Rhythma Kaul works as an assistant editor at Hindustan Times. She covers health and related topics, including ministry of health and family welfare, government of India.
Articles by Rhythma Kaul
Covid at a point of transition, but still a global emergency: WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday announced that Covid-19 continues to remain a public health emergency of international concern but added that the pandemic is currently at a “transition point”, suggesting that a change may be in the offing later this year
Updated on Jan 31, 2023 02:01 PM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Final hearing in tuberculosis drug patent case ends, verdict likely in a month
New Delhi: The Indian Patent Office had held its final hearing on a challenge filed by two tuberculosis survivors to prevent the Indian arm of drugmaker Johnson & Johnson from extending its patent on bedaquiline, used against drug-resistant TB, beyond the primary patent’s expiry in July
Published on Jan 30, 2023 12:09 AM IST
Centre rolls out first nasal Covid vaccine as booster
India on Thursday rolled out the first nasal vaccine against Covid-19, to be administered as a primary or booster dose for adults, potentially widening the pool of people who may take a third vaccine against the infection, cutting tertiary costs, and easing pressures on supply and storage networks
Published on Jan 27, 2023 12:03 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Bivalent vaccines more effective against Covid than monovalent ones: Study
Bivalent Covid-19 vaccines provide significantly better protection than their monovalent counterparts against severe disease and death from infections caused by Omicron sub-variants, data from two recent reports published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) show
Updated on Jan 30, 2023 08:26 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Siddhartha Mukherjee’s start-up to file trial data for cancer therapy
The move is an attempt to bring the advanced Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy for hard-to-treat cancers such as leukaemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma commercially available in India.
Updated on Jan 23, 2023 07:08 PM IST
People with hybrid immunity run 95% lower chance of infection, hospitalisations: Report
In comparison, those infected a year ago but not vaccinated had a 75% lower chance of the same.And those vaccinated, but not infected, had a 88.9% lower chance.
Updated on Jan 19, 2023 11:34 PM IST
Centre unlikely to procure more Covid vaccine jabs
Studies have shown that immunity gained from a vaccine shot typically wanes in four to six months . According to government’s Cowin dashboard, only 223 million persons have taken the booster shot dose.
Updated on Jan 17, 2023 04:21 AM IST
Marion syrup ingredients under lens over Uzbekistan deaths
According to local media reports in Uzbekistan, the chemical ethylene glycol was found in the syrup— Dok-1 Max— during lab tests
Updated on Jan 14, 2023 11:31 PM IST
Central food regulator notifies standards for Basmati rice
New Delhi The country’s top food regulator has notified standards to regulate basmati rice, the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Thursday, adding that this is the first time such comprehensive standards are being put in place
Published on Jan 13, 2023 12:24 AM IST
Uzbekistan deaths: UP suspends licence of Noida pharma company
According to people familiar with the matter, the company was found defaulting on schedule M- good manufacturing practices (GMP) in production, even as results of samples sent for laboratory testing from the company’s manufacturing unit at Noida in Uttar Pradesh are awaited.
Updated on Jan 11, 2023 02:49 AM IST
Covovax booster request may come up next week
On December 28, 2021, the Drugs Controller General of India approved Covovax for emergency use in adults. It approved the vaccine for emergency use among those aged 12 years and above in March last year, making it the fourth Covid-19 vaccine approved for emergency use in children in this age group.
Updated on Jan 10, 2023 05:10 AM IST
Contagious subvariant still in circulation; no cause for panic: Experts
Experts say there was no reason to panic as there has been no unusual surge in cases reported from any part of the country.
Updated on Jan 09, 2023 05:07 AM IST
G20 Presidency: First health working group meet to be held on Jan 18 in Kerala
The second health working group meeting will be held on April 17-19 in Goa, third from June 4-6 in Hyderabad, and the fourth and the G20 health ministerial meeting will take place on August 17-19 in Gandhinagar
Updated on Jan 05, 2023 06:22 PM IST
Bharat Biotech working on variant-specific jabs
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has begun work on variant specific vaccines against Covid-19 and is likely to use strains of the SARS-Cov-2 virus shared with it by the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Pune based National Institute of Virology (NIV)
Updated on Jan 04, 2023 11:56 PM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Discussions begin in govt panel on 2nd booster dose
The move comes even as the government is pushing to increase coverage of the first booster shot, currently languishing at 28% (of the eligible population).
