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EDITOR'S EMULSION

Pooja Khaitan

On 8th May, we celebrated Mother’s Day. Of all the gifts that life has to offer, a loving mother is the greatest of them all. Heart disease is an important cause of death in women. A large percentage of women in India are prone to heart disease. Many among these remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated. It is not only working women, housewives too are at risk. Therefore, please try to get your dearest Mother to have an annual physical check up to terminate any kind of cardiovascular problems and other complications. Happy Mothers' Day to all the wonderful moms out there. I dedicate this issue to my beautiful and fabulous mom. Read More>>>

If you have any suggestions, comments or queries, please email me at pooja@jagograhakjago.com.
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Pooja Khaitan
Chief Editor , The PRESCRIPTION Partnership for Safe Medicines India.

DOSE OF THE DAY

“There is an urgent need for translational health in India and India must forge partnerships for drugs and treatment strategies for diseases that affects it the most. Malaria elimination development project is one such step in the right direction”.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan
MD, Director General,
ICMR & Secretary,
Department of Health Research (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare), India

PSM India Capsules

Meagre doctor patient ratio -- a burning matter of concern in the Indian healthcare system

Very recently, there was a statistical data released by Medical Council of India claiming that the doctor-population ratio in the country stands at 1:1681. And this was based on the assumption that 80% of these doctors were available on any given day. This excluded non-allopathy doctors. Between April 2013 and March 2016, reports suggested that 4,701 doctors who graduated from India chose to go abroad. Previously also, it was found from reports that World Health Organization’s 2000 World Health report ranks India’s Health care system as 112 out of 190 countries.

Drug Laws & Policy Injections

Introduction of Free Diagnostic schemes by Central government2016: Under the National Health Mission (NHM), support is being provided to States/ UTs for strengthening of their healthcare systems including for Free Diagnostics Service Initiative, based on the proposals in their respective Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs). Guidelines on NHM Free Diagnostics Service Initiative have been shared with all States/ UTs.

NIB's new version of software for HvPI to capture more data on blood transfusion reactions Mumbai May, 2016: National Institute of Biologicals (NIB) functioning under the Union Health Ministry has launched a new version of its software with advanced features for capturing and generating more comprehensive data on blood transfusion related adverse transfusion reaction reports (ATRs) under the government’s Haemovigilance Programme of India (HvPI) through the currently registered 370 centres across the country. NIB is the coordinating Centre between the reporters and regulators. The software named ‘Haemo-Vigil’ has been indigenously developed by IT division of NIB.

Ghana may adopt Indian Pharmacopoeia soon, CDSCO to provide technical trainingNew Delhi May 2016: For the adoption of Indian Pharmacopoeia in Ghana, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has agreed to provide support to that country by providing training to the technical officers, helping in capacity building for drug testing and also to provide some basic standards necessary for drug testing. Top delegates from Ghana comprising of Chief Executive Officer of Ghana FDA, Chairman of Parliament Health Committee, Former Health Minister, Secretary of West Africa Manufacturers Association and Secretary of Pharmaceutical Association of Ghana, recently visited CDSCO headquarters and IPC at Delhi.

Controlling menace of AESMay’2016: 1207 people died due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in 2015, as per the report received from the JE/AES endemic states. As per the report received from SPO (VBD), total 660 AES cases, and 2 deaths have been reported during 2015. The control measures taken by the states are given in the list below.

Pharma Injections

Indian doctors substitute Ayurvedic drugs for antibiotics during surgeryMeerut, May 2016: Meerut hospital has successfully substituted ayurvedic drugs for antibiotics during a prostatic surgery of an 83-year-old man. Usually, antibiotics are used before, during and after the surgery to prevent urinary tract infection and sepsis following endoscopic urologic procedures.

Probiotics may be helpful to treat osteoporosis May 2016: Taking probiotics supplements may be helpful to reduce the risk of bone density loss and osteoporosis in elderly women, a pre-clinical study suggests. In the menopause model of experimental animals, the study findings suggest that probiotics use, particularly a mixture of beneficial bacteria can provide lasting effect in post-menopausal women who suffer osteoporosis.

ZIKA VIRUS can now be detected by within an hour through paper based test May 2016 Boston: The test is done using a small saliva, urine, or blood sample, if the sample contains the RNA of the Zika virus, the test area turns purple. Scientists have developed a revolutionary paper-based sensor system for detecting the Zika virus within an hour, an advance that could help fight the disease that has been linked to serious birth defects.

Sun Pharma launches mobile app for asthma patients May, 2016: RespiTrack seeks to enable doctors to track treatment progress of their patients and increase compliance to medication
As part of its focus to give boost to treatment compliance amongst Asthma patients by minimising instances of non-adherence and drop-outs in Asthma treatment regime, Sun Pharma is rolling out India’s first unique and innovative mobile application that will connect Doctors and Asthma patients. This App has been specifically developed by Sun Pharma for enabling doctors to track treatment progress of their patients and increase compliance to medication for better management of asthma disease.

Drug Dopes

List of Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics declared as Not of Standard Quality/Spurious/Adulterated/Misbranded, for the Month of April, 2016 List of Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics declared as Not of Standard Quality/Spurious/Adulterated/Misbranded, for the Month of April, 2016 Click Here to Read More

Fluconazole under USFDA scanner for safety concerns 2016: Based on the results of a Danish study, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) is now evaluating the possible risk of miscarriage linked with oral Fluconazole (Diflucan) treatment for yeast infections. Additionally, other available data are being reviewed by the agency, the recommendations and conclusions will be announced upon the completion of the review.

