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 edition of our newsletter.
The need of the hour is to create an ecosystem which can integrate the existing health information systems and show a clear path for upcoming programmes for ensuring interoperability of Electronic Health Record (EHR). Read more on this and what our Health minister has to say on Aadhaar based identification of patients to maintain health records in PSM India Capsules. Also touched upon is the news on government doctors not being allowed private practice.
Read More>>>
Do not hesitate to mail your comments on this edition to help us further improve. We appreciate your support and trust in us and are happy to have you as our loyal reader.
Feedback is what keeps us going. Should you have any query or question, please feel free to get in touch with us. Write to me on pyush@jagograhakjago.com
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,
The Prescription
DOSE OF THE DAY
“There is a need to ensure convergence across IT systems to monitor and provide health services in a robust and efficient manner. Ministry of Health has accordingly initiated efforts in the direction of a comprehensive, nationwide integrated e-Health system under National Digital Health Blueprint."
Shri Harsh Vardhan,
Union Health Minister
Govt. Of India
Note from Consulting Editor
This issue of The Prescription has been put together by our dynamic new Editor-in-Chief, Pyush Misra. I shall act as Consulting Editor.
Stay Safe. Stay Secure.
Pooja Khaitan
Consulting Editor
The Prescription
pooja@jagograhakjago.com
PSM India Capsules
Govt Plans Aadhaar-Based Identification Of Patients To Maintain Health Records
In its efforts to move towards complete digital healthcare systems, the Government is mooting to use Aadhaar-based identification of patients for maintaining health records. The idea is a part of the National Digital Health Blueprint prepared by a committee constituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to create an implementation framework for the National Health Stack (NHS) proposed by NITI Aayog last year.
Govt Doctors Are Not Allowed Private Practice: Health Ministry
NEW DELHI, 26 JULY 2019: As per Central Health Service (CHS) Rules, 2014, persons appointed to CHS shall not be allowed private practice of any kind whatsoever including any consultation and laboratory practice, according to the Ministry of Health. The ministry also informed the lower house today that doctors are entitled to a Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) of 20% of Basic Pay subject to the condition that the Basic Pay plus NPA does not exceed Rs., 2,37,500/- after acceptance of the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.
Drug Laws & Policy Injections
DCGI Constitutes MDTAG To Advise CDSCO On Matters Related To Regulation Of Medical DevicesMumbai, 26 July 2019: In order to advise Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on matters related to regulation of medical devices, the Union health ministry has constituted a Medical Devices Technical Advisory Group (MDTAG) with Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) as the Chairperson and Deputy Drugs Controller of India, Medical Devices Division, CDSCO as the Member Secretary.
NMC Bill 2019 May Create 3.5 Lakh Registered, Legal Quacks In India New Delhi, 25 July 2019: The government may be on track to bring in the new National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2019, in Parliament. However, there is another predicament that could lead to stormy discussions and protest from the doctor fraternity. India Today has learnt that the contentious bridge course, that was met by wide spread protests from the doctor community in the country has been quietly replaced by the "limited license to practice modern medicine" clause.
Health Ministry Inks MoU With 3 Ministries To Make India TB-Free By 2025New Delhi, 20 July 2019: The Union Health Ministry Thursday exchanged MoUs with the ministries of AYUSH, Defence and Railways to strengthen inter-ministerial coordination and efforts towards making India tuberculosis-free by 2025. The MoU between Health and AYUSH ministries was exchanged by Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan and AYUSH Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha.
Govt Plans 30% Cap On Traders’ Profit On Medical Devices, NITI Aayog Wants It HigherNew Delhi, 19 July 2019: The Narendra Modi government is ready with a proposal to cap trade margins on medical devices to as low as 30 per cent in a bid to make essential instruments such as pacemakers, catheters affordable to patients. The trade margin is the difference between the price at which manufacturers sell drugs to stockists (and distributors) and maximum retail price (MRP) to patients.
DBT Issues 'Biological Data Storage, Access And Sharing Policy Of India'Mumbai, 22 July 2019: To define guidelines for sharing of data generated by scientists in India using modern biotechnological tools and methods, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has issued the 'Biological data storage, access and sharing policy of India'.
