Keyword : Healthcare

A Mangalyaan model of healthcare

The world over, we are struggling to make healthcare cost-effective, accountable and outcome-driven. But so far, it has been far from success. The Commonwealth Fund Report 2014 (‘Mirror-Mirro

Of course, allow right to die for the terminally ill

On February 16 last year, my father went for a routine medical check-up as he was not keeping well. The doctor said he needed to be hospitalised. That evening our life began to fall apart.

63 million Indians are in debt due to healthcare expenditure: Report

 Nearly 63 million people of India are in debt due to health care expenses and a third of the population is driven below poverty line due to the same. The government funds only a third of heal

Why winding up MCI with the NMC bill makes sense

India faces an unenviable challenge of tackling the dual burden of diseases and lack of qualified health personnel. The number of surgeons, anaesthetists and obstetricians per hundred thousand peop

A waste of money?

All is not well with healthcare delivery at the grassroots. Exploring the government healthcare system in the rural belts of Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh during my five-month long field work,

“In 50% of the Indian pharma sector, oligopolistic conditions prevail”

Professor Sakthivel Selvaraj is a health economist who teaches at the Public Health Foundation of India and res­earches matters concerning financing of healthcare and pharmaceutical

“There is power struggle as well as ideological struggle in the government”

S Srinivasan is the managing trustee of LOCOST, a charitable trust involved with the production of low-priced quality generics for over 32 years. He has also been active in works like t

High Dose: How your medicine bill is likely to shoot up

In a country of 1.3 billion people, the government’s expenditure on healthcare rarely becomes a matter of pride. In 2013-14, India’s total healthcare expenditure was Rs 4.5 lakh crore,

“Right to health should have been part of the Health Policy”

  To evaluate the new health policy, we turned to a leading expert in this area, Dr K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India. The former head of the de

Let’s talk about healthcare

In Lalheri village in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, groups of men and women from Hambran, Sidhwan, Ghalib, Manewal, Lubnagarh, Arain and other nearby villages have gathered in a hotel and occup

Making cancer treatment accessible

 In a world that sees far-from-perfect global healthcare systems, lack of access to cancer treatment – a disease which currently is the second leading cause of death – is the most

India faces acute shortage of doctors

The union government is keen to create an All India Medical Service, just like the IAS and IPS.   A letter has been sent to all chief secretaries of the states and un

A dose of PPP in healthcare is what the doctor recommends

Dr Kenneth E Thorpe, a professor of health policy and management at Emory University in the US and also the chairman of Partnership to Fight Chronic Diseases (PFCD), says that the government al

Only midwives can transform maternal healthcare in India

 A midwife has a key role to play in the healthcare system and she is in charge of prenatal care, the delivery, and postpartum services. However, retention of midwives, especially in rural are

AIDS can be eradicated only by addressing stereotypes, stigma and discrimination

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) have quite diligently covered issues of human well-being to achieve greater sustainable development in the years to come. Among the 17 goal

Health budget just one-third of the 2025 target

In the union budget for 2018-19, some big announcements have been made especially for the health sector but not supported by corresponding budgetary allocations. While, on the one hand, allocations

Going generic

While the centre has encouraged drug stores that sell generics (as opposed to branded medicines) under the Jan Aushadhi scheme, states have obtained mixed results in the implementation. In Andhra P

Health ministry finalises bill on data privacy

After three years of continuous drafting and re-drafting, the ministry of health and family welfare is finally ready with a draft of a legislation intended to regulate growing digitisation in healt

Why organ transplants are so expensive and difficult to get

Kishan Kumar, who ran a small shop in Kanpur, died of kidney failure at 42. The cause, as in most cases, was progressive diabetes. With his meagre income, no medical insurance, and the responsibili

How to spend for universal healthcare

India remains among the countries with the lowest public health budgets in the world. Its health budget stands at around 1 percent of the GDP.  This historical lack of emphasis on the health s

Accessing safe abortion remains a challenge

Unplanned pregnancy is the major cause of abortion in India. The number women who undergo such abortions are higher than those who go for unauthorised sex selective abortions. "

The go-to place for kidney transplants

Since the noughties, surgeons have been performing and advocating surgery that accesses internal organs through the body’s natural orifices. Such procedures are called natural orifice translu

Rare diseases and not-so-rare bureaucratic delays

Ashan was all of only 21 months when he lost his battle to a rare genetic disorder on November 18. During his last days at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospital in the capital, his distraught

Why not have only public healthcare, education?

It happens in the US, UK and many other developed countries, then why not in India? The word ‘sarkari’ is scary enough for the Indian middle class, leave alone the elite. Even as the ad

Why Ayushman Bharat is a game-changer

Mahatma Gandhi said, “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” Development of the health sector from primary up to the tertiary sector in an economy triggers

Tech firm, telcos prepare to enter 5G era

As the government is set to roll out the 5G spectrum auction, the network providers are also equipping 5th generation network-ready LTE technology.  According to the government, the technology

Rethinking healthcare

The new world is aggressively batting for individual rights and self-determination. As the society is evolving for the better, we see a more assertive Indian coming to the fore. An Indian who has h

India faces Covid-19 threat with 30 cases

The scare of the Covid-19 is rising in India, with the total number of positive cases touching 30 and some cases of community transmission coming to light, even as the authorities have stepped up p

With 50 confirmed cases, India battles COVID-19

Indian authorities have been making all attempts to contain the spread of COVID-19, with the number of confirmed cases reaching 50. After the 44 positive cases declared Monday, on T

COVID-19 claims first life in India

COVID-19 has claimed first life in India as the authorities scrambled to contain the further spread Novel Coronavirus. A 76-year-old man in Karnataka who had tested positive for COVI

COVID-19: India reaches out to neighbours, offers helping hand

India has taken the lead in reaching out to the neighbouring member-nations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and prime minister Narendra Modi has proposed to set up

COVID-19 lockdown: How Sudhir Mishra and others are helping film industry`s daily wagers

As various cine and TV organizations and bodies announced halt of shootings of films, TV serials, web series and all entertainment including digital formats in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak,

COVID-19: In PM’s message, urge to avoid complacency

India has so far been successful to a degree in containing the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus, the prime minister’s address to the nation has set the 1.3 billion people to avoid

Virus is infecting global economy

The world is in grip of the serious virus crisis which is also affecting the global economy, and crushing GDP growth, says Fitch Ratings in its latest quarterly ‘Global Economic Outlook&rsquo

India stays home, thanks Corona fighters, prepares for tough battle

Sunday marked a watershed in India’s battle with the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus outbreak: following prime minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for a “janta curfew”, people stayed

Most of India under lockdown as COVID-19 cases go up

India is making an all-out effort to save a billion-plus people from the outbreak of COVID-19, bringing most parts of the country under curfew and lockdown, as the number of people affected by the

Whole of India under lockdown for 21 days

The lockdown in most parts of India was extended Tuesday night to the whole nation – for 21 days, bringing life to a standstill in the subcontinent. Prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday ev

Covid19, lockdown, legal profession: Grief, justice & contingency plans!

Sixteenth March at Hammurabi & Solomon Partners was a usual Monday at work with colleagues starting the week on a turbo-mode. But this Monday was different. It had something unusual about it.

Doctors, others continue to face vigilantism

Scare following the outbreak of Covid-19 has led some people to turn to vigilantism, harassing people at the frontline of fighting the disease and keeping the country running amid the lockdown.

