Letter from Publisher

Dear Readers,

Activities in R&D, innovation and manufacturing areas of the life sciences industries are increasing in the post-pandemic era. Both, the number of greenfield and brownfield projects have surged with growing demand for locally produced pharma and medical products.

In the cover story, our content team has captured the changing facets of the life sciences industry related to real estate. The country’s growing demand for facilities like biotech/med-tech parks, research hubs and collaborative multidisciplinary ecosystems under one roof is fuelling demand for real estate.

This month we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. Like each year we are celebrating it in our content. Our team has touched upon the value of gender diversity in STEM fields—science, technology, engineering and mathematics— as it is becoming increasingly apparent. Significant gender disparities still exist, though, especially when it comes to leadership roles in industries like biotechnology and healthcare. The majority of women working in India's healthcare sector occupy frontline, low-paying jobs. In India, women make up 29 per cent of doctors, 80 per cent of nurses (including midwives), and almost 100 per cent of ASHAs, or accredited social health activists. Despite this, women continue to earn 34 per cent less than males and account for only 18 per cent of leadership roles in the healthcare industry. The journey toward gender parity in STEM careers in India could be challenging, but the momentum for change is growing.

Two tuberculosis (TB)-related deaths occur every three minutes in India, making it a nation with the highest TB-related mortality rate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the nation had an astounding 28 lakh cases in 2022, making up 27 per cent of all cases worldwide. The government launched the TB Free India campaign with the ambitious objective of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025—a deadline that was five years ahead of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

India’s fight against TB has made significant strides, earning recognition from WHO. With less than two years left to achieve its 2025 TB elimination target, the country must embrace new strategies. One insightful article on how the government is working on its efforts to eliminate TB by 2025 takes a closer look at this crucial initiative. Besides, we are covering an expert article on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is currently catalysing a paradigm shift in the healthcare industry, fundamentally reshaping how medical services are delivered across the globe.

I am sure you will find this edition a great read.