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EDITOR'S EMULSION
Chennai floods have ravaged life, crops and property but not the humane spirit. Overcoming such a huge natural disaster shall take time but seeing the relentless efforts of people from all quarters in lending a helpful hand has only brightened all hopes. PSM India prays for the good health of every citizen of Chennai and the world. May the spirit of service continue with the same zeal.
Patient Solidarity Day, organized by PSM India was celebrated with lot of enthusiasm at Jamshedpur on 5th Dec, 2015. We were overwhelmed by the active participation shown by our supporters and healthcare stakeholders. On behalf of PSM India team, I take this opportunity in thanking all our active participants who joined us at Jamshedpur to attend the Patient solidarity Day event. Fruitful discussions took place on healthcare being a human right and healthcare access to all. Read more on it under Psm India Capsules.
Botched cataract surgeries are claiming vision ruthlessly throughout India. Who is responsible and how can it be stopped? PSM India capsules gets you a clear insight into the matter.
Quacks acting as medical practitioners in Hyderabad; every 13th new cancer patient is an Indian and what is the best blood pressure reading for Indians; we bring to you all this under our National Injections in this issue of The Prescription.
Various amendments and policies are being undertaken by the Health ministry. Catch up with the latest in our drug laws and policy injections section. Don’t miss to read the article on the special measures taken by the National Health Mission on Expansion of Healthcare Services.
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Happy Reading !
Stay Safe. Stay Healthy !
Pooja Khaitan
Chief Editor ,
The PRESCRIPTION
Partnership for Safe Medicines India.
DOSE OF THE DAY
“Technology is a good intermediary. There is a gap of 1.5-2 million doctors in India, so we need technology to bring medicine to every Indian. India has seen the highest growth of Internet penetration. And there is a demand-supply gap when it comes to medical care, which can be reduced through technology”.
Mr. Arvind Gupta
Head of the Digital India Foundation.
PSM India Capsules
PSM India celebrates PATIENT SOLIDARITY DAY, Jamshedpur 5th Dec 2015
On 5 December 2015, patients from across the world come together to celebrate Patient Solidarity Day. India needs 10% of the GDP towards Public Healthcare. Citizens of Jamshedpur in India demanded this on the occasion of Patient Solidarity Day, celebrated globally by the members of the International Alliance of Patients' Organisations (IAPO). Founder of Consumer Online Foundation and PSM India along with other Consumer and Human Rights Organisations organized the event on 5th December 2015 at the XLRI TATA Auditorium.
This year the theme was "Healthcare is a human right" and PSM India strongly feels that every citizen of the world may have it!
The event saw various healthcare stakeholders discuss the issue of access to healthcare for all citizens. It was well attended by an audience from various spheres of society. PSM India reaches out to appreciate all those who came forward for the cause by attending and organizing the event.
Need to stop botched cataract surgeries from claiming vision
Dec, 2015: Recently, in the last couple of months there has been increased incidence of botched cataract surgeries all across India. 15 patients lose eyesight in Ambala, Haryana in Nov, 2015 and in the bigger cataract surgery menace in Barwani district , Madhya Pradesh in Dec 2015, around 40 patients have lost their eyesight and only five of them were able to get back their vision after Doctors from AIIMS, New Delhi had tried hard to restore their vision.
National Injections
Over 100 quacks held in Hyderabad police raids
Hyderabad, 2015: In the wake of a recent shocking incident in which a quack burnt the body of a patient who died because of an injection, police in Hyderabad launched a massive drive detaining over 100 medical practitioners. 
Blood pressure reading of 120/80 is best for Indians New Delhi, Dec 2015: A significant research published in the Journal Heart Asia this month had warned that the European and North American blood pressure guidelines - issued last year at 140/90 mmHg being the new normal - may actually increase the stroke risk if adapted for Asian patients, particularly the elderly.
