Health

LONDON: A new World Health Organisation (WHO) report, which is being considered the most comprehensive look at the true global toll of the pandemic so far, reveals that the actual number of deaths from the pandemic were nearly three times more than what official data showed. The report pinpointed India, saying that almost half of the deaths that had not …

The Asian Games due to take place in the Chinese city of Hangzhou in September have been postponed indefinitely because of Covid-19, organisers said on Friday. The Games were scheduled to be held from September 10 to 25 but have now been delayed as China tries to stamp out a large resurgence in infections in several parts of the country. …

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has dispelled the varying general perceptions in the country about the deaths due to Covid-19 pandemic and claimed that its data is accurate and has been verified by the defunct National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) through analysis of graveyard data of major cities. While it is generally believed that more people …

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz on Monday said that health card’s services will continue across the province besides also announcing fresh jobs in health department. “The health card will continue in the province on the directives of PM Shehbaz Sharif,” the chief minister said while heading a meeting of the provincial health department and directed immediate measures for adequate …

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities concerned to bring facilities at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) as per international standards. The prime minister issued directives while chairing a review meeting of facilities being provided at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, Lahore. On this occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was given a detailed briefing on administrative matters of …

Pfizer on Friday said a large trial found that its COVID-19 oral antiviral treatment Paxlovid was not effective at preventing coronavirus infection in people living with someone infected with the virus. The trial enrolled 3,000 adults who were household contacts exposed to an individual who was experiencing symptoms and had recently tested positive for COVID-19. They were either given Paxlovid …

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Abdul Qadir Patel, on Friday said the government was considering reviewing the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) Act 2020.  Qadir Patel said this during his visit to the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) where he was given a detailed briefing on the functioning of the organization. “Discussion will continue with PMC and if required we …

China’s Suzhou Abogen Biosciences said its COVID-19 vaccine candidate using the messenger RNA (mRNA) technology and targeting the Omicron variant has obtained clinical trial approval in the United Arab Emirates. With Friday’s announcement, Abogen joins Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna in trialing candidates modified specifically against Omicron, a highly transmissible variant with increased resistance to antibodies elicited by existing shots. Mainland China …

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates discussed Pakistan’s commitment to polio eradication, and the Covid-19 situation in the country in a telephone call, the military’s media affairs wing said on Friday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Gates appreciated the army for supporting the country’s polio …

Africa is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases largely driven by a doubling in cases reported in South Africa, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. “This week new COVID-19 cases and deaths on the continent increased for the first time after a decline of more than two months for cases and one month for deaths,” Benido Impouma, director for …