Society For Athenopharmacology

CoronaVirus Updates

Suniel Shetty clarifies 'No Delta variant in my society'

Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Actor Suniel Shetty took to social media to refute re ports claiming that his building has been sealed by the BrihanMumbai Municip al Corporation, calling it misreporting and fake news.Shetty, who resides in Prithvi Apartments in South Mumbai's Altamount Road, t weeted claiming there is no "Delta Variant" in his building society. The act or said that while a notice has been put up on one wing, the entire building has not been sealed. "Wow! Must say that fake news spreads quicker than any virus. People, pls do n't spread panic. There's NO Delta Variant' in my building society. Just one COVID+ case & the patient is recuperating a t Breach Candy hospital. The others are currently negative and self quaranti ned," Suniel Shetty tweeted on Monday evening."My building is safe and the family is fine. One wing has a notice up but NO T entire building sealed as being misreported. My mother, my wife Mana, #Aha n, #Athiya & my staff; as well as the entire Bldg are fine & thank U for you r good wishes. Sorry folks no #DELTA," he mentioned in a separate tweet. --IANS abh/vnc
CoronaVirus Updates

After furore, BMC, Mumbai Police probe 'fraud' in pvt society vaccination

Mumbai, June 16 (IANS) Following a furore, the Mumbai Police and the BrihanMumbai Muncipal Corporatin have launched independent investigations into an alleged fraud in a posh Kandivali housing complex where a private vaccination drive was undertaken two weeks ago, an official said.BMC Additonal Commissioner Suresh Kakani directed Deputy Municipal Commissioner Vishwas Shankarwar to complete an enquiry and submit the report within 48 hours."We are probing the matter after the society's complaint, but so far, there is no FIR lodged nor any detentions or arrests," a police official said, even as the incident made other housing complexes do a rethink of their plans for private inoculation efforts.According to the residents of the Hiranandani Heritage Society (435 flats in three towers) in Kandivali west, a fraudster allegedly carried out the vaccination drive for 390 people comprising society members and their families, in-house staff like security guards, drivers or domestic helpers on May 30.It was conducted through a couple of facilitators, Rajesh Pandey and Sanjay Gupta, who claimed to represent leading private institutions like the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH) and the Nanavati Hospital- and agreed to provide 400 vaccine doses for around Rs 1,260 each, for which the society paid around Rs 5 lakh.However, top authorities of the KDAH and the Nanavati Hospital have stated that they had nothing to do with the entire drive as claimed by the agents, they were not approached by the society and they did not contemplate any further steps in the matter like lodging a police complaint.The doubts started after the inoculation drive was over, as none of the beneficiaries were given the vaccination certificates, and many of the residents noticed that the vials bore a red stamp 'Not For Sale'.Gupta assured that the certificates would be given after 3-4 days, and when many of them finally got them after June 8, they were found to be generated from different hospitals in the city, without the date of May 30, when the inoculation was carried out.Many of the residents checked their status on CoWin and were shocked to learn that they were yet to get their first vaccine dose, which set alarm bells ringing among the society members and others planning to take up similar drives on their premises."We have approached the Kandivali police in the matter. We are very worried. We don't know what was administered to us in the name of the Covid vaccine. We also did not develop the normal side-effects post-inoculation, adding to our doubts," one of the residents said.Local BJP leaders like Yogesh Sagar alleged that there could be a nexus between the BMC and unscrupulous elements in such private drives and the beneficiaries must make full enquiries before getting lured by such offers.--IANSqn/vd
CoronaVirus Updates

