This edition of THE PRESCRIPTION brings up news on the miserable tragedy that occurred in Punjab state of India where poor elderly people lost their sight after use of suspected infected equipment to remove cataracts by doctors at a free eye surgery camp. Such news makes us feel sad and worried about the dilapidated state of healthcare in our nation. Though we find that states like Maharashtra are taking and making actions against non-compliance (find under National Injections) to bring in back good health within the state but still there is much lagging all across our country in medicine, devices, diagnostic kits and patient care.
Read this issue to know more on the newly released draft Schedule M-III requirements, IP addendum and other policies under Drug laws and policies. Also find newer developments on for fake medicine detection under Global injections Section. You shall find the current updates of approved / banned drugs in India under Drug Dopes. This issue also brings forward important facts on Oral Rehydration therapy and Salts (ORS) under Frequently Asked Questions.
Mark your calendar for upcoming events featured in this issue.
If you have any suggestions, comments or queries, please email me at pooja@jagograhakjago.com.
You may find our previous issues on our website jagograhakjago.com or in the NEWS ARCHIVE section of every issue of The PRESCRIPTION, in case you’ve missed any of them. You may also look us up on Facebook under Partnership for Safe Medicines India
"Call PSM India toll free helpline 1800 - 11- 4424, to bring cases of spurious medicines or any kind of adverse drug reaction to the notice of the authorities.
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Happy Reading !
Stay Safe. Stay Healthy !
Pooja Khaitan
Chief Editor ,
The PRESCRIPTION
Partnership for Safe Medicines India.
"This could be a silver lining that comes out of the Ebola crisis, because it really does underline very strongly the message about the importance of local health care systems."
Mr. Anthony Lake
UNICEF Executive -Director (CEO)
MUMBAI, 9th December,2014 :
PSM India and Consumer Online Foundation along with various stakeholders in the Healthcare sector gathered in Mumbai to celebrate Patient Solidarity Day on 9th December 2014 over a roundtable discussion to deliberate on UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE and patients' right to access quality healthcare.
For more pics click https://jagograhakjago.com/PATIENT%20SOLIDARITY%20DAY.php
Or visit our facebook page "partnership for Safe Medicines India "
NEW DELHI 6th December 2014:
Leading Consumer Organisations and Patients Groups celebrated the Patient Solidarity Day today at Mayur Vihar Housing Complex with Senior Citizens today to demonstrate their solidarity to demand access to safe and quality Healthcare for all and Universal Health Coverage for the Senior Citizens similar to the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana started in April 2008 by Government of India. Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) India, Healthy You Foundation, Consumer Online Foundation and International Alliance of Patients’ Organisation (IAPO) have come together to celebrate this day to highlight the importance of patient-centric healthcare and urgent need to take care of the elderly population growing significantly and is forecasted to hit almost 300 million in around two decades.
Vaccination in our Country like India each year claims lives of innocent children. Vaccination is itself a risk based approach as they are administered to healthy patients and generally at a very tender age. Each day newer vaccines are rolling out into the market. But, are they really safe and efficient and how aseptically manufactured? This is a matter of great concern. Regarding this context,
PSM India brings up for readers an interesting piece of article - “Stop unnecessary vaccination: eminent doctors, scientists to the PM”
Read more of it at http://www.moneylife.in/article/stop-unnecessary-vaccination-eminent-doctors-scientists-to-the-pm/39645.html and also find enclosed the letter sent to The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi regarding views/ suggestions on curbing of unnecessary vaccination by various healthcare professionals.
WHO warns that progress towards eliminating measles has stalled 2015 targets will not be metGENEVA, DEC 2014: WHO warned that progress towards the elimination of measles has stalled. The number of deaths from measles increased from an estimated 122 000 in 2012 to 145 700 in 2013, according to new data published in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Report and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The estimated number of measles deaths in 2013 represents a 75% decline in mortality since 2000, significantly below the target of a 95% reduction in deaths between 2000 and 2015.
Know more of it at:
http://www.cdsco.nic.in/forms/list.aspx?lid=1820&Id=11 and
http://www.cdsco.nic.in/writereaddata/Updated%20list%202014.xls
Zydus's biosimilar product Adalimumab now accessible in India
Mumbai, Dec 2014: Zydus Cadila, an innovative, global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and market a broad range of healthcare therapies has announced the launch of the biosimilar of Adalimumab, the world's largest selling therapy. Zydus becomes the first company in the world to launch this biosimilar product. 
FDA issues final rule on changes to pregnancy and lactation labeling information for prescription drug and biological products
December, 2014: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a final rule today that sets standards for how information about using medicines during pregnancy and breastfeeding is presented in the labeling of prescription drugs and biological products. The new content and formatting requirements will provide a more consistent way to include relevant information about the risks and benefits of prescription drugs and biological products used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Special Agent Daniel Burke, Senior Operations Manager in Charge of Cybercrime Investigations for the Office of Criminal Investigations at the U. S. Food and Drug Administration acted as moderator for Interchange 2014’s panel concerning the impacts that fake online pharmacies have on patient safety. During his opening presentation he shared stories from his investigations.
In his opening presentation for Panel 3: The Impacts of Fake Online Pharmacies on Patient Safety, Special Agent Burke explained the dangers consumers face when shopping for medication online and just how little control FDA has over quality and purity when a medication is manufactured and sold outside the secure U.S. drug supply chain.
Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What is meant by ORS and its importance?
Answer: Rapid evacuation of fluids from the body, which can be caused by cholera or other diarrheal diseases, may lead to chronic dehydration and eventually death. Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS - also known as Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)) are a solution of sugars and salts which helps to slow the evacuation of fluids, allowing for the absorption of electrolytes in the intestines. WHO and UNICEF jointly maintain official guidelines for the manufacture of ORS and recommend various alternative preparations, depending on material availability. Commercial preparations are available as either pre-prepared fluids or packets of oral rehydration salts (ORS) ready for mixing with the fluid.
Q2. What is the composition of ORS and how to make it?
Answer:WHO/UNICEF guidelines suggest ORT should begin at the first sign of diarrhea in order to prevent dehydration. WHO/UNICEF's formula for ORS consists of
2.6 grams salt (NaCl),
2.9 grams trisodium citrate dihydrate,
1.5 grams KCl,
13.5 grams anhydrous glucose C per litre of fluid.
A basic oral rehydration therapy solution is composed of salt and sugar in water, made using a standard ratio and is appropriate for use in situations when ORS must be prepared without the standard ingredient. The simple formula is:-
• 30 ml sugar : 2.5 ml salt : 1 litre fluid
• 6 teaspoons sugar : 0.5 teaspoon salt : 1 quart fluid (approx. 1 litre)
But a short piece of advice from PSM Desk is that degree of dehydration should be assessed before initiating ORT. ORT is suitable for people who are not dehydrated and those who show signs and symptoms of mild to moderate level of dehydration. People who have severe degree of dehydration should seek professional medical help immediately and receive intravenous rehydration as soon as possible to replenish fluid volume in the body.
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Disclaimer : Our newsletter endeavors to compile patient safety information from various sources . PSM India may not be held responsible for any article published in The Prescription.