Life hacks for Lockdown blues

As the nation battles the Coronavirus outbreak, a billion-plus population is confined at home in the 21-day lockdown, and this is leading to mental health concerns. “It is a t

Life hacks for Lockdown blues

As the nation battles the Coronavirus outbreak, a billion-plus population is confined at home in the 21-day lockdown, and this is leading to mental health concerns. “It is a t

Diplomacy in the time of Covid-19

In the thick of battle with the deadly coronavirus, India on March announced a 21-day lockdown till April 14 in its bid to control the spread of virus which has so far led to 10 people’s deat

India ramps efforts as COVID-19 cases rise

As COVID -19 cases continue to rise amid a 21-day lockdown, the centre and the states are proactively taking measures to provide aid to the underprivileged and the needy during this unprecedented s

Covid-19 and real estate: This could be last straw that broke camel’s back

Covid-19 may turn out to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back so far as the real estate sector is concerned. It broke out at a time when pundits were estimating the GDP to be hoverin

Sci-Tech Empowered Committee set up for COVID-19

To take speedy decisions on research and development for Sars-Cov-2 virus and COVID-19, the government has constituted a Science and Technology Empowered Committee. The committee, se

Don’t fear Corona, fight it

In a bid to break the “chain of transmission” of the deadly Covid-19, India, a country with more than 1.3 billion population, observed a voluntary ‘Janata Curfew’ on March 2

COVID-19 demobilisation: Lessons for public governance

Demobilization, like its predecessor – demonetization, is another decision gone bad in implementation.  In both instances a careful public administrative action through its governance sy

Fighting Covid-19, India has realized its collective strength: PM

In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, people of India have realized their collective strength, prime minister Narendra Modi said in a short video message Friday morning. He also urged people to lig

Why everyone should wear mask

In view of the increasing number of COVID -19 cases in the country, the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) has now advised that everyone must voluntarily wear a mask and especially those

3 out of 4 Covid-19 patients in 21-60 yrs age group

Contrary to the perception that the elderly are more at risk from Covid-19, in India as many as 41.88% of corona positive cases are between 21 to 40 years of age. Also, 32.82% positive cases are be

As nation lighted lamps, power grid delivered

As Indians switched off lights in homes and lighted lamps and candles Sunday night following prime minister Narendra Modi’s appeal as a gesture of solidarity in the fight against COVID-19, th

Mumbai hospitals shut as more and more healthcare workers test positive

Maharashtra has emerged the epicentre of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in the country with Mumbai reporting the highest number of cases in the state. With more and more healthcare providers gettin

In times of Corona, think twice before forwarding soc media posts

Amid exceptional circumstances of COVID-19 outbreak and the 21-day nationwide lockdown, authorities are trying to discourage spread of rumours and misinformation through social media.

Communication in the times of Corona

This article originally appeared on the ORF website: https://www.orf

Let’s get frontline health workers ready for fight against coronavirus in rural India

COVID-19, the virus that began its world tour from a city in central China, has spread around the planet. As of April 11, this pandemic has caused over 1.6 million cases and the death toll as cross

For civic bodies fighting COVID-19, this app is one-point ready reckoner

As the centre and states grapple to contain Novel Coronavirus pandemic on war footing, the urban local bodies are in a rush to stem the disease. The administration is challenged for timely opportun

Fighting Covid-19: How Odisha continues to set precedents

Less than a year ago, Odisha, one of the poorest states in India, had shown the world how preparedness and efficient management could minimize human casualties. Before the category 4, severe tropic

Lockdown in India extended till May 3

As the 21-day lockdown comes to an end on Tuesday, prime minister Narendra Modi announced that the restrictions meant to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus were now extended till May 3, followin

Lockdown is not lockup, don’t worry: Thackeray

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has assured the large number of migrant labourers who are getting anxious to return to their homes that the fight against the Covid-19 virus is being fou

Observing Ramazan in the time of Covid-19

With Ramzaan expected to begin from April 24-25, when the Muslim community will observe dawn-to-dusk fast for the month, Muslim scholars and imams of masjids across India have come out with guideli

India wins world’s heart with hydroxychloroquine

Whatever may be the reason behind US president Donald Trump’s irksome statement against India and then within 24 hours correcting it by making placatory remarks for prime minister Narendra Mo

Covid-19: Tensions remain amid new relaxations

India on Monday began relaxing some of the movement restrictions in place since the lockdown began on March 24 in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, mostly in safe areas outside the containment zon

Streets are locked down, not hearts: A story of hope and humanity from Kashmir

When Javed Sheikh and his mother Khadija set out from Mumbai for a week-long trip of Kashmir, they could not have imagined it would turn out to be much longer than a week, and they would have a gli

How Covid-19 may impact India’s solar sector

This analysis originally appeared on the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) webs

Allow wine shops, small hotels to open: Raj Thackeray

As the lockdown to halt the spread of Covid-19 continues into its second month, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray believes it’s high time some relief is granted, with precaut

People are leading battle against Corona: Modi

Prime minister Narendra Modi has hailed India’s fight against Covid-19 as people-driven, and also urged people to use the occasion as an opportunity to look at our lives with a fresh perspect

COVID-19 lockdown: PM, CMs discuss exit, extension options

As India entered the last week of the extended lockdown to counter Covid-19, prime minister Narendra Modi and his key cabinet colleagues held a video conference with the state chief ministers Monda

Maharashtra to provide free test, treatment to Covid-19 patients

The Maharashtra government will provide free testing, treatment and meals to Covid-19 patients in civic and state government-run hospitals in the state.   With the number of Covi

China will face new diplomatic challenges in post-Covid world

In his interaction with Indian overseas students from the UK, Canada, Singapore, Europe and Australia through video-conferencing on April 26, union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gad

Say no to commercial baby foods in Covid-19 ration support

Taking note of many cases of distribution of commercial baby foods as part of Covid-19 pandemic ration support, the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) has raised an alarm and said that

No open and shut case: Rajan on exit options

Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan has cautioned that after opening up if you are forced to shut down it would that be devastating for economic activity as it would create a trust deficit. It would

India extends lockdown for two more weeks

Aiming to stop the spread of coronavirus, the central government has decided to further extend the lockdown, scheduled to end on May 3, for two more weeks. After a comprehensive revi

Fiscal responsibility laws in the time of Covid-19

At a time when countries around the globe are trying to save human lives from the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, addressing other issues, for example, containing the economic distress caused by it, is

What treating TB has taught me about treating Covid-19

In slums like Govandi in Mumbai people live in tin and tarpaulin structures of 5x5 feet or a maximum 8x10 ft. These duplex homes with open toilets have no windows, kitchens and bathrooms. Even brin

The problematic march of the Great Indian Bureaucracy toward reopening of economy

Fear is the Indian bureaucrat’s best friend. As the fear of Covid-19 grips people, an opportunity has arisen—for the regulatory inspectors to make the country dance to their tunes. Taki

Coronavirus is a test of India’s cooperative federalism

In the current times, every country across the globe is engaged in a battle against Covid-19. The architecture of a country`s constitution influences it’s response to this pandemic – au

Covid-19: Maharashtra, Gujarat under scanner

As India battles Covid-19, the centre is placing under scanner the two western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat which have an unusually high number of infections. Health minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Uddhav assures migrant workers of all help

As Maharashtra leads the country in the number of Covid-19 infections with the financial capital Mumbai remaining the most affected city, the state government has replaced the high-profile municipa

Maharashtra coop societies to hold virtual meets

In line with various notifications by the department of cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain social distancing in cooperative societies the Commissioner, Co-operation and Registrar,

Mumbai medicos flag area of concern

In a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) Mumbai, a body of specialist doctors in Mumbai, has said that unless the government controls the spread Covi

