Patient Safety Capsules
Parliamentary panel on commerce asks health ministry to notify E-Pharmacy Rules
New Delhi, March 27, 2023 : The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has once again asked the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) to notify the E-Pharmacy Rules and formulate comprehensive guidelines with regard to the online pharmacy and health platforms.
Health ministry constitutes expert committee to review Pharmacy Act and re-structure PCI
New Delhi, March 31, 2023 : The Union health ministry has constituted an expert committee to review the pharmacy education regulation and restructure the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), the statutory body set up for the regulation of pharmacy education, profession and practice in the country.
Drug Laws & Policy Injections
Proposal to regulate prices of non-scheduled drugs under DoP consideration
New Delhi, March 27, 2023 : A proposal to regulate the prices of non-scheduled drugs, on similar lines of the previous measures to cap the prices of select anti-cancer medicines and regulate the prices of medical devices including pulse oximeter and blood pressure monitoring machine during the Covid-19 times, is under the consideration of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP).
Patient groups awaiting clarity on inclusion of rare diseases as Union govt lists new ailments under NPRD
Bengaluru, March 27, 2023 : Patient groups are awaiting clarity on inclusion of certain ailments into the National Policy of Rare Diseases (NPRD) 2021. This follows after the Union government’s recent inclusion of six rare diseases under the NPRD, enabling patients to avail treatment for these conditions.
NACO concludes review of all SACS for implementation of AIDS control programmeMumbai, March 27, 2023 : The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has successfully concluded review of all State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) in two phases towards proper implementation and monitoring of AIDS control programme.
DoP soon to approach finance ministry for additional funds for proposed PRIP scheme
New Delhi, March 28, 2023 : In line with the announcement in the Union Budget 2023-24 regarding a new programme for research and innovation in pharmaceuticals and multidisciplinary courses for medical devices,
NPPA fixes retail price of 25 formulations
New Delhi, March 31, 2023 : The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed retail prices of 25 formulations under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, based on the recently held Authority meeting.
ICMR invites comments on ‘Common Protocol for Uniform Evaluation of Public Health Pesticides for use in Vector Control’Mumbai, March 31, 2023 : The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited written comments and/or inputs from wider section of scientific community on the Revised Third Edition of ‘Common Protocol for Uniform Evaluation of Public Health Pesticides for use in Vector Control’ for a period of one month from March 28, 2023 to April 28, 2023.
Pharma Injections
Indian pharma working to arm itself against cyberattacks
Bengaluru, March 28, 2023 : Indian pharma is now working to arm itself against cyberattacks. With the rapid growth of technology, cyber threats in the pharmaceutical industry are becoming more and more prevalent.
Medical diagnosis with AI brings in time-bound accuracy for speedy decisions to treatment access
Bengaluru, March 30, 2023 : Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the field of medicine by improving the accuracy of diagnoses and providing new methods of treatment, according to Dr. Ajay Hegde & Dr Girish Menon, Department of Neurosurgery, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
Pharmexcil partners with EU to host webinar on March 29 to raise awareness on business opportunitiesMumbai, March 29, 2023 : The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), in collaboration with the Embassy of India in Belgium, Luxembourg and European Union (EU), will host a webinar on March 29, 2023, to raise awareness about emerging business opportunities in the EU region.
Sanofi gets marketing approval for its diabetes drug Soliqua in India
March 27, 2023 : Sanofi India has received marketing authorisation for its diabetes drug Soliqua (in pre-filled pen) from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
Indian Patent Office rejects J&J’s plea to extend monopoly on bedaquiline, MSF lauds move
March 24, 2023 : The Indian Patent Office has rejected the US pharma corporation Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) attempt to extend its monopoly in India on the TB drug bedaquiline beyond the primary patent’s expiry this July.
Pharma’s path forward: From driving drug launches to improved patient out-comesMarch 18, 2023 : The healthcare and life sciences ecosystem is rapidly evolving under the influence of various environmental factors. The commercial ecosystem for pharma companies is increasingly complex and interlaced with multiple dependencies influencing care management decisions.
