One consequence of the pandemic has been a substantial increase in medical debt. As the economic disruption due to COVID-19 drives millions into poverty, bills for medical treatment are only exacerbating the crisis and prolonging families’ suffering. Large out-of-pocket medical spending is an issue which predates the pandemic, despite government interventions such as Ayushman Bharat. […]
access to medicines
Modi touts healthcare schemes in virtual address
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touted his administration’s healthcare schemes and their benefits to those in need in terms of savings. The Prime Minister made a virtual address at the culmination of Janaushadhi Week, observed from March 1st to March 7th, highlighting the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana initiative (or simply Jan Aushaudi), which […]
Vaccine stockpiling flagged by group
An anti-poverty advocacy group has flagged COVID-19 vaccine stockpiling by high-income countries in a new report. An analysis by the ONE Campaign, a movement which seeks to end poverty and preventable disease by 2030, said a cohort of wealthy nations had stockpiled more than a billion COVID-19 vaccine doses than required. The report examined contracts […]
Amazon continues entry into e-pharmacy market
Tuesday saw tech giant Amazon consolidate its entry into the e-pharmacy market, a major driver of the digital healthcare sector. Regarded as one of the most powerful technology companies in the world, the move by Amazon in the United States was described by the Associated Press as “shaking up another industry.” As of Tuesday, consumers […]
HIV/AIDS: “The world can do better”
UNAIDS has issued a sharp warning about the consequences of one pandemic on another: COVID-19 has significantly disrupted the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Yet that is not the sole reason why we are falling behind in combating the HIV/AIDS crisis – already we were off-track. “The global aggregate of country data reported to UNAIDS shows […]
HIV/AIDS medicines: COVID hits access
Lost access to HIV/AIDS medicines is no less than a matter of life and death for those affected – but the COVID-19 pandemic has imperilled access to such drugs and, in turn, the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS. This week marks the 23rd bi-annual International AIDS Conference. The event “provides a platform for discussing […]
A time of two pandemics
The term pandemic is virtually ubiquitous in the public consciousness right now. The world is arrested in the grip of COVID-19, the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – more popularly known simply as the coronavirus. Yet COVID-19 is one of two pandemics the world is grappling with – as a […]
Jan Aushadhi: Government eyes expansion
The Union Government has announced a planned expansion of its Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pari Yojana Kendra (PMBJPK) initiative, as Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrations took place in recent days to celebrate efforts to increase access to medicines for the population. The scheme’s vision is to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare through the provision of […]
APIs: No shortages yet, but pharma still has misgivings
The Union Government has sought to quell concerns over an imminent shortage of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and medicines in the country due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. However, individuals from the pharmaceutical sector are still disconcerted. The outbreak has had a kn0ck-on effect on multiple industries in India. As well as pharma, chemicals, […]
Essential medicines export ban on the cards?
The Government of India is contemplating imposing a ban on the exports of twelve essential medicines amidst the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which has infected tens of thousands of people worldwide. The twelve essential medicines that could be affected include antibiotics, hormone drugs, and vitamins. A report is planned to be submitted to […]