Business Health

Asiri Hospitals invests in one of the world’s fastest VCT scanners

The Asiri Group of Hospitals invested Rs. 150 million on a fastest Volume Computed Tomography (VCT) scanner to meet the imaging demand in the local health sector.

This technologically advanced 64-slice VCT machine, which is the latest in the MDCT generation, has replaced invasive procedures and is capable of more definitive diagnosis. Asiri is the only hospital in Sri Lanka to begin using this 64-slice VCT scanner.

In a matter of a few seconds, or five heartbeats, images produced by the scanner gives doctors the information they need to diagnose a heart attack, stroke of whether the chest pain is caused by a blood clot, tear or blocked blood vessel.

This state-of-the-art scanner can capture every millimeter of tissue in the body in just a few seconds giving doctors crystal clear images of tiny blood vessels and cancers to major traumatic injuries. For example, the whole head and neck angiogram, from arch of aorta to the vertex of the skull can be completed in just five seconds.

This remarkable speed of scanning is also helpful in imaging patients with neurovascular pathologies who generally tend to be incorporative.

Further, the percentage of toxicity is far less than that of a typical angiogram.

“This machine gives us the speed, detail and the accuracy like never before,” said COO Asiri Hospitals Dr Manjula Karunarathne.

“Patients can now get accurate cardiac diagnosis and the best treatment plan without invasive procedures,” he added.

Doctors use this VCT scanner to image problems relating to the digestive and urinary systems, the brain and blood vessels that feed it and other areas of the body.

“The pace of advancement in medical imaging has driven unprecedented demand for images of all body systems,” said Consultant Oncologist Dr. Jayantha Balawardena,. “We are pleased to offer our patients and clinicians the latest technology at a most affordable cost,” he added.

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Free public seminar on diabetes

Invaluable tips on the management of diabetes through medication, diet and lifestyle will be presented at a free public seminar to be conducted by the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre on November 3 at 9.00 am.

The resource persons for the seminar are Consultant Physician and Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Chandani Wanigatunge, Consultant Nutritionist at the Police Hospital N. M. S. Hettigedara, and Lecturer in Behavioural Science at the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo Santushi Amarasuriya.

The presentations by these experts will cover ‘Diabetes and the correct use of medication,’ ‘Eat healthy food to prevent Diabetes and Obesity’ and ‘Stress and its effect on weight gain.’

The presentations will be in Sinhala, but answers to questions and explanations will also be available in English.

“There has been a great deal of research into the nexus between lifestyle and diabetes recently,” said Senior Medical Officer at the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre Dr. Samanthi de Silva.

“The findings can help many people avoid diabetes or to live relatively normal lives even if they are diabetic.”

She said the series of public seminars organised by the Centre over the past three years as a public service initiative had resulted in greater awareness being created on the prevention and management of the disease, which is estimated to afflict one in seven Sri Lankans.

At the last seminar conducted by the Centre, two leading American medical experts explained at length how maintenance and prevention of weight gain or weight loss and a combination of calorie reduction, increased physical activity and behaviour modification could significantly reduce the risk of diabetes.

According to the World Diabetes Day Website, more than 240 million people worldwide are living with diabetes today, and that number is expected to grow to 380 million within 20 years.

Medical experts say that worldwide, 5 per cent of deaths are attributable to complications associated with diabetes, and 80 per cent of mortality among diabetics is due to heart disease and stroke, two conditions closely associated with the disease.

Up to 100 people will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

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‘Vanilla Lite’ titillates health conscious palates

Ceylon Cold Stores, introduced its latest variant ‘Vanilla Lite’, to consumers in the Maldives thus further consolidating its market leadership position in the island nation.

With the tag line, “Guiltless Pleasure”, Vanilla Lite becomes the first such sugar-free, low-calorie ice cream of its kind to cater to a health conscious and rapidly expanding consumer base in the Maldives.

It is geared to revolutionise the local market there by being a ‘must have’ dessert for all Maldivians who seek products of this nature. This also follows international trends with a growing consumer demand for low fat diet ice creams.

Vice President JKH and Head of Frozen Confectionary of JHK Consumer Foods Sector Neil Samarasinghe said that Elephant House ice creams expanded its regional presence by entering the Maldives market in 2002.

This was in keeping with the company’s vision of being a regional player in its sphere of business activity. “Today five years later, it enjoys the enviable top slot as market leader in the Maldives with over 50 per cent share, amid competition from various international brands”, he added.

Samarasinghe said that the Maldives with its fast developing economy and the sophistication of consumer tastes acquired through exposure from the growing tourism industry has been a fascinating yet, a tough competitive market to play.

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Global pharma market predicted US $1.3 trillion by 2020

The global pharmaceutical market will more than double in value to $1.3 trillion by 2020, according to a new report on the future of the pharmaceutical industry released recently by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The increase is driven by soaring worldwide demand for medicines and preventative treatments as the population grows, ages, becomes more obese and more prosperous.

By 2020 the E7 countries - Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia and Turkey could account for as much as one fifth of global pharmaceutical sales. Further, the chronic conditions in the developing world will increasingly resemble those of the developed world.

But PricewaterhouseCoopers report indicates that the current pharmaceutical industry business model is both economically unsustainable and operationally incapable of acting quickly enough to produce the types of innovative treatments demanded by global markets. In order to make the most of these future growth opportunities, the industry must fundamentally change the way it operates.

Pharmaceutical companies are facing a dearth of new compounds in the pipeline, poor financial performance, rising sales and marketing expenditures, increased legal and regulatory constraints and challenges, and tarnished reputations.

At the same time health care payers and providers everywhere have recognised that current health care expenditure levels are also unsustainable unless they deliver more demonstrable care and cost benefit over the long term.

“The pharma industry will not be in a strong position to capitalise on opportunities unless R&D productivity improves. The core challenge for the industry is a lack of innovation.

The industry is investing twice as much in R&D as it was a decade ago to produce two-fifths of the new medicines it then produced.

It is simply an unsustainable business mode commented global pharmaceutical research and development advisory leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and principal author of the report Dr. Steve Arlington.

“Over the next decade, the industry must shift its investment focus more toward research and less on sales and marketing. Pharma’s traditional strategy of placing big bets on a few small molecules, marketing them heavily into primary care with the aspiration of achieving blockbuster sales, will no longer suffice.

It must focus on the development of medicines that prevent, treat or cure. These must demonstrate tangible benefits and tackle unmet medical needs. Governments and payers must play their part and ensure the industry is rewarded for these efforts”, he said.