AIPSN Joins the Global March for Science on 14th April 2018

The All India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) decided to join the Global March for Science to on 14th April, 2018. The AIPSN sees a pattern in the attacks on science and reason across the world. The US President Trump’s denial of climate science, and the current Indian central government Ministers’ rejection of evolution, and other scientific advances, are prime examples. See a Video report here.

Peoples Health manifesto-2019 by Jan Swasthiya Abhiyan (People’s Health Movement India)

As the General Elections-2019 are fast approaching, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan activists are pushing the political structures to address the issues plaguing people’s health by releasing a ‘People’s Health Manifesto-2019’The manifesto demands increasing the public expenditure on health to 3.5 per cent of the GDP in the short-term and absorbing the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme—based on the discredited ‘insurance model’—under a strengthened, well-funded public health system and a right to health act which includes a patients charter. The People’s Health Manifesto-2019 in English and Hindi are given here

National Convention of AIPSN on Medical Education and Strengthening of Public Health Care Services

The Health Sub-Committee of AIPSN recently organised a National Convention on Medical Education and Strengthening of Public Health Care Services on 21 and 22 December in Hyderabad. The meeting was hosted by Jana Vignana Vedika- telangana, had around 100 participants from 15 states of the country. The convention was a avenue to discuss creative approaches to address the issues of medical education and public provisioning of healthcare. find below, the note, schedule, writeups and presentations. 1) Concept Note 2) Schedule of meeting 3) Writeup on technical matters 4) Presentations ( Day 1: 4 talks and Day 2: 5 talks)

Statement from AIPSN and JSA

The Peoples Science Movements and the Peoples Health Movement present the charter of demands that articulates its understanding and its demands. There are 13 points that cover Health Care Related, Social Distancing and Human Rights, and Redressing Economic Inequity- as cause and consequence. While immediate executive action in the form of isolation of patients and quarantines, and a high pressure campaign for social distance is most welcome, this would not be sufficient if community transmission is established and the pandemic peaks. The country is particularly vulnerable because of a high degree of past neglect of public health services, and the privatization of healthcare. The country is also vulnerable because a large section of population is struggling to meet their minimum basic necessities and the last decade of economic and social policies have pushed them to the brink. In such a social and economic context, this epidemic may prove the last straw and lead to an unprecedented catastrophe unless the government pays heed to the entire charter of demands we present here.

What the Government must do on COVID19 ?

A charter of demands by the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan and All India People’s Science Network published in scroll.in https://scroll.in/article/956326/13-demands-what-the-government-must-do-to-tackle-coronavirus-in-india

Weekly Update of Statement 24th March

// English , Hindi, Bengali ,Tamil, Telugu, Odiya versions available in post // As we go to release this statement, news comes in of the 21- day nation-wide lockdown that the government has announced. We are seriously concerned that the government is promoting and pushing lockdowns and social distancing as the only effective method against the pandemic, when the evidence points to social distancing being one among many actions that governments must take, it may be necessary but in itself not sufficient. On lock downs the evidence is far from clear, and we know that nations like South Korea and Taiwan have done well without lock downs. We are appealing to the government to learn from the wide testing, isolation and tracing done in South Korea, and in all successful national control efforts. At best lockdowns buy time for governments to ready their health systems. It is in the latter than the government must focus. We are also appealing to the government to plan its lock downs based on good quality data of where the disease is spreading- and focus its actions in such districts or states, instead of shutting the entire country down. We are concerned at the high-handed and violent methods adopted by the Police and bureaucracy during lockdowns rather than a much needed empathetic attitude. We are also most disturbed by reports that many essential health services including outpatient services and other health programmes such as TB, HIV and maternal health services could be affected by both the lock down and diversion of all resources and attention and efforts to this one disease. Moreover there is absence of any economic and welfare measures for daily-wage earners, unorganized sector workers and out-of-state migrants. The net deaths due to all these collateral effectors of the lock down may outweigh the limited advantage lockdowns can provide.

Covid-19 Pandemic Poses Fundamental Challenges to all Societies

Quick and widespread testing and quarantine will help tackle the spread of Covid-19, not ultra-nationalism or hyper-capitalism.

