Health sector can attract investments of Rs 9 trillion by 2022: Dr K Sudhakar

News Network
December 19, 2020

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Bengaluru, Dec 19: With the right kind of investments, the healthcare sector can attract public and private investments to the tune of Rs 9 trillion by 2022, Karnataka Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr K Sudhakar said on Saturday.

In his keynote address at the first pre-event of 'TechBharat 2021' hosted jointly by Laghu Udyog Bharati and IMS Foundation, Union Government and the Karnataka Government here on Saturday, he said that in the last two decades healthcare has witnessed substantial technological advancements which has created many opportunities to provide good healthcare to the masses.

He said, “Be it remote health monitoring tools, fitness wearables, medical robotics, electronic health record, 3D printing, telemedicine, medical kiosks, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) enabled genome sequencing, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for remote patient care and reliable treatment, internet of medical things (IoMT), cloud based platforms for healthcare, etc., have helped our healthcare systems cope with present and future demands. Further, for entrepreneurs in the field of healthcare, these technological advancements have created umpteen opportunities in providing good healthcare to the population.”

The Minister gave a clarion call to investors to set up high-end healthcare services in Karnataka and assured that his government will traverse the extra mile in supporting such enterprise on priority.

Dr Sudhakar said, “Karnataka is a land full of opportunities for players in the medical devices industry. It has also become one of the leading destinations for high-end diagnostic services with tremendous capital investment for advanced diagnostic facilities, thus catering to a greater proportion of population. Further through social entrepreneurship, access and traction to healthcare insurance, financing of healthcare services, building healthcare repositories and adoption of innovative business models to tackle healthcare needs. Again, skilling or developing healthcare resources is the biggest challenge as well as an opportunity worldwide. In addition, promoting strategic partnerships amongst pharmaceutical establishments and framing proper regulations and monitoring of compliance across pharma industries, etc are all business opportunities waiting in the wings to be grabbed by investors.”

Mr Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary echoing the same sentiments said: “Karnataka has been attracting global audience with its integrated and strategic growth plans that offer immense investment potential, apart from healthcare and education, across its varied sectors vis-à-vis IT/BT, pharmaceuticals, agri business and food processing, energy and infrastructure along with medical tourism.”

He said “Being in the government we are aware that governments play a crucial role in improving ranking of ease with which business is conducted. On this front over the last few years, the Ease of Doing Parameters has been considerably reduced. The state government has also started integrated services for the project approvals of the line departments related to industrial investments, which provides online filing of application, processing, status verification and also provision of downloading of final certificate/clearances. The system also provides third party verification of the certificates and clearances issued.”

TechBharat 2021 a Virtual Exhibition and Conference saw big ticket industry veterans in education and healthcare sectors deliberating on topics like technology to elementary education, higher education-research, collaboration & compliance, digital transformation in education management, education in India after NEP 2020, funding education & entrepreneurs, technology to healthcare, healthcare - innovation, research & regulatory compliance NextGen healthcare - digital transformation, healthcare & medical education in India after NHP 2015 and support to start-ups in healthcare technology over 12 hours.

Speaking on the occasion, Infosys Limited former Chairman Kris Gopalakrishnan said that during the COVID period there has been a massive acceleration and adoption of digital technology in everybody's life. “The digital transformation which would have happened in five years has occurred in just five months be it e-com, WFH, consumption of digital content, financial business and so on,” he added.

In his welcome address Laghu Udyog Bharati President P S Srikanta Dutta said that healthcare and education are two vital streams that drive economic and GDP growth significantly across the globe. 'By organising TechBharat, we at LUB-K and IMS Foundation would like to do our small bit by contributing to the growth of the Indian economy'.

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News Network
January 3,2025

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BJP MLA Vedavyas Kamath and several BJP leaders were arrested in Mangaluru during a protest organized by the Dakshina Kannada BJP Yuva Morcha near Mini Vidhana Soudha. 

The protest targeted the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government, accusing it of fostering an environment of harassment and distress, which the BJP claims has led to multiple suicides among contractors and government officials.

Key Points:

Addressing the gathering before his arrest, Kamath criticized the Congress government, alleging that neither contractors nor honest officials have found peace since it assumed power. He remarked, "Suicide seems to be the only 'guarantee' under this administration."

Kamath cited the suicide of contractor Sachin, allegedly driven to death by harassment from individuals linked to Minister Priyank Kharge.

Other cases highlighted included the suicides of Chandrashekar, superintendent of the Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation, and Rudresh, who was allegedly harassed by an aide of Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar.

Kamath also referred to a Dalit inspector, Parashuram, who reportedly succumbed to alleged torture connected to Congress MLA Channareddy Patil’s son.

He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar of remaining silent due to political fears over their positions.

Prominent BJP leaders such as Ramesh Kandetthu, Premananda Shetty, Vikas Puttur, Nandan Mallya, Monappa Bhandary, Pooja Pai, Deputy Mayor Bhanumathi, and Sanjay Prabhu participated in the protest alongside party workers and municipal council members.

