Lancet study shows Ayushman Bharat helped more people access timely cancer therapy

 Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness

While better knowledge and healthcare facilities have reduced delays in starting cancer treatment in India, the decline was steeper among people enrolled in the Centre’s flagship Ayushman Bharat programme, according to a recent study published in the Lancet journal.

In other words, the health insurance-enabled access to therapy helped a larger number of patients. Timely initiation of cancer treatment increased by 36% across the population. However, it increased by 90% among those covered by the insurance scheme after 2018 as compared to the period between 1995 and 2017. The Ayushman Bharat scheme, which provides health cover to the poorest 40% of the country’s population, was rolled out in 2018.

“On World Cancer Day, a study published by Lancet shows that under AB PM-JAY (Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana), timely cancer treatment initiation improved significantly. Patients enrolled saw a 90% rise in access to cancer treatment within 30 days. Delays reduced and financial burden eased, a game-changer for India’s healthcare,” said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on X. He added that PM-JAY was bridging the gap in access to healthcare between rural and urban India, empowering millions to receive timely treatment.

STUDY FLAGS NEED FOR FACILITIES

While appreciating the government’s health safety net, the study looked at the data of nearly 6,700 cancer patients and made a strong case for a need to increase cancer care facilities such as radiotherapy machines. It found that the highest delay in treatment initiation was for radiotherapy, followed by chemotherapy and surgery. This “is an important argument for strengthening public healthcare infrastructure for provision of radiotherapy to cancer patients in India as well as inclusion of cost-effective chemotherapeutic agents in Ayushman Bharat,” the study said.

It flagged how the estimated 779 radiotherapy machines across the country fell short of the required numbers. Most high income countries have four machines per 10 lakh population while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least one machine per 10 lakh population. By this standard, India would need between 1,350 to 5,000 radiotherapy machines, the study said.

WHICH POPULATION SEGMENT SOUGHT TREATMENT

Researchers compared the people who initiated treatment on time to those who didn’t — meaning, those who started treatment within 30 days versus those who did it after 30 days. They found that timely treatment was started by younger patients under the age of 30 years (77% as compared to 23%), those who were more educated (70.2% as compared to 29.8%), and those who were covered under some scheme (69% as compared to 31%). Nearly 40% of the study participants were not covered by any scheme. Those with higher income were also less likely to delay treatment, according to the study.

The researchers said that the “…expansion of cancer care services under the national flagship insurance program…appear to have helped in decreasing the financial barriers to access and improve early initiation of treatment.”

WHICH CANCERS SAW TIMELY TREATMENT

The steepest decline in delayed treatment was seen for reproductive and genitourinary cancers, followed by breast cancer and blood cancers. The highest delays in accessing treatment were in patients whose cancer stage was not known, meaning it was not mentioned in their patient records.

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The researchers said this might be due to lack of access to proper diagnostic procedures, lack of trained manpower, or paucity of health facilities, leading to uncertainty of staging. This, in turn, may lead to improper or delayed decision-making on appropriate treatment.

Can your hair fall be linked to cold weather? Know what triggers it

  Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness

 

Hair loss is a natural process, and the average person sheds between 50 to 100 hair strands per day

One primary factor contributing to increased hair shedding in winter is dryness in the air.

Hair loss is a common concern that often intensifies during the winter months. As a dermatologist, I frequently meet patients who report increased shedding in the colder season, and many wonder whether this phenomenon is genuinely linked to winter.

While it is not entirely inaccurate to say that hair loss appears to be more pronounced during this time, the reasons behind it are multifactorial. First, it is essential to understand the typical cycle of hair growth. Each hair follicle undergoes a growth phase (anagen), a resting phase (telogen), and a shedding phase (exogen). Hair loss is a natural process, and the average person sheds between 50 to 100 hair strands per day. However, during certain seasons, more strands may enter the shedding phase simultaneously, leading to what appears to be excessive hair loss.

Dry air: One primary factor contributing to increased hair shedding in winter is dryness in the air. Cold temperatures, along with lower humidity, can lead to drier skin and scalp. This dryness can result in scalp irritation, dandruff and a disrupted hair growth cycle. The scalp’s natural oils, which are essential for keeping the hair healthy, may be stripped away more easily due to reduced sebum production in colder weather.

Heating devices: Additionally, harsh indoor heating systems further exacerbate dryness, making the scalp more prone to flakiness and inflammation, which can, in turn, contribute to increased hair fall.

Headgear: During the colder months, people tend to wear hats, scarves, and other head coverings more frequently. While these can protect from the elements, prolonged friction or tightness from these accessories may lead to a condition called traction alopecia, where hair is pulled from the roots, causing gradual thinning.

Fewer washes: Additionally, people may wash their hair less frequently, allowing the scalp to accumulate oil, sweat, and product build-up, which can clog follicles and disrupt hair growth.

Diet: During the winter, many people tend to consume fewer fresh fruits and vegetables, which could result in a drop in the intake of essential vitamins and nutrients vital for hair growth. Deficiencies in vitamins like D, E, and B-complex, along with minerals such as zinc and iron, are linked to hair thinning.

Low Vitamin D: Shorter days and decreased sunlight exposure can lead to a reduction in vitamin D levels, which have been associated with hair loss conditions like telogen effluvium, where a larger percentage of hair follicles prematurely enter the shedding phase.