Covid-19: What needs to be done

There are two sides to the coin of the Covid-19 disaster. The heads is the heads; i.e., lives of the people. The tail side is the economic damage sustained by almost every sector. In other words, t

India is learning to live with Covid-19

As the world’s most extensive and arguably strictest lockdown completes 50 days, India remains in double mind: there are good arguments for and against extending the movement restrictions. Th

Children bear the brunt of lockdown – from immunisation to education

As India has remained locked down for 50 days and counting, children – about 40% of the population – have come to bear the burden in ways that are yet to be acknowledged, finds a survey

India bears double burden of malnutrition: study

One in three children under five years of age in India is stunted and one in five children under five years is wasted. Stunting prevalence of10.1% is higher in rural than in urban areas. India expe

Migrant mother pulls suitcase with child asleep on it: NHRC takes note

An image that captured the plight of migrant labourers leaving cities and walking to their homes on foot – the image of a woman walking on, pulling a suitcase behind her on which her child is

Covid-19: World Bank helps India to protect its poor

The World Bank has come to the aide of the government of India for an ‘Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Programme’ that will support the country’s ef

India extends lockdown again, but with relaxations

India has decided to extend the lockdown, in place since March 24, once again – till May 31 now – though with more and more relaxations, even as the number of infections in the country

Covid-19: Nobel laureates, world leaders call for $1 tn fund to protect children

Eighty-eight Nobel laureates and world leaders have come together as part of ‘Laureates and Leaders for Children’ and called for the global attention towards children during Covid-19 lo

Nobel laureates to advise Sapio Umbrella on fighting Covid-19

Sapio Umbrella, a unit of government advisory firm Sapio Analytics, has received support from Nobel Laureates Dr Michael Levitt and Colonel H R Naidu Gade in form of advisory engagement in strength

Covid-19: India’s mortality rate lower than global figure

In the battle against Covid-19, India has managed to keep the mortality rate low at 0.2 deaths per lakh population, compared to some 4.1 deaths for the same population worldwide. Moreover, a total

Railways resume services from June 1

As India begins to learn to live with Covid-19 and come out of nearly two-month long lockdown, regular train services are set to resume from June 1 in a graded manner, even as more ‘shramik&r

How lockdown was used to shore up health infrastructure

India, completing about two months of lockdown to protect against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, has made good use of the time to improve health infrastructure, the government has said.

Corona warriors to “flush the virus” in Mumbai

Even as humanitarian support is pouring in to help distressed migrants amid Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown, civil society organizations and NGOs are working for sanitation of community toilets

China is practicing attack as the best form of defence

For the rest of the world, it is not easy to understand China when it comes to politics or economics. Under pressure from the international community, it has accepted to open the country for a &ldq

How Jeevan Raths have helped 52,000 migrants in Maharashtra

Before the novel coronavirus hit it, Mumbai about 10-12 lakh labourers from elsewhere had made it their home. The figure for the state of Maharashtra was another 18-20 lakh. As the pandemic spread

3,543 ‘Shramik Special’ trains transport 48 lakh people in 26 days

Close to 48 lakh migrant labourers have been able to reach home from the cities they were working in, as the Indian Railways have run a total of 3,543 “Sharmik Special” trains from May

India will set example of post-Covid-19 economic revival: Modi

India is determined to “set an example” for the rest of the word in the post-pandemic economic revival, prime minister Narendra Modi has said, underling the need to become self-reliant.

Small kitchen gardens turn saviours for Gujarat tribal families

When the whole world is fighting COVID-19, food and nutrition security has become a major issue. The pandemic has aggravated the existing food crisis in India, especially in rural and tribal region

It`s time to Unlock now, with economic focus

With Lockdown 4 ending Sunday, the home ministry has issued new guidelines to fight COVID-19 and for phased re-opening of areas outside the Containment Zones. The guidelines, issued based on extens

Maharshtra braces to face Cyclone Nisarga

 Even as Mumbai fights challenges posed by COVID-19 on multiple fronts and as the  coronavirus cases continue to rise daily, the city now faces a double whammy with the cyclone ‘Nis

How Covid-19 can be a boon to slash tobacco disease burden

 The two-month Covid-19 lockdown has been both a bane and a boon for India’s 27 crore tobacco users. With tobacco not included in the list of essential goods and many states explicitly b

As some docs battle Corona, they continue to face neighbours’ stigma too

As part of her work Dr Azmera Sheikh, would often visit the municipality office and ward offices for meetings with officials for Covid-19 patients, do thermal screening at multiple containment zone

Covid-19, health as a human right, and a pro-active NHRC

 Even as public health authorities have been struggling hard to meet the unprecedented crisis, the Covid-19 has also exposed glaring weaknesses in the system, and it is the National Human Righ

Corona warrior to PM: Curb media’s negativity

 Respected Narendra Modi ji,   Let me take this opportunity to compliment the Government of India for managing the Covid crisis diligently. Being a novel virus with

He fought to save lives. Unfortunately, his own could not be saved

This is the story of a man who worked hard to improve the life of a metro which failed him when his own life was at stake. This is the story of a citizen activist whose life could not be saved due

Two to Tango: How India met the twin cyclone challenges

On May 19, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General (DG) Mrutyunjay Mohapatra followed his standard routine before a cyclone’s landfall: he had a series of meetings with experts

65% elders lost livelihood during lockdown: Survey

“I used to work as a part-time maid, but since the lockdown began, my employers have told me there is no need to come. I have no children, no other source of income, how will I su

Fitch changes India’s outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’

The rating agency Fitch Ratings on Thursday revised the Outlook on India’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘Negative’ from ‘Stable’ while aff

Alarm sounded over sustainability of wild plants used to treat Covid-19

Wild plant species used in herbal treatments of Covid-19 are set to come under heightened harvesting pressure, as a result of both increased demand and more people turning to wild harvesting as an

Fresh efforts to contain Covid-19 in Delhi

As the national capital continues to report a record number of Covid-19 cases, the centre and the AAP government have decided to make a fresh start to contain the spread of the outbreak.

57 minor girls from UP shelter home test positive

Fifty-seven minor girls have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at a state-run children’s Shelter Home in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, with five of them pregnant and one HIV posit

PM CARES Fund allots Rs 2,000 crore for ventilators

The PM CARES Fund Trust has allocated Rs. 2,000 crore for supply of 50,000 ‘Made-in-India’ ventilators to government-run Covid hospitals in all states and union territories (UTs). A sum

India ramps up testing to fight Covid-19

Battling the novel coronavirus outbreak, India has significantly ramped up the testing facilities, with more than 2 lakh samples tested in the last 24 hours – the highest so far, an official

Infrastructure boost for Indian economy

In an attempt to revive the economy hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has decided to bet on infrastructure development in a big way. The union cabinet chaired by prime min

Mumbai to replicate Dharavi model to curb Covid-19 in emerging hot spots

With the number of Covid-19 cases gradually coming down to single digits in Asia’s largest slum sprawl of Dharavi which has population density of 2,27,136 persons per sq km and Worli hot spot

No bar on domestic workers in housing societies, Maharashtra clarifies

Amid extra precautions to curb the spread of pandemic in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has clarified that there has not be any ban on domestic helps, drivers and other service providers enteri

How India is quietly resetting its economic engagement with China

For all intents and purposes, India is going to reset its relations with China and a subtle hint to this regard has been given by the Narendra Modi government after the deadly June 15/16 night face

