Humans and bots may not be able to co-exist. A video doing the rounds on social media can be proof to it.&nbsp;On Sunday (April 23), the&nbsp;video appeared on Weibo showing a woman&nbsp;aggressively bashing a hospital robot with a club inside the lobby of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University in Jiangsu Province's Xuzhou, as reported&nbsp;by&nbsp;Jiangxi Morning News.

According to the agency, the hospital's initial evaluation said&nbsp;the woman was suffering from a mental illness.

A hospital employee cited by&nbsp;Boiling Point Video said&nbsp;that&nbsp;the reasons for her behaviour are unknown, and the hospital's security department and information office were in contact with the individual involved. It also reported that police have joined the inquiry.

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Rage against the machine: Chinese woman beats hospital robot with 'golden cudgel' <a href="https://t.co/XMQMEnMlw9">https://t.co/XMQMEnMlw9</a> <a href="https://t.co/cBzW54mHTt">pic.twitter.com/cBzW54mHTt</a>
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The woman can be seen in the footage striking the robot in the head, sending its parts flying. In reaction, staff members can be seen stepping back to take cover. The woman gestures and yells at the robot, then swings at its monitor.

She accuses the robot with her finger and shouts at it again before swiping at its side. She takes two more blows at the robot after pointing and shouting at spectators.

Despite the many dents&nbsp;and components scattered around the floor, the robot manages to swivel its head and lift its arms. The woman was last seen pulling off her jacket, perhaps in preparation for additional punishment before the video cuts off.&nbsp;

The Weibo account, Dalian is Good&nbsp;described the woman as wielding the "golden cudgel," a reference to the magical rod used by the Monkey King in the Chinese classical novel "Journey to the West."

Songpinganq, a Twitter user, noted on Monday (April 24) that robots are increasingly being used to make doctor and medical appointments in China, leaving very few nurses to assist patients. "Many find it a frustrating process," claimed the post's author.

<h2>Why China has edge on AI?</h2>

Dictatorships and authoritarian regimes lag behind more democratic and inclusive nations in nurturing cutting-edge, creative technology such as robotics and clean energy.&nbsp;Because of competing interests, artificial intelligence may be an exception, at least in China, as per The Harvard Gazette.&nbsp;

At a recent dean's conference on social science insights into the emergent global power, Harvard Economics Professor David Yang discussed the outsized success of China's AI sector. He highlighted a recent US&nbsp;government list of companies generating the highest accurate facial recognition technology as evidence. The top five were all Chinese firms.

“Autocratic governments would like to be able to predict the whereabouts, thoughts, and behaviors of citizens,” Yang said. “And AI is fundamentally a technology for prediction.” This creates an alignment of purpose between AI technology and autocratic rulers, he argued.

Because AI relies significantly on data, and autocratic governments are known to gather vast amounts of it, this benefits companies with Chinese government contracts, who may then use official data to enhance commercial ventures, he noted.

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Humans and bots may not be able to co-exist. A video doing the rounds on social media can be proof to it. On Sunday (April 23), the video appeared on Weibo showing a woman aggressively bashing a hospital robot with a club inside the lobby of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University in Jiangsu Province's Xuzhou, as reported by Jiangxi Morning News.

Humans and bots may not be able to co-exist. A video doing the rounds on social media can be proof to it. On Sunday (April 23), the video appeared on Weibo showing a woman aggressively bashing a hospital robot with a club inside the lobby of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University in Jiangsu Province's Xuzhou, as reported by Jiangxi Morning News. According to the agency, the hospital's initial evaluation said the woman was suffering from a mental illness. A hospital employee cited by Boiling Point Video said that the reasons for her behaviour are unknown, and the hospital's security department and information office were in contact with the individual involved. It also reported that police have joined the inquiry. Rage against the machine: Chinese woman beats hospital robot with 'golden cudgel' https://t.co/XMQMEnMlw9 pic.twitter.com/cBzW54mHTt — Taiwan News (@TaiwanNews886) April 24, 2023 × The woman can be seen in the footage striking the robot in the head, sending its parts flying. In reaction, staff members can be seen stepping back to take cover. The woman gestures and yells at the robot, then swings at its monitor. She accuses the robot with her finger and shouts at it again before swiping at its side. She takes two more blows at the robot after pointing and shouting at spectators. Despite the many dents and components scattered around the floor, the robot manages to swivel its head and lift its arms. The woman was last seen pulling off her jacket, perhaps in preparation for additional punishment before the video cuts off. The Weibo account, Dalian is Good described the woman as wielding the "golden cudgel," a reference to the magical rod used by the Monkey King in the Chinese classical novel "Journey to the West." Songpinganq, a Twitter user, noted on Monday (April 24) that robots are increasingly being used to make doctor and medical appointments in China, leaving very few nurses to assist patients. "Many find it a frustrating process," claimed the post's author. Why China has edge on AI? Dictatorships and authoritarian regimes lag behind more democratic and inclusive nations in nurturing cutting-edge, creative technology such as robotics and clean energy. Because of competing interests, artificial intelligence may be an exception, at least in China, as per The Harvard Gazette. At a recent dean's conference on social science insights into the emergent global power, Harvard Economics Professor David Yang discussed the outsized success of China's AI sector. He highlighted a recent US government list of companies generating the highest accurate facial recognition technology as evidence. The top five were all Chinese firms. “Autocratic governments would like to be able to predict the whereabouts, thoughts, and behaviors of citizens,” Yang said. “And AI is fundamentally a technology for prediction.” This creates an alignment of purpose between AI technology and autocratic rulers, he argued. Because AI relies significantly on data, and autocratic governments are known to gather vast amounts of it, this benefits companies with Chinese government contracts, who may then use official data to enhance commercial ventures, he noted. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Humankind's love-hate relationship with AI: Chinese woman bashes hospital robot with stick

The Amazon rainforest, is the largest rainforest on Earth. But did you know that these forests can now save you money by cutting down on your health care expenses? Hem Kaur Saroya brings you the report.

Amazon forests save $2 bn in pollution healthcare: Study

Hospitals across the United Kingdom scrambled to limit the predicted loss of life from the upcoming strikes by the country’s National Health Service (NHS) and are reportedly attempting to retain junior doctors by increasing locum pay. The four-day strike which will witness the participation of tens of thousands of doctors in England next week could affect at least a quarter-million medical appointments, said an NHS official, on Saturday (April 8).&nbsp;

What is the strike about?

The strike planned by the junior doctors would be the latest one in a wave of walkouts by public sector workers who are demanding pay hikes to offset inflation that has exceeded 10 per cent in the UK. The country is also in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis as prices for basic commodities from food to fuel have significantly increased.&nbsp;

This has left many struggling to pay bills as union wages have fallen in real terms over the past decade, across many sectors including healthcare. The four-day walkout by junior doctors will start at 6:59 am (local time) on Tuesday and will continue till 6:59 am (local time), Saturday.&nbsp;

The junior doctors have demanded a 35 per cent pay raise to “reverse the steep decline” they have faced after years of below-inflation pay rises, if granted it would add 20,000 pounds ($24,842) a year to pay packets. They have also sought “full pay restoration” after witnessing a real-term pay cut of 26 per cent since 2008-9, as per the British Medical Association (BMA).

‘Significant’ impact of these strikes sparks concerns

The plan&nbsp;has since sparked fears among NHS leaders and senior clinicians that the strike will lead to the cancellation and postponement of hundreds of thousands of operations and appointments. This has also led hospital trusts to accelerate the discharge of the fittest patients and cancelled the leave for non-striking doctors, reported the Guardian.&nbsp;

“The impact is going to be so significant that this one is likely to impact patient safety, and that is a huge concern for every health care leader,” Dr Layla McCay, policy director at the NHS Confederation told BBC Radio 4. The walkout also follows a three-day strike last month by doctors early in their career that led to 175,000 appointments and procedures being postponed.

Therefore, in a bid to tempt junior doctors whose pay is 14 pounds ($17) an hour, some hospital trusts have increased the rates for locums with one offering up to 50 per cent over the normal locum rate, reported the Guardian citing a rate card sent to staff and posted online by the BMA.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Hospitals across the United Kingdom scrambled to limit the predicted loss of life from the upcoming strikes by the country’s National Health Service (NHS) and are reportedly attempting to retain junior doctors by increasing locum pay.

Hospitals across the United Kingdom scrambled to limit the predicted loss of life from the upcoming strikes by the country’s National Health Service (NHS) and are reportedly attempting to retain junior doctors by increasing locum pay. The four-day strike which will witness the participation of tens of thousands of doctors in England next week could affect at least a quarter-million medical appointments, said an NHS official, on Saturday (April 8). What is the strike about? The strike planned by the junior doctors would be the latest one in a wave of walkouts by public sector workers who are demanding pay hikes to offset inflation that has exceeded 10 per cent in the UK. The country is also in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis as prices for basic commodities from food to fuel have significantly increased. This has left many struggling to pay bills as union wages have fallen in real terms over the past decade, across many sectors including healthcare. The four-day walkout by junior doctors will start at 6:59 am (local time) on Tuesday and will continue till 6:59 am (local time), Saturday. The junior doctors have demanded a 35 per cent pay raise to “reverse the steep decline” they have faced after years of below-inflation pay rises, if granted it would add 20,000 pounds ($24,842) a year to pay packets. They have also sought “full pay restoration” after witnessing a real-term pay cut of 26 per cent since 2008-9, as per the British Medical Association (BMA). ‘Significant’ impact of these strikes sparks concerns The plan has since sparked fears among NHS leaders and senior clinicians that the strike will lead to the cancellation and postponement of hundreds of thousands of operations and appointments. This has also led hospital trusts to accelerate the discharge of the fittest patients and cancelled the leave for non-striking doctors, reported the Guardian. “The impact is going to be so significant that this one is likely to impact patient safety, and that is a huge concern for every health care leader,” Dr Layla McCay, policy director at the NHS Confederation told BBC Radio 4. The walkout also follows a three-day strike last month by doctors early in their career that led to 175,000 appointments and procedures being postponed. Therefore, in a bid to tempt junior doctors whose pay is 14 pounds ($17) an hour, some hospital trusts have increased the rates for locums with one offering up to 50 per cent over the normal locum rate, reported the Guardian citing a rate card sent to staff and posted online by the BMA. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK hospitals left in a bind after thousands of doctors plan to strike again

The cost of healthcare in the United States, other than being an important social indicator, has often been an issue of reckoning which has contributed in determining the fate of past few occupants of the White House. A recent <a href="https://wallethub.com/edu/healthiest-cities/31072">report</a> by Washington-based WalletHub revealed the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in the United States. The personal finance outlet compared more than 180 of the largest US&nbsp;cities across 43 key metrics.

The metrics include cost of a medical visit in a particular city as well as consumption of healthy edibles such as fruits and vegetables.

"For those with specific medical conditions, it is important to consider whether you can easily access the medical care you need," said Amy L. McGuire, Director, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine.&nbsp;

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Note: Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 indicating the most favourable conditions for a healthy lifestyle.

San Francisco (total score 67.07) in California state is the healthiest city in the United States, according to WalletHub, followed by Seattle (65.22), Honolulu (62.23), San Diego (61.94) and Salt Lake City (61.86).

Washington D.C. (59.78) is the seventh healthiest city in the United States, WalletHub data shows, with New York (56.33) featuring at sixteenth spot, Las Vegas (53.46) at thirtieth, Miami (52.55) at 34th and Houston (45.24) at 94th.&nbsp;

Brownsville (25.72) in Texas was deemed the unhealthiest US city by WalletHub, followed by Gulfport in Mississippi (28.19), Shreveport in Louisiana (28.31), Columbus in Ohio (29.05) and Augusta in Georgia (30.20).

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The cost of healthcare in the United States, other than being an important social indicator, has often been an issue of reckoning which has contributed in determining the fate of past few occupants of the White House.

The cost of healthcare in the United States, other than being an important social indicator, has often been an issue of reckoning which has contributed in determining the fate of past few occupants of the White House. A recent report by Washington-based WalletHub revealed the healthiest and unhealthiest cities in the United States. The personal finance outlet compared more than 180 of the largest US cities across 43 key metrics. The metrics include cost of a medical visit in a particular city as well as consumption of healthy edibles such as fruits and vegetables. "For those with specific medical conditions, it is important to consider whether you can easily access the medical care you need," said Amy L. McGuire, Director, Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine. × Note: Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 indicating the most favourable conditions for a healthy lifestyle. San Francisco (total score 67.07) in California state is the healthiest city in the United States, according to WalletHub, followed by Seattle (65.22), Honolulu (62.23), San Diego (61.94) and Salt Lake City (61.86). Washington D.C. (59.78) is the seventh healthiest city in the United States, WalletHub data shows, with New York (56.33) featuring at sixteenth spot, Las Vegas (53.46) at thirtieth, Miami (52.55) at 34th and Houston (45.24) at 94th. Brownsville (25.72) in Texas was deemed the unhealthiest US city by WalletHub, followed by Gulfport in Mississippi (28.19), Shreveport in Louisiana (28.31), Columbus in Ohio (29.05) and Augusta in Georgia (30.20). WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data lab | San Francisco tops list as America's healthiest city

Amazon announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its foray into the healthcare industry by providing a $5 monthly subscription plan for its US prime members. That will cover a variety of generic medications and their doorstep delivery under its healthcare service, 'RxPass'.

Amazon offers doorstep delivery of medicines in the US

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak consistently refused to mention details about his healthcare insurance providers, asserting that 'it was not important.'

In an interview on BBC with Laura Kuenssberg, PM Rishi Sunak faced questions on education and health policies. She claimed that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher did not hide her decision to use private healthcare.&nbsp;

Kuenssberg stated that Thatcher was transparent about her use of medical insurance, claiming that she needed to get admitted whenever and wherever she wished. However, when the interviewer asked PM Sunak about his health insurance, he said, "it's a personal choice."

Also Read|&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/world/classified-documents-from-obama-administration-found-in-bidens-private-office-550962">Classified documents from Obama administration found in Biden's private office</a>

However, many healthcare workers like Pat Cullen, head of the nursing union, have raised concerns about it. She said it's 'important' that the PM clarifies it because he is a public servant.&nbsp;

The National Health Service (NHS) provides free medical care to all citizens of the United Kingdom. Backed up by taxpayers' money, the healthcare body is in trouble due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and several years of low investments.

Watch|&nbsp;'Wealthy' UK Prime Minister accused of being 'Disconnected' from masses

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Nevertheless, the Sunak mentioned that he was brought up in an NHS family, adding that his father was a general practitioner and his mother was a pharmacist.&nbsp;

An eager Kuenssberg did not move to the next question for a long time, but Sunak dusted the question each time. He revealed that his insurance was private, but it was his personal choice. Patients must have the right to choose where they get their treatment, said Sunak.&nbsp;

Sunak's interview with Kuenssberg has sparked a controversy about his healthcare options. Sunak might have registered with a private general practitioner's office providing same-day consultations and charges £250 for a half-hour session.

(With inputs from agencies)

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak consistently refused to mention details about his healthcare insurance providers, asserting that 'it was not important.' In an interview on BBC with Laura Kuenssberg, PM Rishi Sunak faced questions on education and health policies.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak consistently refused to mention details about his healthcare insurance providers, asserting that 'it was not important.' In an interview on BBC with Laura Kuenssberg, PM Rishi Sunak faced questions on education and health policies. She claimed that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher did not hide her decision to use private healthcare. Kuenssberg stated that Thatcher was transparent about her use of medical insurance, claiming that she needed to get admitted whenever and wherever she wished. However, when the interviewer asked PM Sunak about his health insurance, he said, "it's a personal choice." Also Read| Classified documents from Obama administration found in Biden's private office However, many healthcare workers like Pat Cullen, head of the nursing union, have raised concerns about it. She said it's 'important' that the PM clarifies it because he is a public servant. The National Health Service (NHS) provides free medical care to all citizens of the United Kingdom. Backed up by taxpayers' money, the healthcare body is in trouble due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and several years of low investments. Watch| 'Wealthy' UK Prime Minister accused of being 'Disconnected' from masses Nevertheless, the Sunak mentioned that he was brought up in an NHS family, adding that his father was a general practitioner and his mother was a pharmacist. An eager Kuenssberg did not move to the next question for a long time, but Sunak dusted the question each time. He revealed that his insurance was private, but it was his personal choice. Patients must have the right to choose where they get their treatment, said Sunak. Sunak's interview with Kuenssberg has sparked a controversy about his healthcare options. Sunak might have registered with a private general practitioner's office providing same-day consultations and charges £250 for a half-hour session. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UK PM Rishi Sunak's hesitancy to reveal healthcare preferences raises concerns

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chaired an emergency meeting with ministers, medics and healthcare professionals to address the healthcare crisis plaguing the country.

The meeting took place at 10 Downing Street on Saturday, aimed at “bringing together the best minds from the health and care sectors to help share knowledge and practical solutions,” the government said.

“As the Prime Minister made clear this week, easing the immediate pressures whilst also focusing on the long-term improvement of the NHS is one of his key promises,” the spokesperson said, according to Guardian.

&nbsp;“We want to correct the unwarranted variation in NHS performance between local areas, because no matter where you live you should be able to access quality healthcare.”

<h2>What is ailing UK?</h2>

The British health system, which is widely regarded as one of the best healthcare services, has been facing a myriad of pressures, including rising demand for care after pandemic restrictions were eased; a surge in flu and other viruses after two lockdown years; staff shortages from pandemic burnout and a post-Brexit drought of European workers in the UK.

At the moment, thousands of hospital beds are occupied by people who are fit to be discharged but have nowhere to go because of a lack of places for long-term care.

Officials estimate that last week only a third of patients ready to be released from a hospital in England actually left.

<h2>UK: Rishi Sunak's U-turn on outlawing strikes, steps back on anti-strike law</h2>

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Apart from that, nurses and ambulance staff have been conducting protests over salaries and working conditions, forcing people with health emergencies to wait hours for ambulances to arrive.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinese-billionaire-jack-ma-to-cede-control-of-chinas-ant-group-report-550209">Chinese billionaire Jack Ma to cede control of Ant Group after regulatory crackdown: Report</a>

Health officials believe that the delays have likely led to hundreds of deaths.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-weibo-bans-1000-accounts-critical-of-govts-covid-policy-550296">China’s Weibo bans more than 1,000 accounts critical of govt’s Covid policy</a>

Pat Cullen, the Royal College of Nursing general secretary, urged Sunak to “grasp the nettle and negotiate with nurses” about the settlement in order to avoid the strikes, reports Guardian.

(With inputs from agencies)

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chaired an emergency meeting with ministers, medics and healthcare professionals to address the healthcare crisis plaguing the country.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chaired an emergency meeting with ministers, medics and healthcare professionals to address the healthcare crisis plaguing the country. The meeting took place at 10 Downing Street on Saturday, aimed at “bringing together the best minds from the health and care sectors to help share knowledge and practical solutions,” the government said. “As the Prime Minister made clear this week, easing the immediate pressures whilst also focusing on the long-term improvement of the NHS is one of his key promises,” the spokesperson said, according to Guardian. “We want to correct the unwarranted variation in NHS performance between local areas, because no matter where you live you should be able to access quality healthcare.” What is ailing UK? The British health system, which is widely regarded as one of the best healthcare services, has been facing a myriad of pressures, including rising demand for care after pandemic restrictions were eased; a surge in flu and other viruses after two lockdown years; staff shortages from pandemic burnout and a post-Brexit drought of European workers in the UK. At the moment, thousands of hospital beds are occupied by people who are fit to be discharged but have nowhere to go because of a lack of places for long-term care. Officials estimate that last week only a third of patients ready to be released from a hospital in England actually left. UK: Rishi Sunak's U-turn on outlawing strikes, steps back on anti-strike law Apart from that, nurses and ambulance staff have been conducting protests over salaries and working conditions, forcing people with health emergencies to wait hours for ambulances to arrive. Also read | Chinese billionaire Jack Ma to cede control of Ant Group after regulatory crackdown: Report Health officials believe that the delays have likely led to hundreds of deaths. Also read | China’s Weibo bans more than 1,000 accounts critical of govt’s Covid policy Pat Cullen, the Royal College of Nursing general secretary, urged Sunak to “grasp the nettle and negotiate with nurses” about the settlement in order to avoid the strikes, reports Guardian. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UK PM Rishi Sunak convenes emergency meeting amidst healthcare crisis

China's healthcare system is facing several hardships and is on the verge of near collapse amid a Covid spike in the Chinese mainland after a shift from President Xi Jinping's 'Zero Covid policy' which not only harmed the economy but also failed to control the outbreak.&nbsp;In a country where not even a mask mandate exists right now, thousands of people have died and many medical workers are walking out of their jobs.&nbsp;

Almost everything is open now, even schools, but kids are not going due to the fear of getting infected at a time when even medicines are not easily available.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-live-updates-hong-kong-residents-rush-to-get-vaccinated-as-borders-set-to-reopen-with-china-549537">Also read |&nbsp;COVID Highlights | Chinese CDC data suggests no new COVID-19 strains in China, says WHO</a>

As per several media reports, China's manufacturing and service sectors were at their worst by the end of 2022.&nbsp;

The healthcare system is experiencing a huge shortage of COVID-19 medications. The current coronavirus wave saw drug stores stripped of supplies, promoting people to buy from online marketplaces with price gouging and online fraud.&nbsp;

China's public security ministry on Monday ordered a crackdown on illegal and criminal activity involving the production and sale of counterfeit epidemic-related medicines and related items.

Despite this, people were forced to turn towards the black market for their loved ones.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-asks-china-to-provide-a-more-realistic-picture-of-covid-19-situation-549382">Also read |&nbsp;WHO says data provided by China ‘under-represents’ true impact of Covid outbreak</a>

The&nbsp;black market and online frauds include tainted medicines, fabricated clinical trials and lax regulation in the industry.

A 22-year-old Qiu told AFP that she spent&nbsp;thousands on online Covid medicines that never arrived.

Authorities claimed that they have begun shipping&nbsp;paxvloid, a Beijing-approved Covid treatment medicine developed by US drug giant Pfizer, to many hospitals and communities but is difficult to obtain.&nbsp;

According to AFP, limited stocks have compelled citizens to buy medicines at a higher price. It said that an online seller told the news agency that they were charging 18,000 yuan ($2,610) for a single box of the medicine, almost nine times more than the original price.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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China's healthcare system is facing several hardships and is on the verge of near collapse amid a Covid spike in the Chinese mainland after a shift from President Xi Jinping's 'Zero Covid policy' which not only harmed the economy but also failed to control the outbreak.

China's healthcare system is facing several hardships and is on the verge of near collapse amid a Covid spike in the Chinese mainland after a shift from President Xi Jinping's 'Zero Covid policy' which not only harmed the economy but also failed to control the outbreak. In a country where not even a mask mandate exists right now, thousands of people have died and many medical workers are walking out of their jobs. Almost everything is open now, even schools, but kids are not going due to the fear of getting infected at a time when even medicines are not easily available. Also read | COVID Highlights | Chinese CDC data suggests no new COVID-19 strains in China, says WHO As per several media reports, China's manufacturing and service sectors were at their worst by the end of 2022. The healthcare system is experiencing a huge shortage of COVID-19 medications. The current coronavirus wave saw drug stores stripped of supplies, promoting people to buy from online marketplaces with price gouging and online fraud. China's public security ministry on Monday ordered a crackdown on illegal and criminal activity involving the production and sale of counterfeit epidemic-related medicines and related items. Despite this, people were forced to turn towards the black market for their loved ones. Also read | WHO says data provided by China ‘under-represents’ true impact of Covid outbreak The black market and online frauds include tainted medicines, fabricated clinical trials and lax regulation in the industry. A 22-year-old Qiu told AFP that she spent thousands on online Covid medicines that never arrived. Authorities claimed that they have begun shipping paxvloid, a Beijing-approved Covid treatment medicine developed by US drug giant Pfizer, to many hospitals and communities but is difficult to obtain. According to AFP, limited stocks have compelled citizens to buy medicines at a higher price. It said that an online seller told the news agency that they were charging 18,000 yuan ($2,610) for a single box of the medicine, almost nine times more than the original price. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China’s healthcare system crumbles amid Covid spike; people buying medicines from black market

While the urban cities of China grapple with COVID's upcoming wave, the nation's rural population is also at risk of a dark Covid winter, as per Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) forecasts. With the holiday season commencing in January, millions of migrant workers will return from Covid-stricken cities to their rural hometowns. Due to this, China's rural areas, with a limited healthcare supply, can face a wave of severe infections.

Even though COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across China, reluctance towards vaccines remains consistent among older citizens. Researchers fear that the patchy healthcare systems and rising cases might affect the already vulnerable part of mainland China, reported NPR.&nbsp;

COVID-19's first wave affected the country in several ways. It impacted the People's Republic of China (PRC), mainly in agriculture and food systems. Since rural China is primarily agriculture-based, the pandemic could have a harmful influence on it.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/east-asia/china-deployed-71-airforce-planes-in-weekend-strike-drills-47-crossed-taiwan-strait-taiwan-defence-ministry-546569">China deployed 71 jets into Taiwan air defence zone in largest incursion so far, says Taiwan</a>

In 2020, rural migrant workers received the worst shocks in monetary terms due to the pandemic. More than 53 million migrant workers had to stay in their hometowns due to lockdown policies. Thus, the number of migrant workers decreased by 30.6 per cent at the end of February 2020, according to reports.&nbsp;

According to a report titled '<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8110271/">COVID-19 in Rural China'</a>, villages can survive the pandemic by disconnecting from the outside world. The analysis called rural areas 'the weakest links in China's pandemic prevention.'&nbsp;

In January 2020, the highest number of cases was in Shijiazhuang, a Chinese city, mainly home to farmers. The average age of the workers was 45 years, and more than 20 per cent of people were 60 years old. Moreover, the number of cases in females was slightly higher than the males.&nbsp;

Watch|&nbsp;China reports ‘zero Covid death’ for the first time in three years

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Many children from nearby villages also tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. According to the report, the primary reason behind this was the consistent migration of young individuals from rural to urban areas in search of work.

Due to the local customs of wedding celebrations at the end of the year, social gatherings became common. They also led to the spread of the virus in rural areas.&nbsp;

Rural citizens of China have low awareness of medical treatment, furthermore, poor medical habits and insufficient access to resources were prime reasons behind the pandemic's outbreak.&nbsp;

IHME has predicted around a million deaths in China in 2023 due to the current wave of COVID. Medical scarcity has already hit rural pharmacies. The situation is likely to worsen if PRC's government does not take appropriate steps.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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While the urban cities of China grapple with COVID's upcoming wave, the nation's rural population is also at risk of a dark Covid winter, as per Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) forecasts.

While the urban cities of China grapple with COVID's upcoming wave, the nation's rural population is also at risk of a dark Covid winter, as per Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) forecasts. With the holiday season commencing in January, millions of migrant workers will return from Covid-stricken cities to their rural hometowns. Due to this, China's rural areas, with a limited healthcare supply, can face a wave of severe infections. Even though COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across China, reluctance towards vaccines remains consistent among older citizens. Researchers fear that the patchy healthcare systems and rising cases might affect the already vulnerable part of mainland China, reported NPR. COVID-19's first wave affected the country in several ways. It impacted the People's Republic of China (PRC), mainly in agriculture and food systems. Since rural China is primarily agriculture-based, the pandemic could have a harmful influence on it. Also read | China deployed 71 jets into Taiwan air defence zone in largest incursion so far, says Taiwan In 2020, rural migrant workers received the worst shocks in monetary terms due to the pandemic. More than 53 million migrant workers had to stay in their hometowns due to lockdown policies. Thus, the number of migrant workers decreased by 30.6 per cent at the end of February 2020, according to reports. According to a report titled 'COVID-19 in Rural China', villages can survive the pandemic by disconnecting from the outside world. The analysis called rural areas 'the weakest links in China's pandemic prevention.' In January 2020, the highest number of cases was in Shijiazhuang, a Chinese city, mainly home to farmers. The average age of the workers was 45 years, and more than 20 per cent of people were 60 years old. Moreover, the number of cases in females was slightly higher than the males. Watch| China reports ‘zero Covid death’ for the first time in three years Many children from nearby villages also tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. According to the report, the primary reason behind this was the consistent migration of young individuals from rural to urban areas in search of work. Due to the local customs of wedding celebrations at the end of the year, social gatherings became common. They also led to the spread of the virus in rural areas. Rural citizens of China have low awareness of medical treatment, furthermore, poor medical habits and insufficient access to resources were prime reasons behind the pandemic's outbreak. IHME has predicted around a million deaths in China in 2023 due to the current wave of COVID. Medical scarcity has already hit rural pharmacies. The situation is likely to worsen if PRC's government does not take appropriate steps. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Covid-19's grim impact on rural China might worsen in recent wave: Report

As China battles a COVID-19 wave in the wake of regulations being loosened, videos showing hundreds of Chinese&nbsp;gathered in lines outside clinics and hospitals have now gone viral. In various Chinese cities, there is an emergency due to understaffed hospitals and a lack of medicines and ventilators.

A video shared by the UK-based media outlet, the Telegraph, showed a doctor collapsing on the floor while treating&nbsp;patients.

In the 93-second clip, a woman is seen expressing concerns to a doctor while he attends to patients and a young child. The doctor appeared obviously exhausted.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-spike-in-china-govt-says-no-new-deaths-seen-after-changing-criteria-545159">Covid spike in China: Govt says no new deaths seen after changing criteria</a>

While other patients are conversing, he seems exhausted as he attempts to take the child's temperature before collapsing on his desk and getting up from his chair.

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He was in such bad shape that other medical professionals had to rush to his desk and treat him.&nbsp;

Social media networks are flooded with videos of medical professionals performing CPR on patients who were having respiratory failure while sitting on the hospital floor.

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.

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Chinese epidemiologists are concerned that three waves of COVID could hit China in the next months, resulting in millions of illnesses and a few thousand fatalities.

Xiaofeng Liang, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention chief, said that the current Covid wave will impact at least 60 per cent&nbsp;of the people.

Also watch |&nbsp;Trending on WION: Over 60% of China and 10% of the global population may get infected by Covid19

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In a tweet, epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding expressed concern that the reproduction number (R) could be difficult to measure in China if the doubling time is less than one day because valid findings from PCR testing must be obtained within at least 24 to 48 hours.

He said that this means China and the world could be ‘in deep trouble.’

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As China battles a COVID-19 wave in the wake of regulations being loosened, videos showing hundreds of Chinese gathered in lines outside clinics and hospitals have now gone viral.

As China battles a COVID-19 wave in the wake of regulations being loosened, videos showing hundreds of Chinese gathered in lines outside clinics and hospitals have now gone viral. In various Chinese cities, there is an emergency due to understaffed hospitals and a lack of medicines and ventilators. A video shared by the UK-based media outlet, the Telegraph, showed a doctor collapsing on the floor while treating patients. In the 93-second clip, a woman is seen expressing concerns to a doctor while he attends to patients and a young child. The doctor appeared obviously exhausted. Also read | Covid spike in China: Govt says no new deaths seen after changing criteria While other patients are conversing, he seems exhausted as he attempts to take the child's temperature before collapsing on his desk and getting up from his chair. × He was in such bad shape that other medical professionals had to rush to his desk and treat him. Social media networks are flooded with videos of medical professionals performing CPR on patients who were having respiratory failure while sitting on the hospital floor. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. 官方说没有重症，看看重庆医科大学附属第一医院 急诊留观区域。 pic.twitter.com/UsGiKoS4gG — iPaul🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@iPaulCanada) December 20, 2022 × Chinese epidemiologists are concerned that three waves of COVID could hit China in the next months, resulting in millions of illnesses and a few thousand fatalities. Xiaofeng Liang, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention chief, said that the current Covid wave will impact at least 60 per cent of the people. Also watch | Trending on WION: Over 60% of China and 10% of the global population may get infected by Covid19 In a tweet, epidemiologist and health economist Eric Feigl-Ding expressed concern that the reproduction number (R) could be difficult to measure in China if the doubling time is less than one day because valid findings from PCR testing must be obtained within at least 24 to 48 hours. He said that this means China and the world could be ‘in deep trouble.’ WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: Exhausted doctor collapses while attending patients amid China's Covid surge

UK witnessed strike by thousands of nurses from England, Ireland and Wales as they demand an increase in their pay. It is a second strike in a week.

UK witness another day-long strike by nurses as healthcare workers demand a pay increase

The healthcare industry in India has faced 1.9 million cyberattacks this year. The attacks have been traced back to Vietnam, Pakistan, and China. These data breaches have raised several concerns about India's readiness to prevent attacks on its critical infrastructure.

WION Fineprint: Rising ransomware attacks in India

In Madrid, thousands of protesters marched in support of the region's basic healthcare facilities and warned that any alteration to the system would "destroy" local healthcare

Thousands protest in support of public healthcare in Madrid

In Madrid, thousands of protesters marched&nbsp;in support of the region's basic healthcare facilities and warned that any alteration to the system would "destroy" local healthcare. Under the banner, "Madrid rallies in support of public healthcare and against the intention to dismantle primary care services," massive crowds gathered at four locations around the capital.&nbsp;

Primary healthcare services in the Madrid area have reportedly been under tremendous pressure&nbsp;for years due to a lack of funding and workforce, with the problem being made worse by subpar regional administration, according to unions.

A regional government spokesman who spoke to AFP said there were 200,000 people&nbsp;on the streets, but organisers gave a figure three times higher, saying 650,000 demonstrators had joined the protest.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-china-eases-zero-covid-rules-close-to-12000-new-covid-cases-reported-533688">As China eases 'Zero-COVID' rules, close to 12,000 cases of new infection reported</a>

"Your health should never depend on your wallet," read one huge green banner, while others read: "Health care is not for sale, it must be defended" as thousands of voices demanded the resignation of the region's right-wing leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso.

The demonstration comes before a strike by almost 5,000 local paediatricians and regional&nbsp;family doctors that is set on 21 November,&nbsp;in response to work overload, never-ending&nbsp;appointments, and lack of time with patients."

(With inputs from agencies)

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In Madrid, thousands of protesters marched in support of the region's basic healthcare facilities and warned that any alteration to the system would "destroy" local healthcare.

In Madrid, thousands of protesters marched in support of the region's basic healthcare facilities and warned that any alteration to the system would "destroy" local healthcare. Under the banner, "Madrid rallies in support of public healthcare and against the intention to dismantle primary care services," massive crowds gathered at four locations around the capital. Primary healthcare services in the Madrid area have reportedly been under tremendous pressure for years due to a lack of funding and workforce, with the problem being made worse by subpar regional administration, according to unions. A regional government spokesman who spoke to AFP said there were 200,000 people on the streets, but organisers gave a figure three times higher, saying 650,000 demonstrators had joined the protest. Also read | As China eases 'Zero-COVID' rules, close to 12,000 cases of new infection reported "Your health should never depend on your wallet," read one huge green banner, while others read: "Health care is not for sale, it must be defended" as thousands of voices demanded the resignation of the region's right-wing leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso. The demonstration comes before a strike by almost 5,000 local paediatricians and regional family doctors that is set on 21 November, in response to work overload, never-ending appointments, and lack of time with patients." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Spain: Thousands protest in support of primary healthcare in Madrid

Walmart, which is one of the largest private employers in the United States, has decided to include abortion coverage for its employees. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade, they have decided to add abortions to their already existing healthcare plans.

According to a memo sent to the employees, the healthcare plans will now include abortion for employees “when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability”. The plans will be “effective immediately”, it further stated.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-three-officers-suspended-in-the-us-for-brutally-assaulting-a-suspect-508991">WATCH: Three officers suspended in the US for brutally assaulting a suspect</a>

Earlier, the company policy stated that abortions were covered under healthcare only “when the health of the mother would be in danger if the fetus were carried to term, the fetus could not survive the birthing process, or death would be imminent after birth”, according to Associated Press.

However, Walmart top official Donna Morris said that they have changed the regulations completely and they will also provide “travel support” to workers living in states where abortion is outlawed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-gears-up-for-intensified-attacks-following-moscow-car-bombing-509001" hreflang="en">Ukraine gears up for intensified attacks following Moscow car bombing</a>

The memo quoted Morris as saying that the changes were accepted by the company after “listening to our associates about what’s important to them” and she added that “we strive to provide quality, competitive and accessible health coverage that supports you and your families”.

The headquarters of Walmart is currently in the state of Arkansas – one of the places where abortion was completely banned. However, the company has decided to invest in a facility that “provides employees fertility services, including in vitro fertilization” and also provide surrogacy support.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Walmart, which is one of the largest private employers in the United States, has decided to include abortion coverage for its employees. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade, they have decided to add abortions to their already existing healthcare plans.

Walmart, which is one of the largest private employers in the United States, has decided to include abortion coverage for its employees. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade, they have decided to add abortions to their already existing healthcare plans. According to a memo sent to the employees, the healthcare plans will now include abortion for employees “when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability”. The plans will be “effective immediately”, it further stated. Also read | WATCH: Three officers suspended in the US for brutally assaulting a suspect Earlier, the company policy stated that abortions were covered under healthcare only “when the health of the mother would be in danger if the fetus were carried to term, the fetus could not survive the birthing process, or death would be imminent after birth”, according to Associated Press. However, Walmart top official Donna Morris said that they have changed the regulations completely and they will also provide “travel support” to workers living in states where abortion is outlawed. Also read | Ukraine gears up for intensified attacks following Moscow car bombing The memo quoted Morris as saying that the changes were accepted by the company after “listening to our associates about what’s important to them” and she added that “we strive to provide quality, competitive and accessible health coverage that supports you and your families”. The headquarters of Walmart is currently in the state of Arkansas – one of the places where abortion was completely banned. However, the company has decided to invest in a facility that “provides employees fertility services, including in vitro fertilization” and also provide surrogacy support. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Walmart to include abortion coverage in healthcare plan for US employees

The last 75 years have seen big advancements in India’s healthcare sector, which has grown at 22% since 2016 and at this rate, is expected to reach $ 372 bn in 2022.

India@75: India's achievements in healthcare sector since independence

From launching national-level initiatives to control some of the deadliest of diseases, to becoming the vaccine provider to the world, India has come a long way in healthcare.

India@75: Important healthcare achievements

&nbsp;"If we have to conduct a successful human spaceflight and sustain it in India, we need a strong pool of doctors to get involved in the Human Spaceflight mission. There are opportunities in not just emergency medicine, but also for doctors in other domains" said Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO). Addressing a gathering of Doctors from across medical domains and ISRO scientists, he touched upon how medical professionals could work together on Spacecraft design for India's highly-anticipated Gaganyaan(Human Spaceflight) mission.&nbsp;

Elaborating on this, Somanath said that scientists and engineers were building machines, but lacked the feel of human beings (those who were going to use the equipment). He was saying this in light of the Gaganyaan Spacecraft that is being built to carry and house the Indian astronauts in space and return them to earth. Regarding the interactions with the four Indian astronauts, he mentioned receiving their constant feedback on equipment placement, lighting, software, displays, etc. onboard the spacecraft (simulator).&nbsp;

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(3/3) Dr. T S Srinath Kumar, Head, Narayana Health would hold brainstorming sessions with the quality experts from ISRO. 
Details: <a href="https://t.co/dOGvKJGZdr">https://t.co/dOGvKJGZdr</a> 
Watch the deliberations LIVE from 11 am (IST) at<a href="https://t.co/Uiq1oqA2Yd">https://t.co/Uiq1oqA2Yd</a>
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Organised at the ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru, the event Health-Quality Upgradation Enabled through Space Technology (Health-QUEST) was aimed at percolating best practices in ISRO’s quality domain into emergency healthcare and critical healthcare departments for reducing mortality rates.

Notably, even the best healthcare systems in the world have an error rate of 8-10 per cent, whereas the aerospace industry and rocketry operate at zero per cent error, as even the most minor error can prove catastrophic. Speaking at the event, Dr Alexander Thomas, president, Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), emphasised the importance of absorbing and implementing the stringent safety standards of the aerospace industry in the healthcare sector (particularly in the hospital emergency wards, accident wards and critical care units).&nbsp;

Listing out the areas of cooperation between ISRO and the Indian healthcare sector, he touched upon geo-mapping of accident and emergency care centres across the country, in order to have accurate information on the type of services and level of care available in the healthcare facilities. He also added the need to geo-tag ambulances and ICUs, besides the need to study the impact of climate change and its threat on health.&nbsp;

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"If we have to conduct a successful human spaceflight and sustain it in India, we need a strong pool of doctors to get involved in the Human Spaceflight mission.

"If we have to conduct a successful human spaceflight and sustain it in India, we need a strong pool of doctors to get involved in the Human Spaceflight mission. There are opportunities in not just emergency medicine, but also for doctors in other domains" said Dr. S. Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO). Addressing a gathering of Doctors from across medical domains and ISRO scientists, he touched upon how medical professionals could work together on Spacecraft design for India's highly-anticipated Gaganyaan(Human Spaceflight) mission. Elaborating on this, Somanath said that scientists and engineers were building machines, but lacked the feel of human beings (those who were going to use the equipment). He was saying this in light of the Gaganyaan Spacecraft that is being built to carry and house the Indian astronauts in space and return them to earth. Regarding the interactions with the four Indian astronauts, he mentioned receiving their constant feedback on equipment placement, lighting, software, displays, etc. onboard the spacecraft (simulator). (3/3) Dr. T S Srinath Kumar, Head, Narayana Health would hold brainstorming sessions with the quality experts from ISRO. Details: https://t.co/dOGvKJGZdr Watch the deliberations LIVE from 11 am (IST) athttps://t.co/Uiq1oqA2Yd — ISRO (@isro) May 24, 2022 × Organised at the ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru, the event Health-Quality Upgradation Enabled through Space Technology (Health-QUEST) was aimed at percolating best practices in ISRO’s quality domain into emergency healthcare and critical healthcare departments for reducing mortality rates. Notably, even the best healthcare systems in the world have an error rate of 8-10 per cent, whereas the aerospace industry and rocketry operate at zero per cent error, as even the most minor error can prove catastrophic. Speaking at the event, Dr Alexander Thomas, president, Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), emphasised the importance of absorbing and implementing the stringent safety standards of the aerospace industry in the healthcare sector (particularly in the hospital emergency wards, accident wards and critical care units). Listing out the areas of cooperation between ISRO and the Indian healthcare sector, he touched upon geo-mapping of accident and emergency care centres across the country, in order to have accurate information on the type of services and level of care available in the healthcare facilities. He also added the need to geo-tag ambulances and ICUs, besides the need to study the impact of climate change and its threat on health. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Need a strong pool of doctors to collaborate with Human Spaceflight Programme: ISRO Chairman Somanath

As the worst economic crisis in Sri Lanka continues, doctors have raised an alarm over the death toll in the country. Doctors in Sri Lanka said that the death toll due to economic crisis could be higher than the toll during the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, as of April 12, 2022, over 16,000 people had died due to coronavirus in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan doctors’ alarm over death toll due to economic crisis: ‘Will make difficult choices…’

China's latest Wuhan virus outbreak has overwhelmed Shanghai. The healthcare system has collapsed. Non-Covid patients are dying due to lapses. The lockdown has triggered panic buying. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Shanghai's healthcare system has collapsed

Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill and&nbsp;Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates will speak about the road ahead for life science and healthcare industries at BioAsia 2022, beginning from February 24. 
 
Gates will engage in a fireside chat with Telangana`s Industry and Information Technology Minister K T Rama Rao during the virtual event. 
 
The fireside chat will be around a range of themes including the Covid-19 pandemic, learnings during the past two years, emerging healthcare trends, and what can be done to strengthen the global healthcare system going forward. 
 
The 19th edition of BioAsia, the largest annual global Biotechnology and Life Sciences convention of Asia, will see the participation of prominent leaders from the life sciences and healthcare industry.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-meet-afghan-sikh-hindu-community-members-soon-454207">PM Modi to meet Afghan Sikh, Hindu community members soon</a> 
 
Alex Gorsky, Executive Chairman, Johnson &amp; Johnson and Geoff Martha, Chairman &amp; CEO of Medtronic, will address the participants at the two-day event. 
 
"I am delighted that the 2022 edition of BioAsia will feature some of the most influential and visionary leaders. I look forward to an interesting session with Gates to assess the industry`s current position and determine the roadmap ahead. The delegates of BioAsia across the world would also benefit by listening to Gorsky and Martha who come with immense knowledge around the global life sciences industry," said Rama Rao. 
 
Bill Gates is known for his incredible philanthropic contributions through his foundation, and for his keen interest in technology, science, and emerging challenges such as climate change. In addition to sharing lessons learnt from the pandemic, Gates will also talk about the milestones achieved by the global partnership and the road ahead. 
 
With this year's theme being 'Future Ready'&nbsp;the focus of the chat will be on the new approaches and capabilities that can equip the world to be prepared and what is the role of stakeholders including the government, industry, etc.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-makes-helmets-and-safety-harnesses-a-must-for-kids-riding-pillion-454019">India makes helmets and safety harnesses a must for kids riding pillion</a> 
 
Alex Gorsky, Executive Chairman of the world's largest healthcare company Johnson &amp; Johnson, would deliver the keynote address during the event. Gorsky was also serving as the CEO of the company until recently and under his leadership of over 3 decades, Johnson &amp; Johnson was consistently recognized as one of the most innovative and best managed companies in the world. 
 
Gorsky is also a member of the board of iconic global organisations including Apple and IBM, as well as the Wharton School of Business. He will share his perspectives around topics of importance for the life sciences industry like impact of the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, innovation ecosystem and start-ups, role of new technologies within healthcare such as AI, ML, Deep Learning etc, among others.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Should India revisit the relevance of reservation?

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Another prominent leader, Geoffrey S. Martha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic will also keynote in this year`s event. Medtronic is the world`s leading medical technology company, with $29 billion in annual revenue, more than 90,000 employees, and operations reaching more than 150 countries worldwide. 
 
Martha will address BioAsia attendees on the global trends in the medtech sector including the role India and Asia can play in the global efforts to accelerate the medtech growth.

Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates will speak about the road ahead for life science and healthcare industries at BioAsia 2022, beginning from February 24.

Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates will speak about the road ahead for life science and healthcare industries at BioAsia 2022, beginning from February 24. Gates will engage in a fireside chat with Telangana`s Industry and Information Technology Minister K T Rama Rao during the virtual event. The fireside chat will be around a range of themes including the Covid-19 pandemic, learnings during the past two years, emerging healthcare trends, and what can be done to strengthen the global healthcare system going forward. The 19th edition of BioAsia, the largest annual global Biotechnology and Life Sciences convention of Asia, will see the participation of prominent leaders from the life sciences and healthcare industry. Also read | PM Modi to meet Afghan Sikh, Hindu community members soon Alex Gorsky, Executive Chairman, Johnson & Johnson and Geoff Martha, Chairman & CEO of Medtronic, will address the participants at the two-day event. "I am delighted that the 2022 edition of BioAsia will feature some of the most influential and visionary leaders. I look forward to an interesting session with Gates to assess the industry`s current position and determine the roadmap ahead. The delegates of BioAsia across the world would also benefit by listening to Gorsky and Martha who come with immense knowledge around the global life sciences industry," said Rama Rao. Bill Gates is known for his incredible philanthropic contributions through his foundation, and for his keen interest in technology, science, and emerging challenges such as climate change. In addition to sharing lessons learnt from the pandemic, Gates will also talk about the milestones achieved by the global partnership and the road ahead. With this year's theme being 'Future Ready' the focus of the chat will be on the new approaches and capabilities that can equip the world to be prepared and what is the role of stakeholders including the government, industry, etc. Also read | India makes helmets and safety harnesses a must for kids riding pillion Alex Gorsky, Executive Chairman of the world's largest healthcare company Johnson & Johnson, would deliver the keynote address during the event. Gorsky was also serving as the CEO of the company until recently and under his leadership of over 3 decades, Johnson & Johnson was consistently recognized as one of the most innovative and best managed companies in the world. Gorsky is also a member of the board of iconic global organisations including Apple and IBM, as well as the Wharton School of Business. He will share his perspectives around topics of importance for the life sciences industry like impact of the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, innovation ecosystem and start-ups, role of new technologies within healthcare such as AI, ML, Deep Learning etc, among others. Watch | Gravitas: Should India revisit the relevance of reservation? Another prominent leader, Geoffrey S. Martha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic will also keynote in this year`s event. Medtronic is the world`s leading medical technology company, with $29 billion in annual revenue, more than 90,000 employees, and operations reaching more than 150 countries worldwide. Martha will address BioAsia attendees on the global trends in the medtech sector including the role India and Asia can play in the global efforts to accelerate the medtech growth.

Bill Gates to address BioAsia in fireside chat with KTR

Lauren Terry, 23, thought she would know what to do if she contracted COVID-19. After all, she manages a lab in Tucson, Arizona, that processes COVID tests.

But when she developed symptoms on Christmas Eve, she quickly realized she had no inside information.

“I first tried to take whatever rapid tests I could get my hands on,” Terry said. “I bought some over the counter. I got a free kit from my county library. A friend gave me a box. I think I tried five different brands.” When they all turned up negative, she took a PCR test, but that too, was negative.

With clear symptoms, she didn’t believe the results. So she turned to Twitter. “I was searching for the omicron rapid test efficacy and trying to figure out what brand works on this variant and what doesn’t and how long they take to produce results,” she said. (The Food and Drug Administration has said that rapid antigen tests may be less sensitive to the omicron variant but has not identified any specific tests that outright fail to detect it.) “I started seeing people on Twitter say they were having symptoms and only testing positive days later. I decided not to see anybody for the holidays when I read that.”

She kept testing, and a few days after Christmas she received the result she had expected all along.

Though it’s been almost two years since the onset of the pandemic, this phase can feel more confusing than its start, in March 2020. Even PCR tests, the gold standard, don’t always detect every case, especially early in the course of infection, and there is some doubt among scientists about whether rapid antigen tests perform as well with omicron. And, the need for a 10-day isolation period was thrown into question after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that some people could leave their homes after only five days.

“The information is more confusing because the threat itself is more confusing,” said David Abramson, who directs the Center for Public Health Disaster Science at the NYU School of Global Public Health. “We used to know there was a hurricane coming at us from 50 miles away. Now we have this storm that is not well defined that could maybe create flood or some wind damage, but there are so many uncertainties, and we just aren’t sure.”

Many people are now coming to their own conclusions about COVID and how they should behave. After not contracting the virus after multiple exposures, they may conclude they can take more risks. Or if they have COVID they may choose to stay in isolation longer than the CDC recommends.

And they aren’t necessarily embracing conspiracy theories. People are forming opinions after reading mainstream news articles and tweets from public health researchers; they are looking at real-life experiences of people in their networks.

Still, this isn’t the same as following scientifically tested advice from experts, Abramson said. “A lot of it is anecdotal, and to say, ‘My brother-in-law did this and it worked for him, so I’m going to do it too,’ that is a poor use of probabilistic thinking,” he said.

And the people cobbling together their own guidance aren’t always looking for shortcuts. Reagan Ross, 26, who lives in San Jose, California, and is completing her doctorate in the department of communication at Stanford University, was recently asked on a date.

She had been isolating for 13 days after getting the virus, longer than the CDC’s guidelines, and no longer has any symptoms. But she decided she wouldn’t go on the date until she gets a negative antigen test.

“Some of my family members think I’m crazy,” she said. “But my date understands. He is not interested in getting COVID.”

(Abramson said you can’t go wrong by being too cautious. “If you are very cautious the odds are with you,” he said.)

Alexa Winter, 18, who works for Nordstrom Rack and lives in Minneapolis, wanted to stay home for the correct number of days, but she was confused about what that was after reading the CDC website. “I looked at the official CDC guidelines, but it was so muddled,” she said. “I couldn’t tell if it was five days or 10 days.”

Abramson said the five-day guidance “has too much ambiguity.” “I would have preferred much clearer guidance,” he said.

Winter turned to other sources. “I asked people who I communicate with on Twitter who did lockdowns what they did and what they thought I should do,” she said. “I asked my mom and dad what they thought. I asked friends of mine who had COVID before.”

Vince Hulett, 35, who works in digital marketing and lives in Ballwin, Missouri, believes it is his combination of vaccines — two Pfizer shots and a Moderna booster — that has protected him against COVID thus far. He decided to get a different booster vaccine after reading early studies that suggest the mixture may offer more protection than getting three shots of the same vaccine.

When most of his family contracted COVID over Christmas, it only made him more confident in his decision.

“I had a huge COVID outbreak in my family over Christmas. My dad and mom got it, my two daughters, my brother, his wife and their two kids,” he said. He and his wife, he said, were among the few who didn’t get it. “I 100% think my vaccine combo protected me.”

Syl Tang, a futurist, said almost everyone she knows has come to her with theories about what they think is happening right now in the pandemic.

“Everybody just wants to find a way to feel good about their choices and make sense about this world we live in right now,” she said.

Lauren Terry, 23, thought she would know what to do if she contracted COVID-19. After all, she manages a lab in Tucson, Arizona, that processes COVID tests. But when she developed symptoms on Christmas Eve, she quickly realized she had no inside information.

Lauren Terry, 23, thought she would know what to do if she contracted COVID-19. After all, she manages a lab in Tucson, Arizona, that processes COVID tests. But when she developed symptoms on Christmas Eve, she quickly realized she had no inside information. “I first tried to take whatever rapid tests I could get my hands on,” Terry said. “I bought some over the counter. I got a free kit from my county library. A friend gave me a box. I think I tried five different brands.” When they all turned up negative, she took a PCR test, but that too, was negative. With clear symptoms, she didn’t believe the results. So she turned to Twitter. “I was searching for the omicron rapid test efficacy and trying to figure out what brand works on this variant and what doesn’t and how long they take to produce results,” she said. (The Food and Drug Administration has said that rapid antigen tests may be less sensitive to the omicron variant but has not identified any specific tests that outright fail to detect it.) “I started seeing people on Twitter say they were having symptoms and only testing positive days later. I decided not to see anybody for the holidays when I read that.” She kept testing, and a few days after Christmas she received the result she had expected all along. Though it’s been almost two years since the onset of the pandemic, this phase can feel more confusing than its start, in March 2020. Even PCR tests, the gold standard, don’t always detect every case, especially early in the course of infection, and there is some doubt among scientists about whether rapid antigen tests perform as well with omicron. And, the need for a 10-day isolation period was thrown into question after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that some people could leave their homes after only five days. “The information is more confusing because the threat itself is more confusing,” said David Abramson, who directs the Center for Public Health Disaster Science at the NYU School of Global Public Health. “We used to know there was a hurricane coming at us from 50 miles away. Now we have this storm that is not well defined that could maybe create flood or some wind damage, but there are so many uncertainties, and we just aren’t sure.” Many people are now coming to their own conclusions about COVID and how they should behave. After not contracting the virus after multiple exposures, they may conclude they can take more risks. Or if they have COVID they may choose to stay in isolation longer than the CDC recommends. And they aren’t necessarily embracing conspiracy theories. People are forming opinions after reading mainstream news articles and tweets from public health researchers; they are looking at real-life experiences of people in their networks. Still, this isn’t the same as following scientifically tested advice from experts, Abramson said. “A lot of it is anecdotal, and to say, ‘My brother-in-law did this and it worked for him, so I’m going to do it too,’ that is a poor use of probabilistic thinking,” he said. And the people cobbling together their own guidance aren’t always looking for shortcuts. Reagan Ross, 26, who lives in San Jose, California, and is completing her doctorate in the department of communication at Stanford University, was recently asked on a date. She had been isolating for 13 days after getting the virus, longer than the CDC’s guidelines, and no longer has any symptoms. But she decided she wouldn’t go on the date until she gets a negative antigen test. “Some of my family members think I’m crazy,” she said. “But my date understands. He is not interested in getting COVID.” (Abramson said you can’t go wrong by being too cautious. “If you are very cautious the odds are with you,” he said.) Alexa Winter, 18, who works for Nordstrom Rack and lives in Minneapolis, wanted to stay home for the correct number of days, but she was confused about what that was after reading the CDC website. “I looked at the official CDC guidelines, but it was so muddled,” she said. “I couldn’t tell if it was five days or 10 days.” Abramson said the five-day guidance “has too much ambiguity.” “I would have preferred much clearer guidance,” he said. Winter turned to other sources. “I asked people who I communicate with on Twitter who did lockdowns what they did and what they thought I should do,” she said. “I asked my mom and dad what they thought. I asked friends of mine who had COVID before.” Vince Hulett, 35, who works in digital marketing and lives in Ballwin, Missouri, believes it is his combination of vaccines — two Pfizer shots and a Moderna booster — that has protected him against COVID thus far. He decided to get a different booster vaccine after reading early studies that suggest the mixture may offer more protection than getting three shots of the same vaccine. When most of his family contracted COVID over Christmas, it only made him more confident in his decision. “I had a huge COVID outbreak in my family over Christmas. My dad and mom got it, my two daughters, my brother, his wife and their two kids,” he said. He and his wife, he said, were among the few who didn’t get it. “I 100% think my vaccine combo protected me.” Syl Tang, a futurist, said almost everyone she knows has come to her with theories about what they think is happening right now in the pandemic. “Everybody just wants to find a way to feel good about their choices and make sense about this world we live in right now,” she said.

So you think you’re a Covid expert (but are you?) 

In what can be called signs of easing of staffing crisis in the health service, the absences among National Health Service (NHS) staff in England due to coronavirus have fallen by 22% last week, the figures showed. &nbsp;

The health leaders have&nbsp;cautioned that the staff is still under “intense” pressure. The situation was unlikely to change for months. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-to-stand-together-in-fight-against-dictatorships-britain-warns-putin-xi-446328" hreflang="en">West to stand together in fight against dictatorships, Britain warns Putin, Xi</a>

On an average day in the week to January 16, there were over 35,000 Covid absences. The count was down from around 46,000 the week prior to that. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The figures are still extremely high as compared to the levels before the Omicron surge. &nbsp;

In the beginning of December, there were just around 12,000 absences on an average day. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/19-year-old-zara-rutherford-becomes-youngest-woman-to-fly-solo-around-world-446369" hreflang="en">19-year-old Zara Rutherford becomes youngest woman to fly solo around world</a>

The absences for all kinds of reasons, including coronavirus, have reduced by 13%. The figure stands at 77,000 across the NHS. &nbsp;

Prof Stephen Powis, national medical director, NHS England, said, “Even though the numbers are going in the right direction, NHS staff will have many tough months ahead as they continue to deliver patient care while managing competing demands. While staff absences remain high and continue to increase in some parts of the country, it is good to see they have been reducing week on week. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In what can be called signs of easing of staffing crisis in the health service, the absences among National Health Service (NHS) staff in England due to coronavirus have fallen by 22% last week, the figures showed.

In what can be called signs of easing of staffing crisis in the health service, the absences among National Health Service (NHS) staff in England due to coronavirus have fallen by 22% last week, the figures showed. The health leaders have cautioned that the staff is still under “intense” pressure. The situation was unlikely to change for months. Also Read: West to stand together in fight against dictatorships, Britain warns Putin, Xi On an average day in the week to January 16, there were over 35,000 Covid absences. The count was down from around 46,000 the week prior to that. The figures are still extremely high as compared to the levels before the Omicron surge. In the beginning of December, there were just around 12,000 absences on an average day. Also Read: 19-year-old Zara Rutherford becomes youngest woman to fly solo around world The absences for all kinds of reasons, including coronavirus, have reduced by 13%. The figure stands at 77,000 across the NHS. Prof Stephen Powis, national medical director, NHS England, said, “Even though the numbers are going in the right direction, NHS staff will have many tough months ahead as they continue to deliver patient care while managing competing demands. While staff absences remain high and continue to increase in some parts of the country, it is good to see they have been reducing week on week. (With inputs from agencies)

Is crisis easing? England’s healthcare staff absences due to coronavirus fall by 22%

At a time when numerous people are reeling under various kinds of crisis across the world, Pope Francis prayed for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday. &nbsp;

On Christmas, pope urged vaccines for the poor, healthcare for all and dialogue to prevail in resolving the different conflicts in the world. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-finally-revolutionary-james-webb-space-telescope-scales-sky-on-christmas-439928" hreflang="en">Watch: Finally, James Webb Space Telescope scales sky on Christmas</a>

Due to a record spike in Covid cases in Italy, only a few thousand people thronged St Peter's Square for Francis' annual ‘Urbi et Orbi' Christmas address. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On the occasion, Francis rued ongoing conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Iraq and tensions in Ukraine and Ethiopia. He also lamented an 'unprecedented crisis' in Lebanon. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Pope gave the speech from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-horrific-shark-attack-us-male-surfer-loses-life-in-morro-bay-on-christmas-eve-439882" hreflang="en">In horrific shark attack, US male surfer loses life in Morro Bay on Christmas Eve</a>

"We have become so used to them (conflicts) that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence; we risk not hearing the cry of pain and distress of so many of our brothers and sisters," pope said. &nbsp;

"Son of God, comfort the victims of violence against women, which has increased in this time of pandemic. Offer hope to young children and adolescents suffering from bullying and abuse," he said. &nbsp;

The speech was delivered hours after a 'Midnight Mass' service was held for around 2,000 people. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

At a time when numerous people are reeling under various kinds of crisis across the world, Pope Francis prayed for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday. On Christmas, pope urged vaccines for the poor, healthcare for all and dialogue to prevail in resolving the different conflicts in the world.

At a time when numerous people are reeling under various kinds of crisis across the world, Pope Francis prayed for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday. On Christmas, pope urged vaccines for the poor, healthcare for all and dialogue to prevail in resolving the different conflicts in the world. Also Read: Watch: Finally, James Webb Space Telescope scales sky on Christmas Due to a record spike in Covid cases in Italy, only a few thousand people thronged St Peter's Square for Francis' annual ‘Urbi et Orbi' Christmas address. On the occasion, Francis rued ongoing conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Iraq and tensions in Ukraine and Ethiopia. He also lamented an 'unprecedented crisis' in Lebanon. Pope gave the speech from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica. Also Read: In horrific shark attack, US male surfer loses life in Morro Bay on Christmas Eve "We have become so used to them (conflicts) that immense tragedies are now being passed over in silence; we risk not hearing the cry of pain and distress of so many of our brothers and sisters," pope said. "Son of God, comfort the victims of violence against women, which has increased in this time of pandemic. Offer hope to young children and adolescents suffering from bullying and abuse," he said. The speech was delivered hours after a 'Midnight Mass' service was held for around 2,000 people. (With inputs from agencies)

Pope Francis prays for COVID-19 pandemic’s end, healthcare for all on Christmas

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