As the Delta variant spreads, there is fear of new mutations causing further waves of COVID-19. Genomic surveillance is key to identify and contain the spread of these new variants. In this episode, Shambhavi Naik, Ruturaj Gowaikar and Priyal...
Download the Policy Advisory Executive Summary To prudently resume social and economic activity in accordance with outbreak risks, healthcare capacity, and vaccination progress, we recommend that State governments: Designate Gram Panchayats/Wards or groups of Gram Panchayats/Wards as Public Health Management...
The Indian government has reconstituted an Empowered Group on vaccination and vaccine procurement. Ameera Rao and Shambhavi Naik examine the key decisions the EG needs to take in the race to vaccinate Indians.
As calls for a thorough investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2 re-emerge, Shambhavi Naik and Aditya Ramanathan discuss how novel viruses emerge, the trade-offs of an investigation and the next steps India should take.
Public health-related events can have local origins but if not contained can have global implications. There are a small handful of organizations that monitor such events around the world. Shambhavi Naik and Ruturaj Gowaikar discuss the origins of these...
By Ruturaj Gowaikar, Vinayak Jain and Shambhavi Naik The most widely used business model that research-publication houses employ is the ‘pay to publish and pay to read’ model. The high subscription costs of scientific publications under such a model is...
In September 2020, a multi-disciplinary team at Takshashila came out with a policy proposal to vaccinate 80% of India’s population by December 2021. Seven months down the line, co-authors Shambhavi Naik, Mihir Mahajan, and Pranay Kotasthane reflect on the...
As urgent requests for convalescent plasma, Remdesivir and Tocilizumab increase, Ruturaj Gowaikar and Shambhavi Naik discuss the application of these therapeutics and the unnecessary shortage caused by poor public engagement over their utility. If these policy conversations interest you, consider...
India has practiced vaccine diplomacy during COVID-19, engaging its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. But are there advantages in extending this diplomacy beyond COVID-19? Pranathi Rao and Shambhavi Naik discuss the benefits, risks and opportunities for India’s vaccine diplomacy. Pranathi Rao...
Last week, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare came up with a report on the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 which was introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 September 2020. The Bill seeks to provide...
