Covid-19: French researcher reports successful drug trial

Amid the novel coronavirus scare around the world, a French researcher has reported successful trial of a new treatment line for Covid-19, with early tests suggesting it can stop the virus from becoming contagious in just six days. According to connexionfrance.com, Professor Didier Raoult from hospital lInstitut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU Mediterranee), put up a video to explain the trials held earlier this week.

PARIS: Amid the novel coronavirus scare around the world, a French researcher has reported successful trial of a new treatment line for Covid-19, with early tests suggesting it can stop the virus from becoming contagious in just six days....read more

CMAAO IMA HCFI CORONA Myth Busters 8

Coronaviruses have same weight as other viruses

COVID-19 virus is physically larger and heavier than other known respiratory viruses. COVID-19 infects hosts through mucus droplets but its infectious range is lower than other viruses as its mass affects the distance it can travel before giving in to gravity. Coronaviruses can only travel about one to two meters, less than seven feet, before falling to the ground. More infectious viruses such as measles or chickenpox, are much lighter and remain airborne on tiny dust particles. ....read more

CMAAO IMA HCFI Corona Myth Buster 9

Doubling time is same for each country10-Day Lagging Doubling Times for COVID-19 for Eight Countries (as on March 12): South Korea 23.33; Singapore 11.61; Japan 7.78; Hong Kong 23.33; Iran 5.38; Italy 3.18; France 2.33; United States 1.75A decline in doubling time suggests that the infection rate is increasing (as the cases double in fewer days); however, an increase of doubling time indicates that the regional infection rate is slowing. Ideally, with measures implemented aggressively in a region and after some period of delay, doubling times should begin to increase over some days, weeks, or months, depending upon the severity of the local epidemic and the degree of social distancing prescribed. ....read more

Why do we place our hands over the flame?

Flame is the “flame” of true knowledge. At the end of any aarti, we place our hands over the flame and then touch our eyes and the top of the head. It means – “May the light that illuminated the Lord light up my vision; May my vision be divine and my thoughts noble and beautiful.”The metaphysical implication of aarti extends further. The sun, moon, stars, lightning and fire are the natural sources of light. The Lord is the source of these wondrous phenomena of the universe. It is due to Him alone that everything exists....read more

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Health Sutras By Dr K K Aggarwal

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Healthcare News Monitor

No shortage of critical drugs, major pharma cos assure PM

The Times of India- Rupali Mukherjee

Mumbai: Major pharma companies assured the Prime Minister on Saturday there would not be any shortage of critical medicines in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak, ever after April, with supplies of certain raw materials having resumed from China. Significantly, the industry said there were enough stocks of hydroxychloroquine, a medicine used for rheumatoid arthritis and malaria, in the country, if there was need to use it as a potential treatment for Covid-19, sources told TOI. With a global race to develop effective treatments for the dreaded virus, hydroxychloroquine has emerged reportedly as one of the frontrunners globally. PM Narendra Modi held a video conference with CEOs of top drug companies like Zydus Cadila, Dr Reddy’s, Sun Pharma and GSK, industry associations IPA, IDMA and OPPI, AiMed, bulk drug manufacturers’ and chemist associations including AIOCD, to assess supplies of key medicines and critical devices like ventilators in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases. Earlier, the Union Cabinet approved a Rs 9,940 crore incentive package for bulk drugs and Rs 3,820 crore for medical devices. Main producers of hydroxychloroquine include Zydus, IPCA Laboratories and Cipla, while a majority of the drug is exported to US. Amidst the surge in demand, a shortage of the generic drug in US is being feared reportedly, according to American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Regarding the stocks of medicines in India, earlier the industry had conveyed that it had an inventory for three to four months till March-April, after which it could face supply disruption. Shortages were feared mostly in key raw materials and APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) on which there is complete dependence on China including paracetamol, several antibiotics and vitamins, due to the lockdown in China’s Hubei’s province in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak. This had led to the government to impose export restrictions on 26-odd APIs earlier this month.

Govt move will help pharma industry, boost healthcare: Experts

Hindustan Times- Rhythma Kaul

The government’s decision to incentivise manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and key starting materials (KSMs) for drugs under Make in India will work well in the creation of a self-sufficient healthcare ecosystem in the country, and reduce dependence on imports, say experts in the field. “India has the capability and competence to manufacture all APIs. The announcement by the Government will help revive the API industry in the country and will help the sector regain the dominance that was lost over the years. The investment in creating bulk drug parks is an important step in the right direction for the development of the industry,” said Satish Reddy, IPA president, and chairman, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, in a statement. India is the pharmacy of the world and contributes 20% to the global generics market. As per government estimates, every third tablet sold in the US is from India. However, the industry is dependent on China for many APIs and KSMs, which go into the manufacturing of formulations.

Coronavirus in India: 60,000 tests possible in a week; every state to get dedicated COVID-19 hospital

Business Today- Joe C Mathew

The central government has asked every state to ready at least one hospital earmarked only for treating COVID-19 cases. It has also approved three private labs for testing COVID-19 cases to ramp up the testing facilities. Addressing the daily briefing of COVID-19 preparedness of the government, Health Ministry officials said that the country has the ability to test around 60,000 cases a week, however, efforts are being made not to do indiscriminate testing. More applications from private labs are under consideration for approvals, they said. The names of the approved private laboratories were not disclosed. "We have tested 5000 samples last week. We have the capacity to do more, but we want to ramp up testing as per the requirement", Balram Bhargava, director general ICMR and Secretary Department of Health Research "Our response is graded. Depending on the number cases, the number of isolation beds and ventilators will be ramped up. We have ordered for 1,200 new ventilators. We will be ready to face any emerging situation", Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, Health Ministry said. The COVID hospital facilities will be separate, earmarked only for COVID cases in every state. In Delhi, an 800-bed section in AIIMS is being earmarked to handle COVID cases, the officials said. On the number of testing centres, the officials said that 111 government labs are equipped to handle COVID samples. "Three private labs have been approved, more labs have approached, with thousands of collection centres they have, testing can be ramped if need be", they said.

India Reports Seven Coronavirus Deaths As 3 Die In Mumbai, Bihar, Gujarat

NDTV- Manish Kumar, Saurabh Gupta

Three coronavirus deaths were reported from Maharashtras Mumbai, Bihar and Gujarat today, which takes the total number of deaths linked to COVID-19 in India to seven. In Bihar, a 38-year-old man who had recently traveled to Qatar, died of renal failure at Patnas All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He had tested positive for coronavirus, Bihar Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar said. This is the first case of highly contagious COVID-19 reported from the state. He is probably the youngest person in the country to die after contracting the infection. In Maharashtra, the state that has reported maximum coronavirus cases across India (74), a 63-year-old man admitted to a private hospital in Mumbai died this morning. "The patient had a chronic history of diabetes, high blood pressure and ischemic heart disease," Mumbais civic body, the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation, said in a statement. He developed acute respiratory distress syndrome leading to his death. This is the second death in Mumbai linked to coronavirus, which originated in China and has spread to over 140 countries. Three deaths have been reported from Delhi, Punjab and Karnataka this month. All of these patients were above 60.