Every 13th new cancer patient is an Indian: Union Health MinisterDecember 2015: Every 13th new cancer patient in the world is an Indian as the country shares 7.5 per cent of global cancer burden, Health Minister JP Nadda said on replying to a question in Lok Sabha. The minister said out of 1,40,67,894 cases of cancer in 2012, India reported 10,57,204 cases.
Drug Laws & Policy Injections
Centre to amend D&C Rules to bring all notified medical devices under Schedule M IIIMumbai, Dec 2015: The Union health ministry will soon amend Schedule M III relating to requirements of factory premises for manufacture of medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic reagents or kits to bring all the notified medical devices under the ambit of Schedule M III which at present is being regulated under the provision of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. 
Centre notifies phytopharmaceuticals in D&C (Eighth Amendment) Rules, 2015 in Rule 2 Bengaluru, Dec 2015: Union government notified in the gazette that phytopharmaceutical drugs will be inserted under a separate definition in the Drugs & Cosmetics (Eighth Amendment) Rules, 2015.
Health Ministry to enhance autonomy for nurses in midwifery to address shortage of doctors at delivery points Dec, 2015: The Union Health Ministry will soon enhance clinical autonomy for Nurse Practitioner in Midwifery (NPM) as an independent practitioner for addressing the longstanding issue of shortage of doctors, especially at delivery points.
Centre to introduce 4 new vaccines for infants in January 2016 Pune: The Union government will introduce four new vaccines for infants in the country from January next year. The initiative is part of Mission Indradhanush - a flagship program to immunize children against preventable diseases and reduce infant mortality, said Union minister of Health and Family welfare, J P Nadda .
Cluster Development Programme for Pharma Sector announced Bengaluru,Dec,2015: The Government has announced a central sector scheme titled ‘Cluster Development Programme for Pharma Sector (CDP-PS)’.
Expansion of Healthcare Services Dec 2015 : Public health being a State subject, the primary responsibility of providing health care services to the population including women and children in rural areas is that of the respective State/UT Government.
Pharma Injections
Regular antibiotics use can lead to MDR-TB A recent study has suggested that prescribing antibiotic dose once or twice can lead to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in tuberculosis patients, compared to daily antibiotics regimen. The study results were published in the journal BMC Systems Biology. 
Availability of Vaccines against Swine Flu Bengaluru, December 2015: The Government of India has recommended trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine which is available in the country and can be obtained as per the requirement. Based on epidemiological evidence, the advice of World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and subject experts, the Government of India recommends vaccination of high risk groups with seasonal influenza vaccine.
With the rising air pollution levels in the Capital, here’s how you can avoid being exposed to unhealthy air According to World Health Organization, Delhi has become the most polluted city in the world. This is a cause of grave concern because air pollution has been linked to various life-threatening diseases including respiratory disorders, heart attacks, and strokes.
Global Injections
Takedown operation culls counterfeit-peddling websites Dec 2015: An international enforcement operation has resulted in the seizures of almost a thousand domain names for sites selling counterfeit goods.
Fruit-flavored drugs to cut child TB deaths, combat 'superbugs' NAIROBI: Children will be more likely to survive tuberculosis (TB), the world's most deadly infectious disease, once new strawberry and raspberry flavored medicines are available early next year, experts said.
WHO checklist targets major causes of maternal and newborn deaths in health facilitiesDec 2015 | Geneva : Worldwide, the majority of maternal and newborn deaths occur around the time of birth, typically within the first 24 hours after childbirth. Most of these deaths are preventable. WHO's new "Safe Childbirth Checklist and Implementation Guide" targets the major causes of maternal and newborn complications and deaths, including post-partum haemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour, preeclampsia and birth asphyxia.
Drug Dopes
Shri J P Nadda announces India Launch of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched the injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in India as part of its commitment to the “Global Polio Endgame Strategy” at a function, in the presence of Shri Shripad Yasso Naik, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister stated that in a landmark step to provide double protection to our children and securing our gains of polio eradication, the Government of India is introducing IPV into its routine immunization program along with oral polio vaccine.