Drug Dopes
Indian pharma gearing up for interdisciplinary research for medicines to combat diseases
Bengaluru, March 23, 2023 : Indian pharma is now accelerating its pace towards interdisciplinary research for medicines to combat diseases. In this regard several collaborations for the integration of knowledge from different academic disciplines to address common complex problems that cannot be solved by any individual researcher from a single area of research are already underway. 
Indian healthcare providers and pharma companies speed up to combat TB as drug resistance concerns emergeBengaluru, March 24, 2023 : Indian healthcare providers and pharma companies pace up their efforts with early detection and research for new medicines to combat the spread of tuberculosis as drug resistance concerns emerge.
Indian CDMOs now scout for capital- intensive projects and invest in new technologies for global ordersBengaluru, March 22, 2023 : Indian contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) are investing in continuous manufacturing methods as well to conventions in batch processing methods.
14th ASICON concludes on a positive note to energize, empathize and equalize to end AIDS by 2030Mumbai, March 21, 2023 : There is a need to recognize and address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS, and to equalize access to essential full cascade of HIV care services, particularly for key and vulnerable populations, experts deliberated at the14th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON), which started from March 17, 2023 in New Delhi and concluded on March 19, 2023 under the theme “Energize, Empathize, Equalize” in New Delhi.
Centre puts onus on SLAs to take action against e-pharmacies for violation of D&C Act and RulesNew Delhi, March 20, 2023 : With the chemists and druggists across the country opposing the sale of drugs through online, the Central govern-ment is taking a stand that the sale of medicines should be strictly under the provisions of the existing regulations and the State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) are legally empowered to act against violation of the legal provisions.
Centralisation of drug licensing may not be the right path to improve quality of drugs: SPICNew Delhi, March 18, 2023 : Empowering of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) through centralisation of drug licensing may not be the path to improve the quality of drugs manufactured in the country both for domestic and international markets, says SME Pharma Industries Confederation (SPIC), the apex organisation of small and medium pharma industries in the country.
National Injections
TN DCA launches WhatsApp helpline number to register complaintsChennai, March 25, 2023 : The drug control department in Tamil Nadu has launched a WhatsApp Helpline Number to receive complaints from all stakeholders in pharma and medical field.
Mizoram govt to implement PPR 2015 in April this year
Chennai, March 20, 2023 : The Pharmacy Practice Regulations (PPR) 2015 will be implemented in the north eastern state of Mizoram in the month of April this year, sources from the state pharmacy council informed Pharmabiz.
12 former DCs of Kerala to be honoured by AKCDA at its Golden Jubilee celebration on May 13 & 14
Trivendram, March 27, 2023 : The All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA) has drawn up a list 12 former drug controllers of the state to be honoured as part of the association’s Golden Jubilee celebration which will be held at the state capital from May 13 onwards.
Bihar to implement PPR-2015 after SC’s opinion on the issue
Patne, March 23, 2023 : Taking note of the importance of the Pharmacy Practice Regulations (2015) and of the comments made by the Supreme Court of India recently, the Government of Bihar has in principle given approval to the concerned departments to implement the provisions of the PPR in the health sector where medicines are sold, stocked and dispensed.
Karnataka pharma comes out clean in the national raid by DCGI to unearth spurious and NSQ drugsBengaluru, March 30, 2023 : The pharmaceutical industry in Karnataka has emerged unscathed in the nation-wide raid conducted by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) at the manufacturing sites across the country to unearth spurious or substandard drugs.
Nation-wide raid on pharma cos is part of risk-based inspections planned in December last year: CDSCO
Mumbai, March 30, 2023 : The cancellation of licenses of 18 Indian pharma companies for manufacturing spurious drugs is the outcome of the risk-based inspections planned by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in December last year, according to senior CDSCO officials associated with the development.
Global Injections
Pharmexcil partners with EU to host webinar on March 29 to raise awareness on business opportunitiesMumbai, March 29, 2023: The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), in collaboration with the Embassy of India in Belgium, Luxembourg and European Union (EU), will host a webinar on March 29, 2023, to raise awareness about emerging business opportunities in the EU region.
