| |APRIL 20268TOP STORIESINDIA HALVES DRUG APPROVAL TIMELINES TO BOOST PHARMA INNOVATIONASTER DM EXPANDS WHITEFIELD HOSPITAL WITH INR 96 CR BOOSTAI IN HEALTHCARE GAINS MOMENTUM ACROSS STATES IN INDIAINDIA'S INR 10,000 CRORE STARTUP FUND BOOSTS HEALTH TECH AND MEDTECHGOVT TARGETS INDIA'S PHARMA SHIFT TO VALUE-LED INNOVATIONSIndia's drug regulator has significantly reduced approval timelines and relaxed several rules, in a move aimed at speeding up pharma innovation and making it easier for pharmaceutical companies to operate.Under the revised system, approvals for clinical trials are now being granted within 120­135 days, while marketing approvals are completed in less than 150 days. This marks a sharp improvement compared to earlier timelines, where delays were common. Officials highlighted that in 2025, no application crossed the 150-day limit, reflecting better efficiency and faster drug approval timelines. POAster DM Healthcare is strengthening its presence in Bengaluru with a fresh investment aimed at expanding capacity and improving specialized care.Aster DM Healthcare has invested INR 96 crore to expand its women and children's facility at its Whitefield hospital in Bengaluru. The move will AI in healthcare is moving from promise to practice as multiple states in India roll out new tech-driven initiatives to improve diagnosis, training, and patient care.In Madhya Pradesh, the state government has launched a pilot program across 10 district hospitals in partnership with Canadian firm mlHealth360.The initiative brings a cloud-based AI radiology platform into public hospitals to analyze CT scans, flag abnormalities, and generate standardized reports. The system integrates with existing imaging workflows, helping doctors quickly identify critical cases like stroke, trauma, tumors, and internal bleeding. POIndia's INR 10,000 crore startup fund boosts health tech and medtech startups, giving a strong push to innovation in critical healthcare areas.Announced as part of the government's renewed funding strategy, the initiative is designed to channel capital into high-potential sectors that need long-term investment, especially healthcare technologies.Unlike direct funding models, this initiative operates through SEBI-registered alternative investment funds, which will deploy capital into startups. POThe Indian government has outlined a clear strategy to transform the country's pharmaceutical sector from being the "Pharmacy of the World" known for affordable generics to a global leader in high-value innovations, especially biologics and biosimilars. The announcement came during the 9th edition of `India Pharma 2026', where senior officials highlighted policy support, regulatory reforms, and capacity building to meet evolving global health demands.Union Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare Anupriya Patel emphasised the changing global landscape: "As health-related needs are changing all over the world, the Indian pharmaceutical sector should be more involved in the new field of biosimilars and biologics. More research and development is needed for this mission. The use of artificial intelligence in drug discovery is also being increased and encouraged." POincrease the hospital's total bed capacity from 380 to 539, helping it meet rising demand for maternal and pediatric care in the city. PO
< Page 7 | Page 9 >