“There is a need for proper planning and strengthening the healthcare system where both the pandemic and these other treatable diseases can be managed simultaneously,” Dr Mikashmi Kohli told me recently. “We now have diagnostic tools which are multi-disease platforms so focusing just on COVID-19 , while forgetting about patients suffering from these manageable diseases, […]
Interviews
Progeria: The importance of raising awareness and hope
Earlier this year, I wrote about the efforts of the Progeria Research Foundation to offer new hope to children affected by the rare disease progeria, by boosting access to the drug lonafarnib. To better understand the lives of those affected progeria and the work of the Progeria Research Foundation, I interviewed Audrey Gordon, President and […]
The importance of healthcare delivery systems in a pandemic: An interview with Professor Sarang Deo
“People-centred and integrated health services are critical for reaching universal health coverage,” asserts the World Health Organization (WHO). Indeed, if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of robust healthcare delivery systems – and how existing weaknesses have, in many respects, exacerbated and amplified the pandemic’s effects. As lockdown procedures were […]
‘We are all stakeholders in this’ – Sunil Dahiya on why need to act on energy and the environment
On the occasion of World Environment Day earlier this month, I wrote “in fighting climate change and stepping up environmentalism efforts, India has much to gain. To forego this, India has much to lose.” Part of such efforts is rethinking the country’s energy infrastructure. An energy transition will be a vital component of combating climate […]
Aman Gupta on health comms during the pandemic: Video
In an exclusive interview, Kerean Watts, editor, Health Issues India, speaks with Aman Gupta of SPAG Asia, a media partner of Health Issues India. The discussion centres on health communications during the COVID-19 pandemic and what the lasting effects of the crisis may be on the sector. Aman previously participated in ‘PandemiCast VII’ – you can […]
PandemiCast X: Public policy in a pandemic (3)
This is our tenth episode of PandemICast. We explore public policy for the third time. Watch the video here. For other PandemiCast episodes, click here.
The role of effective communication while sustaining public health systems
Saturday, May 23, 2020: Leading healthcare communications firm SPAG organised the second edition of their SPAG Dialogue: The COVID Series on Thursday with experts from the public health sector who shared their views on sustaining public health systems through effective communication and the learnings one can take away from the ongoing pandemic. The event was held in partnership […]
“Looking for hope” – Interview with Ashok Row Kavi
For marginalised communities, the COVID-19 pandemic is a period of great uncertainty and even greater stigmatisation according to Ashok Row Kavi. Kerean Watts, editor of Health Issues India, speaks to the veteran journalist and prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist on these issues and more. Ashok earlier featured on our ‘PandemiCast’ episode focusing on sexual and reproductive […]
Routine immunisation in a pandemic: Interview with Dr Badri Patnaik
Experts have voiced concerns about the potential for the COVID-19 pandemic to disrupt routine immunisation services – and a possible resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Health Issues India talks to Dr Badri Patnaik, Head Medical, India and South Asia for Sanofi Pasteur on these themes. The World Health Organization and GAVI, among other organizations, have spoken […]
Watch: Abhijeet Pandit on the importance of telehealth during a pandemic
SynPhNe, a digital neurological therapeutics company, earlier announced that it had “adopted telehealth initiatives to provide virtual therapy/online sessions to their patients” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This is vital for continuity of care to “patients suffering from Neuromuscular disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), Parkinson’s disease and learning disabilities (LD)” who, due to […]