Essential Health Services cannot be suspended during the lockdown

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan and All India Peoples Science Network express their deep concern over the poorly implemented lockdown, especially the closing of regular clinical services in public hospitals // English Hindi Tamil versions available // ... Even as this report was ready for release we have reports of a huge “distress reverse migration” within the nation. Individuals and families stranded in cities without work, food, housing or security, are forced to trek back home to their distant villages, in the hot sun with no support of food, water, shade or rest, or hitching rides in crowded passing trucks at considerable expense, and subject to hostile action by authorities on the way intent only on imposing the lockdown. Those migrant, unorganized sector and daily wage workers who have been left behind in metros, cities and towns because of the lockdown with no transport available to their native villages/towns, find themselves without income, shelter, and even food, with state governments struggling to cope with the problem in overcrowded relief camps, again exposing these workers to infection. Even before the nationwide lockdown was imposed, anticipating this move and in view of the severe slowdown of economic activity due to industry closures, distancing or other measures, migrant labour and their families were fleeing metros and cities in huge numbers by long, overcrowded train or bus journeys, exposing themselves and others to infection, paying exorbitant amounts for last-mile journeys, and now face hostility, uncertain futures and potential spread of the Covid19 virus in their native villages and towns with already poor health care. This is a huge humanitarian crisis in the making.  With respect to lock-downs, we call on the government to urgently consider the following 7 measures proposed here.

Letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

    Access to Free Testing and Free Treatment for COVID-19 Therefore, we urge the Government to announce and follow a free test and free treatment policy in dealing with this public health emergency, and make the necessary cost-sharing arrangements with the private sector for its services. Such a responsible approach would enable the Government to fulfill its duty in protecting peoples’ health and also ease any overwhelming burden on the public sector, enhancing our collective efforts to contain the disease. We request you to instruct the relevant Government ministries and offices to: * immediately ensure testing for COVID-19 as per the testing protocol in private laboratories free of charge to patients, with reporting of test data to appropriate centres •*mandate all test results should be made publicly accessible and put in an open repository * make necessary arrangements to extend treatment for COVID-19 even in private healthcare institutions at no cost to patients •*provide for full disclosure of the prices at which test kits are being supplied by each manufacturer as well as the costs of testing in public and private laboratories •*accelerate the evaluation of pending applications of RT-PCR test kits for COVID-19 and subsequent approval by CDSCO of kits passing validation, and provide appropriate support for scaling up production to reduce costs * ensure timely procurement and supply of test kits approved by CDSCO for supply to Government and approved private laboratories for testing •*take urgent steps to secure supplies and to promote local production of reagents, raw material of reagents, and other physical components used such as swabs which are used in testing We urge you to expedite the action of the Government on our proposals provided through this letter. Sincerely, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) All India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN)

Advisory to State and Central Governments – On strengthening health systems to manage the COVID 19 pandemic

The letter written on behalf of JSA and AIPSN to Secretary, Dept of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India contains the "Advisory to State and Central Governments - On strengthening health systems to manage the COVID 19 pandemic". It provides a detailed note prepared in a participatory and consultative manner by a number of organizations and concerned citizens who are part of our network of civil society organizations and peoples movements.... We note that the country is going through a lock-down which has brought immense hardships to the majority of the people. The only justification for such suffering is to give time to the health systems to prepare for the oncoming epidemic.  We have noted the significant number of measures that government has announced to step up the supply of testing kits, and PPE and ventilators, but we are worried that it would be little and late. From our interaction at state level, we are deeply concerned that the preparations are patchy, slow, and selective. In our enclosed advisory, we have put together the very many aspects on which all state governments and the state governments needs to take immediate action. We demand that urgent action be taken on each and every one of these suggestions. We also call on you to include representatives of our organizations in monitoring the pace and comprehensiveness and quality of preparation. We are also releasing this statement to the media so that they can also be informed on what, in our view, requires to be done. This would promote early identification of gaps and this would strengthen the effort at preparation. We are also issuing an advisory to people and communities on what they require to do to protect themselves and to be of assistance to frontline staff of the department and all others who are working in partnership to help combat this epidemic. We would also be working to ensure social solidarity in this time of crisis. The letter concludes saying "The State and district level units of peoples health movements and peoples science movements and of a wide variety of civil society organizations and trade unions and workers associations stand ready to help the government and communities in combatting this pandemic and the humanitarian crisis that both the pandemic and measures to contain it have led to. The government must make use of this resource."