A place of local democracy in pandemic governance: The case of Mumbai

Democracy in India is now taken for a fact, with an unstated assumption that all our institutions are democratic and hence often our successes and more often failures are attributed to ‘democ

Covid-19: India’s recovery rate improves to 59.43%

Even as Unlock enters the second phase, the number of Covid-19 infections continues to rise to record levels and India remains No 4 in the worldwide list, yet there is glimmer of hope: its recovery

Understanding immunity: How to boost it during Covid-19

In a first, the Department of Home Science, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidayalam (Women’s University) Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, recently organized an international webinar on “Nutrition

Covid-19: India crosses 1 crore tests milestone

India has achieved a significant milestone as the number of Covid-19 tests conducted in the country so far has crossed the 1 crore milestone. This signifies the importance accorded to widespread te

Mumbai opts for “most liberal Covid-19 testing” in the world

As part of the four T strategy of trace-test-track-treat, Mumbai – the most affected city in India – has decided to make Covid-19 tests accessible to all. The municipal c

BMC spells out numbers to counter Fadnavis’ claims

The BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has countered Maharashtra leader of opposition Devendra Fadanvis’s suspicions of fewer Covid-19 tests, as it outlined various measures it has adop

India to play leading role in global revival: Modi

India would play a leading role in the global revival, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, as he addressed the inaugural session of India Global week via video-conference.

Four trends that will shape healthcare post-Covid

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted economies and healthcare systems across the world. Even in the countries, like the US, that have the highest spend on healthcare and public health emergency prep

Covid-19: Let`s introspect, learn right lessons, says VP

Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu has urged the people to introspect on the life during the last few months under coronavirus induced confinement and assess if they have learned the right lessons and

5.3 lakh recover from Covid-19; active cases at 2.9 lakh

Though India remains the third-most affected country in terms of Covid-19 infections, the situation seems to be improving as the number of people who have recovered from infection has rose to 5,34,

Covid-19: How states compare on recovery rate

While India’s Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 63.02%, there are 19 states that are doing better than that. They are led by the national capital, Delhi. Here is a list of

Rail travel to be Covid-safe now

In the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, travelling can be hazardous, but the railways have come up with new coaches designed to help the passenger avoid the risk of infection to the maximum extent.

Covid-19: Odisha’s Ganjam district witnesses spike

(Update: The state government has announced a lockdown in Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack and Jaipur districts and Rourkela municipal corporation from 9pm of July 17 till July 31.)

India’s actual Covid-19 case load only a third of total

While India has crossed the one million mark in Covid-19 infections, remaining among the top three affected countries (along with the US and Brazil), its actual load of active cases is only a third

Project Mumbai, with ‘Will do anything for my city’ spirit, wins UN SDG award

Project Mumbai, a volunteer-led non-profit, has been selected by the UN SDG Action Campaign as one of the global recipients for the Solidarity Award, a special call from the annual

At the forefront of fight against Covid are feisty ASHA women

Manju Jeena, an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) from Kandalei village of Khurda district, Odisha, has been working tirelessly to support COVID-19 related activities and ensure that her com

Covid-19: India’s total recoveries leap up to 7.2 lakh

While India remains one of the most Covid-19-affected countries, its recovery rate continues to improve with the total number of patients who have returned home touching 7,24,577. 

Covid-19: Along with rising cases, recoveries also soar

India is emerging as the second most Covid-19-affected nation, after the US but ahead of Brazil, going by the weekly average of fresh infections, yet there is hope in the record number of recoverie

Every other Mumbai slum dweller exposed to coronavirus

As many as 57% people in slums and 16% in non-slum areas have had exposure to Novel Coronavirus, according to a serological surveillance survey for SARS-CoV2 infection jointly commissioned by NITI-

Sustaining development in the time of pandemic

The continuing spread of COVID-19 has emerged as the biggest roadblock to development in 2020. Citizens across the globe have been breathing an air of panic, fear, and confusion, not knowing what l

Covid testing: India crosses 2 crore milestone

As part of its 3T strategy of focusing on testing, tracing and treating to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, India crossed a landmark, testing 2,02,02,858 COVID-19 samples so far. This

How to encourage and support breastfeeding amid pandemic

The most joyous moment of a woman’s life is to breastfeed her baby for the first time. Breast milk is the foundation to build a strong bonding between mother and child and must not be missed

Covid-19: New cases are increasing, but so are recoveries

Even as India continues to record more than 50,000 new Covid-19 infections every day for a week now, there was some hope in the rising number of recoveries as well, with a drop in the case fatality

No support from govt, says ad veteran Sam Balsara

Advertising veteran Sam Balsara has lamented the lack of support from the government to the industry and said that it has completely ignored the sector. Balsara, the founder, chairma

Covid-19: Vigorous testing leads to fatality rate drop

India has been registering more new cases of Covid-19 infection than any other country for the past seven days, yet its rigorous push on testing and thus on early identification is bearing fruits,

Covid-19: More than 3 crore N95 masks distributed

More than 3.04 crore masks of N95 variety and more than 1.28 crore personal protection equipment (PPE) kits have been distributed by the centre to states and union territories (UTs) as part of thei

India inches towards a million Covid-19 tests a day

India is focusing on relentless testing, as part of its strategy of ‘Test, Track and Treat’, as the number of Covid-19 tests conducted in a day has risen to cross 8 lakh a day.

Covid-19: India keeps posting higher recoveries

India remains one of the worst Covid-19-affected countries, but the number of new infections has dropped after a while, even as the recoveries are rising, going by Monday’s official bulletin.

Odisha grapples with rising Covid caseload

On July 31, a few days after the central government announced the Unlock 3 guidelines, Odisha made public its own guidelines. Though the weekend shutdown will continue till August end, markets have

India has three times more recovered patients than active Covid-19 cases

India has been for some time leading the world in terms of daily fresh Covid-19 cases, but the number of recoveries is also rising and so is the number of tests. As on Thursday, the

Covid-19: India’s Recovery Rate inches towards 75%

A consistently increasing number of recoveries has pushed India’s Recovery Rate amongst the Covid-19 patients to nearly 75%. With the recoveries of 57,989 patients in the 24 h

Covid-19 and cardiovascular disease: What the research says

According to the American Heart Association, ‘cardiovascular disease’ refers to a number of conditions including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) and

How to help Covid-hit Mumbai get back on track

The Covid -19 havoc has raised concerns of economic revival, following social distancing norms in crowded public transport, challenges of online learning specially for the poor, migrants and inform

India crosses landmark of highest daily Covid tests

India has crossed a crucial milestone in the fight against COVID-19. For the first time, a record number of more than 10.5 lakh COVID tests have been conducted in a single day. With

India sets new records of Covid-19 infections – and recoveries

India has been registering the maximum number of new daily cases in recent times. The figure has gone above 80,000 now, higher than any other country since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. At the

Covid-19 challenge in India: How to break chain of transmission

India is leading the world in the highest number of new Covid-19 cases a day, as the centre exhorted the states to find ways to break the chain of transmission and bring down the mortality rate bel

Covid-19: Spread shows no signs of stopping soon

The spread of coronavirus in India shows no signs of stopping anytime soon, even as more and more movement restrictions are being removed. On Monday, the country reported 90,802 fresh cases of Covi

As Odisha battles Covid, experts debate its unique model

When Odisha’s Covid-19 tally crossed the 10,000-mark on July 7, chief minister Naveen Patnaik directed officials to include pandemic management under the ‘Mo Sarkar’ (My Governmen

Covid-19: Maharashtra tally ahead of all countries except four

If Maharashtra were placed on the worldwide tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases so far, it would rank fifth. In other words, its caseload is higher than every country except for the US, India, Brazil

Wait for more evidence before legalizing marijuana: Experts

Amid the trend in several countries of granting legal status to marijuana, a team of doctors from the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, have called for more tests to find out its supposed benefits.