Bill To Improve Medical Education System IntroducedNew Delhi, 22 July 2019: A Bill that seeks to improve access to quality and affordable medical education and ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals all over the country to promote equitable and universal healthcare was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Pharma Injections
Notices Issued To Companies For Introducing Drugs Without Prior Nod From NPPA: GovtNEW DELHI, 23 JULY 2019: The government has issued notices to pharma firms including Cipla, Dr Reddy's, Biocon, Lupin, Alembic Pharma, and Sanofi India, for introducing drugs without prior approval from the national drug pricing regulator, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
Domestic Medical Device Makers Raise Pitch For Duty Hikes On ImportsMumbai, 16 July 2019: Domestic medical device makers are calling for higher import duties, preferential market access and capping of trade margins to help local companies to take on foreign ones. Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD), the domestic industry lobby that claims to have around 300 members, has written to the government seeking 15 percent duty on imports of devices.
Pharma Sector To Post Double-Digit Revenue Q1 Growth: Analysts Mumbai, 13 July 2019: India’s top drug companies are likely to end a period of slow growth, with analysts predicting a double-digit revenue expansion for the just-ended quarter. A report by brokerage firm Jefferies predicts Indian pharma companies to report 15 per cent growth in revenue in the April-June quarter, the fastest in the past three years, while ratings firm Icra forecasts their revenue to expand 11-13 per cent in fiscal year 2020.
Govt To List ‘Essential Medical Devices’, Cap Trade Margin NEW DELHI, 21 JULY 2019: In a step towards controlling high prices of commonly used medical devices, the government is set to identify a list of “essential medical devices”, expected to be a precursor to anti-profiteering measures such as capping trade margins in the range of 30-50%.
32 ATM-Like Dispensers To Dish Out Medicines In Tamil Nadu CHENNAI, 18 JULY 2019: A self-service kiosk that dispenses drugs like an ATM machine will be placed in 32 places, including 23 government medical college hospitals and urban primary health centres in cities such as Chennai, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Wednesday.
Hospital Told To Pay Rs 8 Lakh To Yoga Instructor For Negligence Hyderabad, 22 July 2019: A yoga instructor, who suffered severe health complications due to doctor’s negligence, was awarded a compensation of Rs 8 lakh by Telangana Consumer Disputes and Redressal Centre. On Sunday, commissioner for civil supplies, Akun Sabharwal, handed over the cheque to Devaiah, 31, and added that the case was solved in less than a month. Devaiah, of Kothapelli village in Rajanna Siriclla district, approached Piles Clinic, Secunderabad, on February 24, 2018, and was suggested to undergo an operation.
Drug Dopes
4000 Bottles Of Codeine Phosphate SeizedNew Delhi, 25 July 2019: Opioids are one of the most addictive chemicals known to mankind, but these chemicals also have medicinal uses. Most strong opioids like morphine are used as painkillers and are really needed when other classes of painkillers fail. 
At The Border, People Are ‘Lured’ Into CrimeThakurgaon, 26 July 2019: Some residents of villages along the Indo-Bangladesh border are being lured by a section of the people and made to take up illegal activities, according to officials of the Border Guard of Bangladesh.
Mega Diabetes Drug To Be Cheaper Soon MUMBAI, 25 JULY 2019: There is some good news around the corner for the over 72 million diabetics in India, as cheaper versions of a blockbuster drug are expected to hit the market soon. With one of the relatively newer but important anti-diabetic drugs, Vildagliptin manufactured by Novartis, losing patent protection in December, dozens of companies are readying plans to launch the generic version to get a slice of the action in the growing Rs 13,000-crore diabetes therapy.
Test Cefotaxime Given To Patients Fall Ill Ramanathapuram, 20 July 2019: The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has been asked by the Health Department to test the samples of the antibiotic injection (cefotaxime) given to patients who developed fever and itching soon after.
Steroids In Muscle Building Protein Powders: Maha FDA, Pune Orders Statewide Checks Pune, 19 July 2019: After finding steroids in muscle building protein powders, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, has ordered statewide checks by its food inspectors.
Tramadol Tablets Sold Through Well-Knit NetworkChandigarh, 17 July 2019: The huge quantity of Tramadol tablets recovered from Ludhiana wholesaler were unaccounted for as the police and FDA office has not found any trail of sale and purchase of the tablets.
National Injections
Indian Excipient Industry Needs To Adopt Global Harmonised Standards For Patient Safety Mumbai, 27 July 2019: There is a need for adoption of global harmonised standards by Indian excipients industry for patient safety even as the US, Europe and China have taken the lead. International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council (IPEC), India has therefore set the agenda to harmonise regional guidelines to gradually achieve and adopt global harmonised standards.
