quality of your life. The throbbing pain and nausea that a migraine attack brings can last for an hour and in some cases go on for days. Read More

16-year-old Latur boy undergoes successful heart transplant

Tide seems to have changed for Latur residents. On Tuesday, the drought-hit city received around 5 lakh litres of water through trains and on Wednesday, a 16-year-old boy from Latur received a donor heart, giving him a new lease of life. Read More

Six new proteins discovered to fight Alzheimer's, cancer

The researchers found that these tiny proteins are produced naturally in the energy-generating mitochondria -- the powerhouse in human cells -- and play key roles in metabolism and cell survival. Read More

How Zika virus causes microcephaly

Researchers have now produced evidence of how Zika virus causes brain defects in babies. Several cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect in which the brain fails to grow properly, continue to be reported in Brazil following the unprecedented ...Read More

Stop 'bad cholesterol' production to prevent tumour growth

Cancerous tumour cells expand in the human body by feeding on "bad cholesterols" found in the lipid metabolism, finds a new research.Read More

New molecular marker can predict breast cancer risk

Researchers have identified a molecular marker that identifies proliferating cells in normal breast tissue and can predict a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, the leading cause of death in women with cancer worldwide. Read more

Heartbreak can actually change the rhythm of your heart

Losing a loved one really can break your heart, research suggests, although not for ever. People who lose a partner are at an increased risk of developing an irregular heartbeat for the next 12 months, scientists found. Read More

World Health Day 2016: How to Tackle Diabetes Before it Happens

An initiative of the World Health Organisation, World Health Day is celebrated on 7th April to spread awareness about global health issues. Read More

Google now offers 'health card' for disease search

NEW DELHI: For health-related searches in India, Google will now present results for over 400 diseases in an easy-to-read graphic or "card".  Read More

Govt. to launch new health protection scheme

The Centre will launch a new health protection scheme under which a cover up to Rs. 1 lakh per family will be provided bedsides opening around 3,000 medical stores across the country to provide quality medicines at affordable prices.

In the back drop of emergence of around 2.2 lakh patients of End Stage Renal Disease in India every year and resulting in additional demand for 3.4 crore dialysis sessions, the government will also initiate a National Dialysis Services Programme to provide dialysis services in all district hospitals.

“A serious illness of family member(s) causes severe stress on the financial condition of poor and economically weak families, shaking the foundation of their economic security.

“In order to help such families, the government will launch a new health protection scheme which will provide health cover up to rupees one lakh per family,” Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said while unveiling the Budget 2016-17 in Parliament on Monday.

He said that for senior citizens, who are 60 years of age and above, an additional top-up package up to Rs. 30,000 will be provided.

Observing that making quality medicines available at affordable prices has been a “key challenge”, Jaitley said the government will “reinvigorate” the supply of generic drugs by opening 3,000 stores under Prime Minister Jan Aushadhi Yojna.

“Making quality medicines available at affordable prices has been a key challenge. We will reinvigorate the supply of generic drugs. 3,000 stores under Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Yojana will be opened during 2016-17,” he said.

Mr. Jaitley noted that with approximately 4,950 dialysis centres in the country, largely in the private sector and concentrated in the major towns, the demand is only half met.

“Every dialysis session costs about Rs. 2,000 leading to an annual expenditure of more than Rs. 3 lakh. Besides, most families have to undertake frequent trips, often over long distances to access dialysis services, incurring heavy travel costs and loss of wages.

“Under the National Dialysis Services Programme, funds will be made available through PPP Mode to provide dialysis services in all district hospitals,” he said.

The Union Finance Minister also proposed to exempt certain parts of dialysis equipment from basic customs duty, excise or Countervailing Duty (CVD) and Special Additional Duty (SAD).

Keywords: Union Budget 2016-17, new health protection scheme, launching of new health protection scheme, Arun Jaitley