Bengaluru-based Bione launches Indias first at-home testing kit for Covid-19

ET: With the world putting forward all measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic, genetic and microbiome testing firm Bione, on Thursday, launched Indias first Rapid Covid-19 at-home screening test kit.Experts around the world have emphasised on the need for increased testing in order to control the spread of the disease....read more

Special SERIES ONLY EVIDENCES on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Host range (Part 3): How many species does it infect? Can it transfer from species to species?Source: DHS Science and Technology, Master Question List for COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2), Weekly Report, 18 March 2020What do we know?Early genomic analysis suggests that SARS-CoV-2 bears similarity to SARS,1with a suggested bat origin. 1-3 ....read more

CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster 31

FACTSHealthcare workers carrying out aerosol-generating procedures on COVID-19 patients in the ICU setting must use fitted respirator masks such as N95 respirators, FFP2, or equivalent, in comparison with surgical/medical masks, besides using other personal protective equipment (eg, gloves, gown, and eye protection such as a face shield or safety goggles)....read more

Spirituality - The Key To Health

To stay healthy, one needs to eat right, get plenty of exercise and rest, and avoid harmful habits such as smoking. But, now it is said that "what you believe in" can largely affect your health and longevity. Several studies show that patients with strong spirituality can improve their health from several chronic conditions, like hypertension, heart disease, recover from surgery, and more....read more

Health Sutras By Dr K K Aggarwal

Plant more trees to reduce noise and air pollution.

Healthcare News Monitor

Aurobindo, Sandoz call off USD 900 mn deal

ET Healthworld – PTI

Aurobindo Pharma on Thursday said the USD 900 million deal to acquire Sandoz Incs US-based generic oral solids and dermatology businesses, has been mutually called off. "The decision was taken as approval from the US Federal Trade Commission for the transaction was not obtained within anticipated timelines," Aurobindo Pharma said in a regulatory filing. In September 2018, Aurobindo Pharma had said its US subsidiary has entered into a pact to acquire commercial operations and three manufacturing facilities in America from Sandoz Inc, USA, for USD 900 million. The acquisition was to be made through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc. The transaction if completed would have positioned the Hyderabad-based firm as the second largest dermatology player and the second largest generics company in the US by prescriptions.

2 Mumbai Cos Step Up Work on Drug Helping in Recovery

ET Healthworld – Divya Rajagopal

Two Indian drug makers are stepping up efforts to develop antiviral molecule Favipiravir, a drug that has shown to help in the recovery of Covid-19 patients in a trial conducted in China. Mumbai-based BDR Pharma, which makes anti-HIV and Hepatitis C medication, and LASA Supergenerics, an active pharmaceutical ingredient maker, are betting that the drug works. "We took a shot on the Favipiravir drug as there is no patent that binds us in discovering its efficacy. Also, the initial data seems promising," Dharmesh Shah, chairman of BDR Pharma, told ET. While BDR has started lab work to get the initial samples out, it has several hurdles to cross before the product hits the market, the biggest being getting the actual reference product shipped from China. LASA Supergenerics, which is working with the Institute of Chemical Technology, is similarly stuck. CEO Omkar Herlekar has written to many government authorities and has tweeted about his grievances in getting clearances for his consignment, which has been stuck for 10 days in transit. "Most South Asian companies are administering this drug for their Covid-19 patients. This drug doesnt even have much side-effects, unlike other antivirals," Herlekar told ET. Lasa has asked the Indian Council of Medical Research to consider the efficacy of the drug and recommend fast-track approval for importing the raw material and manufacturing the drug.

Coronavirus in India Live Updates: Doctor from Dharavi tests COVID-19 positive; second case from slum

Business Today

One more COVID-19 positive case was reported from Dharavi on Friday. A 35-year-old doctor staying on Dharavi main road was tested positive for the contagion. His samples will be tested now at a government hospital. The building where the doctor stays will be quarantined and all the people who came in contact with him will be traced. The authorities are in the process of ascertaining his travel history. The medic is a surgeon in Wodkhard Hospital, Mumbai Central. The doctor called and informed the BMC himself. According to him, he might have been exposed to a few patients after which he might have contracted the infection. He is taken to Raheja hospital. The total number of COVID-19 cases climbed to more than 450 in the past 24 hours after the states across the country reported more cases following the Tablight Jamaat in Nizamuddin, Delhi emerging as the biggest hotspot of the novel coronavirus outbreak. The total number of active cases in the country stand at 1,860 and the death toll at 53, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfares website. A Union Health Ministry official said that 400 people who participated in the religious gathering in Delhis Nizamuddin area in March have been tested positive for COVID-19. This has actively jacked up Indias total number of cases and go further up as the states across the country continue to trace, identify and test the people who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz event between March 1-15.

Coronavirus: 4 arrested in Indore for attack on doctors

India Today- Ravish Pal Singh

Police in Indore say they have made four arrests since protesters pelted health officials with stones on Wednesday and injured two doctors. The police are trying to identify other suspects based on video footage, Deputy Inspector General Harinarayan Chari Mishra said. The health officials who were attacked were trying to trace a contact of a patient infected with the new coronavirus, police said. Two-woman doctors suffered injuries to their legs, according to Indores chief medical and health officer Dr Pravin Jadia. "They somehow protected themselves by hiding inside the vehicle of the tehsildar," he said. A team of five people were searching for the contact in the Taat Patti Bakhal area. One doctor said the police rescued them. "The moment we started enquiring about that particular person health, people started protesting and later some of them hurled stones. We were saved by police personnel," she said.