Editor’s EmulsionPSM INDIA Capsules Drug Laws & Policy Injections Pharma Injections DRUG DOPES National Injections Global Injections PSM Pill DOSE OF THE DAY FAQ Subscriber's Symptom UpComing Events Laughter Dose Blog Addict Contact Us
EDITOR'S EMULSION
Warm Greetings!
Welcome to yet another exciting month and a most pleasant Reading of our newsletter.
Please do not hesitate to mail your comments on this edition to help us further improve so please feel free to get in touch with us. 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.
Stay Healthy. Stay Protected.
Pyush Misra
Editor-in-Chief
DOSE OF THE DAY
I think this whole concept of insurance has to develop, where the insurance companies are also interested in working (directly) with the pharmaceutical companies … It hasn’t fully evolved. It’s still in the early stages. Insurance or a financing mechanism is the only way to get the latest drugs in this country.
A Vaideesh,
President
Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI)
Sponsor
PSM India Capsules
Niti Aayog Compiles List Of Domestic Medical Devices To Drive Funding
New Delhi, 8 Jan 2020: Niti Aayog is reportedly preparing a list of medical devices that have the most potential for export. A list of ten such device-categories has been tentatively created. This has apparently been done to address the bottlenecks in domestic medical devices businesses.
Govt Mulls Tax Break For Desi Pharma Companies
NEW DELHI, 8 JAN 2020: In a move to boost research in drug manufacturing, the government is considering to restore tax benefits on research and development (R&D) expenditure incurred by local pharmaceutical companies in the upcoming Budget 2020.
Drug Laws & Policy Injections
In HP, Health Department Made ‘Illogical’ Purchase Of Drugs, Machinery: CAGSHIMLA, 2 JAN 2020: During the audit of the Himachal Pradesh health and family welfare department functioning during the 2015-18 period, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out that assessment of demand for procurement of drugs and consumables and their distribution was neither scientific nor systematic.
Cartel Of Doctors, Pharma Firms, Labs Fleecing Patients: Madras HC Chennai, 8 Jan 2020: Asserting that a cartel of doctors, pharma firms and diagnostic labs are fleecing patients in the country, the Madras High Court on January 8 took notice of the practise of providing 'commissions' to doctors for promoting and prescribing their drugs.
MTaI Urges Govt To Streamline Taxes And Duties To Make Medical Devices AffordableMumbai, 9 Jan 2020: The Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) has recommended to the Union finance ministry to streamline tax and duty structure in Union Budget 2020-2021 to ensure people get access to quality medical devices.
NITI Aayog Readying Make In India Fillip For Domestic Medical DevicesNew Delhi, 7 Jan 2020: To eliminate bottlenecks in domestic medical devices businesses, government think-tank NITI Aayog is drawing up a list of devices which have most potential for export. A tentative list of 10 such device-categories has been drawn up, officials said.
Health Wing To Form Separate Cadre For Building And Repairing HospitalsJaipur, 8 Jan 2020: With 15 new medical colleges coming up in the state, the medical education department and health department will develop its own cadre for construction of the new institutes and repair of existing medical colleges and attached hospitals.
Roadmap For Medical Devices Still Has Some Regulatory Stumbling BlocksMumbai, 6 Jan 2020: Against the backdrop of recalled products and patient compensation issues, a slew of meetings are underway between government and industry representatives to hammer out a roadmap for the medical device industry.
Pharma Injections
Human Biologicals Institute Launches Eco Friendly Pack For Its Anti Rabies Vaccine ‘Abhayrab’Hyderabad, 8 Jan 2020: As a socially committed organization Human Biologicals Institute, a division of Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) - a leading vaccines company, has announced that it has taken a significant step towards reducing the plastic burden on the environment by launching an eco-friendly pack for its highly successful Anti Rabies Vaccine – Abhayrab. The vaccine has saved millions of lives from the fatal Rabies disease since its launch two decades ago.
Corrupt Docs, Chinese Equipment Led To Kota Kids DeathsJaipur, 8 Jan 2020: After the death of around 112 infants in a Kota hospital in 35 days, substandard Chinese medical equipment, corruption and commission cycles have emerged as major reasons behind the tragedy besides the cold weather.
All Deaths Not Due To Negligence, Says Kota’s Chief Medical Officer NEW DELHI, 8 JAN 2020: All the 112 infant deaths have not been because of medical negligence or lack of essential medical equipment at J K Lon hospital, Kota’s chief medical health officer explained during a hearing at National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Tuesday.