`My Family, My Responsibility`: Mumbai campaign to spread Covid awareness

As coronavirus refuses to abate, Maharashtra has become the first state in India to cross 1 million mark in terms of confirmed cases and stares at shortage of medical oxygen. Every day 2,000-3,000

India has new record of recoveries – but new cases remain high too

India once again registered 90,000-plus fresh cases of Covid-19 in a day, even as the number of recoveries too registered a new high – 82,961. The number of those who have recovered so far is

In free fall: Close to 1 lakh Covid-19 cases a day

India has been hitting upwards of 90,000 fresh cases of Covid-19 every day for some time now, as the virus continues to spread amid further Unlock. The recoveries, on the other hand, are also creat

Vote in the time of Covid: EC hosts global webinar

On completion of one year of the chairmanship of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), the Election Commission (EC) of India on Monday hosted an international webinar on the the

Covid-19: Daily recoveries cross 1 lakh mark, new cases far fewer

Is India finally gaining an upper hand over the Covid-19 pandemic? After weeks of new cases hitting 90,000-plus every day, the tide seems to be turning, as the number came down to 75,083 on Tuesday

Masks: Awareness: near-total, compliance: half-way

Wearing a face mask is the first line of defence against the novel coronavirus, along with maintaining social distance and frequently washing hands with soap. More than six months after the outbrea

A walk down the rich history of Ayurveda

The Indic Quotient: Reclaiming Heritage through Cultural Enterprise By Kaninika Mishra Bloomsbury India, 230 pages, Rs. 499   

Covid-19 triggers research culture in Ayurveda, traditional medicines

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the spotlight on the health-promotive and disease-preventive solutions of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) disciplines. What has not come into the

Covid-19: 2nd sero survey shows fall in infections in Mumbai slums

A sero survey conducted in the second half of August shows the presence of Covid-19 antibodies in samples from Mumbai slums has decreased by 12 percent over the findings of the previous survey of J

How some forest communities managed Covid-19 lockdown better

In India, the third most affected country due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the poor and marginalised forest communities have faced the loss of livelihoods, employment, food insecurity and resultant so

India has reasons to hope Covid-19 has peaked

India has a reason to hope after a long while: the number of active Covid-19 cases in the country has remained below 10 lakh for 14 consecutive days. The development arrests a worris

Amid Covid-19 dilemma, PM launches public movement

As India maintained a lowering curve of new Covid-19 infections, prime minister Narendra Modi launched a public movement Thursday, appealing everyone to unite in the fight against the coronavirus a

‘2.40 lakh TB cases went unreported in India in 2019’

In India, only 2.40 million out of an estimated 2.64 million cases of tuberculosis were reported to the government, that is, 2,40,000 TB patients went unreported, in 2019, according to the WHO Glob

Covid-19: Daily new cases fall below 50K

India has leaped across several significant milestones in its fight against Covid-19. The new confirmed cases in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning have fallen below 50,000 (46,790, to be precise) for

India’s active cases below 10% of total cases for three days

India’s trend of steadily decreasing active cases continues unabated. The number of Active Cases has remained below 10% of the total cases for the last three days, suggesting only one in 10 c

India’s case fatality rate lowest since Janata curfew

The annual festive season has brought good news for India: the country’s case fatality ratio has gone down to touch 1.5 percent, and the number of deaths per day has dipped below 500 in the 2

India records lowest new cases in three months

After a scare in September with the number of daily fresh cases inching above 90,000, India seems to have gone down the peak, with several key parameters giving cause for relief just in time for th

Reopening: Old guidelines extended to November

As the Covid-19 situation continues to improve in India, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has decided to continue the Guidelines for Reopening, which have already done away with nearly all of Loc

Why you should not be afraid of Corona

When my water bag broke, at age 24, I excitedly woke my parents and said let’s go to the nursing home, in Mumbai, to have my first baby because I could not wait to get back home to my hubby i

Amid pandemic, Mumbai had a quiet Eid

Mumbai had a quiet Eid-e-Milad this year, with the maximum noise decibel level of 66.1 dB, thanks to restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has made people celebrate various fest

Mumbai civic body’s campaign ups Covid-19 recovery rate

Prompted by a high incidence of Covid-19 infection, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) launched an awareness-outreach campaign, ‘My Family My Responsibility’, on September 15,

Conditional cash transfers in maternal and child health promotion

Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) is a concept aimed at providing a cash incentive directly to the intended beneficiaries upon fulfilling certain predetermined conditions. It originated in Latin Amer

Covid-19: Fresh recoveries remain more than new cases for over a month

India’s daily new recoveries have been exceeding the daily new cases for more than a month now, even as some states have witnessed a spike in Covid-19 infections ahead of the annual festival

Amid Covid-19, Maharashtra considers banning fireworks

As the Maharashtra government has appealed people to avoid the use of firecrackers during the Diwali season amid the Covid-19 pandemic, health minister Rajesh Tope Saturday said the government woul

Amid Covid, Mumbai to have a quiet Diwali

Aiming to curb pollution amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) on Monday imposed a ban on the use of firecrackers and fireworks – during the festival of Diw

India has more recoveries than cases per day for 46th day

India has continued the unbroken trend of the daily new recoveries outpacing the daily new additions for more than one and a half month. The country also reported less than 50,000 new daily cases f

Delhi readies to contain COVID surge

A slew measures have been under way for a more effective response to the rise in COVID-19 infections in Delhi, with the union home ministry pushing for more testing as well as adding to the healthc

Govt working towards resolving MSME issues through banking reforms: Patra

Acknowledging that much needs to be done in the banking sector, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra has said that the government was working on the nitty-gritties. “As far a

Covid-19 too will be history one day: Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Covid-19 will soon be a “past episode”, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, minister for health and family welfare, has said, hoping that “vaccines available very soon, and the cases will signific

India’s active caseload remains below 5%, recovery rate remains above 93%

India’s present active caseload (4,43,486) is 4.85% of the total positive cases, and has been sustained below the 5% mark, the health ministry said in a bulletin Monday. The Re

Now, mandatory Covid test to enter Maharashtra

From Wednesday, all passengers travelling to Maharashtra from the NCR of Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa – the four states with high numbers of Covid-19 infection in recent days – wil

More tests, more oxygen: PM spells out focus

The expansion of the testing and treatment network and more availability of oxygen top the government’s priorities in combating the spread of Covid-19, prime minister Narendra Modi indicated

Covid-19: Maintain caution, say new MHA Guidelines

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Wednesday issued an ‘Order with Guidelines for Surveillance, Containment and Caution’, effective for the month of December, noting that “to f

India’s biggest walkathon-for-a-cause keeps its date – online this time

Oxfam Trailwalker, arguably India`s biggest walkathon-for-a-cause challenge, has gone virtual this year, with participants completing the 100 km walk within or around the confines of their home

Covid-19: Sustained shedding of active caseload continues

The post-Diwali spike in the Covid-19 infection in India is subsiding, with the number coming down by the day along with more recoveries, resulting in a reducing caseload. In the 24

Covid-19: Detailed guidelines issued for markets

During the festive season, the marketplaces attracted large crowds and thus emerged as the key sources of infection spread. Taking note of the phenomenon, the health ministry on Wednesday issued st

India’s active caseload drops to July level

India’s total active caseload of Covid-19 showed a significant drop on Friday and touched the level of mid-July, as the number of new cases continued to decline. The active caseload s

Mumbai on guard against new strain of Coronavirus

As a new strain of the Novel Coronavirus, several times more contagious, has started spreading rapidly in the UK, India wasted no time in responding to the threat, as it suspended the flights from

India gears up for Covid-19 vaccine rollout

The central government is gearing up for the roll out of Covid-19 vaccine across India. As the vaccine administrators will play an important role in the process, training of trainers and those who

Dry run for Covid-19 vaccination conducted in four states

India has concluded a two-day dry run to check preparedness for large-scale dissemination of Covid-19 vaccination across the country. The union ministry of health & family welfar

Vaccine rollout: Nationwide dry run on Saturday

With the objective of gearing up for the rollout of Covid-19 vaccine across the country, the central government has asked all states and UTs to ensure effective preparedness. Union

India ends the year with record high recovery rate

For India, the annus horribilis ends on a note of optimism, as the nation crossed a significant milestone in its fight against Covid-19, with the recovery rate crossing 96% on Thursday.