On the Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) for Healthcare Workers in the Light of Increasing Numbers of COVID-19 Patients

The JSA and AIPSN draw the attention of the public and the media to the major crisis that has developed in health worker safety due to the lack of PPEs. Not only will the healthcare staff be at higher risk of getting the infection, widespread infection in healthstaff would sharply decrease the capacity of the country to delivery health care services in both the public and private sector.  To increase production of PPE and ensure safety of healthcare workers, we make the following demands from the government:  1. Urgently ensure availability and free supply of PPE to all health workers. directly or indirectly providing care for COVID 19 patients at per their level of risk.  Towards this end government should revisit its specification and guidelines for use.  2. Private hospitals should be directed to follow the guidelines and not put their staff at risk. 3. Include all health workers seeing general outpatients as also at higher risk due to unidentified mild and moderate and even asymptomatic cases in circulation and develop recommendations on PPE for them. 4. Scale-up the production of PPEs within the country. Government should identify the products that are not currently manufactured in India and within a short deadline seek proposals and technically and financially support the manufacturing of those components in a decentralised manner so all states have at least one manufacturing unit.  5. In order to enhance the number of manufactures, government should publish the designs and blue prints along with the specifications and  convert largescale apparel production firms to start the immediate production of PPE components.  6. In order to expedite the procurement and supply of PPE equipment, government should involve more public sector establishments.  Currently, the government has given HLL Lifecare Limited, a government-owned company, rights for procurement of PPE. Approval for more public sector institutions in the procurement would speed up the procurement and supply.  7. issue guideline for the appropriate disposal of PPEs used by health workers as well as face masks that public use  8. Ensure transparency with regard to the procurement prices and suppliers and the number of procurement.   9. Set up an Expert Committee to establish PPE requirement specifications as well as guideline for use in the Indian context. Its role should include constant revision in light of new and emerging data.

2nd April – Weekly Update on COVID19 situation

The update has 5 parts: 1. Making Sense of the numbers:: Where are we in the epidemic curve 2. The lock-down and its sheer brutality 3. Do lock-downs work? 4. Health system preparedness 5. The peoples movement response Part 5. The Response from Peoples Movements and Communities: 1. This week has also seen the build-up on a major response across people’s health movements, people’s science movements, women’s organizations, trade unions and associations of working people, civil society organizations and community based organizations. These organizations have also sought and got support from a number of progressive intellectuals and scientists and public health experts. 2. The JSA and the AIPSN have been holding consultation on Skype and have tried to understand the developments, critically review and in consultation with domain experts brought out a number of papers and statements that can inform their own membership and the general public. They have also articulated demands for better COVID 19 control and for better mitigation of the social and economic costs of the lock down through a charter of demands and a number of press releases and petitions to the government. 3. In addition to these statement, the JSA and AIPSN have launched campaigns to inform its own members and the general public of the dangers from this epidemic, how to keep the community, themselves and the public safe and to counter fake news, stigmatization and victim blaming messages that emanate both from sections of the government and communities. (See PHM Advisory for Families and Communities, and PHM FAQs on the COVID 19 pandemic (http://phmindia.org/2020/03/28/advisory-for-workers-cleaning-hands-in-low-resource-settings-and-protection-in-crowded-places/ ). There are also short videos and WhatsApp posters that are available.) 4. Because of the lock down, extensive field level mobilization and community support action has not been possible, though in many states, organization who are part of this network are engaged in organizing community kitchens. Once the lockdown lifts, a major effort at social bonding and mobilization to counter hate campaigns, and provide support to affected families and communities, is being planned. 5. We would be sending this weekly update along with a special press release that would  a) demand a review of the lockdown and an phased withdrawal of the same; b) an acceleration of work in preparing the health systems for the epidemic through a more comprehensive approach and c) a call for much more participatory and less authoritarian approach to controlling and mitigating this pandemic.

