Category:

Indian News

Centre releases Rs 890 cr as 2nd tranche of package for COVID-19 health system preparedness

The second instalment of the aid will be used to strengthen public health infrastructure for testing, including procurement and installation of RT-PCR machines, RNA extraction kits, TrueNat and CB-NAAT machines, bolster infrastructure for treatment and development of ICU beds, installation of oxygen generators and procurement of bedside oxygen concentrators among others.

It would also be used for engagement, training and capacity building of necessary human resources and incentives to healthcare workforce and volunteers, including ASHA workers on COVID-19 duties, the health ministry said

read more

Zydus Cadila’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate found safe in early-stage human trial

Zydus plans to complete late-stage trials for ZyCoV-D by February or March and could produce up to 100 million doses a year initially, the company’s chairman told Reuters last month.
India reported a daily jump of more than 50,000 coronavirus infections for the seventh straight day on Wednesday.Total cases now stand at 1.91 million, the third biggest, after the United States and Brazil

read more

Indian pharma majors race ahead to launch affordable drugs for Covid-19 treatment

Drug major Cipla is working with government agencies to develop a treatment for COVID-19 while ramping up the production of various life saving essential drugs, according to company’s chairman YK Hamied.
Drug firm BDR Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday said it has launched its antiviral drug Favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in India at a price of Rs 63 per tablet.
Lupin on Wednesday announced the launch of its Favipiravir drug under the brand name ‘Covihalt’ for the treatment patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms at Rs 49 per tablet in India.

read more

COVID-19 tally rises to 18,55,745, recoveries cross 12-lakh mark in India

The death toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 38,938 with 803 fresh fatalities being reported in 24-hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

A total of 12,30,509 people have recovered, while there are 5,86,298 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country presently.

The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients has risen to 66.31 per cent, while the fatality rate has further dropped to 2.10 pc, the data stated.

read more

Disburse pension to elderly on time; provide PPE, face masks to people in old age homes:SC

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said this while hearing a plea filed by former Union minister and senior advocate Ashwani Kumar who said that at the time of the pandemic, it is necessary that pension to elderly reaches them on time.

Kumar told the top court that crores of elderly people are living alone and appropriate direction should be issued that pension reaches to those, who are already identified and eligible for it, on time.

read more

India ‘flying blind’, needs better data collection to control Covid-19

India’s death registration data was patchy even before the virus struck. The vast majority of deaths, especially in rural villages, take place at home and routinely go unregistered. For others the cause of death listed is often anodyne — old age or heart attack. Experts believe that only between 20 per cent-30 per cent of all deaths in India are properly medically certified.

read more

AIA and Practo joins hands to promote consumer wellness in India

Bill Lisle, AIA Group Regional Chief Executive and Group Chief Distribution Officer, said, “This partnership is the outcome of AIA’s commitment to providing compelling, integrated and personalised propositions to our customers in India. Practo has an outstanding track record as India’s leading digital healthcare platform and we look forward to collaborating to benefit customers of both entities..Our partnership with Practo reflects our commitment to the Indian market and our confidence in its long-term prospects given the combination of strong economic growth, rising incomes and low insurance penetration.”

read more