Face masks are being used as the first line of defence of individuals in both China and beyond against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). However, are face masks really enough? Face masks are an effective means of reducing the spread of respiratory infections. They limit the release of infection causing droplets released through sneezing and coughing […]
Medicine and Research
Delhi elections: The healthcare outcome
Delhi elections: A landslide victory for Kejriwal. But what’s next for healthcare? The results of the Delhi elections suggest a landslide victory for the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government under Arvind Kejriwal, who seems poised to assume the office of the national capital’s Chief Minister for a third term. “The Aam Aadmi Party repeated […]
Outbreak of 2019-nCoV: Latest updates
The outbreak of 2019-nCoV continues, although some experts believe that the worst may soon be over. The senior medical advisor to the Government of China has said that the outbreak of the virus could be over as soon as April and projected that it would reach its peak this month. Nonetheless, cases continue to rise. […]
2019-nCoV outbreak: How vulnerable is India?
The 2019-nCoV outbreak that originated in China has spread worldwide, including to India which researchers in Germany have named the country seventeenth most at-risk of importing 2019-nCoV cases. At the time of writing, 40,651 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV have been reported. 36,191 people are currently infected, with 3,550 having recovered and/or been discharged. 910 deaths […]
Insurance schemes need retooling: Modi
Two Government-sponsored insurance schemes need retooling, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed. The two initiatives in question are the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). As reported in The Economic Times, Modi has urged that these schemes be looked at to improve the experiences of policyholders following […]
Coronary shockwave lithotripsy balloon: Hope for heart disease?
There may be new hope for heart diseases patients with severe blockages who cannot be treated with the standard angioplasty procedure. The new hope is a procedure known as coronary shockwave lithotripsy balloon, which has been performed for the first time in a Kerala hospital. Mar Augustine Kandathil Memorial Lisie Hospital, near the Kaloor region […]
Private practice ban in Jammu and Kashmir?
Doctors in the employ of government hospitals could face a ban on private practice in Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to strengthen health infrastructure in the union territory. Reports suggest that government doctors in Jammu and Kashmir opt to treat their patients in privately run facilities and are absent from their posts in government […]
E-health growth fuelled by online pharmacies
The e-health segment in India continues to grow with online pharmacies leading the way. Currently valued at US$1.2 billion, Bengaluru-based firm Red-Seer Consulting estimates the e-health sector to reach US$16 billion in the next five years with online pharmacies fuelling the increase in its value. Uptake is also projected to swell, with 57 million Indian […]
Dr Li Wenliang: Death of a whistleblower
The novel coronavirus has captured global attention since the start of the year, with thousands of infections across multiple countries and hundreds of deaths being reported. Among the deceased is 33-year-old Dr Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist and whistleblower who sounded the alarm about the potential pandemic in its early days and was censured for doing […]
New 2019 n-CoV cases dropping
The outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019 n-CoV) has sparked much controversy and panic. However, there may be some cause for optimism as the first consecutive decline in new 2019 n-CoV cases has been reported in recent days. Between February 5th and February 7th, the number of new cases reported dropped day-by-day. 3,900 2019 n-CoV cases […]