Press Release   “May there be light!” 5 April 2020

Light came to Iceland in their efforts against the COVID19 disease. Even as the first cases were reported in China, Iceland led by a Prime Minister who is the second woman to hold that post and former chairperson of the Left-Green Movement made preparations to fight the spread of the corona virus (Sars-Cov-2) which all knew was bound to happen. Iceland produced indigenous kits and made testing free and readily available. Daily press briefings were held to update the public on the COVID19 situation since the end of February.  Focus was on transparency and taking the people along in a scientific and friendly manner. Of course, Iceland is smaller even than  Kerala  yet its efforts to fight the epidemic have lessons for all.   On January 30th the first COVID19 case was reported in India. The Union Government set up a Science and Technology Empowered Committee to take speedy decisions on research and development related to the virus causing the disease. In the beginning of April, we are still racing to develop and produce test kits indigenously. Our testing rate is extremely low and far below what is required. Medical personnel and other health workers and allied staff are in dire need of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which are in severe shortage. Hospital infrastructure to handle severe cases of COVID19 is woefully poor, even in urban areas, and pitiable in rural areas. Following the ill-planned  21-day nationwide lockdown announced with just 4 hours notice 24th March, there has been huge unanticipated and uncontrolled movement of jobless, desperate and hungry migrant labour, loss of standing crops and other agricultural produce causing huge distress for farmers, who were unable to harvest and sell the produce, as well as to farm workers. Small and medium scale enterprises are facing terrible hardships. About 80% of the Indian workforce in the unorganised, daily wage and self-employed sector face a daunting loss of daily subsistence and livelihood. Essential goods and services including food stuff are paralysed, even after government permitted their movement including across state-borders, and retail shops are running out of stock. Even hospital OPD services are unavailable, and no transport is available even for emergencies. Unfortunately, through its actions and messaging, responsibility for overcoming the COVID19 hurdle has been  thrust on the people, while there have been numerous lapses and missteps on the part of the government such as allowing lakhs of foreign and Indian nationals to enter the country unhindered even in the first half of March, without rigorous tracing, quarantine and testing, resulting in hundreds of infected persons wandering all over the country adding hugely to the rise in cases. Despite this, people were urged to clap, and bang pots and vessels from their balconies and doorsteps, even at the cost of physical distancing, in appreciation of the medical and police personnel who were working to keep people safe. Immediately many pseudo-scientific theories were floated that sound vibrations will kill the virus, that NASA satellites had recorded evidence of this. We are being called upon on 3rd April, to switch off all indoor lights and light candles, lamps or shine torches or cell phone lights for 9 minutes starting at 9pm on Sunday 5th April. Spurred on by the imagery mentioned of a Ram Baan to fight the coronavirus, once again there is a spurt of pseudo-science messages including from government sources (which were later deleted) that this light will kill the virus through some mysterious “quantum” process. The Make Noise event, replicating such events in Italy, is now being followed by the Make Light event  replicating the “Let there be Light” nationwide event in the US on 1 April 7pm. These were social movements of solidarity, not arising from a government diktat.  Efforts to raise the spirits, perhaps even to generate a sense of solidarity, may be appreciated. But it cannot hide the hazards faced by medical professionals in bravely tackling the COVID19 disease in the face of shortage or non-availability of protective equipment, or sometimes even resorting to jugaad motorcycle helmets and goggles, and plastic sheets instead of prescribed coveralls. Solidarity leading to collective action needs empathy with the poor and now severely deprived workers, and bringing all sections of the people together for the common good, above all for effective planning and implementation by the Government keeping in mind the needs of the people. With this in mind, we call upon the Government to: Light the life of Health workers with adequate PPEs Light the life of Covid Patients with adequate Testing Light the life of Poor with adequate Food Light the life of the Workers and Farmers with Economic and Medical support. All India peoples Science Network and its member organisations and its members will send the following tweet to the Prime Minister and request all other movements also to tweet to make a trending twitter storm: Let there be light, in people's lives, with food, testing and protection. सबका जीवन हो रौशन, सुरक्षा, वायरस जांच और भोजन In addition on 5th April at 9pm for 9 minutes and more, the AIPSN has requested member organisations and its members to sing or play the song Hum Dekhenge by Faiz Ahmed Faiz to show that the people will see the light that gives life.

Press Statement on Covid19 Epidemic on World Health Day, 7 April 2020

On the occasion of World Health Day, JSA and AIPSN seek to draw attention to the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic in India and the Government’s response to it.There are three inter-related crises at play at this time: a public health crisis due to gaps in the COVID19 strategy ahigh level of stigmatizationand brutality in the anti-COVID19 measures asocial and economic crisis precipitated by the nation-wide lockdown It is now evident that the lockdown was imposed without forethought and planning for the requirements of a large proportion of people, especially of migrant workers, daily wage earners, unorganized sector workers, self-employed and those involved in agriculture,animal husbandry, fisheries and non-timber forest produce collection, depriving them of their right to food and livelihood. The lack of shelter, relief and support forced an exodus of migrant workers from cities exposing them to infection in crowded and poorly organized quarantine camps, with many left stranded mid-way.There have been huge deprivations in access to essential goods and services including in health care especially for the elderly, disabled and the chronically ill. In the process, even those affected by the disease and health workers in the frontline of caring for them, have faced discrimination, stigma and even violence.  In planning responses to the lockdown, its impact on girls, women and gender-diverse persons has largely been invisible.  The burden of domestic and care work which is borne by women has been exacerbated by the lockdown. Given the extreme curtailment of movement, girls and women find no respite affecting their physical and mental health further. Violence – verbal, physical, psychological and economic - against women and girls within homes and institutions are reported to have worsened due to the lockdown, also leading to adverse physical and mental health outcomes.   ...... See link for more details..

