By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon & Biocon Biologics The tectonic shifts that the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it has thrust the Indian biotechnology industry into the global limelight. The industry responded with grit, agility and creativity to address India’s healthcare needs in the face of a rampaging viral outbreak. This global emergency galvanized India’s … Continue reading The Pandemic has Unleashed Opportunities We Never Thought Existed
Budget: Taking Strides Towards Digital Health
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw It was very heartening to see a Budget empathize with those who had to bear adverse health effects of the pandemic. The wide coverage of our nation’s vaccination drive greatly helped amidst the 3rd wave of the pandemic caused by the Omicron variant, resulting in milder symptoms. Even though India is in … Continue reading Budget: Taking Strides Towards Digital Health
A Fair Budget that Balances the Needs of the Indian Economy
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented the nation with a balanced Budget for FY23. The Indian economy needs a steadying hand at a time when it is trying to find its feet as the tremors from the global COVID-19 pandemic recede slowly. She has prudently laid the groundwork for a gradual economic … Continue reading A Fair Budget that Balances the Needs of the Indian Economy
Science, Technology and Innovation: How DBT coordinated India’s COVID-19 fight
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that science can rescue humanity. And for science to prosper you need to have dedicated national agencies that are relentlessly driving the agenda of science. Since its inception in 1982, The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has made tremendous efforts in promoting bioscience research, translational education and entrepreneurship. … Continue reading Science, Technology and Innovation: How DBT coordinated India’s COVID-19 fight
A decentralized approach could help turn the tide against Covid-19
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw As the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage India, the inadequacies of our health and medical care systems are exposed and we are paying a horrifying price in lives and livelihoods lost. We need to respond with speed and agility to turn the tide. To ensure that, decentralization is … Continue reading A decentralized approach could help turn the tide against Covid-19
A Combination of Lockdowns and Vaccination Will Save Us
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw The second wave of Covid-19 descended on India like a tsunami. We were caught unawares and our response was one of panic and chaos. There was sub-optimal preparedness and rapid response planning. Hospitals were overwhelmed, medicines were in short supply and medical supplies of life-saving oxygen and ventilators were woefully low. From hubris and … Continue reading A Combination of Lockdowns and Vaccination Will Save Us
Lessons from the second wave of coronavirus pandemic
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw The second Covid-19 wave has hit India, and hit it hard. Record jumps in coronavirus infections on a daily basis have pushed health infrastructure to the brink in several states. While patients are scrambling to secure hospital beds, hospitals are running out of oxygen supplies and critical anti-Covid-19 drugs along with medical … Continue reading Lessons from the second wave of coronavirus pandemic
India Racing Against Time, Needs to Open Up Vaccines for Young, Mobile Workforce
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw India is witnessing a second wave of novel coronavirus infections with the country now adding over 100,000 cases per day. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Punjab have emerged as COVID-19 hotspots. To stem the next wave, India needs to act with urgency and ramp up the pace of … Continue reading India Racing Against Time, Needs to Open Up Vaccines for Young, Mobile Workforce
How India Should Be Rebranded for Post-Covid Global Leadership
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw The Covid-19 pandemic is an inflection point for India to introspect on its global leadership potential. Despite the economic devastation caused by the virus, India’s agility in pivoting its resources to respond to the crisis has made the country a global outlier. With 1.3 billion people, we have seen about 12 million … Continue reading How India Should Be Rebranded for Post-Covid Global Leadership
Science Not Logic Must Drive Vaccination Deployment To Stem The Next Wave
By Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw India’s vaccination drive started on 16th January, 2021 in line with WHO prescribed guidelines of sequentially vaccinating its stratified population in three phases. Phase 1 aimed to cover 10 million healthcare workers and 20 million essential frontline workers (police, armed forces, municipal workers) within the government system. Two months later, India has … Continue reading Science Not Logic Must Drive Vaccination Deployment To Stem The Next Wave