EXPLORE!

Medical Voice 19th March 2020

  778 Views

Dr KK Aggarwal    19 March 2020

Coronavirus outbreak: How much testing should we do, and where are we on developing a vaccine?

Over 170,000 individuals across the world have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 6,509 have died, with cases and deaths outside China overtaking those in that country

As government response and public concern over Covid-19 ratchet up, the medical community is looking at two aspects. First, how much testing is optimal — should we expand it beyond at-risk populations to fl atten the disease curve as South Korea has done, or does mass testing burden the healthcare system? Second, where do India and other countries stand in developing a vaccine?....read more

CMAAO COVID Guidelines for doctors

1.Health care professionals should be flexible in their professional behaviour in face of the significant epidemic.

2.Readiness to work outside the comfort zone of clinical practice in the increasingly likely scenario of widespread community transmission of COVID-19.

3.Primary and secondary care undergoes extreme stress during significant epidemic state. This leads "inevitable exacerbation of staff shortages due to sickness or caring responsibilities" and hence represents a challenging scenario for the profession....read more

COVID MEDtalks: “Test, test, test”. Test every suspected case

Test, test, test. Test every suspected case; if they test positive, isolate them and find out who they have been in contact with two days before they developed symptoms and test those people, too. WHO is calling on nations to carry out more tests for coronavirus as health officials say there has been a rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases over the past week. Testing, isolation and contact tracing are the key responses amidst the coronavirus pandemic....read more

NOVEL COVID Ideas

1.Use tissue paper and make a mask if in shortage 2.Take 60% alcohol and add 40% aloe vera gel for making sanitizers 3.Have side to side meeting and not face to face meeting....read more

17th March: CMAAO COVID 19 PANDEMIC

India - States 14, Total cases 11 4 (MOH), 129 World Meters, Serious: Zero, Death: 2, Community spread: zero; Super spreader: Zero; Men more than women. ICMR: Testing across 52 labs (ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune is the apex laboratory for reconfirmation of any positive samples); additionally, 57 other labs to help sample collection ....read more

Do we get a human birth each time we die?

As per Vedic sciences, Hindu philosophy believes in rebirth unless your Sanchit and Prarabdha Karmas are totally exhausted. It also believes in liberation wherein once your past karmas debt is over, you do not take a rebirth. On the other hand, Garuda Purana says that you can take rebirth in animal species, which means you can be born like a donkey or a dog. Vedic science, on the other hand, says that once you get a human body, you will either be liberated or only get another human body....read more

How Corona Aware Are You

Health Sutras By Dr K K Aggarwal

Dry fruits, milk, fresh washed fruits and salads are natural fast foods. Eat them in plenty.

Healthcare News Monitor

Indias Dependence On Pharma Imports From China: Minister Informs Parliament

Medical Dialogues

Through a written reply in the Lok Sabha Shri. D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Minister for Chemicals & fertilizers informed the parliament about the import of APIs /drugs and the extent of its dependence on China for the same. The Indian Pharmaceutical industry is 3rd largest in the world in terms of volume and 14th largest in terms of value. India exported medicines worth US $14389 mn in Financial Year 2018-19. India also exported Bulk Drug/Drug Intermediates worth the US $ 3911mn in Financial Year 2018-19. However, the country also imports various Bulk Drugs/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for producing medicines. Two-thirds of the total imports of Bulk Drugs/ Drug Intermediates is from China. The imports from China are mainly due to economic considerations. The minister added that the Department of Pharmaceuticals has constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of Dr Eshwara Reddy, Joint Drugs Controller, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to address the issue of drug security in the country in the context of novel coronavirus outbreak in China. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the department has issued necessary instructions to National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and State Governments to ensure an adequate supply of APIs and formulations at affordable prices in the market and to prevent black-marketing, illegal hoarding, creating artificial shortages in the country. In this regard, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has written to DGFT to restrict exports of 13 API and formulations made out of these APIs which includes paracetamol.