AIPSN Response to Govt affidavit to Supreme Court

Concerning the Union of India’s “Status Report” dated 31 March 2020, submitted to the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, in Writ Petition No. 469/2020 – Alakh Alok Srivastava v. Union of India ...... points of concern are being highlighted so that the centre comes good on its submissions to the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and also to the people of India.

Proposed Extension of Nationwide Lockdown : Concerns and Demands

Two weeks after the imposition of the 21-day countrywide lockdown, India has seen a sharp rise in the number of COVID 19 positive cases and deaths, with multiple clusters of cases emerging across different parts of the country along with substantial local or community transmission (refer the recent ICMR study on patients with SARI). While efforts are being made by the Centre and different States to prepare the health system for the larger number of cases that are expected in the coming weeks, discussions are underway on whether the present lockdown should be extended, perhaps till the end of April. In this context, a detailed review of the present lockdown, its achievements and weaknesses, particularly regarding implementation, is called for. Any review should take into account both the health outcomes of the epidemic, and the socio-economic impacts, without approaching it as a trade-off of the former aspect against the latter. Decisions on extension of the lockdown in any form should be based on such an evidence-based review. Humanitarian Crisis Experience of the past two weeks clearly show that the sudden announcement of a nationwide lockdown with no notice, and poor planning for support mechanisms for the vulnerable and even for the general population, has resulted in a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions. There is a serious threat of widespread hunger, unemployment and poverty, which will, in turn, worsen the health impacts of the epidemic. The travails of migrant and unorganized sector workers are too well-known to need reiteration, but it needs emphasis that they face multiple, mutually reinforcing challenges of exposure of infection in overcrowded shelters and surroundings, hunger and malnutrition, and complete lack of cash for daily needs. Desperation of migrants in different parts of the country is becoming increasingly evident, including through mass expressions of anger and frustration, with reports of unrest breaking out over food, violence from shelter staff, and even deaths as a result of the conditions of shelter spaces. Click on link to read more..

Third Update on the Coronavirus Pandemic (Update #3)

This is the third weekly update by JSA-AIPSN. It follows the Background Paper ( http://phmindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Background-Paper-COVID19.pdf ) and first JSA-AIPSN Statement (http://phmindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Statement-COVID19.pdf ) adopted on March 15th, 2020, the first JSA-AIPSN Update ( https://aipsn.net/2020/04/04/2nd-april-weekly-update-on-covid19-situation/) of March 23rd, 2020 and the second JSA-AIPSN Update (http://phmindia.org/2020/04/03/weekly-update-2-april-the-situation-and-the-peoples-health-movement-response-to-covid19/)of April 2nd, 2020. This update thus covers developments of the last two weeks.  In this document we provide an update on the epidemiology of the corona virus disease (part I), comment on the new public health strategy unveiled this week by Government of India and then discuss the considerations going into the lifting of the lock-down and our position on it (part II). We then present the weekly update of our four working groups looking at: access to essential technologies (part III); health system preparedness (part IV); lockdown restrictions and concerns of rights and ethics (part V) and the crisis in livelihoods and government response to it (part VI).... Read the statement for more details.... In conclusion:  We have flagged many of these concerns to the government in our Press Release of April 7th. Now in parallel with the release of this weekly update we shall be releasing three statements which would contain the main demands and recommendations that flow out of this understanding:   Proposed Extension of Nationwide Lockdown: Concerns and Demands by JSA and AIPSN ( http://phmindia.org/2020/04/12/proposed-extension-of-nationwide-lockdown-concerns-and-demands-by-jsa-and-aipsn/ ) Press Statement on the communalization of the pandemic (in draft stage) Press Statement on adverse impact of stigmatization and what must be done to counter this (in draft stage)