Updated on Jan 03, 2023 04:53 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Early detection of Covid variants remains in focus of Centre’s plan
Last month, the Union health ministry sounded an alert, tightened Covid guidelines and asked states and Union Territories to prepare for any eventuality amid a surge in infections in several nations, especially China.
Updated on Jan 02, 2023 04:47 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
All production halted at firm linked to Uzbek syrup deaths
The suspension of Marion Biotech means that its exports will become ineligible for incentives under the Market Access Initiative Scheme.
Published on Dec 30, 2022 11:27 PM IST
Rhythma Kaul and Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
Rhythma Kaul picks her favourite read of 2022
While the book is about Aparna Piramal Raje’s struggles with mental health, it is not a sob story but one that focuses on the possibility of leading a fruitful life despite such hardships
Published on Dec 30, 2022 04:43 PM IST
From Jan 1, negative Covid reports must for flyers arriving from 6 countries
People flying into India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand will be required to provide negative Covid test report from January 1, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday.
Updated on Dec 30, 2022 02:08 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Uzbek syrup deaths: Firm halts production
Noida-based Marion Biotech on Thursday said it has halted the production of its Dok-1 Max syrup after authorities in Uzbekistan blamed it for the deaths of at least 18 children in a new controversy surrounding India’s pharmaceutical exports.
Updated on Dec 30, 2022 01:54 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviews availability of essential medicines
The government has attempted to raise awareness and draw attention to the Covid-19 surge elsewhere. PM Modi held a review meeting last week when he urged people and administrations to be alert and not drop their guard
Updated on Dec 29, 2022 08:14 PM IST
18 kids’ deaths in Uzbekistan linked to cough syrup made in Noida, probe on
India on Tuesday launched an inquiry into a Noida-based drugs manufacturer after deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan were linked to a syrup the firm made, according to people familiar with the matter.
Updated on Dec 29, 2022 05:59 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
CDSCO inspects drugs factory for compliance
India’s pharmaceutical standards authority has started random inspections of drug factories to check for regulatory compliance, the health ministry announced on Tuesday, a fallout of an Indian company’s cough syrups being linked to deaths in Gambia.
Updated on Dec 28, 2022 05:01 AM IST
Nasal vaccines to cost ₹800 at private centres, ₹325 at government
Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine, iNCOVACC, against Covid-19 will be available for ₹800 per dose at private vaccination centres and ₹325 at government centres, exclusive of taxes, the company announced on Tuesday.
Updated on Dec 28, 2022 01:51 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
‘Allow second booster dose’: Doctors after meet with Mandaviya on Covid
The meeting came as part of government’s attempt to step-up Covid-19 surveillance amid rising cases globally especially in China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand.
Updated on Dec 27, 2022 06:55 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul and Soumya Pillai, New Delhi
Focus on surveillance, govt tells states as it steps up Covid vigil
Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said focus should be given to health facility-based sentinel surveillance; pan-respiratory virus surveillance; and community-based surveillance.
Updated on Dec 26, 2022 04:51 AM IST
Nasal vaccines to roll out in private hospitals soon
A new coronavirus vaccine used as a nasal spray will only be available at private health facilities and the Co-WIN platform was set to be tweaked on Friday to allow people to immediately begin booking shots, people aware of the matter said on Friday.
Updated on Dec 24, 2022 12:54 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Covid: Restrictive curbs not needed yet, says govt
The Union health ministry, citing its data, said that eight states and four Union territories currently had no active case.
Updated on Dec 24, 2022 05:09 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Expert panel suggests nasal Covid vaccine for adults: Centre
The vaccine, branded iNCOVACC, was approved by the country’s drugs regulator and will add to India’s arsenal of tools to fight the pandemic.
Updated on Dec 23, 2022 05:25 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
Airports to randomly test 2%international flyers for Covid-19
India has begun randomly testing 2% of international travellers coming to the country for Covid-19 and could consider making it mandatory for all if required, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday.
Updated on Dec 23, 2022 02:21 AM IST
Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