India’s cumulative recoveries inch closer to 1-crore mark

India’s active caseload, which has been decreasing continuously, stands at 2,31,036 on Tuesday, constituting only 2.23% of total positive cases so far. The cumulative recoveries have inched c

Launched: Largest vaccination drive in history

India on Saturday began the massive vaccination drive against Covid-19, as prime minister Narendra Modi paid tributes the ‘corona warriors’. “Such a vaccination dri

India’s glitch-free vaccination gathers pace

The nationwide vaccination campaign launched Saturday, the largest such exercise in the world, has started setting new benchmarks, with vaccines administered to 2,24,301 beneficiaries in the first

“Developing public health infrastructure key to sustainable healthcare for all”

Renowned cardiologist Dr Ramakanta Panda has said that the pandemic has exposed the inadequacy of existing healthcare systems and it is wrong to draw comparisons with Korea, a country with the popu

“Whoever has a smartphone and a social media account is a journalist today”

In a scathing attack on media, political analyst Shehzad Poonawala has said that the time of media is gone and anyone with a smartphone and a social media account  can be a journalist today.

“Mumbai will have to reinvent, re-assist itself against future emergencies”

Mumbai needs to convert its need-based policy to land-based policy and plan properly to handle crisis situations in future, believes Ashwini Bhide, additional municipal commissioner, Municipal Corp

Mumbai budget up by 16.74%, focus on health, infra, amenities

With Covid-19 putting huge strains on the city’s health care system, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), one of the richest civic bodies in Asia, has allocated a major chunk o

Effective Covid-19 response is success of whole nation: PM

India’s effective handling of the Covid-19 pandemic is not the success of an individual or a party but is the success of the nation and should be celebrated as such, prime minister Narendra M

PM suggests special visa for doctors, nurses; regional air ambulance agreement

The spirit of collaboration among nations in meeting the challenge of Covid-19 has been a valuable take-away from the pandemic, prime minister Narendra Modi said Thursday, as he suggested creating

As Covid cases rise, stringent restrictions are back in Mumbai

With the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases over the past few days in several districts of Maharashtra as well as in the city of Mumbai, stringent measures are making a comeback.

In Mumbai, 29 private hospitals join vaccination drive

In order to expand the vaccination drive, the centre has allowed 29 private hospitals in Mumbai not empanelled in central and state health schemes to be designated as Covid Vaccination Centres (CVC

Covaxin Phase 3 clinical trial shows 81% efficacy

India’s first indigenously produced Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, has shown an interim efficacy of 81% in Phase III trials for preventing the virus. Covaxin has been developed in India jointly b

The year of living dangerously

India and the Pandemic: The First Year Essay from The India Forum Orient BlackSwan, 335 pages, Rs 695 It’s about time for the first ann

Covid-hurt Maharashtra focuses on healthcare

Maharashtra, among the worst Covid-affected states, has allocated Rs 7,500 crore for construction and upgradation of health institutions over four years, and provided Rs. 5,000 crore for quality he

India crosses Covid-19 vaccination landmark

India has recorded a significant achievement in its countrywide COVID19 vaccination drive which was rolled out from January 16. As on Day-52 of the vaccination drive (March 8), 20,1

Has second wave begun in India?

India seems to be entering a second wave of Covid-19, with the rising numbers of daily new cases and the return of lockdown in Nagpur. The authorities are keeping a close watch, though there is no

Daily new cases continue to spike in five states

In what looks like the building-up of a second wave of coronavirus infections in India, five states – Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu – continue to report a surge

Quick, decisive steps needed to prevent ‘second peak’: Modi

Amid the resurgence of daily numbers of new cases in a few states and fears of the ‘second wave’, prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the chief ministers to take quick and dec

Testing mandatory in public places as Mumbai faces second wave

With Covid-19 infections on an upward spiral in the state of Maharashtra as well as the city of Mumbai, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has tightened testing rules instructing ward off

Innovating with purpose: Leveraging GIS to build smart cities and communities

As per the UN estimates, India’s urban population increased by 91 million in the last decade. By 2030, India is expected to be home to seven mega-cities with a population above an astounding

Novel Covid variant found in India

New ‘variants of concerns’ (VOCs) and a new double mutant variant of the Novel Coronavirus has been detected in India, the health ministry said Wednesday, though they may not be behind

Mumbai ramps up testing, health infrastructure

As India continues to witness resurgence in fresh Covid-19 cases, Mumbai, one of the most affected cities, ramped up its efforts to halt the spread of the virus with increased testing while also in

Govt better equipped to tackle second wave: Sudhanshu Trivedi

As many states face a huge resurge of Covid-19 cases, Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi, MP, Rajya Sabha, and national spokesperson, BJP, has said the government is better equipped to handle the second wave com

Night curfew in Maharashtra from March 28

As the number of Covid cases continues to rise exponentially in Maharashtra, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced night curfew across the state starting March 28, Sunday.  The curfew,

Night curfew in Mumbai till April 15

Struggling to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection, the Maharashtra government has imposed a night curfew from 8 pm to 8 am, starting Sunday night. Maharashtra on Saturday repor

In Mumbai, Covid-19 patients to be admitted through ward war rooms only

Straddled with the burgeoning cases in the city surpassing pervious numbers, Mumbai civic authorities on Monday sought to avoid chaos over allotment of beds and issued strict instructions to all go

At 72,000 new cases, Second Wave threatens to derail vaccine gains

The second wave of Covid-19 is moving ahead, with over 72,000 new cases reported in a day, and more than half of them are from Maharashtra. This trend threatens to nullify to an extent gains made b

Surge continues in Maharashtra, new restrictions under consideration

As the Second Wave of infections in India shows no sign of relenting, Maharashtra continues to report more than half the new cases, with 43,183 new cases and 249 deaths reported in the 24 hours to

As Covid cases jump in Maharashtra, Thackeray warns of lockdown

As Maharashtra continues to report an increasing number of Covid-19 cases, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has said he is not ruling the possibility of a total lockdown and he will take the decisio

Maharashtra prepares for the second lockdown

With new Covid-19 infections crossing the peak of the last year, the Maharashtra government has imposed stringent restrictions on movement of people enforcing Section 144 and night curfew in the en

Maharashtra, centre trade charges as India reports highest ever cases

India recorded a new high of 1,15,736 daily Covid-19 cases with Maharashtra bearing nearly half of the load, as the state and the centre traded charges for the first time since the outbreak. State

Mumbai allows 24x7 delivery of essential services

Amid tighter movement restrictions as the city and the state continue to battle a consistently rising trajectory of fresh Covid-19 cases, Mumbai civic authorities on Thursday allowed 24-hour home d

On vaccine shortage, Maharashtra hits back at centre

Maharashtra, suffering from a heavy number of fresh cases every day and complaining of vaccine shortage, has replied to the union health minister criticism and blamed the centre for the situation.