Response to PM’s Announcement on 14 April 2020

AIPSN Response to PM’s Announcement on 14 April 2020 Click on post to read more details.. The PM’s address to the nation on 14th April 2020 came as a major disappointment and a painful blow to the basic needs, indeed perhaps even survival, of a majority of the Indian people, especially the poor and otherwise vulnerable sections of the population. .......click on post to read more details..     At this time of crisis, we urge the Prime Minister and his Government to urgently do the following 7 things: 1.Take on the full burden of providing adequate food/dry rations, proper and hygienic shelter enabling physical distancing, and financial support in lieu of the wages they would otherwise have earned, and not leave so much of this task to voluntary efforts. 2.Ensure speedy acquisition and distribution of quality masks, coveralls, PPEs especially from domestic manufacturers, for protection of doctors, nurses, sanitation and other “Corona Warriors”; also open up minimum OPD and other health facilities to meet peoples needs   3.Ensure acquisition of sufficient RT-PCR and anti-body “rapid” test kits, again especially from domestic manufacturers and quickly scale-up testing to required levels. 4.Facilitate agricultural operations, including fisheries, poultry, dairy and NTFP sectors, and related procurement, agro-processing, transportation, and marketing, all while maintaining physical distancing norms, along with rapid scaling-up of MNREGA works with suitably amended norms so as to assist farmers, farm and non-farm workers and the rural economy. 5.Enable unorganized sector workers and self-employed workers to resume work, extend legal protection from dismissal or lay-offs, and eviction by landlords, including through unemployment allowance and financial assistance to SMEs, landlords etc. 6.Ensure free inter-state and local transport of all essential goods, currently facing poor implementation of government exemptions and disrupting supply chains including of medicines and PPEs; also facilitate provision of necessary transport facilities especially for the elderly, disabled and those with health and other special needs. 7.Launch effective publicity campaigns accompanied with prosecutions as required against all forms of stigmatization of Covid19 patients, positive cases, quarantine cases, health workers etc and against all forms of communalization of the epidemic.

Health workers’ rights in the time of COVID-19

POSITION PAPER by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN) and Public Services International India National Coordination Committee (PSI India NCC).... 19 recommendations have been put forward after a detailed analysis..This will be of long-term benefit for strengthening the public health system in India, and so we can cope better when the next health crisis hits us. Read the post for the details...

Statement on post-3rd May 2020 measures against Covid-19 Pandemic

The Central Government has persisted with the Lockdown as the main, if not, the only strategy against the spread of COVID-19.  Underway since March 25th, this lock-down has seen two extensions, one on April 20th and now again on May 3rd.  These one-size-fits-all country-wide lock-downs are badly planned and poorly implemented with measures imposed on the country by the Government using centralizing powers under the Disaster Management Act. The JSA and AIPSN statement reflects on the badly planned and poorly implemented lockdown. F urther, we detail health related and socio-economic measures that the union and state governments must consider. Read the statement for more details

AIPSN Statement on Covid-19 Vaccines and Treatment Drugs

AIPSN demands that the due process of scientific trials be followed strictly and transparently for all Covid19 candidate vaccines and treatment drugs, regardless of systems of medicine, and overcoming temptations to make haste prompted either by corporate greed or false national pride. Read full post for more details...

Endorse Signature Campaign to inculcate scientific temper in times of pandemic

As part of the National Scientific Temper Day campaign AIPSN has started a signature campaign to inculcate scientific temper in the time of the pandemic. Visit aipsn.in and endorse the campaign

Joint Statement on Technical, legal, ethical and implementation concerns regarding Aarogya Setu and other apps introduced during COVID-19 in India by JSA, IFF, FMES and AIPSN

We, the four signatory networks of organizations of public health advocates, experts in digital privacy, science and technology policy advocates and other stakeholders issue this Statement for generating public understanding and for submission to the Government of India (GoI) and concerned Union Ministries – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEIT), and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) – about our deep concerns regarding the Aarogya Setu (AS) and other similar Apps related to the novel Corona virus epidemic. ..Click on the link for more details

Joint Letter to Govt of India endorsed by 8 organisations and 145 individuals on Arogya Setu and other apps introduced during Covid19 pandemic

Letter to the Govt of India by eight organisations including AIPSN and 145 individuals, consisting of public health advocates, experts in digital privacy, science and technology policy advocates, researchers, lawyers, journalists, medical professionals, students and other concerned persons to express deep concerns regarding the Aarogya Setu (AS) and other similar Apps related to the novel Corona virus epidemic. We are deeply concerned about violation of privacy, and compromised ethical principles and values, due to the AS App’s design, its deployment, related policies regarding data storage, preservation of privacy and data sharing, as well as overall policy implementation and inadequate legal frameworks for data protection and grievance redressal for users. Click the link to read more..