The protest escalated, resulting in the arrest of Kamath and other BJP leaders by the police, marking a dramatic standoff between BJP and Congress.

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News Network
January 6,2025

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Karnataka’s first C Band Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) in Mangaluru, work for which was supposed to have been finished by January 15, will be postponed slightly due to some technical difficulties, said N Puviarasan, head of India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s Bengaluru centre.

“We are hoping to get it running by this month's end at least,” said Puviarasan on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ workshop organised by the IMD Bengaluru on January 4 to commemorate 150 years of IMD. The workshop was held at the premises of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre (KSNDMC) and had day-long sessions, including technical ones by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bengaluru and Department of Agro Meteorology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru.

Puviarasan also said the IMD ran into obstacles in its bid to establish a S-band DWR in Bengaluru, due to problems in acquiring the land required. “We need 30X30 space to put up a tower and a small utility room,” said Puviarasan. According to him, IMD had originally planned to put up the radar in Nandi Hills. But, on Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment Shobha Karandlaje’s request, he said they started scouting for an appropriate place in Bengaluru. On July 23, 2024 Karandlaje had posted on X: “Following my request, the IMD has greenlit the installation of a Doppler radar in the city (Bengaluru), scheduled to be operational by year-end. This is a major step towards better weather forecasting & preparedness for natural disasters."

She had also posted a letter written to her by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh, who said the radar will have an operational range of 250 km and will be installed in Bengaluru by 2024. He also mentioned that the site for the radar installation has already been identified and the Centre had informed the state government to acquire the site. “But the site suggested by the minister is not feasible because of the elevation issues,” said Puviarsan.

According to IMD scientists, there should not be buildings higher than the radar within its range, as readings will be affected. Puviarasan said they have now identified a place within a government school in Bengaluru and are awaiting permission to establish the radar. He said usually land acquisition is a huge problem. “This time, it’s a government school. Here, we don’t even need to raise a boundary wall, as it exists already. So, we’ll see,” said the director. If this is not working out, he said IMD will go back to its initial plan and will establish the radar in Nandi Hills. Mangaluru radar, being established near Kadri, is expected to cover 250-300 km radius, putting regions prone to heavy rains during monsoons in Karnataka, like Agumbe, Hulikal, Talakaveri, Kerekatte and Bhagamandala within its range, said a IMD scientist. Earlier, in his presentation, Puviarasan had also said apart from Bengaluru and Mangaluru, one X-band DWR is coming up at Dharwad. He also said proposals have been submitted for S-band radar at Honnavara and C-band at Ballari.

Without a DWR, Karnataka has been depending on the radars in Goa, Hyderabad and Chennai for more accuracy in forecasts for thunderstorms and rainfall so far, said IMD officials. In his presentation, Director of KSNDMC, Bhoyar Harshal Narayanrao, talked about why Karnataka is vulnerable to hydro-meteorological and geological disasters. He also said 80 per cent of Karnataka is prone to drought, and that in the last 23 years (between 2001 and 2024), 16 years are drought affected. He also said maximum number of landslides leaving widespread damage and casualties have occurred in Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamamgaluru, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Hassan, Chamrajanagara Mysuru and Chikkaballapura. The year 2018 saw the most landslides, at 462, between 2006 and 2024. Narayanrao also said Karnataka is the only state in the south with its own disaster monitoring centre and seeing its success other states are also thinking of establishing one on the lines of KSNDMC. He said KSNDMC is also being approached by a few startups to involve Artificial Intelligence in disaster management. “We are taking a cautious approach towards the idea. We are looking into what AI can offer and will decide accordingly,” said Narayanrao.

Other presentations included an overview of IMD services by S Balachandran, head of Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai and possible integration of climate services in support of Karnataka State Action Plan on climate change by K J Ramesh, Former Director General, IMD. Sanjeev Verma, AGM, Air Traffic Management, Airports Authority of India, Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru also made a presentation of how weather forecasting is integral for air traffic management.

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News Network
January 7,2025

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Mangaluru: A tragic road accident claimed the life of a young medical store owner on Monday, January 6, near Tiblapadavu, Natekallu, located on the outskirts of the city.

The victim, identified as 25-year-old Ausaf, was the proprietor of Hajira Medicals and the son of Jaleel, a resident of Derlakatte. 

The unfortunate incident unfolded as Ausaf was riding his bike from Derlakatte toward Tiblapadavu. Upon approaching a divider near Tiblapadavu, a lorry made a sudden turn, resulting in a collision between the motorbike and the rear of the lorry. Ausaf succumbed to his injuries on the spot.

Having completed his education a few years ago, Ausaf had taken up the responsibility of managing Hajira Medicals at Derlakatte Junction. He was well-known in his community for his dedication and service.

Authorities at the Mangaluru South Traffic Police Station have registered a case, and CCTV footage capturing the incident is under review. The tragic loss has left the local community in shock, mourning the untimely demise of a promising young entrepreneur. 

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