Hetero's FDC drug ledipasvir-sofosbuvir gets DCGI nod to treat hepatitis C Hetero, one of India’s leading generic pharmaceutical companies and one of the world’s largest producer of anti-retroviral drugs, announced that it is the first company in India to receive the approval for the fixed-dose combination ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (90mg/400mg) from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
India's first diabetes app launched to ease diabetic lives With the launch of India's first diabetes app, the nation finally has a solution to make the lives of diabetics much easier and convenient in terms of tracking and analyzing their glucose levels.
Pharma companies step up campaign against spurious drugs Mumbai: Multi national pharma companies have intensified measures to prevent sale of spurious medicines through laboratory tests, improved packaging and awareness drives.
FDA clears chewable methylphenidate for ADHD The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a chewable tablet form of extended-release methylphenidate (QuilliChew ER, Pfizer Inc), 20, 30 and 40 mg, for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children aged 6 years and older. The tablets will be scored to permit dose to be individualized. It is to be taken once daily in the morning with or without food. The recommended starting dose is 20 mg daily, with the dosage increased or decreased weekly in increments of 10, 15, or 20 mg per day. Maximum daily dose is 60 mg.
A biomarker for early detection of lung cancer identified Researchers have identified a biomarker, Huntingtin interaction protein-1 (HIP1), which detects non-small cell lung cancer in its earliest stage. With early detection of non-small cell lung cancer, the 5-year survival is about 70%. When NSCLC is detected at an advanced stage, this 5-year survival is less than 10%. According to the study reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Medicine, HIP1 repressed the mobility of lung cancer cells in laboratory studies and suppressed metastasis in a mouse model of the cancer in addition to serving as a biomarker. Patients in the earliest stages of the diseases expressed more HIP1 vs those in the later stages of the disease. These patients also had a significant correlation with longer survival.
PSM PILL
PSM Board President Dr. Marv Shepherd Explains The Dangers Of Drug Importation
Dr. Shepherd was interviewed on a local Austin radio station and described for listeners the realities of the counterfeit medication economy, and the dangers U.S. citizens face from imported medication.
After William Scully, owner of the unlicensed pharmaceutical importer Medical Device King/Pharmalogical, was convicted on charges relating to his drug importation business, Bill Swail, host of the Austin radio program “Let’s Get Healthy” invited Dr. Marv Shepherd to come on the show and talk about the dangers of drug importation.
Frequently Asked Questions Q1. Why Vitamin D is called Sunshine Vitamin?
Answer: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as a steroid hormone. Vitamin D influences the bones, intestines, immune and cardiovascular systems, pancreas, muscles, brain, and the control of cell cycles. Vitamin D is unique because it can be made in the skin from exposure to sunlight. Thirty to 90 minutes in the sun will give the average person all the daily vitamin D he/she needs. The key is in the skin’s oils -- a derivative of cholesterol called 7-dehydrocholesterol. When exposed to sunshine, this compound is converted to cholecalciferol – which is then converted to the actual vitamin D, known as: 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol, or D3. Therefore, Vitamin D is called sunshine vitamin.Read More>>>
Q2. What are Sunscreens and what is their importance?
Answer: Sunscreen is a lotion, spray, gel or other topical product that absorbs or reflects some of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation and thus helps protect against sunburn. Depending on the mode of action, sunscreens can be classified into physical sunscreens (i.e., those that reflect the sunlight) or chemical sunscreens (i.e., those that absorb the UV light) Sunscreen use can help prevent melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Read More>>>
Blog Addicts
Mrs. Smriti Kapoor, Health columnist tweets: Thanks PSM India for all the education. Lot to learn and update!
Mr. Arunesh Goswami, Physiologist blogs:We consumers appreciate PSM India for keeping us up-to-date with information on online pharmacies. Regulations should be quickly put in order to stop their rapid growth.
Dr. Rithika, Medical Officer writes:
Thanks a lot PSM India for sharing information on prevention of lifestyle diseases. Really nice articles- very informative !
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