Every year, the world observes World TB Day on March 24 to raise awareness of the continued tuberculosis epidemic, especially in the developing world, and efforts to fight it. March 24 is the date in 1882 when mycobacterium tuberculosis – the pathogenic bacteria which causes the disease – was discovered the Nobel Prize winning scientist […]
Interviews
Interviews with Sridhar Venkatapuram – Human Rights and Access to Medicines
Why access to medicines is a human rights issue. Interviews with Sridhar Venkatapuram. Sridhar Venkatapuram, is Director of the MSc in Global Health & Social Justice at King’s College London. He discusses the barriers preventing access to medicines and treatment in India, and the importance of India’s voice in the global debate on access to […]
Interview: Anjali Gopalan
Interview with health activist Anjali Gopalan May 2016 The lessons learnt in the 1990s from securing access to antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV and AIDS highlight the role of patients in demanding better access to life-saving medicines. As India, like many other growing economies, faces new, deadly diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease, Anjali […]
Interview: Leena Menghaney, South Asia Director of the Access Campaign of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) May 2016
Interview with Leena Menghaney South Asia Director of the Access Campaign of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) May 2016 As well as innovative new treatments, pricing and problems with healthcare delivery, she examines the issues against the changing environment and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. She recognises the importance of India’s generic medicine industry for improving […]
Interview: Harmala Gupta
Interview with Harmala Gupta, cancer services and palliative care advocate A. On health in India 1.What should be the top three health priorities in India? We have to think in terms of preventive health. I feel that we have laid too much emphasis on treatment and yet so many of our illnesses, whether they are […]
PandemiCast. Episode 1: Public policy in a pandemic
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which the World Health Organization (WHO) characterised as a pandemic last week, continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Confirmed cases worldwide number thus far at 187,375 (at the time of writing), of which 99,050 are active. The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in 7,477 deaths. Of the 99,050 […]
Rare disease in India: An interview with Prasanna Shirol
On the heels of the Race for 7 event in Bengaluru, co-founder and director of the Organisation for Rare Diseases India (ORDI), Prasanna Shirol spoke to Health Issues India to offer his insight into the myriad of issues facing those suffering from rare diseases within the country in an exclusive interview. Thank you for agreeing […]
“They want everything to have probiotics” – A growing market and how it’s changing health
Meteoric Biopharmaceuticals, established in 2006, is an Indian company focused on the production of enzymes, probiotics and nutraceuticals. In an exclusive interview with Health Issues India, its founder, managing director, and chief executive officer Gaurav Kaushik discusses the role of probiotics in the healthcare market, both in India and at the global level, as well […]
Rare disease policy deemed ‘Just an eye wash’
Advocacy groups for those suffering from rare diseases within India have voiced their disappointment regarding the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2020 Bill, arguing that – in many cases – the Bill offers no support to those affected by rare diseases at all. An estimated one in twenty Indians suffer from illnesses that full under […]
From the beginning of suffering to the end: Dr M. R. Rajagopal on the importance of palliative care
At a time when noncommunicable diseases, often chronic in nature, are increasing and India’s population is ageing, there is an increased need for palliative care – but the field is often neglected in the country. Health Issues India spoke to Dr M. R. Ragagopal, founder and chairman of Pallium India, about the challenges facing access […]