Scientists Get Closer to Understanding 'Hidden' HIV
March 27, 2023: Researchers are closing in on another immune system “hideout” that HIV uses to persist in the human body for years. A subset of white blood cells called myeloid cells can harbor HIV in people who’ve been virally sup-pressed for years, according to a new small-scale study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Vaccine Trial Shows Promise Against Candida Fungal InfectionMarch 29, 2023: Infection with the fungus Candida auris can be problematic for some and deadly for others, especially for people at higher risk due to advanced age or because they have a weakened immune system, called immunosuppression. A vaccine in development could offer hope.
Alembic Pharma gets USFDA approval for Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solu-tion, 0.15%
March 30, 2023: Alembic Pharmaceuticals received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) Brimonidine Tartrate Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%. The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug product (RLD), Alphagan P Ophthalmic Solution, 0.15%, of AbbVie.
Lupin gets tentative US FDA approval for Valbenazine capsulesMarch 27, 2023: Lupin has received tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA), Valbenazine Capsules, 40 mg, 60 mg, and 80 mg, to market a generic equivalent of Ingrezza Capsules, 40 mg, 60 mg, and 80 mg, of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
China approves its first mRNA vaccine from CSPCMarch 23, 2023 : China has approved its first domestically developed mRNA vaccine against COVID-19, CSPC Pharma-ceutical Group said.
PSAIIF PILL
DoP constitutes panel for selection of applicants & regular monitoring of PLI scheme for pharmaceuticals
New Delhi, March 22, 2023 : The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has constituted a panel headed by the Secretary of the Department for selection of applicants and regular monitoring of the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for pharmaceuticals.
Parliamentary panel expresses displeasure on under utilisation of funds by DoP
New Delhi, March 24, 2023 : A Parliamentary panel which has looked into the budget allocation for the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and its utilisation has expressed its displeasure on the large under utilisation of allocated funds by the Department, especially the tardy progress in implementation of the three production linked incentive (PLI) schemes of the Department during the year 2022-23. The Committee expressed its desire that henceforth, the Department should be more realistic in projecting its estimates for better utilisation of funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Endometriosis and pregnancy? All you need to know
Endometriosis is a medical condition that affects many women worldwide. It occurs when the endo-metrium, which is the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, grows outside of the uterus and on other organs in the pelvic area. This condition can cause a range of symptoms, including pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and infertility. If you have endometriosis and are hoping to become pregnant, it is important to understand how this condition can affect your fertility and what steps you can take to in-crease your chances of having a successful pregnancy. Read More>>>
SUBSCRIBER'S SYMPTOM
Eating almonds before meals can improve blood sugar levels among people with pre-diabetes
Consuming almonds before major meals throughout the day can help in improving blood sugar levels especially among people with pre-diabetes, according to two new studies.
Consumer Online Foundation: The first and only organisation certified as per international standard ISO 9001:2015 for Consumer Complaint Redressal Services
First and the only organization in India to be certified on 21st September 2021 as an ISO 9001:2015 on Consumer Complaint Redressal Services. We are proud to share our achievements with our readers and supporters. Thanks for your continued support and guidance for more than 35+ years of service to the consumers in India and abroad.
Blog Addicts
Prof. Hemu Saraswat, Professional
Excellent articles being published every edition. Very enjoyable.
Ms Bhavini Sharma, MDIndeed a pleasure to receive the newsletter and read it. Well done.
Ms (Dr.) Niloufer Ramadoss, MBBSPresented very beautifully and aptly captures important developments in the Pharma space
This Newsletter is brought to you by
Patient Safety And Access Initiative of India Foundation
B306, First Floor, C R Park, New Delhi -110019
jagograhakjago.com; www.jagograhakjago.com;
Disclaimer : Our newsletter endeavors to compile patient safety information from various sources .
PSAIIF may not be held responsible for any article published in The Prescription.