Lasa Supergenerics to invest ₹50 cr to tackle the virus

The Hindu Business Line- Maitri Porecha

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients producer Lasa Supergenerics is looking at infusing ₹50 crore for developing Favipiravir, an anti-viral drug, which is expected to show positive results in treating novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases. Favipiravir possesses activity against many RNA viruses and can effectively inhibit conditions like influenza, Ebola, yellow fever, chikungunya, norovirus and enterovirus. It is recently believed to be showing efficacy against Covid-19 in certain cases in China which has led to starting of clinical trials there. “Our Mahad facility in Maharashtra is readying to manufacture at least 500 kilos of the active pharmaceutical ingredient for the drug, which can then be converted into tablets by pharma companies,” Omkar Herlekar, Chairman, Lasa Supergenerics, told Businessline. “India was awaiting results of Chinese studies to then give necessary approvals for bio-equivalence studies to be conducted in Indian settings. This means it will mostly be then tried and tested in limited Indian populations, who are COVID-19 positive,” an official from Indian Council of Medical Research confirmed. Lasa Supergenerics has tied up with Mumbai-based Institute of Chemical Technology to conduct multiple experiments from the research and development perspective for Favipiravir.

PM Modi lauds health staff, says India doing its best

Hindustan Times- Anonna Dutt

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised doctors, nurses and health care workers who he said are putting up “great efforts” in the wake of the novel coronavirus infection. He also retweeted posts by users who lauded the government’s response to the outbreak, saying India is doing its best “to ensure everyone is healthy and those showing symptoms get proper care”. “Our doctors, nurses, healthcare workers are putting great efforts. They are out there, helping people. We will always cherish their contribution. #IndiaFightsCorona,” Modi said in one of his tweets. The government has stepped up screening of passengers at airports, while the health sector is testing suspected patients, treating those infected and even conducting door-to-door surveys to keep tabs on people with a history of international travel. A data entry officer from southeast Delhi’s Sunlight Colony dispensary, who did not want to be named, explained how a typical workday unfolds. “Every morning we leave from the dispensary at 9 am for the door-to-door survey with a list of international travellers. We have to go verify their travel history, their numbers, and see whether they are taking all precautions. We wear masks and gloves and stand at a distance when we speak to them,” he said. All dispensary staff, including those at clerical posts, go for these home visits in accordance with a directive by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.

Karnataka doctor who treated Indias first coronavirus casualty tests positive

Mint

A doctor who treated Indias first casualty of coronavirus is among the two newly confirmed COVID-19 cases announced today in Karnataka. With the two new cases, the total number of confirmed cases in the state stands at 10, mentioned Karnataka health minister Sriramulu in a tweet. The 60-year-old man who tested positive for the infection today, was identified as a doctor. He came into contact with the 76-year-old man who passed away in Karnataka on March 10. The patient in Kalaburgi had a history of travelling to Saudi Arabia. Later, his 45-year-old daughter also tested positive for the coronavirus disease. A 20-year-old girl, who recently travelled to UK, also tested positive for COVID-19, Karnataka health department confirmed. "Both are admitted in the isolation wards in designated hospitals in Bengaluru and Kalaburagi," said Sriramulu. The Karnataka health officials are notifying patients and staff who came into contact with the doctor. The family members of the doctor were also advised to quarantine at home. After Karnataka reported the first death due to COVID-19, chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa announced to shut malls, universities and colleges, movie theatres, night clubs for a week. IT companies such as Wipro, Infosys have extended work-from-home programme for the employees. Nearly 1,830 people are going through home quarantine across Karnataka while 2,221 people have enrolled for observation, the health department said.

To comment on this article,
create a free account.

Sign Up to instantly get access to 10000+ Articles & 1000+ Cases

Already registered?

Login Now

Most Popular Articles

News and Updates

eMediNexus provides latest updates on medical news, medical case studies from India. In-depth medical case studies and research designed for doctors and healthcare professionals.