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 […]
access to medicines
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 […]
Cervical cancer elimination: A 100-year roadmap
Cervical cancer as a threat, in the words of the World Health Organization (WHO), “is one of the greatest today to women’s health.” As a public health priority, cervical cancer elimination is much-needed – and research published last week in The Lancet outlines the contours of the roadmap towards this end over the next 100 […]
Union Budget: The main takeaways for health
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented India’s 2020 Union Budget over the weekend, her second. Whilst it has won praise from Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, some in the healthcare sector have expressed dissatisfaction. How much did the Union Budget allocate the health sector? Among the main takeaways of the 2020 Union Budget for […]
Allergies: Indians being failed on treatment?
Allergies affect one-third of Indians – but experts say that, too often, those affected by such conditions are being failed on treatment. “Allergic diseases have become a major health concern worldwide, with India being no exception,” noted a study published last year. “Currently, more than 25 percent of the total population of India is sensitized […]
TB in India: Fewer cases but still the most in the world
Tuberculosis (TB) in India continues to be a major public health burden, even as cases have decreased. This is according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) report on TB, launched earlier this week, which provides an overview of how the world is tackling one of its dominant infectious disease challenges. The news is not […]
Health Ministry unveils ambitious targets to bring HIV cases down
Expanding access to treatment and targeting vulnerable populations will be a core part of a strategy to bring down the number of HIV cases in India, according to recent reports. The Union Health Ministry intends to reduce the number of HIV cases in the country by 20,000 on a yearly basis in 2019 and 2020, […]
ART drugs and the toll of HIV in flood-ravaged Karnataka
Concerns in flood-ravaged Karnataka have been expressed for the state’s HIV-positive population and whether they can avail necessary medication such as ART drugs. Out of a HIV-positive population receiving treatment of 1.75 lakh, almost 67,000 reside in eight districts reeling under intensive floods. The provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatments has been ordered by the […]