Manojit Saha And Sohini Das

Stories by Manojit Saha And Sohini Das

DRDO's Covid drug: Benefits. Concerns

DRDO's Covid drug: Benefits. Concerns

Rediff.com   31 May 2021

Commercial launch and supply to major government and private hospitals is expected in mid-June.

Stable rupee is bad news for foreign currency deposits

Stable rupee is bad news for foreign currency deposits

Rediff.com   27 May 2021

The flow of deposits from non-resident Indians (NRIs) hit a four-year low in the financial year 2020-21 mainly due to contraction in foreign currency deposits, latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shows. Total NRI deposits during FY21 were $7.3 billion as compared to $8.6 billion in FY20 - the lowest since 2016-17, when such deposits had contracted by $12.3 billion. Indian banks have three kinds of deposit accounts where NRIs or PIOs (persons of Indian origin) can park their funds: non-resident external-rupee account (NRE); non-resident ordinary rupee account (NRO); and foreign currency non-resident bank account (FCNR [B]).

Self-use Covid-19 testing kits to be available at stores for Rs 250

Self-use Covid-19 testing kits to be available at stores for Rs 250

Rediff.com   21 May 2021

Pune's Mylab Discovery Solutions' CoviSelf, which gives results in 15 minutes, gets ICMR nod

Covid effect: Banks prefer govt bonds to giving loans

Covid effect: Banks prefer govt bonds to giving loans

Rediff.com   20 May 2021

Record liquidity infusion by the central bank in the banking system during the financial year 2020-21 amid sluggish economic activity resulted in banks investing more in safe government papers than in extending loans, data from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed. This trend has not been seen in nearly two decades, barring 2016 - the year of demonetisation.

Cipla ready to partner in Covid vaccine distribution

Cipla ready to partner in Covid vaccine distribution

Rediff.com   17 May 2021

However, Cipla was very clear it does not want to get into vaccine manufacturing.

Covaxin output scaled up to 500 million jabs a year: Bharat Biotech

Covaxin output scaled up to 500 million jabs a year: Bharat Biotech

Rediff.com   17 May 2021

This apart, to further increase capacities, Bharat Biotech has partnered with Indian Immunologicals (IIL) to manufacture the drug substance for Covaxin. The technology transfer process is underway and IIL has the 'capabilities and expertise' to manufacture the inactivated viral vaccines at commercial scale.

Govt hopeful of vaccinating adult population by December

Govt hopeful of vaccinating adult population by December

Rediff.com   15 May 2021

India expects 2.16 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines between August and December, including the jabs that are currently in clinical trials, reports Sohini Das

Private hospitals may import Covid vaccines

Private hospitals may import Covid vaccines

Rediff.com   15 May 2021

Apollo Hospitals and Fortis Healthcare are open to importing vaccines.

Prices of key Covid bulk drugs shoot up as demand rises

Prices of key Covid bulk drugs shoot up as demand rises

Rediff.com   12 May 2021

The API of Paracetamol, a fever and pain medication, has grown 25 per cent from Rs 450-480 per kg in December 2020 to Rs 580-600 per kg in April. When compared to the pre-Covid prices of December 2019, the surge is much steeper -- around 140 per cent, reports Sohini Das.

With Covid surge, FabiFlu becomes most sold drug in India

With Covid surge, FabiFlu becomes most sold drug in India

Rediff.com   11 May 2021

Drugs that are used to treat Covid or used by people as immunity boosters have seen a jump in sales and, in turn, rankings.

Why Citi is exiting India

Why Citi is exiting India

Rediff.com   10 May 2021

The Indian regulatory framework forced Citi to hibernate -- contrary to the claim that it never sleeps!

COVID-19 second wave: Delays in RT-PCR tests

COVID-19 second wave: Delays in RT-PCR tests

Rediff.com   9 May 2021

While there is a shortage of testing kits, manpower and capacities, India does not have other scalable testing options.

'No preparedness planning, no accountability, no action plan'

'No preparedness planning, no accountability, no action plan'

Rediff.com   8 May 2021

'This government did not have any plan for safety stocks of essential medicines.'

Pharma industry posts 51.5% growth in April sales

Pharma industry posts 51.5% growth in April sales

Rediff.com   8 May 2021

When compared to the domestic sales of April 2019, the growth is around 37 per cent. However, compared to the previous month (March), the growth is 18.4 per cent.

Remdesivir black-market thrives as Covid cases rise

Remdesivir black-market thrives as Covid cases rise

Rediff.com   6 May 2021

Artificial shortages and brazen hawking of the drug on the streets at 15 times the normal price rule the day as the official machinery tries desperately to stamp out the parallel market, reports Sohini Das

Gujarat gets lion's share of Covid vaccines

Gujarat gets lion's share of Covid vaccines

Rediff.com   4 May 2021

Delhi, which has been one of the worst affected states, accounted for less than two per cent of total vaccinations in the 18-44 age-group.

Covid vaccine: Too early to say if booster dose needed

Covid vaccine: Too early to say if booster dose needed

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2021

Initial data has shown immunity triggered by the two mRNA vaccines -- Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna -- lasts for at least six months

Covid vaccine could cost up to Rs 1000 in private market

Covid vaccine could cost up to Rs 1000 in private market

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2021

While the Indian government has been procuring Covid-19 vaccines at low prices so far, manufacturers have to declare the prices of vaccines they would supply to the open market (industries, private hospitals, etc) and state governments before May 1. Sohini Das reports.

A COVID-19 Vaccine Snapshot

A COVID-19 Vaccine Snapshot

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2021

Sputnik V is already approved in India and Sinovac is unlikely to come in as it does not meet the criteria.

Modi era: Private banks grow; PSBs don't

Modi era: Private banks grow; PSBs don't

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2021

Since 2014, the public sector banks' branch network in rural and semi urban has grown by a mere 4,000 while for private sector banks, it doubled from 9,673 to 18,437.