Impact of Biodiversity Act is seen as most of the universities have shut their doors to Taxonomists and pharmacy colleges to Pharmacognosist: Expert

New Delhi [India]: Although, World Health Day is symbolic of inculcating health awareness, yet this year, the world at large is reeling under a severe health crisis in the month of World Health Day. Considering the high intensity of the second spell of COVID, India is fighting the battle with due diligence. Like the first wave, the cases in UP is also rising, however, the past experiences in COVID management of the UP Govt. under the strong leadership of the CM Yogi during the 1st wave seems to be instrumental in managing the current crisis.

After the successful completion of ‘Vaccination Campaign’ followed by India 4 Vaccination e-Summit, HEAL Health organised ‘ParyavaranBachao, SwasthyaBadhao (Save Environment, Improve Health)’ e-Summit, the 16th Episode of HEAL-Thy Samvaad, wherein Shri Jai Pratap Singh, Honourable Health Minister, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh said, “Amid the surge of the second wave, the experience of CM Shri Yogi Adityanath Ji’s leadership in COVID management in UP during the 1st wave would help handle the current crisis. To arrest the current crisis, we have formed Nigrani Samiti for close monitoring in 13-14 districts of the state where the incidence rate is quite high. We have also got support from the TATA group in setting ventilators in hospitals and the support of the WHO & the UNICEF has been always there.”

Speaking on the marvellous efforts of the govt. in tackling the COVID-19 aftermath, India’s leading Radiological &Imaging expert, Dr Harsh Mahajan, President, NATHEALTH, said, “It’s indeed unique to see that per day almost 2 lakh tests are conducted in UP alone and more significantly the reports are delivered within 24 hours. The management of UP govt. has been phenomenal during the first wave of the COVID crisis. And I firmly believe that they will manage the second wave of COVID as they did during the first wave. And we, the corporate sector are always ready to collaborate with the govt. to lend a helping hand in tackling the crisis.”

In the second session of the e-Summit, the experts deliberated on the impact of the Biodiversity Act on Healthcare R&D and Commercialisation efforts in India, which is closely related to the environment and its impact on the overall health ecosystem. They unravelled so many in-things and the hurdles coming in the way due to Act.

Deliberating on the impact of the Biodiversity Act on Healthcare R&D and Commercialisation efforts in India during the HEAL-Thy Samvaad, Episode-16, Dr Arvind Saklani, Vice-President, Agri Biotechnology, Sami Sabinsa Ltd., said, “We are talking about the plants, biological resources, innovation and research. Some manufacturers are using biological resources. Now the impact of the biodiversity act is seen as most of the universities have shut their doors for Taxonomists. Likewise, there are pharmacy colleges that have shut the door for pharmacognosist. He further said we need not create hurdles rather we should follow our honourable PM’s thought – Innovate, Research, Produce and Prosper.”

While moderating the session of the HEAL-Thy Samvaad episode-16, India’s leading Environmental &Legal expert, Mr Sanjay Upadhyay, Advocate Supreme Court of India, Managing Partner, Enviro Legal Defence Firm said, “Addressing the issues related to the environment which impacts health is very important, and this e-Summit is a step forward in this direction. Air Pollution and its adverse impact on health, especially Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and finding its solutions and the climate change and its impact on human health are the important issues to be discussed.”

Speaking during the HEAL-Thy Samvaad episode-16, India’s leading Public Health Communication expert, Dr Swadeep Srivastava, Founder, HEAL Health said, “The World Health Day inspires us to assume healthy living; however, ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, the world at large is grappling with health uncertainties and the 2nd wave of COVID with its outrageous behaviour has put everyone in trouble. The COVID cases in India including Uttar Pradesh is rising with high intensity, however, the track record of the UP govt. in managing the crisis in the 1st spell of COVID, seems to be quite promising in tackling the current crisis as well.”

The e-Summit on International Health Day: ‘Reconciling Environmental Challenges with Healthcare’ was organised in association with ELDF and Sami Sabinsa Group. The HEAL Foundation and the BSLA were knowledge partner and strategic partner respectively.  

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in India, HEAL Health in association with ICCIDD and the knowledge partner HEAL Foundation started COVID Fighters Public Health Safety Movement and have successfully completed one year of extensive mass propagation through a series of over 25 educative webinars, e-Summits and other allied awareness activities. It’s indeed a grand accomplishment of the partnership of the trio organisations that have come a long way in a majestic partnership. During one year of movement over 12-crore people have been reached out in India through various media channels.