Top Biosimilar Cancer Drugs May Come Under Price Control NEW DELHI, 7 JAN 2020: Taking cue from the World Health Organisation’s revised list of essential medicines, popular biosimilars for cancer cure like bevacizumab or trastuzumab and treatments like immunotherapy may get incorporated in India’s revised National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), thereby bringing a whole new set of oncology medicines and treatments under price control, said officials in the know.
Lamotrigine Must Carry Warning About ‘Immune System Reaction’ New Delhi, 6 Jan 2020: Lamotrigine, a widely-sold medicine to treat bipolar disorder and seizures in epileptic patients will now have to carry a side-effect warning of possible ‘immune system reaction’ on its packages.
IPC Registers 4 Lakh ADRs Since 2010 Mumbai, 7 Jan 2020: The Ghaziabad-based Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), the nodal coordinating centre (NCC) for Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), has generated 4 lakh adverse drug reactions since 2010 towards strengthening India specific drug safety database.
Drug Dopes
DCA, AP Cracks Down On Pharma PortalsVijayawada, 9 Jan 2020: Drug Control Administration (DCA) officials cracked the whip on the online sale of medicines and initiated action against leading pharmacy portals like 1mg.com, phareasy.com, zoylo and netmeds.com. The director general of DCA, Kripa Nand Tripathi Ujela, in a statement on Wednesday, said that selling medicine online is not allowed according to the injunction order given by the Delhi high court. 
4 Cartons Of Cough Syrup Seized In Subarnapur, 3 HeldSubarnapur, 6 Jan 2020: Tightening the noose around the necks of illegal drug traders, police arrested at least three persons and seized 4 cartons of cough syrup along with huge cache of banned drugs from their possession by conducting a raid in Malipada and Chamarpada areas of Subarnapur town on Monday.
JK Lon Hospital: Facility Starts Repair Of Medical Gadgets Jaipur, 6 Jan 2020: Repairs and purchase of equipment has started at Kota's JK Lon Hospital. Three ventilators, which were found completely defunct, will be discarded. However, three ventilators will be repaired. A team of engineers is taking stock of the equipment.
After Capping Trade Margins On 42 Cancer Drugs In 2019, Govt May Expand Move To Other Medicines New Delhi, 5 Jan 2020: The government in 2019 made progress in its goal towards a regime of self-regulation by the pharmaceutical industry, with decisions that signify a shift in how prices of medicines and medical devices in India may be regulated this year.
Snake Venom Worth Rs 1.5 Crore Seized, Three Arrested In West Bengal MALDA, 4 JAN 2020: Three persons have been arrested in West Bengal's Malda district with snake venom worth approximately Rs 1.5 crore in the international market, police said on Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested the trio from a hotel in English Bazaar town on Friday night and recovered the snake venom which was stored in a glass container, district Superintendent of Police Alok Rajoria said.
Yaba Drug Tablets Worth Rs 8.52 Crore Seized In TripuraAgartala (Tripura), 4 Jan 2020: Border Security Force (BSF) along with Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 1,68,500 yaba drug tablets worth Rs 8.52 crore in a joint operation, an official release has said.
National Injections
Why Govt Hospitals Have Such High Child Mortality Rate New Delhi, 5 Jan 2020: Reacting to the death of more than 963 children in 2019 at the JK Lon Hospital in Kota, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot pointed out that this was the lowest death toll of children in the hospital since 2014. It’s a tone-deaf response, but he’s right.
PM Modi Aims For $100 Billion Bio-Manufacturing Hub; Industry Says Target Seems AggressiveNew Delhi, 3 Jan 2020: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the government aims to develop India as a world-class $100 billion bio-manufacturing hub by 2024. This, he said, will happen with right policy initiatives and support to innovative research, human resource development and enterprise.
PvPI Cautions Physicians On Rational Use Of Anti-Inflammatory Drug Nimesulide Mumbai, 6 Jan 2020: Despite being banned by the Union health ministry for use in patients below 12 years of age following severe adverse reaction, nimesulide is rampantly being prescribed by scores of physicians across the country to treat children with fever and cold.
Govt Set To Cap Trade Margins On Drug Sale To Check Profiteering NEW DELHI, 6 JAN 2020: The Centre is set to cap trade margins on medicines, allowing retailers to earn 20% on the MRP and wholesalers a 10% margin at which they supply. It is proposed that the total margin from the first point of sale should not exceed 42.8%, sources said.
