However, Mrs Patel ruled out
any proposal to make carrier
testing compulsory for relatives
of thalassemia patients as it
should be voluntary and not
cause stigmatization of the family.
“Awareness programme on
thalassemia are being conducted
by several State Governments,” she
said.
HEALTHQUADV RAISES INR 750
MILLION TO SUPPORT THEMATIC
INDIAN HEALTHCARE FIRMS
Healthquad, India’s leading
specialist healthcare focused
venture capital fund has
achieved its final close with total
commitment of INR 750 million for
investing in thematic and disruptive
healthcare business models in
India. The Fund is also the first
early stage investment vehicle
by the leading healthcare private
equity investors, Dr Amit Varma,
Abrar Mir and Charles Antione
Janssen.
The Fund
targets
to invest
around INR
4 billion in
healthcare
companies
that have the potential to disrupt
the healthcare landscape by
dramatically improving the
productivity, affordability and
accessibility of healthcare through
differentiated and innovative
solutions. The Fund’s
investment strategy targets
five key healthcare sub-sectors
including Healthcare Delivery
Services, Life-Sciences,
Medical Devices & Technology,
Healthcare IT and Associated
Healthcare Services. It is
looking to invest in 8-10 companies.
The minister further mentioned
that the guidelines provide for
screening of every pregnant woman
during ANC, premarital counselling
at the college level and one-time
screening for variant anaemia for
all children in class VIII.
BIRAC’S GRAND CHALLENGES
OPENS UP FOR PROPOSALS
FROM HEALTH INNOVATORS
The Grand Challenges Explorations
(GCE) - India program funds
exploratory ideas from within India,
which create pathways for drug
discovery, vaccine development,
advancement in health technologies
and delivery systems that can be
made available to people from all
socio-economic strata.
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