MAM
SureWaves looks to capture Kolkata ad market
Kolkata: SureWaves MediaTech, a Bangalore-based digital media-technology company, which tied up with local cable regionals like Manthan, Den, Incable, WWIL among few others and started operating in Kolkata about six months ago, is now looking forward to further growth in the region.
The company offers the SureWaves Media Grid, an integrated advertisement aggregation, content delivery, network management, media planning and reporting platform. The company has tied up with over 250 channels and has been able to penetrate in over 100 different markets across the country. Now, it plans to approach the satellite channels to extend its solution as with digitisation process, the country is expected to see satellite channels increasing in coming days.
“National advertisers like HUL, Parle, Aircel, Vodafone, Nestle, Honda look at the West Bengal market because of its local flavour. We plan to have a physical office in Kolkata like Mumbai and Delhi once the market conditions are conducive,” said Rajendra Khare, founder of SureWaves.
The total amount spent on television advertisements is somewhere close to Rs 15,000 crore and the eastern region, which is primarily dominated by West Bengal accounts to around 20 per cent of the market. “In next three to five years, we are looking at a share of eight to ten per cent of the Bengal market once things are stable. It can be achieved only when we know how fast we educate the clients,” Khare said.
The penetration of TV in Bihar too is good, says Khare, talking about other markets in the region. According to him, all the seven north-eastern states have distinct characteristics making spending decisions of the national advertisers easier.
SureWaves, which has received Rs 10 crore as early stage venture capital from India Innovation Fund and Accel Partners, is further looking at infusing funds through PE route for business expansion. “The company is already on its way to become a game changer in the way geo-targeted advertising currently works in the country,” said Khare.
SureWaves provides real-time data monitoring of ads, which has, for the first time, made cable TV advertising accountable.
MAM
Mankind Pharma highlights rising kidney disease risk on World Kidney Day
Nearly 138 million Indians live with CKD as experts urge early screening.
MUMBAI: Your kidneys rarely make noise when something is wrong. That silence, doctors say, is precisely the problem. Marking World Kidney Day, Mankind Pharma has joined healthcare experts to raise awareness about the growing burden of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a condition that often progresses unnoticed until it reaches advanced stages. Globally, CKD affects nearly 10 percent of the population. In India, the scale is even more alarming. Health studies estimate that about 138 million people in the country are living with some form of chronic kidney disease, placing India among the nations with the highest disease burden worldwide.
The difficulty lies in detection. Kidneys quietly perform essential tasks such as filtering waste, balancing body fluids, regulating blood pressure and supporting several metabolic functions. Yet experts warn that an individual can lose up to 90 percent of kidney function without obvious symptoms, making routine screening crucial.
As part of its awareness initiative, Mankind Pharma is encouraging people to monitor key health indicators including blood pressure, blood sugar and kidney function through basic diagnostic tests. The campaign also features educational outreach and discussions with medical experts to highlight the importance of early detection.
The healthcare challenge extends beyond diagnosis to treatment. India requires nearly 200,000 kidney transplants every year, but only around 13,500 procedures are performed annually, meeting less than 6 percent of the total demand. The shortage of organ donors remains a major hurdle, with the country’s organ donation rate still below one donor per million population, far lower than many developed nations.
Doctors also point to lifestyle and health trends driving the surge in kidney disease. Rising rates of diabetes and hypertension remain among the leading causes, alongside factors such as high salt consumption, unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.
Max Super Speciality Hospital chairman of Urology, Renal transplant and robotics Anant Kumar stressed that routine health checks can significantly reduce long term risks.
“Chronic kidney disease often progresses silently and remains undetected until it reaches advanced stages. Individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or a family history of kidney disease should undergo regular screening through tests such as blood creatinine, urine analysis and blood pressure monitoring. Early diagnosis plays a crucial role in slowing disease progression and improving outcomes,” he said.
Mankind Pharma chief operating officer Arjun Juneja added that awareness and prevention remain key to tackling the growing health challenge.
“World Kidney Day is an important reminder that prevention and early detection are critical in addressing kidney disease. By promoting regular screenings, healthier lifestyle choices and greater awareness, we hope to encourage individuals to take proactive steps to protect their long term health,” he said.
Medical experts recommend several simple steps to protect kidney health. These include staying physically active, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, monitoring blood pressure regularly, following a balanced diet with controlled salt intake, staying hydrated and avoiding unnecessary use of painkillers. Routine kidney function tests are especially important for people considered at higher risk.
As the global and national burden of CKD continues to rise, health professionals say awareness campaigns like World Kidney Day serve as an important opportunity to remind people that kidney health often depends on catching problems before the body shows any warning signs.
