Subrata Panda &Amp; Sohini Das

Stories by Subrata Panda &Amp; Sohini Das

SBI to dilute 2.1% stake in SBI Life Insurance

SBI to dilute 2.1% stake in SBI Life Insurance

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2020

SBI is expected to mop up almost $202 million via the share sale.

ICMR study hints at much wider spread of COVID-19

ICMR study hints at much wider spread of COVID-19

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2020

ICMR's serological survey, whose findings will be made public next week, suggests that the rate of contagion may be a lot higher in most-affected cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.

Despite controversies India sees widespread use of HCQ

Despite controversies India sees widespread use of HCQ

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2020

Once touted as a 'wonder drug', HCQ has been battling global controversies around its safety and efficacy as a prophylactic against the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Government gets moving on insurance cover for job loss

Government gets moving on insurance cover for job loss

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2020

Following suggestion from Minister for Roads Nitin Gadkari, Centre seeks ideas from IRDAI and General Insurance Council on feasibility of providing insurance cover for retrenchment.

COVID insurance plan: Sum assured from Rs 1 lakh - Rs 5 lakh

COVID insurance plan: Sum assured from Rs 1 lakh - Rs 5 lakh

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2020

Unlike other health insurance policies, which mostly covers hospitalisation expenses alone, the specialised cover is likely to include the cost of treatment during quarantine and payment of cash for incidental expenses.

Finally, some signs of economic revival

Finally, some signs of economic revival

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2020

With vehicular activity picking pace in May, toll collection also saw a huge uptick. Fastags posted an impressive jump of more above 400 per cent in transaction count at 55.17 million, and an over-300 per cent jump in value at Rs 1,142 crore.

Medical devices industry eyes Rs 70,000 cr investment in 5 years

Medical devices industry eyes Rs 70,000 cr investment in 5 years

Rediff.com   24 May 2020

The government is targeting 1,200 technical collaborations between Japanese companies and Indian investors for over Rs 42,000 crore, 200 joint ventures with overseas investors for Rs 14,000 crore, and another Rs 14,000-crore investment from about 50 multinational companies.

Normalcy returning for shadow lenders, albeit slowly

Normalcy returning for shadow lenders, albeit slowly

Rediff.com   22 May 2020

For smaller MFIs, resuming operations is more difficult because they haven't got any fresh bank credit sanctioned from their lenders.

How India Inc is trying to save jobs

How India Inc is trying to save jobs

Rediff.com   21 May 2020

India's biggest firm, Reliance Industries, has decided to cut salaries by 10 per cent in its oil and refining divisions. Several smaller companies like Kajaria Ceramics have followed suit with cuts as high as 40 per cent for those earning more than Rs 50 lakh.

Indiabulls sacks over 2,000 employees to control expenses

Indiabulls sacks over 2,000 employees to control expenses

Rediff.com   21 May 2020

Scores of employees took to social media to express disappointment and said they were asked to resign over WhatsApp calls. On Twitter, some said they had been asked to resign by May 31 and that there was no severance package and salary would be paid only for May.

After April shock, drug sales improve in May

After April shock, drug sales improve in May

Rediff.com   20 May 2020

The industry feels two factors have played a role in improving the offtake and reducing trade inventory - one is that the supply chain in pharmaceuticals has more or less stabilised, and secondly, with lockdown curbs easing and OPDs opening, some demand has grown at the consumer end as well.

HDFC urged to reduce stake in insurance arms

HDFC urged to reduce stake in insurance arms

Rediff.com   19 May 2020

In HDFC Life, the company has to pare 1.43 per cent, and in HDFC Ergo, it has to pare only 0.58 per cent.

Mumbai gears up as Covid-19 overwhelms health system

Mumbai gears up as Covid-19 overwhelms health system

Rediff.com   19 May 2020

With projections suggesting the number of cases in the city will touch 75,000 by the end of May, civic authorities are working overtime to add to the number of beds.

Cipla working on multiple therapies to fight spread of COVID

Cipla working on multiple therapies to fight spread of COVID

Rediff.com   18 May 2020

Cipla is among the three Indian companies that signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with US-based Gilead Sciences to make and distribute the latter's repurposed Ebola drug Remdesivir in 127 countries including India.

As India learns to 'live' with COVID-19, hospitals brace for new normal

As India learns to 'live' with COVID-19, hospitals brace for new normal

Rediff.com   12 May 2020

Most feel as the movement of people normalises, the in-patient volumes in hospitals will grow and by the end of May, occupancy should be around 50 per cent, and 75 per cent over a period of time.

How life has changed for India's pharma salesforce

How life has changed for India's pharma salesforce

Rediff.com   11 May 2020

Pharma companies gear up for the 'new normal' as they train and align their sales forces for a paradigm shift. GSK leads the charge with staggered return-to-work, others plans yoga sessions and health care webinars for salesperson's family.

'Famotidine may become the next HCQ for Covid-19'

'Famotidine may become the next HCQ for Covid-19'

Rediff.com   10 May 2020

Researchers at Northwell Health in New York are testing the effects on Famotidine (used in high intravenous doses) on Covid-19 patients as a potential treatment. After the hospital announced its clinical trials, it led to a drug shortage in the US. Back home, however, there has not been any surge in the demand for Famotidine yet.

Mumbai to build Wuhan-like hospital to treat COVID-19 patients

Mumbai to build Wuhan-like hospital to treat COVID-19 patients

Rediff.com   7 May 2020

The hospital, in the commercial hub of Bandra-Kurla Complex, will serve as an isolation facility for non-critical COVID-19 patients. Expected to be ready in a fortnight, the new makeshift facility can be scaled up to 5,000 beds, if needed. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will run the hospital that will have, among other things, oxygen facilities and pathological laboratories. Sohini Das reports.

You may not get even cold meds without prescription

You may not get even cold meds without prescription

Rediff.com   1 May 2020

Although there is no government order to this effect, chemists decide to not dispense medicines for cold, cough and fever over the counter.

Coronavirus fallout: 5 million children missed vaccination in March

Coronavirus fallout: 5 million children missed vaccination in March

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2020

A dipstick survey covering 30 villages in Rajasthan threw up some worrisome numbers. About 250 children missed their regular vaccination schedule in March alone. These numbers are alarming, since India has around 600,000 villages according to the 2011 census. Sohini Das reports.