Non-vaccinated staff allowed mandatory rapid antigen tests

Maharashtra has modified guidelines on restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19, and put out clarifications on do Do’s and Don’ts to be followed under its ‘Break the Ch

In Mumbai, nodal officers to streamline bed allocation at ward war rooms

With Covid-19 cases continuing to spiral upwards and public and private hospitals running to full capacity, the BMC has appointed nodal officers in all 24 ward war rooms and jumbo field hospitals w

Maharashtra goes under ‘Janata curfew’, restrictions from tonight

Striving to control the deadly second wave of Covid-19 infections, the Maharashtra government has imposed prohibition on the gathering of more than four people as well as night curfew from Wednesda

In Maharashtra, what’s allowed, what’s not

Essential services allowed: 1) Hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, vaccinations, medical insurance offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, other medical and healt

India’s Second Wave crosses 2-lakh milestone

The Second Wave in India seems unstoppable. The number of daily new cases crossed the 2,00,000 figure on Thursday morning, which is the highest ever anywhere in the world. Most of the burden &ndash

“Not appropriate to postpone Class XII CBSE exams”

Criticizing the postponement of the CBSE Class XII exams in the wake of the second Covid -19 wave across the country, Nupur Sharma, BJP national spokesperson, has said the decision will jeopardize

Remdesivir procured at high prices to save lives: BMC

Countering the opposition BJP’s allegations of corruption in the procurement of Remdesivir, a critical anti-viral injection often prescribed for Covid-19 patients, the BrihanMumbai municipal

Politicians trade charges as Covid breaks previous records in Maharashtra

A political war erupted between the centre and Maharashtra over supply of essentials including medicines and oxygen as the state struggles to control the raging Covid-19 amidst scarce health infras

In Mumbai, decline seems to have begun

Amid a virulent second wave, as Mumbai scrambles for hospital beds, the civic authorities have said there was no need for panic since 3,685 beds were still available in the city for Covid-19 patien

"Maharashtra opposition interested in politics, not public welfare”

Refuting any political instability in the state, Jayant Patil, Maharashtra cabinet minister and state president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has said the government is very stable and there

Thackeray orders probe in Nashik Hospital gas leak tragedy

The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into the tragic incident of oxygen leak at the Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik district, in which 24 Covid-19 patients on critical life support have

With Oxygen Express, railways and air force pressed to easy supply

Amid reports of medical oxygen shortages in many parts of the country for critical Covid-19 patients, prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a meeting with leading oxygen manufacturers via vid

Case fatality rate further declines to 1.11%

The ferocious second wave showed no signs of halting as India reported 3,79,257 new cases Thursday, but the good news was that the case fatality rate declined to 1.11%, and the cumulative number of

India records over 3 lakh recoveries, fresh cases down

India reported 3,68,147 new cases on Monday, a number lower than the 4 lakh-plus recorded in the weekend. Also, more than 29.16 crore Covid tests were conducted across the country.

BMC commissioner urges Mumbaikars to come forward for testing

To take preventive steps early and save lives, BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has urged citizens to come forward and get themselves tested.  

“UP situation extremely bad, govt hiding data”

India is battling the second wave of Covid-19 and infections are spreading into the interiors of the country, says Dr Anurag Bhadouria, National Spokesperson, Samajwadi Party. It is precipitated by

Daily recovery averages 3.28 lakh cases in 10 days

The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed the landmark of 17 crore on Monday as the Phase 3 of the nationwide vaccination drive expands further. India

“Focus on percent of population vaccinated rather than numbers”

Expressing regret that despite being the largest producer of vaccines in the world things have fallen apart in India, Ashok Seth, a Padma Bhushan awardee and chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Instit

"Health bureaucracy is very arrogant"

Blaming the ‘health bureaucracy’ for mishandling the Covid-19 response, failure of vaccination drive and lack of proper communication, Mohandas Pai, chairman, Aarin Capital Partners, an

Has second wave peaked? Under-3 Lakh cases for third day

India’s devastating second wave seems to be waning, as the number of daily cases remained below 3 lakh for the third consecutive day on Wednesday and the daily positivity rate declined to 13.

Covid-19: As focus shifts to countryside, tailor solutions to grassroots situation

As the second wave of Covid-19 seems to recede from the big cities, the focus is on the rural side. That is where more and more cases are coming up and that is where health infrastructure is especi

Panchayats should be on forefront of fight against Covid-19

The second wave of the pandemic is fast entering rural areas. About 40% of the total cases are being reported from rural areas and infected villagers living in the peripheral areas of cities are tu

Mumbai to vaccinate foreign-bound students on priority

Students from Mumbai who have secured confirmed admissions in foreign universities and are required to get vaccinated will be given priority and they can visit any of the three dedicated vaccinatio

India has far fewer than 2 lakh new cases for 6th day

Continuing the declining trend in the daily new cases, India on Wednesday reported 1.32 lakh new cases. The country has recorded fewer than 2 lakh daily new cases for six consecutive days now.

Maharashtra prepared if there’s third wave: health minister

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope has said that even as the state is in the phase of gradually easing lockdown restrictions, it is already preparing for a possible third wave. Since it is spe

Can people with allergies take the shot? Experts answer FAQ on vaccination

* If I have contracted Covid, after how many days can I get myself vaccinated? * Can people with allergies get vaccinated? * Can pregnant women take the vaccine?&n

Why Ayurveda needs a new apex body

Ayurveda: The True Way to Restore Your Health and Happiness By Dr. G. G. Gangadharan Ebury/Penguin, 224 pages, Rs 299 Dr G.G. Gangadharan,

How three organisations came together to serve 9,000 cancer patients annually

There were many preventable cancer deaths in 2020 due to lack of medical care and access as the Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the entire attention from these chronic ailments to itself. A patient n

“BMC to continue Mumbai Model in future”

To reduce the gap between citizens and authorities BMC will continue its ward war room approach which has now come to be known as the Mumbai Model for addressing health or disaster related issues t

How a portal saved 2,000 lives by connecting patients with dialysis centres

As the city of Mumbai went into the lockdown in March 2020, those who were on permanent dialysis and caught Covid infection or suspected to have been infected were badly in need of dialysis treatme

Covid stimulus package receives cabinet nod

On account of the disruptions caused by the second wave of Covid-19, especially on the healthcare sector, the union cabinet on Wednesday approved the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Covid Affected Sector

Mumbai to start PCV for children under one year of age

 To protect small children below one years of age against pneumococcal pneumonia and other pneumococcal diseases, the Mumbai municipality will now start vaccinating children with Pneumococcal

Maharashtra launches skills development programme for health sector

To provide skilled manpower in healthcare, nursing and paramedical, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has launched the CM Maha Arogya Skills Development Programme that will prepare skille

“Covid-19 made the world realise the importance of alternative healthcare systems”

It’s a novel form of therapy, it’s based in Ayurveda but is a contemporary version of it. A former Navy officer has developed it, and has helped cure a large number of people. It&rs

Thackeray announces Rs 100 Crore fund to Nair Hospital

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced a special fund of Rs 100 crore on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the Topiwala Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital in Mumba