Feedback submitted to MoHFW on draft Health Data Management Policy (HDMP) -with related aspects of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM)

AIPSN has submitted the response to draft Health Data Management Policy (HDMP) -with related aspects of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) for consideration of the MoHFW. 13 points have been raised in the response. AIPSN has insisted that the responses received and discussions be placed transparently in a public accessible website. Click the link to read more

AIPSN statement on Vaccines and IPR waiver: India-South Africa Proposal for TRIPS Waiver – Putting People before Profit

India-South Africa Proposal for TRIPS Waiver – Putting People before Profit             As Covid-19 pandemic continues to keep its grip on the globe, countries are facing severe shortages in medical supplies and treatments, with intellectual property rights hindering the timely provisioning of affordable medical products. To address this, India and South Africa have put in a proposal at the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), demanding a temporary waiver of certain TRIPS obligations on copyrights and related rights, industrial designs, patents, and the protection of undisclosed information in relation to the prevention, containment or treatment of Covid-19.             ...CLICK link to read more....

Fog over Covid-19 Vaccines in India: All-India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) Position Paper

The Government of India needs to urgently undertake the following so as to ensure a safe, effective and free universal vaccination programme against Covid-19. Two of the seven demands made in the position paper are highlighted here: 6. Bring out a white paper on the system and related costs for vaccine procurement and delivery, along with details of the expansion of public health infrastructure and human resources that would go with it; 7. Set up a Parliamentary Committee to oversee the implementation of the Covid-19 Vaccination programme in an effective, timely and equitable manner and a broad based Advisory Committee including representation of the scientific community and civil society organizations. For more details click in the link..

On Hasty Regulatory Approvals in India for Covid-19 Vaccines

India’s regulatory authority for medical products, the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO), gave  “restricted emergency approval” on 2nd January 2020 for two Covid-19 Vaccines, namely Serum Institute of India (SII)’s “Covishield” being manufactured in India under technology transfer from Oxford University-Astra Zeneca, and the indigenous “Covaxin” developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR/National Institute of Virology...click link to read more.... AIPSN calls for: a)Re-consideration of approval for Covaxin till efficacy data is available or, at least, strict adherence to conditions specified in the CDSCO order implying no roll-out of Covaxin for mass vaccination. b) Phase-III efficacy trials for both vaccines continue without extraneous pressure and the data published at the earliest. c) No vaccine or Covid-19 related drug be released for commercial use in the private sector until regular approval as per protocols (as distinct from emergency use authorization) are obtained.

Statement on Vaccines Roll-out

Click the link to read the details... AIPSN  urges:  The Union Government issue special protocols for Covaxin administration in “clinical trial mode,” including obtaining informed consent or refusal of recipients and ensuring compliance with all CDSCO/SEC approval conditions;  CDSCO and ICMR to ensure that all clinical trials conform to necessary ethical, scientific and technical standards;  All State Governments take a hard decision on whether to deploy Covaxin widely, or whether to strictly conform to CDSCO/SEC conditions of limited “trial mode” deployment;  All doses of Covaxin distributed to States so far be held in stock by them and not administered till greater clarity is given by the Government or till CDSCO/SEC approval conditions are amended based on efficacy data from Bharat Biotech-ICMR as promised.

On Covaxin Interim Results from Phase 3 trials  

All India Peoples Science Network welcomes the first interim efficacy data from Phase-3 clinical trials as released by M/S Bharat Biotech for the indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine “Covaxin”....click link to read more... AIPSN hopes that the nearly 81% efficacy shown by the first interim analysis of Covaxin phase 3 trials will now help dispel the earlier vaccine hesitancy due to hasty approval without data. AIPSN appeals to all eligible people to get vaccinated in order to protect themselves and prevent others who cannot be vaccinated from getting Covid-19. It is hoped that Bharat Biotech will now ramp up production to required levels and join the international battle against Covid-19 with full confidence. It is time the Government realizes that promotion of true self-reliance is not well-served by artificial support or false claims, but by promotion of quality R&D and products that can match the best in the world and compete globally on its own merits.

