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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
“Following the vision of accessibility and affordability, the NPPA and other regulatory authorities need to play a proactive role in such a situation to ensure that the medicines used for the treatment of COVID-19 are not in short supply. However, we are seeing that one of the ICMR recommended medicines, ‘Remedisivir’ is in shorter supply and creating a panic situation in the country.”
Prof Bejon Kumar Misra,
Founder Director,
Patients Safety and Access Initiative
Sponsor
Patient Safety Capsules
Govt’s Dilly Dallying On API Monitoring Cell Hurts Drug Industry
Mumbai, 6 July 2020: The government’s dilly dallying on setting up of an API monitoring cell to regulate quality and prices of bulk drugs over the last two years has hit the drug industry badly.
Govt Removes Face Masks, Hand Sanitisers From Essential Commodities List
New Delhi, 7 July 2020: The ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has taken out face masks and hand sanitisers from the list of essential commodities. The relaxation will help free pricing, storage and marketing of the two products, which are in great demand ever since COVID-19 pandemic began to spread in India.
Drug Laws & Policy Injections
People Cannot Be Forced To Donate Plasma: Delhi HCNEW DELHI, 4 JULY 2020: People cannot be forced to give an undertaking to donate plasma before receiving treatment for Covid-19, and any donation has to be voluntary, Delhi high court observed on Friday.
Govt To Announce Scheme To Boost Output Of 41 Bulk Drugs New Delhi, 9 July 2020: The government is set to announce the contours of a scheme to boost the production of 41 bulk drugs — ranging from antibiotics to ingredients for lifesaving TB and heart drugs like penicillin-G, vitamin B1, prednisolone and diclofenac sodium. The scheme, coming at a time when India’s dependence on China for crucial medicine ingredients has come under the scanner, is being finalised this week, The Indian Express has learnt.
HC Directs Telangana To Act Against Pvt Hospitals ‘Fleecing’ PatientsHyderabad, 8 Jul 2020: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the K Chandrashekar Rao government to take action against private hospitals charging exorbitant rates for the treatment of Covid-19.
GST Intelligence Wing To Check Tax Evasion By Hand Sanitiser ManufacturersNew Delhi, 8 Jul 2020: The goods and services tax (GST) intelligence wing will check tax evasions by hand sanitiser manufacturers across India, according to government sources.
Govt Tells Customs To Invoke NDPS Act In All Cross-Border Drugs Smuggling CasesNew Delhi, 7 Jul 2020: Taking serious note of cross-border smuggling of drugs, the government has asked prosecuting agencies to invoke the stringent NDPS Act in all such cases, officials said on Tuesday.
DCGI Warns Against Overpricing, ShortageNew Delhi, 8 July 2020: After receiving several complaints of drug shortages, India’s drugs controller on Tuesday directed state authorities to ensure there is no black marketing or over-pricing of the antiviral drug remdesivir that it has allowed under emergency use authorization for severely ill patients of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Pharma Injections
Cipla’s First Batch Of Remdesivir Dispatched From Sovereign PharmaDaman, 7 July 2020: As Indian medical authorities and the pharma industry are working relentlessly to provide medications to treat Coronavirus, Sovereign Pharma announced the dispatch of its first batch of Remdesivir injections for Cipla today.
MP HC Orders Transfer Of ABAs Of Quacks From Trial CourtJabalpur, 6 Jul 2020: The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday ordered transfer of anticipatory bail applications of quacks and alternative medicine practitioners pending in the trial court to HC for hearing along with a PIL. Quacks and alternate medicine practitioners are facing action from the state health department action for providing allopathic treatment to persons suffering from cough and fever without taking note of coronavirus infection, said the petitioner's counsel Paritosh Gupta.
Indian Drug Firms Recall Products In US Market New Delhi, 5 July 2020: Indian drug firms like Lupin, Marksans Pharma, and Alembic Pharmaceuticals are recalling products in the US market, as per the latest enforcement report by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).
CSIR Testing Patalgarudi To Fight Against COVID-19 New Delhi, 4 July 2020: CSIR sought the permission of the Drug Controller General to test the medicinal herb Cocculus hirsutus in humans. Cocculus hirsutus is a tropical, invasive creeper with the common name broom creeper or Patalgarudi (Sanskrit). It is native to India, Pakistan, and tropical Africa.
