Khader attends workshop conference on health in Thailand

Kasaragod, Apr 6: Even as the number of positive cases of Novel Coronovirus is on increase in this district, the ten-member medical team from Thiruvananthapuram on Monday will inspect and review modalities to convert the proposed Kasaragod medical college into a COVID-19 hospital.

Given the constraints being faced by the district hospital in Kanhangad near here, the 200-beded Kasaragod medical college hospital in Ukkinada near here would be equipped to cater to the Covid-19 patients on isolation.

The ten member medical experts who reached here late on Sunday, are on a special mission to immediately equip the hospital as to convert it as a Covid-19 centre.

Mangaluru, May 4: In line with the directive of the Deputy Commissioner against opening textile shops even after the relaxation of lockdown, it has been decided to continue the closure of all textile shops in Hampankatta area of Mangaluru until the end of the blessed Ramadan, President of KTA Youth Forum said on Monday.

Pointing out that several rumours were doing the rounds in social media on the opening of textile shops in the wake of Eid, the owners of textile shops met on Monday morning and unanimously decided against opening the shops. The association said the local MLA has also been consulted on the issue.

KTA Youth Forum is an organisation of owners of shops at Kunil Centre in Tokyo Market and Akbar Complex here, mostly comprising of Muslims.

New Delhi, Jun 11: The Department of Pharmaceuticals has given its nod for lifting of ban on the export of hydroxychloroquine, Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said on Wednesday.

India had banned export of hydroxychloroquine on March 25, with some exceptions, amid views in some quarters that the drug could be used to fight COVID-19. On April 4, it completely banned the exports without any exception.

"Department of Pharmaceuticals has approved the lifting of ban on export of Hydroxychloroquine API as well as formulations. Manufacturers except SEZ/EOU Units have to supply 20 per cent production in the domestic market," the minister of chemicals and fertilisers said in a tweet.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has been asked to issue formal notification in this regard, he added.

In another tweet, Gowda said he held discussions with representatives of pharma companies along with some of his ministerial colleagues on the challenges being faced by the industry and on the roadmap to boost exports.

"Had detailed discussion with representatives of pharma companies & association, stakeholder Ministries along with Hon Ministers @piyushGoyal  ji, @HardeepSPuri  ji, & @MansukhMandviya  ji on entire gamut of challenges faced by the industry as well as strategies to boost pharma export," Gowda tweeted.

India exported hydroxychloroquine API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) worth USD 1.22 billion in April-January 2019-20.

During the same period, exports of formulations made from hydroxychloroquine was at USD 5.50 billion.