Position Paper On Second Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic in India

The position paper makes the following points regarding the Second Wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India: Accept responsibility; don’t blame the people and States; Understand role of variants, expand gene sequencing; Increase testing, tracing and surveillance; Address Vaccine shortage & Equity; Scale-up Vaccine production and availability; Address Licensing/ IP issues; Oppose misguided vaccine nationalism Click the link to read more..

Statement On Second Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic in India

This AIPSN Statement is based on the position paper on the Second Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic in India. India is well and truly into a brutal second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The points made are: Accept responsibility; don’t blame the people and States; Understand role of variants, expand gene sequencing; Increase testing, tracing and surveillance; Address Vaccine shortage & Equity; Scale-up Vaccine production and availability; Address Licensing/ IP issues; Oppose misguided vaccine nationalism. Click the link to read more...

Government unmasked: Abdicates vaccination responsibility

No other major country, including the most market friendly nations, has adopted a vaccination strategy of this kind, precisely for the reasons enumerated here...... The new strategy is not a win-win solution as propagated. Corporates, private health care institutions and the well-off will win, while the poor and the middle class will lose big time.  AIPSN calls for rolling back of this new strategy and for a recalibrated fully public funded and universal vaccination programme, backed by adequate government support for vaccine manufacturers including PSUs. click the link to read more....

Urgently Expand Public and Private Sector Production along with related R&D to meet India’s Vaccine Requirements: AIPSN Statement endorsed by Scientists, Academics, Doctors

The AIPSN statement has been endorsed by more than 200 scientists, academics and doctors with many prominent persons amongst them. The call features 7 demands. For more read the link to the post

WHO refusal of Emergency Use Approval for Covaxin

All India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) urges the Government of India, its concerned ministries, departments, institutions and authorities of the need to adhere to scientific standards for conduct and analysis of clinical trial results, publication of results as peer-reviewed articles and complete transparency. Regulatory agencies should also assert their independence from both government and corporate interests, and make judgments based on scientific analysis. Vaccine producers must build transparency in this regard, while fulfilling their responsibilities and accountability. We need to ensure that urgent approval of vaccines, publication of clinical trial data and the safety and efficacy of the vaccine all receive equal and due importance. CLICK link to read more..

Lesson for Right To Health agenda : Learning From TamilNadu’s response to Covid19 pandemic

The book described the Lessons from TamilNadu during Covid19 pandemic learnt through case studies done by people involved in the Right To Health Campaign

Take immediate steps to expedite P. G Medical allotment process

click link to read details... The current crisis in NEET illustrates how excessive centralization can lead to a nation-wide crisis in many critical areas. Having created this problem the centre has to be more pro-active in solving it. Though for this year it needs to go ahead with an interim arrangement by which admissions would continue, this whole crisis is also a call for re-examining NEET and all such forms of excessive centralization. Without going into the merits or otherwise of NEET itself, All India Peoples Science Network demands the Government of India to speed up the NEET Medical PG Counselling for those who have taken the exams in good faith; and considering the great threat this delay poses to public health; and for strengthening the public health services to be able to fight another possible  wave of the Covid pandemic.

75 Years of Independence: Self Reliance, Idea of India and Road to the Future

.....In this the 75th year of Independence, the Peoples Science Movement looks at how our independent nation started, what was achieved, what went wrong and what prospects and challenges lie ahead in the future.... To achieve its due, India needs to re-generate, re-imagine and take forward the values and aspirations of its freedom movement in the contemporary context and learning from all the missteps, failures and missed opportunities over the years...The Peoples Science Movement will take this message to the people during the year through grassroots dialogues and other mass contact programmes. ..Click LINK to read the full text.. 

Corbevax for 12-14 year-olds: arbitrary decision-making on Vaccines continues in India

click link to read full text...The Government is arbitrarily dividing up the market amongst different vaccine manufacturers by approving only specific vaccines for different age-groups, rather than adopting a more equitable public vaccination programme. .......AIPSN calls upon the government to strictly follow laid-down regulatory procedures and scrutiny by scientific and expert bodies, then formulate and implement evidence-based policies with transparent decision-making rationale. Only this will restore public confidence in India’s vaccination policy and obviate vaccine hesitancy.

AIPSN brief to the political parties for consideration in their election manifesto

To, Political Parties :: In view of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 that has been announced, All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN) is submitting a brief to the political parties to take up in their election manifesto. Click the link to see the AIPSN brief to the political parties for consideration in their election manifesto.