One Tele-MANAS Cell to be established in each State/UT

Vinod Kumar

10 OCT 2022 4, New Delhi. Establishing a new milestone in the field of mental health on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was launched today virtually by Sh. Thawar Chand Gehlot, Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, in the presence of Dr. K. Sudhakar, Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education, Karnataka & Vice-President, NIMHANS.

•  Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative launched on occasion of World Mental Health Day
• 24X7 tele-mental Health Services available on Toll Free Number- 14416
• Network of 23 tele-mental Health Centres of Excellence created; NIMHANS, Bengaluru and IIITB to be nodal mentoring Institutes
• Reiterating Government’s vision for providing access for all to mental healthcare services, at least One Tele-MANAS Cell to be established in each State/UT

Acknowledging the mental health crisis in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and an urgent need to establish a digital mental health network that will withstand the challenges amplified by the pandemic, Government of India announced National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP) in the Union Budget 2022-23. 

Tele-MANAS aims to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly catering to people in remote or under-served areas. The programme includes a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, with NIMHANS being the nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) providing technology support. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bengaluru and National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC) will provide the technical support.

The Union Government aims to open at least one Tele-MANAS Cell in each State/UT.

A toll-free, 24/7 helpline number (14416) has been set up across the country allowing callers to select the language of choice for availing services. Service is also accessible with 1-800-91-4416. The calls would be routed to Tele-MANAS cells in the respective state and union territory.

Tele-MANAS will be organised in two tier system; Tier 1 comprises of state Tele-MANAS cells which include trained counsellors and mental health specialists. Tier 2 will comprise of specialists at District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College resources for physical consultation and/or e-Sanjeevani for audio visual consultation. Presently there are 5 regional coordination centres along with 51 State/UT Tele MANAS cells.

The initial rollout providing basic support and counselling through centralized Interactive Voice Response system (IVRS) is being customized for use across all States and UTs. This will not only help in providing immediate mental healthcare services, but also facilitate continuum of care. Specialised care is being envisioned through the programme by linking Tele-MANAS with other services like National tele-consultation service, e-Sanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, mental health professionals, Ayushman Bharat health and wellness centres and emergency psychiatric facilities. Eventually, this will include the entire spectrum of mental wellness and illness, and integrate all systems that provide mental health care. NIMHANS has conducted training for 900 Tele MANAS counsellors from majority of States/UTs.

The mentoring institutes are as follows: AIIMS, Patna, AIIMS Raipur, CIP Ranchi, AIIMS Bhopal, AIIMS Kalyani, AIIMS Bhubaneshwar, PGIMER, Chandigarh, Hospital for Mental Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Inst. of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour Bambolim Goa, AIIMS, Nagpur, AIIMS, Jodhpur, KGMU Lucknow, AIIMS Rishikesh, IHBAS, Delhi, IGMS, Shimla, Psychiatric Diseases Hospital, Govt. Medical College, Srinagar, LGBRIMH, Tezpur, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, IMHANS, Kozhikode, Kerala, IMH, Chennai, IMH, Hyderabad, JIPMER and AIIMS, Mangalagiri.

States/UTs launching Tele Mental Health Programme today include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli and daman and Diu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director, NIMHANS, Shri Vishal Chauhan, JS (MoHFW), students, faculties and other dignitaries along with the senior officials of the Ministry were present at the event.

All India Institute of Ayurveda signs MoU with National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Vinod Kumar 

October, 2022 The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the apex institute of Ayurveda in India under the Ministry of AYUSH, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan have signed an MoU for academic establishment. AIST is a reputed and one of the largest public research organizations in Japan, focusing on technologies and on “bridging” the gap between innovative technological seeds and commercialisation.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Tanuja Nesari, Director, AIIA and Dr. Tamura Tomohiro, Director General, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, who was present online. The event was graced by Renu Wadhwa, Prime Senior Researcher, Head AIST-India DAILAB, Dept of Life Science and Biotechnology, whose efforts have been instrumental in making this collaboration a reality. Other dignitaries who were present virtually at the occasion were Dr. Manoj Nesari, Advisor, Ministry of Ayush; Dr. Chiba, Director, AIST, Japan; Dr Ohmiya Yoshihiro, Principal Senior Researcher, AIST; Dr Sunil Kaul, Invited Senior Researcher, Dept. of Life Science & Biotechnology AIST; Mrs. Sheila Tirky, Representative of MoA.

