Pharmapedia

Background
1. The mandate of the Department is to promote pharmaceutical industry and to ensure availability of drugs at affordable price.

After seventy days of lockdown, the unlock 1.0 is put into action. Officially designated lockdown 5.0, from June 1, 2020, the economy and ordinary life are returning to normalcy in a controlled and phased manner. This is the beginning of a new normal. It is going to be a long haul. Experts and officials are suggesting that ‘we must learn to live with the virus’. With vaccine still months away, we need to live in a new normal. Speaking to India Science Wire, Prof. K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, gave five tips to ‘living with the virus’.

EMA is reminding healthcare professionals to closely monitor patients with COVID-19 who are receiving chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, given the serious side effects that can result from treatment with these medicines.

The live interaction session on theme Women empowerment and its impact in pharma world was organized on 25th April, 2020, 04:00 PM to 5:30 PM. The live session was convened by Dr. Neelesh Malviya, Professor and Principal, Smriti College of Pharmaceutical Education, Indore, introduced by Dr. Sapna Malviya, Department of Pharm. Science, Modern Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Indore. The Invited women experts were Prof. Dr. Swarnlata Saraf, Professor, University Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Prof. Dr. Sanju Nanda, Head, Department of Pharm. Science, MD University, Rohtak Haryana, Ms. Manjari Ghart, Vice President, Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Vice President, CPS section, FIP, Incharge Principal, PKM Kundanani Pharmacy, Polytechnic Ulhasnagar, Mumbai.

The live interaction session with Prof. Dr. Shailendra Saraf Sir on the theme Modern Era of Pharmaceutical Education in India was organized on 30th April, 2020, 05:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

The Session was successfully convened by Dr. Neelesh Malviya, Principal and Professor, Smriti College of Pharmaceutical Education, Indore. He has outlined the concept of the Live Interaction on burgeoning issues of significant role of Pharmacy Professionals in Health care team and current Initiative of Pharmacy Council of India for upliftment of Pharmacy Profession and Professionals.

Feb 24 2020: “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA.”

Mar 29 2020: “If we have between 100,000 and 200,000 (deaths) we’ve all together done a very good job”

In a month, statements from President Trump took a U-turn suggesting his coronavirus rhetoric have not worked in favor of the United States. Also, statements of assurance due to Covid-19 were in stark contrast to projected infections and deaths being laid out by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and prevention) on their website during February. Being the most powerful nation in terms of military and economic strength is of little use if the nation is fighting a highly contagious and pathogenic virus. South Korea and the United States reported their first case of confirmed Covid-19 infection at a similar time, yet South Korea has done exceedingly well to contain the spread whereas the United States has the highest number of deaths in the entire world. The death rate due to Covid-19 seems to be very high in the United States compared to Asian countries like South Korea, Taiwan, India, Singapore etc. suggesting that Americans have lower immunity to these types of viruses, and therefore It was imperative for the United states to treat the matter with utmost gravity.

Dr. Tarun Virmani
Associate Professor & HOD
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
MVN University, Palwal (Haryana)

To control and manage the situation, health authorities around the globe have advised everyone to stay in self-quarantine and to wear a face mask while venturing out homes to minimise the risk of spreading the disease. Face masks offer protection against respiratory infections for health care workers and the general public and reduce community transmission, making masks one of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. Reports point out that due to the critical role face masks have in limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease and saving us from catching the infection, there is a global shortage of masks - stressing the need to promote a conscious use of these masks. Individuals in good health do not have to wear a mask if they are staying at home. Also, avoid touching the masks while using it, if you do, clean your hands with soap and water.

Top 13 soft skills are briefly presented which are important in pharmaceuticals industry whether you join in research and development or marketing or production etc.