CIC Passes Strictures Against Officers For Inept Handling Of RTI Applications JAMMU, 3 JULY 2020: Central Information Commission (CIC) has passed strictures against some officers of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory for inept handling of applications under Right to Information Act and stressed the need for proper management of the records pertaining to the transparency law.
Bought For Rs. 9, Sold At Rs.108 - Uproar In Punjab As Activist Reveals ‘Big Chemist Profits’ Chandigarh: A small “non-profit” chemist shop in Ludhiana has become the centre of a massive controversy in Punjab after its manager brought out what he claimed is the “best kept secret of the pharmacy industry”.
Drug Dopes
Haryana: Huge Cache Of Narcotics Seized In Ambala, Two HeldAMBALA, 8 JULY 2020: In another big seizure of narcotics in Ambala district, the crime investigation agency (CIA) Naraingarh on Tuesday arrested two accused after recovering 100 bottles of cough syrup and 5,800 narcotic capsules from their possession under limits of Shahazadpur police station, said the superintendent of police (SP) Abhishek Jorwal. 
Jalandhar Firm Loses Licence Over Hazardous SanitiserChandigarh, 7 July 2020: In an order issued on Monday, Dr Rakesh Sharma, Director, Ayurveda, cancelled the licence of a Jalandhar-based hand sanitiser manufacturing company till further orders. Besides sealing their stock, the authorities have recalled their product supplied to market. “Any sanitiser containing methanol is a serious issue and we will take strict action,” said Dr Sharma.
Serum Institute Of India Expects COVID Vaccine By Year-End Mumbai, 7 July 2020: Vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII) is hoping to develop a COVID-19 vaccine by the year-end as it is focusing on a "good and safe" product and is not in a "rush", the company's CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Tuesday.
Sanitiser And Mask Prices To Be Capped By Maha Govt MUMBAI, 7 JULY 2020: State health minister Rajesh Tope said that the government has decided to cap prices of masks and sanitisers. He said that since masks and sanitisers are an essential part of the ‘new normal’, there was demand that the price of these essential items be capped.
Manufacturer To Replace 81 ‘Unsuitable’ Ventilators Mumbai, 5 July 2020: After the state-run JJ and St George Hospitals said that 81 Indian-made ventilators, donated by NGOs last month, were not suitable for Covid-19 patients, the manufacturer has said it will replace them with an upgraded version. The hospitals said, however, that they would first see how the new ventilators worked on Covid-19 patients before accepting the new batch.
Punjab HC Orders Probe After Bail Plea Of Drugs Case Accused ‘Conceals’ Earlier Dismissal Of ApplicationChandigarh, 4 July 2020: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered its Registrar (Judicial) to probe a matter in which material facts were allegedly concealed from the court while placing a bail plea of a drugs case accused before it. The Registrar (Judicial) has been asked to file a report in this regard.
National Injections
Letter By DG Meant To Cut Unnecessary Red Tape, Says ICMR New Delhi, 4 July 2020: After questions were raised over the DG ICMR letter dated 2nd July, to 12 institutions involved in clinical trials to speed up the trial process, the ICMR has finally responded. ICMR in a statement released today said, “Based on in-depth scrutiny of the available data from pre-clinical studies, the Drugs Controller General of India has accorded permission to conduct phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.
Delhi HC Directs NPPA From Taking Any Coercive Steps Against GlenmarkNew Delhi, 4 July 2020: In a huge relief to Glenmark Pharmaceutical Ltd, the Delhi High Court today enjoined the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) from taking any coercive steps against Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd pursuant to its Notication dated 03.03.2020 and Order dated 20.03.2020, wherein NPPA had xed the retail price of the new drug being "Remo M" and "RemoZen M" containing Remogliozin Etabonate + Metformin Hydrochloride (100mg + 500 mg and 100mg + 1000mg) ('subject formulation').
NPPA Asks Pharma Companies To Provide Stock Details To Ensure Availability Of Drugs Hyderabad, 8 Jul 2020: In a bid to ensure adequate availability of drugs used in the fight against Covid-19, India’s drug pricing regulator has asked pharmaceutical companies to share information such as the stock position, the countries from where the key starting material is being imported and details of procurement orders.
Raj Will First Validate ICMR-Recommended Kits Before Starting Antigen Tests Jaipur, 3 July 2020: After a bad experience with faulty Chinese kits, sent through ICMR, used in antibodies Covid-19 test, the state government is taking all necessary precautions before launching the antigen-based testing that helps identify positive cases quickly.