With the signing of this MoU, AIIA aims to promote Institute’s research activities both at a national and international stage. The MoU will enable both countries to promote research collaboration and building capacities in the field of the Indian Ayurvedic system of traditional medicines. All these activities will be executed in support of the Ministry of Ayush.

The scope of activities that is intended by the participants includes research activities in the field of Ayurveda including studies in design and execution with the purpose of developing evidence-based guidelines for integrating Ayurvedic principles and practices with conventional medicine, evolving safety standards and protocols for the use of Ayurveda in Japan in conformity with medical guidelines, exchanging scientists, researchers and staff as determined by the collaborators on a project-to-project basis, students’ participation in collaborative activities to achieve excellence in Ayurveda towards achieving scientific advances, tools and techniques.

AIIA already has MoUs with the European Academy of Ayurveda, Bernstein, Germany; Western Sydney University, Australia; Graz Medical University, Austria; College of Medical, UK; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK an Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

Revenue growth of ICRA’s sample set of hospitals to moderate in FY2023, given the high base; profitability and debt coverage metrics to remain strong: ICRA

·       Aggregate occupancy for the sample set[1] to be ~60-62% in FY2023; on a YoY basis, given the high base of FY2022, this translates to revenue growth of over 12%

·       Operating profit margin for the sample set to remain healthy at 18-20% in FY2023

Strong demand for non-Covid treatments, increase in international patient hospitalisations and continued market share gains for organised players are expected to support occupancy levels going forward, despite supply additions. ICRA expects the occupancy for ICRA’s sample set of hospitals to remain healthy at 60-63% in the near term. Further, the price increases taken by the hospitals during Q4 FY2022 and Q1 FY2023, relatively higher elective surgeries and focussed reduction on average length of stay (ALOS) will support average revenues per occupied bed (ARPOB) in the near term.

With moderation in non-Covid margin-accretive surgeries due to the Omicron threat and minimal Covid hospitalisations due to milder infections, the occupancy for ICRA’s sample set contracted to 57.5% in Q4 FY2022 from 62.1% in Q3 FY2022, before recovering in March 2022. The deferral in elective procedures and disruption in international patient travel on account of Covid 3.0 led to sequential decline in footfalls during Q4 FY2022. While international patient footfalls were subdued during H1 FY2022, recovery was witnessed in H2 FY2022 (except for January and February 2022) to a certain extent.

 

While occupancy was relatively lower, optimisation of the payor mix towards cash and insurance patients, low ALOS and uptick in footfalls at centres of excellence resulted in a sequential growth of 4.1% in ARPOB in Q4 FY2022. Overall, ICRA’s sample set witnessed the occupancy of 61.6%% in FY2022, against 53.1% in FY2021 and revenues witnessed YoY growth of 38% in FY2022.

 

Ms. Mythri Macherla, Assistant Vice President, and Sector Head, ICRA, said: “During FY2022, operating leverage benefits in addition to incremental revenues and margins from Covid treatments along with cost optimisation efforts resulted in the ICRA sample set reporting OPM of 20.3%, the highest over the last few years. While the OPM in FY2023 is expected to slightly moderate to ~18-20% given the inflationary pressures, it will remain healthy supported by high operating leverage benefits, steady demand for high-margin elective procedures and revival in international patient footfalls.

“With healthy accruals and strong liquidity, the net debt for ICRA sample set reduced to ~Rs. 4,410 crore as on March 31, 2022 from ~Rs. 5,220 crore as on March 31, 2021, thereby witnessing a sharp improvement in interest coverage and net debt/OPDBITA. Several players in the ICRA sample set have announced sizeable expansion plans, with the addition of ~6,500-7,000 beds over the next three-four years and continue to scout for inorganic growth opportunities. With robust performance expected in FY2023 and FY2024, the debt metrics will remain strong going forward, despite incremental debt funding for the expansion plans,” added Ms. Macherla.