Mumbai Police probing 'fraud' in

Mumbai, June 16 (IANS) The Mumbai Police have launched investigations into an alleged fraud in a posh Kandivali housing complex where a private vaccination drive was undertaken two weeks ago, an official said."We are probing the matter after the society's complaint, but so far, there is no FIR lodged nor any detentions or arrests," a police official said.According to the residents of the Hiranandani Heritage Society (435 flats in three towers) in Kandivali west, a fraudster allegedly carried out the vaccination drive for 390 people comprising society members and their families, in-house staff like security guards, drivers or domestic helpers on May 30.It was conducted through a couple of facilitators, Rajesh Pandey and Sanjay Gupta, who claimed to represent leading private institutions like the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH) and the Nanavati Hospital- and agreed to provide 400 vaccine doses for around Rs 1,260 each, for which the society paid around Rs 5 lakh.However, top authorities of the KDAH and the Nanavati Hospital have stated that they had nothing to do with the entire drive as claimed by the agents, they were not approached by the society and they did not contemplate any further steps in the matter like lodging a police complaint.The doubts started after the inoculation drive was over, as none of the beneficiaries were given the vaccination certificates, and many of the residents noticed that the vials bore a red stamp 'Not For Sale'.Gupta assured that the certificates would be given after 3-4 days, and when many of them finally got them after June 8, they were found to be generated from different hospitals in the city, without the date of May 30, when the inoculation was carried out.Many of the residents checked their status on CoWin and were shocked to learn that they were yet to get their first vaccine dose, which set alarm bells ringing."We have approached the Kandivali police in the matter. We are very worried. We don't know what was administered to us in the name of the Covid vaccine. We also did not develop the normal side-effects post-inoculation, adding to our doubts," one of the residents said.Local BJP leaders like Yogesh Sagar alleged that there could be a nexus between the BMC and unscrupulous elements in such private drives and the beneficiaries must make full enquiries before getting lured by such offers.--IANSqn/vd
CoronaVirus Updates

NTPC extends support to protect society at large from Covid

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) Country's largest power producer NTPC has not only ensured uninterrupted power supply to the country during the second wave of COVID-19, but has also reached out to the society and has made significant efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 by enhancing medical infrastructure in different parts of the country.The company came forward and developed more than 600 Oxygen beds and 1,200 isolation beds in its different projects and surroundings on war footing basis in a span of one week which proved to be life saviour for many including the general public. It has also been working in close coordination with the state and district administration and has augmented medical infrastructure even in remote locations.Amidst the surge in COVID-19 cases specially in Delhi and NCR, NTPC stepped up its efforts and created 200 oxygen supported beds and 140 isolation beds in NCR alone which came as a big relief to Covid patients. This infrastructure in NCR which has been set up at Dadri, Noida and Badarpur has the facility of Oxygen support, COVID testing, invasive and non-invasive ventilators besides 24X7 nursing and medical care. This has been created at a cost of Rs 30 crore.The power generator has engaged more than 40 doctors, hundreds of paramedical and supporting staff and 7 round the clock Oxygen supported Ambulances to manage this facility.A 500 bedded hospital at a cost of Rs 400 crore, with state of the art facility constructed by NTPC in Sundragarh, Odisha in a record time has been converted into a COVID hospital during the pandemic which is catering to lakhs of people of that area. Apart from providing various medical equipment, NTPC has augmented the facility by providing 20 ventilators which helped in treating numerous critical patients.Further, considering the demand of critical care, NTPC is providing additional 40 ventilators to this hospital. NTPC Darlipali is also providing assistance for setting up 30 ICU beds in Jharsuguda.NTPC has created 250 Oxygen supported beds, 20 HDUs and 10 ICUs in District hospital of Khargone, Madhya Pradesh at a cost of Rs 2.24 crore. This facility at remote locations has come as a boon to the public at large, saving lives of many during the unprecedented Covid surge.During the ongoing crisis, various NTPC projects have provided more than 2000 Industrial cylinders to district administrations which are being converted and used as Medical Oxygen cylinders. Sensing the expected rise in demand for oxygen, which is the only lifesaving Gas for COVID patients, NTPC is playing a major role in creating infrastructure of Oxygen generation across the country by setting up more than 2 dozens of Oxygen Generation plants with some of them having the facility of bottling and refilling Oxygen cylinders. Out of these, 9 PSA type plants and 2 bottling plants are being set up in NCR only which will start operating from this month itself in phased wise manner.NTPC has done its best to inoculate its employees, their dependents and other stakeholders across all NTPC plants. Till date, NTPC has vaccinated more than 70,000 people across its operations which include employees, their dependents and community people as well.NTPC is not only targeting to vaccinate 100 per cent of its employees, family members and associates but also has the plan to vaccinate people living in the surrounding. NTPC Darlipali is procuring 10,000 vaccines for people of its surroundings.-IANSsn/skp/
CoronaVirus Updates