Emami Claims Legal Ownership Of ‘Glow & Handsome’, Threatens Legal Action Against HUL New Delhi, 3 July 2020: Hours after Hindustan Unilever announced the change in name for its fairness products replacing fair with glow, rival Emami has objected HUL’s decision to rename its men’s range as Glow and Handsome. Emami says that it already launched its own brand 'Emami Glow & Handsome’ a week ago digitally and has also made necessary applications to relevant authorities.
ICMR Partners With Bharat Biotech To Launch Covid-19 Vaccine By August 15 NEW DELHI, 3 JULY 2020: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) for clinical trials of indigenous vaccine for the coronavirus disease.
Global Injections
Don’t Rely On Temperature Screening Products For Detection Of Coronavirus: MHRAUnited Kingdom, 6 July 2020: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warns that thermal cameras and other such “temperature screening” products, some of which make direct claims to screen for COVID-19, are not a reliable way to detect if people have the virus.
US FDA Authorizes COVID-19 Combination Diagnostic TestWashington, 4 July 2020: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for the third diagnostic test for detection and differentiation of the viruses that cause flu and the novel coronavirus in individuals suspected of COVID-19.
US FDA Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance, Setting 50% Effectiveness Threshold
Maryland, 30 June 2020: In an immediately effective guidance issued Tuesday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets its expectations for the development and licensure of vaccines to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including considerations for manufacturing, nonclinical and clinical studies and post-licensure requirements.
Mom's Oral Fluconazole Linked To Bone And Muscle Defects In Baby
Boston, 21 May 2020: Oral fluconazole in pregnancy was linked to increased risk for congenital bone and muscle abnormalities in a population-based cohort study.
Scientists Discover Differences In The Blood Samples Of Severe, Mild COVID-19 Patients
LONDON, 6 JUNE 2020: Researchers have identified proteins in the blood of COVID-19 patients which are linked to the disease severity, an advance that may lead to markers that provide information on the progression of their illness.
Glowing Bacteria And Microfluidics Combined To Help Reduce Antibiotic Prescribing
United Kingdom, 6 July 2020: Scientists at the University of Exeter have developed a new technique that could help to reduce antibiotic prescribing by predicting within minutes which drugs may be effective against specific bacteria. The novel microfluidic technique works by exploiting the fluorescent properties of antibiotics to see if they are taken up by the bacteria and have a chance of being active. If the antibiotics can penetrate through the bacterial cell membrane and are taken up, then the bacteria glow brighter under the microscope.
PSAIIF PILL
Govt Launches Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020 (DDH2020)
New Delhi, 2 July 2020: The Union Government launched Drug Discovery Hackathon in the presence of Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union Minister for Human Resource Development.
More Than 10% Price Hike Not Allowed For COVID-19 Medical Devices
New Delhi, 2 July 2020: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has stepped up vigil over the pricing pattern of critical medical equipment used for COVID-19 management. In a stakeholder meeting called by the authority on July 1, NPPA is known to have asked all manufacturers and sellers of medical equipment and devices needed for COVID-19 treatment to ensure that their products carry maximum retail price label and the price hikes, if any, are within the annual 10 percent limit, and justified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the FSSAI Guidelines For Cleaning Fruits And Vegetables ?
New Delhi, 1 July 2020: Experts have time and again recommended cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and objects, including food items, to prevent the spread of coronavirus. While there is no concrete evidence of the virus being transmitted through food, it is recommended that fruits and vegetables are washed properly before consumption. Read More>>>
SUBSCRIBER'S SYMPTOM
NPPA Revises Price Of Heparin Upwards By 50% Until Dec 2020
Mumbai, 2 July 2020: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised the prices of blood thinner drug heparin upwards by 50 per cent until December, 2020 for its consistent availability in view of the increase in API costs from China in COVID-19 scenario.
Blog Addicts
Mr Shiv Chaudhary, MD Excellent articles that make very good reading. Well done.
Mr Ramcharan Singh, IT ProfessionalThe Prescription is very well presented with extremely useful information for readers.
Ms Gitanjali Sharma, Professional
Good newsletter which brings an in depth understanding of news events in the Pharma world both nationally and globally. Keep up the good work.
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PSAIIF may not be held responsible for any article published in The Prescription.
