July 1st marked Doctors’ Day – and while the occasion was an opportunity to thank the medical professionals who work to ensure good health, it also was a bitter reminder of the public health crisis India is facing. The government has put a figure to the mammoth medical staff shortage India is battling. The new […]
Health data
Ill health is killing more Indians than terror. Time to change priorities?
Ill health deaths: 97 percent. Terror deaths: 0.007 percent. Let us first take a moment to digest the headline. “The two issues that took significance and helped the BJP return to power were national security and Hindu nationalism, with claims that both are under threat by unforeseen powers. The reality is different: people are dying […]
Exclusive interview: Dr Mikashmi Kohli on why essential diagnostics matter in realising universal healthcare
Health Issues India talks to Dr Mikashmi Kohli, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow of the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill International TB Centre, about a recent study she co-authored with Dr Madhukar Pai about the importance of essential diagnostics in the path towards universal healthcare. The study, “Essential Diagnositcs: A Key Element […]
In major error, millions of pregnant women’s data leaked online
In a major technical error, more than 12.5 million medical records belonging to pregnant women were left exposed and available for public consumption. Failure to secure a database containing the records – some of which dated back to 2014 – saw sensitive information left publically accessible. It was not until a researcher discovered the error […]
Heart data: Does it offer new hope for heart health?
Dubai-based researchers have pioneered a novel new technology which could offer hope for those suffering from heart ailments. Scientists at the University of Birmingham Dubai have unveiled ElectroMap software which could play an important role in processing heart data. Existing technologies can monitor the electrical activity of the heart and detect when conditions such as […]
The world largest’s biometric database: A step forward or a privacy risk for patients?
The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that privacy is an inherent right of Indian people. This is a landmark verdict which could have implications for biometric database Aadhaar. The largest biometric database in the world Aadhaar is a national identification system, promoted by the Indian government. More than 1.12 billion Indians – more than 88 […]
Google and Karnataka: Partners in public health?
Google and the southwest Indian state of Karnataka are possible partners in public health, reports the Economic Times. “Early-stage talks” Reports suggest that the ubiquitous tech giant is “in early-stage talks” with the Karnataka state government. Discussions concern the possible development of a new and more efficient way to collate and analyse public health data. […]