Delhi: Scaling up of RT-PCR tests an uphill task

New Delhi: Following Delhi High Court’s order to scale up RT-PCR tests for Covid-19, Delhi government is working out the modalities for expanding the use of the test, considered the most reliable for establishing infection. But experts say that increasing the number of RT-PCR tests is fraught with challenges. At present, around 11,000 RT-PCR tests are conducted daily, up from around 5,500 in mid-June. In addition, more than 45,000 of the less dependable rapid antigen tests are also being carried out every day. Delhi currently has the capacity for conducting nearly 15,000 RT-PCR tests daily. Officials said maximising the capacity of all the testing machines over 24 hours has enabled the state government to conduct the 11,000 tests. But there are days when the machines break down. Many lab technicians have not taken a break for 15 days due to the imperatives for daily testing. When some of them fall sick, fewer tests are conducted. Since Covid is a new virus, the private agencies are not interested in developing more labs for fear that they may become redundant once the virus is conquered. ....read more

Safety and Quality During the Pandemic

Compromising quality and safety is never a question! Join MEDtalks with Dr K K Aggarwal today at 7:00 PM for an enriching discussion on Safety and Quality During the Pandemic. Just click on www.facebook.com/drkkaggarwal or https://perfecthealthmela.com/vevent/general-webinar.php

CMAAO Coronavirus Facts and Myth Buster: Antiviral Drugs

With input from Dr Monica Vasudev 1084:Update on COVID-112th September, 2020, 11am-12pm IMA-CMAAO Webinar on “Antiviral drugs”,12th September 2020: 4-5pm Participants: Dr KK Aggarwal, President CMAAO, Dr RV Asokan, Hony Secretary General IMA, Dr Ramesh K Datta, Hony Finance Secretary IMA, Dr Jayakrishnan Alapet, Dr Brijendra Prakash, Dr S Sharma,Faculty: Dr KK Sharma, Advisor, National Academy of Medical Sciences ,Faculty: Dr KK Sharma, Advisor, National Academy of Medical Sciences,Former Head, Dept. of Pharmacology, UCMS ....read more

World COVID Meter 17th September: Acute manageable immunogenic thrombogenic inflammatory viral disease pandemic

Cases: 1M April 2, 2M April 15, 3M April 27, 4M May 8, 5M May 20, 6M May 30, 7M June 7, 8M June 15, 9M June 22, 10M June 29th, 11M July 4, 12M July 8, 13M July 13, 14M July 17, 15M July 23, 16M July 25, 17M July 29, 18M August 1, 19M August 6, 20M August 10, 21M August 16, 22M August 19, 23M August 21, 24M August 27, 25M August 30, 26M September 3, 27M September 7, 28M September 10, 29M September 14 Ground Zero: Wuhan - in live animal market or cafeteria for animal pathogens: 10th January; Total cases are based on RT PCR, 67% sensitivity Coronavirus Cases: 30,025,473,Deaths: 944,705,Recovered: 21,792,847 ....read more

Definition of health

Health is not mere absence of disease; it is a state of physical, mental, social, spiritual, environmental and financial well-being. Allopathy does not define all aspects of health. During MBBS, medical students are taught more about the physical health. Social and mental health are covered only in few lectures. Community health is a separate subject but never given its due importance. Spiritual health is not defined at all and financial health is hardly covered. Yet, in day-to-day practice, it is the social, financial, spiritual and community health, which is the most important during patient-doctor communication. It is incorporated in the four basic purposes: dharma, artha, kama and moksha. ....read more

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Brucella outbreak infects thousands after factory leak in China, No worry

Healthcare News Monitor

Azithromycin, potential COVID-19 drug, may increase risk for cardiac events

Zee News

Washington: A commonly-prescribed antibiotic, Azithromycin, is being investigated as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Azithromycin`s association with cardiac events also has been debated. In 2012, the FDA issued a warning for azithromycin stating that it had been linked to cardiac events, but subsequent studies have yielded mixed results. Now, researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago have found that azithromycin by itself is not associated with an increase in cardiac events; however, if the drug is taken with certain other drugs that affect the electrical functioning of the heart, then cardiac events increased.

Government plans a total of 10500 Janaushadhi Kendras by end of March 2024

Express Pharma

D V Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers has said that with a vision to provide quality medicines at affordable rates for the common men especially the poor, the Government of India has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) to 10500 by the end of March 2024. The PMBJKs are being set up by Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) under Department of Pharmaceuticals, the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP). “With this, all the districts in the country will have Janaushadhi kendras. This will ensure easy reach of affordable medicines to the people in every nook and corner of the country. As on 15 September 2020, the number of stores in the country has increased to 6603,” informed a release from the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Over 300 doctors have died of Covid in India

NewsHook

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has accused the Centre of showing indifference to the contribution of doctors during the coronavirus pandemic. This is after Union Health Minister Dr Harshavadhan made no mention of the doctors who died in the line of duty during his statement on coronavirus in Parliament. The IMA has accused the Centre of abandoning the heroes in a statement. So far, 382 doctors have died of coronavirus, the IMA said. In the list it released, the youngest doctor to lose his life was 27 years old and the oldest was 85.

As Rural India Faces COVID-19, Let’s Train Village Health Providers to Fight It

The Wire

Featured image: A community health worker preparing a vaccine in Odisha, India. Photo: Pippa Ranger, DFID/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA India has overtaken Brazil and become the second-worst affected country in the world by the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 4 million cases. COVID-19 had mostly remained in India’s cities, but the disease is now spreading to rural India – an area with over 850 million people and far worse healthcare. The reason for this shift appears to be migrant workers who have been returning to their villages since lockdown was eased at the end of June. The medical response to stop the spread and treat those infected has been inadequate, according to media reports.