Shri J P Nadda announces PPP between ICMR and Sun Pharma in research & innovation in preventive health 2016: Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare announced India’s first public-private-partnership (PPP) agreement for research and innovation in preventive health between ICMR and Sun Pharma. Presiding over the signing of this agreement by Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, DG, ICMR and Shri Dilip Shanghvi, Managing Director of Sun Pharma, Shri J P Nadda noted that this unique initiative was a significant step in the health sector and reiterated the commitment of the Government to strengthen health research in the country.

Smartphones with applications like CRADLE can detect eye cancer in children Hyderabad, May , 2016: The eye care experts are of the view that the latest smartphones embedded with advance software applications like ‘CRADLE’ can be used to detect eye cancer in children. Similarly, smartphones with flash cameras can also be used to detect the white pupil inside the eye, which is the major cause of eye cancer in children.

'Kidney on a chip' device enables safer drug dosing May , 2016: Using a "kidney on a chip" device that mimics the flow of medication through human kidneys and measure its effect on the organ’s cells can lead to safer drug dosing which is particularly critical for patients in intensive care units (ICUs), says a study.

National Injections

Nationwide digital healthcare platform soon NEW DELHI May , 2016 : Moving towards digitization of healthcare, the Health Ministry has worked out a detailed e-health project under Digital India initiative of the Government. The project would include hospital information system, electronic health record facilitated with health information exchange, online delivery of services, citizen portal, online monitoring systems for services and others, Health minister JP Nadda informed in the Lok Sabha.

No patient given free life-saving stroke injection which has been available in 18 UP district hospitals Agra, May 2016: In the six months since the Uttar Pradesh Government introduced free Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) injection, which otherwise cost Rs. 48,500, in 18 district hospitals to treat brain stroke patients, not one person has been administered the life-saving drug. The districts include Agra, Ghaziabad, Azamgarh, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, Rae bareli and Bareilly.

High prevalence of Cancer and skin diseases in drought affected areas May, 2016: As reported by Indian Council of Medical Research, incidence of skin cancers has been increasing since the last few decades worldwide. However, incidence of all types of skin cancers is low among Indians. ICMR has informed that based on the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research-National Cancer Registry Programme report, for estimated number of incidence Cancer cases of all sites in the drought affected States in the last three years has increased.

Cold Flu within first six months increases diabetes risk in later life May 2016: Researchers discovered that viral respiratory tract disorders during the first six months of life significantly increase the risk of children developing type 1 diabetes. Newborns, who catch a cold and flu before they reach the six-month mark, are more susceptible to type 1 diabetes in adulthood, according to a recent study.

E-health initiatives by Health government in India May’ 2016: While Health is a State subject, the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Government for improving healthcare and creating awareness in the society. Government of India has also launched National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) with a focus on awareness generation for behavior and life-style changes, screening and early diagnosis of persons with high level of risk factors and their treatment and referral (if required) to higher facilities for appropriate management for Non-communicable Diseases.

Global Injections

Medical errors 3rd largest killer in US: Study Mumbai, May 2016: Cases of patients mistakenly operated on the wrong leg, administered double the permissible dosage of medicines or not given adequate care could be more common and have far more serious consequences than one thinks.

Applying blockchain technology to medicine traceability May 2016: A new project aims to use blockchain technology to improve the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain. The project - still at the planning stages but outlined at a meeting of Hyperledger working group last week - envisages using blockchain tracking and time stamps..

Germany to legalize Medicinal marijuana by 2017May, 2016: Germany will legalize medical marijuana next year, the Country's Health Minister said on Wednesday. The German cabinet decided to approve the measure for seriously ill patients who have consulted with a doctor and "have no therapeutic alternative", according to a Health Ministry statement.

Hepatitis C Now Kills More Americans than any other Infectious DiseaseMay, 2016: The number of hepatitis C-linked deaths in the United States reached a record high in 2014, and the virus now kills more Americans than any other infectious disease, health officials report.

Yellow Fever Global Crisis: WHO Warns of a deadly outbreak in AngolaMay, 2016: The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement on Tuesday urging travellers to Africa to consider their warnings and get vaccinated. The surge of yellow fever cases in Angola has become one of the world's worst yellow fever outbreaks in decades and it has now become a global concern. According to sources, at least 258 people died and 1,975 more suspected cases were reported since the epidemic erupted in December 2015.

PSM PILL

The United States' secure medicine supply chain protects american patients

Importing drugs to save Americans money is not a new idea. It’s something we’ve tried before, but effort after effort has shown that importing drugs manufactured and sold outside of the American regulatory system is impractical and dangerous.

Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What is BMR and its importance?
Answer: Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post-absorptive state (meaning that the digestive system is inactive, which requires about twelve hours of fasting) i.e in simpler way we can state that Basal Metabolic Rate is the amount of energy expressed in calories that a person needs to keep the body functioning at rest. Some of those processes are breathing, blood circulation, controlling body temperature, cell growth, brain and nerve function, and contraction of muscles. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) affects the rate that a person burns calories and ultimately whether the person maintain, gain, or lose weight. An individual’s basal metabolic rate accounts for about 60 to 75% of the calories you burn every day. Read More>>>

Q2. What is human metabolism?
Answer: Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within the cells of living organisms. The three main purposes of metabolism are the conversion of food/fuel to energy to run cellular processes, the conversion of food/fuel to building blocks for proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and some carbohydrates, and the elimination of nitrogenous wastes. These enzyme-catalyzed reactions allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. The word metabolism can also refer to the sum of all chemical reactions that occur in living organisms, including digestion and the transport of substances into and between different cells, in which case the set of reactions within the cells is called intermediary metabolism or intermediate metabolism.
Metabolism is usually divided into two categories: catabolism, the breaking down of organic matter by way of cellular respiration, and anabolism, the building up of components of cells such as proteins and nucleic acids. Usually, breaking down releases energy and building up consumes energy.

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