Government News

- Read more about NIH announces awards for behavioral research on OUD prevention and treatment
Six research awards totaling $9.4 million over three years will study the impact of behavioral interventions for primary or secondary prevention of opioid use disorder (OUD), or as a complement to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of OUD.
- Read more about WHO is developing Benchmark Documents for practice in traditional medicine
World Health Organisation is developing Benchmark Documents for practice in Ayurveda, Panckarma and Unani system as part of its global strategy to provide safe, effective and accessible Traditional Medicine to global community. Development of these benchmarks documents is included in the Project Collaboration Agreement (PCA) between WHO and Ministry of AYUSH. WHO Working Group Meetings for three WHO benchmark documents scheduled 17 -19 September, 2018, was inaugurated at Jaipur. The three days programme containing four sessions on each day has been organized by Ministry of AYUSH and coordinated by National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur.
- Read more about Health ministry initiate Empanelment of Independent National Monitors
The Central government initiated empanelling independent individual and institutional monitors across the country.

The main objective is to undertake regular monitoring of major national programmes and special monitoring of specific interventions under the NHM, to identify areas for improvement following the review and to provide suggestions for addressing the gaps identified
- Read more about National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) releases HIV Estimations 2017
The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) released the report HIV Estimations 2017 at a function. The HIV Estimations 2017 is the 14th round in the series of HIV Estimations under National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).
- Read more about NIH announce the launch of initiative to accelerate genetic therapies to cure sickle cell disease
The National Institutes of Health announced the launch of a new initiative to help speed the development of cures for sickle cell disease, a group of inherited blood disorders affecting at least 100,000 people in the United States and 20 million worldwide. The Cure Sickle Cell Initiative will take advantage of the latest genetic discoveries and technological advances to move the most promising genetic-based curative therapies safely into clinical trials within five to 10 years.
- Read more about Health Ministry issues a notification for bringing the HIV/AIDS Act, 2017 in force
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a notification for bringing the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 in force from 10th September, 2018.
- Read more about Government banned 328 FDCs in the country
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has prohibited the manufacture for sale, sale or distribution for human use of 328 Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) with immediate effect. It has also restricted the manufacture, sale or distribution of six FDCs subject to certain conditions.
- Read more about NITI Aayog, Intel and TIFR collaborate to set up a Model International Center for Transformative AI (ICTAI)
NITI Aayog, Intel, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) announced on 7th September that they are collaborating to set up a Model International Center for Transformative Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI) towards developing and deploying AI-led application-based research projects. This initiative is part of NITI Aayog’s ‘National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence’ Discussion Paper that focuses on establishing ICTAI in the country through private sector collaboration.
- Read more about Health ministry decide for renaming drug regulator CDSCO
The Union Health Ministry decide for renaming the country's drug regulator CDSCO in line with its expanded roles. In a public notice issued on 6.9.2018, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO) said its name was given keeping its role when it was created, but the present nomenclature was not reflecting its roles and responsibilities.
- Read more about India has accelerated many initiatives to achieve universal health coverage: J P Nadda
“India has fast-tracked many initiatives aimed at achieving all the core tenets of Universal Health Coverage i.e, strengthening health systems, improving access to free medicines & diagnostics and reducing catastrophic healthcare spending.” This was stated by Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare at the inauguration of the ‘71st Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia.