** Blade India launches air ambulance services amid increase in demand

This enables immediate medical assistance and makes for a hassle-free experience for families going through difficult times, the company said.

US-based helicopter transport services provider Blade’s Indian subsidiary on Wednesday announced the launch of medical emergency services across the country, amid an increasing demand for air ambulance services in the wake of the pandemic.

** INS Jalashwa reaches Vizag with 300 MT medical oxygen

Consignment includes more than 3,600 oxygen cylinders from Singapore and Brunei

In the largest consignment of liquid medical oxygen, Navy’s INS Jalashwa arrived in Visakhapatnam with 300 metric tonne of oxygen and more than 3,600 oxygen cylinders from Singapore and Brunei under the ongoing Operation Samudra Setu II, the Navy said on Sunday.

** Oxygen Express piloted by ‘All female crew’ reaches Bengaluru

An Oxygen Express train piloted by an ‘All Female Crew’ arrived in the city with 120 metric tonnes of medical oxygen from Jamshedpur.

“The 7th Oxygen Express to Karnataka has arrived in Bengaluru from Tatanagar (Jamshedpur) on Friday.

This Oxygen Express train piloted by an all female crew will ensure continued supply of oxygen for COVID-19 patients in the State,” Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted on Saturday.

** Over 34000 kg of Zeolite for oxygen production reaches Bengaluru airport from Rome

In yet another move that would help tide over the oxygen shortage in Karnataka, a total of 34,200 kilograms of Zeolite, a key component in production of oxygen, reached the Bengaluru airport from Rome via two Air India cargo flights on Sunday morning.

** Cipla launches RT-PCR test kit ‘ViraGen’ in India, partnership with Ubio Biotech

ViraGen is Cipla’s third offering in the COVID-19 testing segment.

Drug major Cipla on Thursday announced the commercialisation of its RT-PCR test kit ‘ViraGen’ for COVID-19 in India, in partnership with Ubio Biotechnology Systems.

“This launch will help address the current testing services and capacity issues while reaffirming the company’s ongoing expansion in the diagnostic space,” Cipla said in a regulatory filing.

Cipla will launch ViraGen test kit in the country in partnership with Ubio Biotechnology Systems, the company stated.

The company will commence supply of the COVID-19 virus detection kit from May 25, 2021.

** Covid: Indian firm to produce Johnson & Johnson vaccine

India’s Biological E. will produce the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine alongside its own candidate, its managing director told Reuters on Tuesday, which could boost the country’s overall supplies amid a shortage.

“The infrastructure and plants are completely separate for both the products and we will be producing both independent of each other,” Mahima Datla said in a text message, declining to give any timeline or other details