CORONAVIRUS
COVID booster dose for adults: Many private hospitals keep away over price revision
On April 8, the government said booster doses against COVID-19 for 18-59-year-olds who have completed nine months since their second dose will be available at private facilities at revised rates from April 10
CORONAVIRUS
Centre flags rising COVID-19 positivity rate in five states; asks them to monitor clustering of cases
The Union health ministry has also said that states should keep track of rise in influenza-like illnesses, severe acute respiratory illnesses, and keep sending prescribed number of samples for genome sequencing
CORONAVIRUS
COVID-19 booster doses for all not based on scientific recommendation, say expert group members
The government has said that precaution doses will now be available to the 18+ population group from April 10 at private vaccination centres. But the ongoing free vaccination programme through government centres for first and second doses as well as boosters for most vulnerable population groups would continue and would be accelerated.
CORONAVIRUS
Chorus grows for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all adults
Given the possibility of public health challenges from future coronavirus variants, most scientists believe that giving all adults a booster vaccine dose to improve protection is the need of the hour
CORONAVIRUS
New coronavirus variant XE: Does India need to worry?
The variant is a recombination of BA.1 and BA.2, two strains of the Omicron variant, and early trends suggest it may be up to 10 percent more transmissible than BA.2
INDIA
COVID-19 | Hours after Mumbai announces detection of XE variant, Centre denies report citing INSACOG analysis
Scientists in many countries are tracking what, if any, growth advantage XE may have over other Omicron variants and whether it is more virulent
BUSINESS
No supply of Covaxin to UN, will upgrade facilities for its production: Bharat Biotech sources
The clarification indicates that the good manufacturing practices standards in the company facilities need to be improved for Covaxin production.
SCIENCE
National Institute of Virology needs AI and high-performance computing tools; confident of ICMR support: Director Priya Abraham
The National Institute of Virology under the Indian Council of Medical Research led by Dr Priya Abraham played a pivotal role in the country’s response to the pandemic from isolating the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID to contributing to the development of Covaxin, India’s first indigenous vaccine against the disease.
HEALTH-TRENDS
India set to get new dietary guidelines after 12 years
Several contemporary issues like greater consumption of food with high sodium, sugar, and salt have been taken into account to develop the guidelines that have been developed after rigorous consultations with stakeholders
BUSINESS
Bharat Biotech slows down Covaxin production for facility optimisation
The company to focus on pending facility maintenance, process and facility optimisation activities.
INTERVIEW
COVID19 booster shots work, say National Institute of Virology scientists
The opinion being given by the NIV scientists are in line with the suggestions by virologists across the globe who cite evidences in favour of booster shots for adult population groups.
BUSINESS
Indian home healthcare expected to become $19.9 bn market by 2025: report
COVID-19 has introduced a large number of Indians to the possibility of new avenues of care delivery, with advanced, specialised healthcare customised to their specific needs and available on demand, outside institutions.
CORONAVIRUS
New COVID-19 cases hover below 2k for 11th day as active infections now under 15k
Five states and Union Territories reported a meagre rise in active infections over the 24-hour period
BUSINESS
Manufacturing of 35 drug raw materials begins under PLI scheme: Govt
A recent scheme announced for production-linked incentive scheme for bulk drugs is aimed at cutting India’s dependence on imports of active pharmaceutical ingredients from China.
BUSINESS
New differential pricing proposed for Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY; medical colleges, large private hospitals to be top gainers
Since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana in 2018, the 'low' rates offered for the treatment packages under the scheme have been a major issue of contention between private hospitals and the government. On a few occasion, the rates have also been revised but the hospitals now want a complete overhaul
CORONAVIRUS
India logs 1,259 COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths in a day
Active infections hover below 5,000 mark for all states and Union Territories
BUSINESS
Explainer I How the drug price regulator’s order raising the cap on prices of essential medicines by 10.7% may hit you
Activists point that as the current drug pricing regime does not cover essential drugs in all their strengths and presentation, patients lose out on many counts
BUSINESS
India reports 1,270 new COVID-19 cases, 31 deaths in a day
Six states and UTs reported a minor rise in active COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours
BUSINESS
Retail prices of common medicines set to rise by a steep 11%
Industry insiders say that this will be the steepest ever rise in medicines included in the National List of Essential Medicines.
BUSINESS
Exclusive I Indians spend Rs 35,820 crore a year on minor ailments, finds novel survey by pharma body
Citing the findings of the study, the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India has argued that coming up with a robust policy on over-the-counter drugs will empower people and pharmacists but experts slam the idea saying it can be counterproductive for a country like India.
CORONAVIRUS
India reports 1,685 new COVId-19 cases, 83 deaths in a day
Nine states and UTs have reported a meagre rise in active infections over the last 24 hours
HEALTH-TRENDS
Indian maker of mRNA vaccine faces charges of trade secret theft, IP rights violations
HDT Bio filed a lawsuit in a Seattle court earlier this week, accusing Emcure of misappropriating trade secrets that it had licensed to unit Gennova and seeking $950 million in damages.
BUSINESS
India reports sharp rise in tuberculosis last year as cases up 19%
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant reduction was observed in the total number of drug resistant TB patients started on treatment as compared to 2019. In 2020 and 2021, there was also a reduction of 14 and 9 percent respectively in the number multiple drug resistant TB patients put on treatment
CORONAVIRUS
New COVID-19 cases hover below 2k for fifth day in a row
Delhi, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, and Telangana registered a minor rise in new infections over the past 24 hours