How Indian health-tech has supported government efforts during pandemic

In 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic which got the entire world at a pause, the Indian healthcare sector was in progress at a steady but slow pace. The pandemic boosted the rate, and wi

Finding strength to serve, come Covid or cyclone – the Swades way

Since 2013, in a holistic, 360-degree model of community development Swades Foundation has reached out to 2,700 hamlets and villages across Raigad and Nashik districts in Maharashtra. Applying

Many roles of civil society during pandemic

The union government enforced a nationwide lockdown on March 25, 2020 to curb the spread of coronavirus as it was causing large-scale infection and disease. Challenges of pandemic management and le

Urban-rural divide in healthcare infrastructure and planning for adaptability

Access to decent healthcare facilities is a basic right of every individual. But it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that for a majority of our country’s population – the 65% that r

Govt-pvt sector barriers came down during Covid-19: Dr. Trehan

With an unprecedented focus on healthcare infrastructure and coordination reigned in between the government and private sector during Covid-19, Dr. Naresh Trehan, chairman, and managing director, M

13 states told increase Covid-19 testing

In view of several countries reporting surges in Covid-19 cases and many developed nations facing fourth and fifth waves despite high numbers of vaccinations, the Ministry of Health and Family Welf

Omicron: Centre asks Maharashtra to follow uniform guidelines

With the threat of Omicron, the new variant of the coronavirus, looming large, the union health ministry has written to the Maharashtra government to align orders issued by the state with the minis

Mumbai issues strict guidelines for home quarantine of all international passengers

In view of the emerging threat of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, the BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) Saturday issued strict guidelines for surveillance of all international travelle

“Mumbai must have real-time database on disease-prevalence”

Mumbai saw a 24% increase in the total registered deaths, from 91,223 in 2019 to 1,12,906 in 2020, of which 11,116 were Covid deaths. No data is available on the causes of non-Covid deaths since Ja

Covid conundrum: Where exactly does all the government money go?

COUNTDOWN Can India Rebound from the Meltdown of the Century? By Anshuman Tiwari and Anindya Sengupta Bloomsbury, 268 pages, Rs. 799

What does Budget 2022 mean for the common man?

Amidst the third Covid-19 wave raging the country, India`s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered her shortest ever budget speech and presented the budget of 2022-23 on February 1. With a vi

Budget allocation and implications

The union budget for 2022-23, presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in parliament Tuesday, has been described as growth-oriented. In Prime minister Narendra Modi’s words, “Th

Mumbai to set up 100 health centres

Mumbai, the Indian city most affected by Covid19, has allocated Rs 6,933.75 crore for healthcare – a 15.9% of its total budget for the 2022-23. The BrihanMubai Municipal Corpor

Maharashtra starts free hip and knee replacement surgeries in rural areas

The Maharashtra Public Health Departments’ Civil and Subdistrict hospital has conducted free hip and knee joint replacement surgeries in rural hospitals in the districts and sub-districts of

Budget 2022 and mental health: Good start, but a long way to go

The Union Budget 2022-23 was introduced on February 1, near the end of the third wave of COVID-19 –and two years since the beginning of the pandemic and the mania brought with it. The pandemi

Medical Metaverse

Many years ago when I was young, I used to watch my sister play a game called ‘The Sims’. It was at its time one of the best life-simulated video games ever sold and it engrossed her co

Tata Memorial signs MoU for Cancer Care in Indonesia

To bridge the gap and address diverse needs in cancer care, Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) has signed a partnership agreement with Indonesia for the Cancer Patient Navigation (CPN) progr

Exclusive Breastfeeding? Yes. Effective Breastfeeding? No. What to do?

Our hearts almost skipped a beat when we heard community health officer (CHO) Dr. Sandeep Kakuste’s success story with baby Pinki Lakhan Patil, who was born underweight in a brick kiln. Pinki

As Covid numbers rise, Mumbai’s health infra on alert

With the sudden jump in Covid-19 cases in Mumbai over last week and the number of infected persons rising by 8% as well as the warning of a fourth wave sounded by medical experts, BMC has alerted a

What ails Indian healthcare? Experts diagnose, prescribe cure

Two years ago, little did we know that the pandemic will bring out the real state of the health infrastructure in the country. The entire healthcare infrastructure across the globe took a major hit

Between the waves: Lessons of preparedness, togetherness and optimism

Stop Predicting, Revisit Life: Lessons from COVID-19 By Vinay Sharma, Rabindranath Bhattacharyya, Sanjeev Kumar Mahajan, and Himanshu Shekhar Mishra Bloomsb

Why these kids now rush to anganwadi on their own

Few people would have heard of Wawna village in Maharashtra. Situated 20 km away from the sub-district headquarters Phulambri, and 50 km from the district headquarters in Aurangabad, Wawna panchaya

‘BMC’s primary healthcare infrastructure inadequate for Mumbai’s population’

Praja Foundation’s latest report on the ‘State of Health in Mumbai’ finds an urgent need for the BMC to shore up and strengthen its primary healthcare centres and allocate towards

Indians are living longer – more so in Delhi, Punjab and Uttarakhand

Average life expectancy at birth has been increasing in India over the past half century, along with progress in healthcare facilities. It has gone up from 49.7 during 1970-75 to 69.7 during 2015-1

Towards making India TB-mukt by 2025

“When a welfare scheme is made in interest of people, its chances of success increase manifold,” said president Droupadi Murmu as she launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

All you wanted to know about Medical Device Policy

The union cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 on Wednesday. The medical devices sector in India is a sunrise sector w

MoD empanels 6 new hospitals for cashless medical treatment to ex servicemen

The defence ministry has approved six hospitals for empanelment with the Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to offer cashless medical treatment to valiant veterans who selflessly serve

How education is a positive influence on healthcare

Pulse to Planet: The Long Lifeline of Human Health By K. Srinath Reddy With Forewords by N.R. Narayana Murthy & Sir Michael Marmot HarperCollins |

Medical treatment should be evidence-based: Dr. Sushil Tahiliani

Social media driven validation and increased focus on good looks have created a huge demand for dermatologists. Doctors promise the moon to the people who are willing to go to great lengths for goo

Jan Bhagidari will take AYUSH to grassroots: Sonowal

Underlining the importance of traditional healthcare systems along with modern medicines, union minister of AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said, “Modern and Traditional Medicine systems w

46 Tele-MANAS cells established in 34 states, 5,00,000+ calls received

The government launched a National Tele Mental Health Programme on October 10, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on December

First-of-its-kind treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia developed

Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, the Advanced Centre for Training Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Navi Mumbai along with IDRS Labs, Bangalore have developed an oral suspension of 6-mercap

Budgeting for healthcare, the key factor for Viksit Bharat

The unveiling of the interim union budget 2024 has underscored significant strides in the healthcare sector, accentuating its pivotal role in the nation’s well-being. With the goal to make In

Gripping graphic narrative helps make sense of pandemics past

The Moral Contagion By Julia Hauser and Sarnath Banerjee HarperCollins, 140 pages, Rs 699

New study reveals comparative immunogenicity of 2 Covid vaccines

A study by a consortium of eleven institutes, led by scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, compares the immunogenicity of Covishield(™) and Covaxin&re

Ctrl+Alt+Heal: Women’s wellness revolution with digital health

We have been taught since childhood that "health is wealth” and “if health is gone, everything is gone”. Indeed, health is one of the main markers of overall wellbeing of any

Soumya Swaminathan honoured with Yashwantrao Chavan award

Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of World Health Organisation (WHO), has said that more than pandemic, climate change is the concern to respect not only for our health but our very existe

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now


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