Partnerships For Affordable And Innovative Cancer Drugs Needed Chennai, 5 Jan 2020: Noting that there are a large number of drugs to treat cancer but not one has come out of India, Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist, World Health Organisation (WHO), called for partnerships to bring out innovative and affordable drugs.
Activist Demands Govt Action Against 'Killer' Pharma Firms In AP VIJAYAWADA, 4 JAN 2020: A civil rights activist has demanded swift and robust government action against pharmaceutical companies in Andhra Pradesh, saying that such companies have for long been not held to account for fatal accidents in their premises.
Global Injections
No Link Between Talcum Powder And Ovarian Cancer, Finds Major StudyWashington, 8 Jan 2020: A major US government-led study published on Tuesday found no link between ovarian cancer and the use of talcum powder in the genital area, citing data from more than 250,000 women.
Indian-Origin Physician Sentenced To Two Years In USNEW YORK, 8 JAN 2020: Indian-origin physician has been sentenced to 2 years in prison and ordered to pay fine and restitution of over a million dollars for engaging in a multi-faceted health care fraud scheme.
New Method To Improve Development Of New Medicines
New York, 6 Jan 2020: A new mathematical framework on molecular interactions will make it easier and more efficient for scientists to develop new medicines and other therapies for diseases such as cancer, HIV and autoimmune diseases, say reseachers.
Guidance Released By The US FDA Assists Developers In Demonstrating Effectiveness Of Drugs And Biologics
Maryland, 3 Jan 2020: The FDA released a draft guidance document entitled “Demonstrating Substantial Evidence of Effectiveness for Human Drug and Biological Products Guidance for Industry” to clarify the evidence required to prove the effectiveness of drugs and biologics.
BioAsia To Be Held From February 17 To 19, 2020 At HICC, Hyderabad
Mumbai, 2 Jan 2020: With the theme - Today For Tomorrow - BioAsia 2020, will be held from February 17 to 19, 2020 at HICC, Hyderabad. The event will have participation from more than 50 countries and more than 70 speakers. It will also have participation of more than 800 companies and more than 1,800 visitors are expected. The event is organised by Government of Telangana.
Facebook Removes Misleading HIV Drug Ads
London, 31 Dec 2019: Facebook has removed adverts about HIV prevention medicines, following intense lobbying from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer advocacy groups. They argued in an open letter sent to Facebook in December, that the ads went beyond misinformation to "put people's lives in imminent danger".
PSM PILL
Doctor In Pennsylvania Pleads Guilty To Treating Patients With Imported Injectable Biologic Medications
December 20, 2019 : The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reporting that Dr. Thomas Whalen, a rheumatologist who practiced medicine in Havertown, Pennsylvania has pleaded guilty to charges he purchased non-FDA approved, temperature-sensitive biologic medication from Turkey and the United Kingdom to treat his rheumatology patients.
Doctor In Idaho Sentenced For Treating Patients With Counterfeit Devices
December 9, 2019 : According to KVTB Dr. Temp Ray Patterson, who formerly practiced medicine in Burley, Idaho, admitted in court that he knowingly implanted counterfeit breast implants in nine patients. The Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that Patterson used the fake implants on patients from March 2014 to April 2015. According to the DOJ, the counterfeit breast implants were from China, and Patterson relabeled them to make it appear they were FDA-approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
In case of Rare Disease should Doctors Give Active Ingredients In Food ?
After more than six years of waiting for a desi company to formulate a drug to help children fight cystinosis, a rare genetic disease, a city-based non-government organisation has sought permission from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to administer active ingredients of the drug directly with food.. Read More>>>
SUBSCRIBER'S SYMPTOM
Taiho Pharmaceuticals Moves US Court Against Natco On Generic Cancer Drug
Hyderabad, 2 Jan 2020: Taiho Pharmaceutical, a Japanese pharmaceuticals company and its group company have moved a US court against Natco Pharma, alleging that the Indian drug maker was attempting to come out with a generic version of its cancer medicine 'Lonsurf,' before expiration of its patent.
Blog Addicts
Dr. Harish Tripathi, MBBS "The Prescription" helps give me my monthly dose of current pharma news which I eagerly look forward to in order to keep myself abreast as a more aware reader. Keep up the good work.
Ms Susheela Singh, ProfessionalWant to commend the PSM India publication team for all the good work they do in bringing out this bi-monthly newsletter. Well done.
Mr Ramamurthy Iyer, Pharma Expert
Very beautifully and aptly captures important news in the Pharma domain. Excellent work.
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