Asian-Pacific area lawmakers seek 'whole of society' approach against Covid

Bangkok, April 29 (IANS) Policymakers from 50 Asian and Pacific countries on Thursday called for a "whole-of-society" response to Covid-19.Indian diplomats, attending the annual session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) told IANS that the policymakers encouraged coordinated action across the region to mitigate the economic and social devastation brought on by the pandemic.That augurs well for India, they said, because it needs external support at the moment to tide over the crisis of the second Covid surge that has led to more than three million infections. Endorsing a resolution on the final day of ESCAP's annual session, the delegates also reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism in response to global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic.They further underlined the importance of ensuring universal and equitable access to vaccines, and investing in social protection systems that promote access to essential services and decent jobs.They particularly stressed on meeting the health and social care needs of the most vulnerable populations, and promoting the continued flow of essential goods and services."We are committed to supporting governments to building back better from the Covid-19 pandemic through inclusive, resilient and sustainable recovery strategies," United Nations Under Secretary General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, said in her closing remarks to the Commission's 77th session. "It is my utmost hope that the resolution on regional cooperation to build back better from crises in Asia and the Pacific will further mainstream our response to Covid-19."Noting that the ESCAP will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2022, she remarked that "regional cooperation is as needed today as it was 75 years ago". Alisjahbana noted that as the Commission approaches this landmark milestone, it is poised to take concrete actions on shaping the future of regional cooperation to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and deliver on the common agenda set out by member states.More than 500 delegates from 52 of the Commission's 62 members and associate members attended the session held this week from April 26 to 29, via a virtual platform.They said member nations should help out those in real distress like India, where a sudden second surge of Covid have put the national healthcare system under enormous stress.They noted India's commitment to the global battle against the Covid pandemic, specially its effort to distribute vaccines to countries in need.--IANSsubir/vd
CoronaVirus Updates

Civil society group seeks transparency

The letter came in the backdrop of the US drugmaker Pfizer, Pune-based Serum Institute of India and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Limited's recent request for the emergency use authorization (EUA) of their vaccine candidates from the Drug Controller General of India. Emergency Use Authorization is a mechanism to facilitate the availability and use of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, during public health emergencies. Such an approval was given to Covid-19 drugs -- remdesivir and favipiravir in June and itolizumab in July. While posing scores of questions to Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, Niti Aayog Member Dr. V.K. Paul and DCGI Dr. V.G. Somani, AIDAN emphasized that it is the responsibility of the government to assure that there is no pressure on the authorities to give quick approvals without considering the safety and efficacy of the vaccine candidates. "Clarify the exact processes and parameters for REU (regulatory approval processes) approval of Covid-19 vaccine candidates in India and whether and under what conditions interim results can be sufficient for seeking such an approval," the civil society group sought. It also asked the health ministry to make public the basis of approval, including evidence reviewed, the restrictions and conditions linked to the approval and at what point full market authorization may be given if the regulatory approval processes for a vaccine is granted. AIDAN also sought for details of the protocol, process and timelines followed in investigating any reported serious adverse events. "Clarify if the government has or is planning to put in place a mechanism to compensate individuals who suffer serious adverse events post-licensure." Most importantly, it requested the government to make public all relevant documents and details related to Covid-19 vaccine trials, including details of the composition of the Covid-19 serious adverse events and the redacted documents placed before the committees for analysis of such events reported from the trial sites. In the interest of transparency and with a view to building public confidence, the All India Drug Action Network, through their letter, also demanded more information on the emergency use authorization request sought by Serum Institute of India for its vaccine -- Covishield. The society also sought all information that will form the basis of scrutinizing Serum Institute's emergency approval application for its vaccine. The society wants the disclosure of detailed clinical trial protocol for the Phase 2/3 bridging trial for Covishield along with all amendments made to the protocol, clarification on whether SII's application will be considered prior to the grant of an EUA in the UK to AstraZeneca-Oxford's vaccine candidate. "Disclose information about which interim data from each of the clinical trials will be considered and reviewed by the SEC. Require SII and ICMR to make public any interim data from the Indian trial on the basis of which SII is seeking emergency approval," the drug action network requested. While preserving the privacy and confidentiality of the participant, it also asked to be provided with the conclusions of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board and DCGI regarding relatedness of the serious adverse events with the vaccine candidate and the reasoning behind the decisions. The clarification was sought after a participant from Chennai had reported ill during participation in Serum Institute of India's trial. He had then sent a legal notice to the Serum, seeking Rs five crore in damages. The company had, however, termed his allegations as malicious and misconceived. On Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry informed that as many as eight Covid-19 vaccine candidates are under different stages of clinical trials which could be ready for authorization in near future. (Aakanksha Khajuria can be contacted at aa[email protected])