Combating COVID-19: the India initiatives

Authors

  • Preeti Kharb Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary (SGT) University, Gurgaon-Badli Road Chandu, Budhera, Gurugram, Haryana, India http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0414-7061
  • Vinod Kapoor Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary (SGT) University, Gurgaon-Badli Road Chandu, Budhera, Gurugram, Haryana, India
  • Nishant Madan Research Manager, Medical Affairs and Clinical Research, Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited, Gurugram, Haryana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203519

Keywords:

Coronavirus, COVID-19, Government of India, Policy, SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic is one of the few in the history of mankind and presents an enormous global challenge requiring intervention on unprecedented levels. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus spreading exceptionally fast and carries high mortality. Health is an important component for human well-being and economic progress. The healthcare set ups globally are being overwhelmed to treat the serious patients with the needs of medical devices such as ventilators for which there is a global shortage. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the need for further research, developing new vaccines and treatment for COVID-19. To prevent the disease is the only option countries have at the moment for which nationwide lockdown have been implemented. The Government of India has taken several steps from implementing lockdown, announcing a relief package of Rs. 1.7 lakh crores, and rapid improvement in testing capacity among many others. Government of India is committed to facilitate universal and affordable access to all relevant medical products and technologies, both existing and new, to tackle COVID-19 to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable development goals and universal health coverage. In this article we present the initiatives taken by government to combat COVID-19 pandemic specifically related to the health products.

Author Biographies

Preeti Kharb, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary (SGT) University, Gurgaon-Badli Road Chandu, Budhera, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Ms Preeti Kharb is Research Scholar (final year) at the Department of Pharmacology at Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurugram, India. She has been National consultant with the Health Systems-Pharmaceutical team at WHO Country Office for India since 2015 September. Her experience spans over last 8 years working with WHO Country Office for India, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and Ranbaxy Laboratories ltd on various health systems agenda. She has been working extensively in setting up pharmacovigilance systems for public health programmes and rational use of medicines, regulation and access to medical products, Medical Affairs and Clinical Research including Clinical Research and Literature search, Scientific Support to Drug Development, Regulatory Medical Writing, Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety. She is Masters of Pharmacy from Manipal University, Karnataka passed out in 2012 and Bachelors of Pharmacy from Panjab University Chandigarh graduating in 2010. She also holds a Post graduate diploma in Epidemiology.

Vinod Kapoor, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary (SGT) University, Gurgaon-Badli Road Chandu, Budhera, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT Medical College, Hospital & Research Institute, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary (SGT) University, Gurgaon-Badli Road Chandu, Budhera, Gurugram, Haryana 122505

Nishant Madan, Research Manager, Medical Affairs and Clinical Research, Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited, Gurugram, Haryana

Research Manager, Medical Affairs and Clinical Research, Sun Pharmaceuticals Limited, Gurugram, Haryana

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Published

2020-08-28

How to Cite

Kharb, P., Kapoor, V., & Madan, N. (2020). Combating COVID-19: the India initiatives. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(9), 3722–3729. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203519

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Section

Review Articles