BUSINESS
COVID-19 New Variant | We need evidence-based proportionate response, not a panic reaction
Movement restrictions across state borders, enforcing masking in outdoor spaces, and introducing quarantine measures for international travellers can be very immature, when the economy is limping back to normalcy
BUSINESS
COVID-19 Deaths | WHO report questionable, but India needs to improve data systems
The argument that India’s stance on these modelled estimates are entirely political, does not hold water. But numbers have to be rebutted by numbers; and the government needs to come up with its own comprehensive data, if it hopes to denounce the estimates published by WHO
BUSINESS
Two Years Of COVID-19 | It’s been a bumpy ride, but time to move on
The changes due to COVID-19 are plenty, showing our resilience as a country, and our fighting spirit
WORLD
Indian Students In Ukraine | What it tells us about medical education in India
More than the lopsided demand-supply situation, it is indeed the failure of the regulatory structures which is reflected in the exodus of students to medical colleges abroad
WORLD
Wake up! There’s a killer in our midst, and it is invisible
Internationally, it is associated with around 4.95 million deaths a year, and is found to be directly responsible for around 1.27 million deaths a year
INDIA
COVID-19 Omicron Variant | Isolating countries will not stop virus. Increase testing and vaccinations
If the COVID-19 Omicron variant strain is more transmissible than the Delta variant, there is no doubt that it will spread throughout the world, and become the most dominant strain. No amount of border closures or flight cancellations are going to prevent that
BUSINESS
COVID-19: Is the hype around the oral drug Molnupiravir justified?
Molnupiravir increases our armamentarium against COVID-19, but it cannot replace vaccines. So, then what’s the hype all about?
HEALTH-TRENDS
COVID-19 | Are we nearing an endgame finally?
Till a time when there is significant disease transmission in populations, there is always a risk of a more infectious mutant emerging
INDIA
Malaria Vaccine | A long way to go before we declare victory over the disease
Even without the vaccine, India has been doing a remarkable job in malaria control. Therefore, India should be looking at a sharp targeted rollout of the vaccine based on the data on disease transmission in districts
POLITICS
COVID-19 and Kerala | When high performance in containment efforts places a state at a disadvantage
Those who criticise the Government of Kerala’s handling of COVID-19 seem to have forgotten the ‘flatten the curve’ motto — the basic assumption being that the peak of the epidemic curve should be at a ‘manageable’ height. It means that when we ‘flatten the curve’, the duration of the epidemic will be longer
BUSINESS
How do we prepare for future pandemics?
The report of the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response opens a new chapter in our understanding of COVID-19
BUSINESS
Black Fungus Infection | India cannot allow another bug to dictate terms to us
If we look at the immediate future, we need to establish well-equipped centres at the district or state level to manage cases of mucormycosis. Epidemiological studies are needed to improve our understanding of the causality and also ways to avoid it
TRENDS
How to prepare for a COVID-19 third wave, and future health emergencies
Building a fair and equitable healthcare system, which works for all the people, may be the only solution to prevent -- or rather limit the impact of -- future pandemics
BUSINESS
COVID-19 | Vaccines alone won’t help, we need a definite roadmap
The most important weapon that we have against COVID-19 is the vaccine—but, to ride this second wave, we will have to rely on other measures as well
TRENDS
Lack of transparency in pricing is bad for India’s COVID-19 vaccine drive and economy
If such public money has been used in the development of COVID-19 vaccines, there should be enough transparency in the pricing of these vaccines, too
POLITICS
COVID-19 Second Wave | How did India paint itself into this corner?
Looking around, a lot of people may get a feeling that we are living in a failed State in sub-Saharan Africa and not the country which takes pride in being known as the ‘Pharmacy to the World’
CORONAVIRUS
COVID-19 | A looming vaccine crisis and options before India
The ‘pharmacy of the world’ is now staring at COVID-19 vaccine shortages. We need to act fast and decisively to avoid a crisis, which can threaten India’s COVID-19 containment efforts
POLITICS
Lessons to learn from the Coronil controversy | Intellectual honesty and health communication
Most sections of society do not understand the reasons for doing clinical trials or the importance of generating statistical inferences. Besides, there is a large gap between the knowledge accessible to patients and healthcare providers
BUSINESS
Technology to transform health systems: What has the COVID-19 pandemic taught us?
Every country should rationally look at options to boost local manufacturing capacity for essential medical products and smaller nations can evaluate possibilities for maintaining strategic stockpiles.