Telangana Government To Combat Counterfeit Drugs Through Blockchain TechnologyHYDERABAD, 13 JULY 2019: In a bid to arrest the increasing number of counterfeit drugs in the country, the Information Technology and Electronics and Communications (ITEC) department of Telangana is planning to use blockchain, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) to address the issue.
Showcause Notice To 167 Ayurvedic, Homeopathic Retailers Mumbai, 27 July 2019: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cracked down on ayurvedic and homeopathic medicine retailers, issuing 167 notices to manufacturers and distributors across Maharashtra, for promoting medicine for treatment of impotency, obesity, diabetes and asthma.
7 States Chief Ministers Vow To End Drugs Menace Chandigarh, 26 July 2019: Amid apprehensions of massive drug menace spilling over the northern states, Chief Ministers of seven states attended a meeting in Chandigarh on Thursday to draw out a joint action plan to combat the rapidly growing crisis of drug abuse in the region.
Govt Readies Compensation Plan For Patients Affected By Faulty Devices New Delhi, 25 July 2019: Patients suffering from adverse effects of a faulty medical device will soon be entitled to compensation from the manufacturers and importers of such devices. A nine-member medical devices sub-committee headed by former director general of health services (DGHS), Dr B.D. Athani, is in the final stages of coming up with a legally binding compensation formula, two people aware of the matter said, requesting anonymity.
IPC To Utilise PvPI ADR Data For Patient Safety Through Artificial Intelligence Mumbai, 25 July 2019: With the Centre’s mandate to analyse Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) data effectively to address patient safety issues in India, the Ghaziabad-based Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is planning to utilise Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) ADR data through artificial intelligence (AI) in the coming five years time.
Global Injections
Customs seizes dozens of boxes of Merck & Co’s HPV vaccineHongkong, 14 July 2019: Customs in Hong Kong have seized dozens of boxes of Merck & Co’s HPV vaccine after the Health Department a complaint about side effects.
Vaccine Deaths In India Have Not Been Evaluated: Uppsala Monitoring CenterMumbai, 23 July 2019: The global hub for drug reaction monitoring, the Uppsala Monitoring Center in Sweden, has stated that the vaccine deaths in India have not been evaluated.
US FDA Adds Boxed Warning To Tofacitinib For Risks Of Blood Clots, Death With Higher Dose
Maryland, 26 July 2019: Officials with the FDA have added a Boxed Warning to Pfizer’s tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz, XR) due to an increased risk of blood clots and death associated with higher doses of the medication, according to a drug safety communication.
Certain Statins May Increase Risk Of MG, WHO-Based Study Suggests
Amiens, France, 22 July 2019: The use of blood cholesterol-lowering medications called statins is linked to a small risk of myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a large World Health Organization database study.
Indian Pharma Companies Get 207 ANDA Approvals From US FDA During First Half Of 2019
Mumbai, 25 July 2019: The Indian research-based pharmaceutical companies have improved their presence in international market during the last couple of years with investments in research and development (R&D) activities. This can be seen from rising Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) approvals from US FDA.
USFDA Found Different Dietary, Medicinal Claims On Patanjali's Sharbat Bottles
NEW DELHI, 21 JULY 2019: Labels on Patanjali's two sharbat products, earmarked to be sold within India, were found to be having "additional medicinal and dietary market claims" as compared to the ones on bottles set aside for export to America, according to the US health regulator.
PSM PILL
Pensacola, Florida Tattoo Parlor Owner Pleads Guilty To Selling Chinese-Made Counterfeit Contact Lenses
July 25, 2019: A Pensacola, Florida woman named Son Chu Gilliam has pleaded guilty to charges that she bought bulk counterfeit contact lenses from China and sold them through her tattoo parlor, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reports.
Man Charged With Selling Fentanyl Pills That Killed Murray, Utah Woman
July 24, 2019: On July 10, 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Utah charged a Utah man with distribution of fentanyl resulting in a death and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. A complaint filed on July 3 alleges that 24-year-old John Aaron Favro of West Jordan distributed more than 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills made with fentanyl over the course of 2016. According to the complaint, pills he sold to a woman in Murray,
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is meant by bad and good cholesterol?
Ans: Cholesterol is a lipid molecule biosynthesized by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of all animal (not plant or bacterial) cell membranes required to maintain both membrane structural integrity and fluidity. It plays a vital role in how every cell works and is also needed to make Vitamin D, some hormones and bile for digestion. However, too much cholesterol in the blood can increase risk of getting heart and circulatory diseases. Cholesterol can't dissolve in the blood. It must be transported through the bloodstream by carriers called lipoproteins. Read More>>>
SUBSCRIBER'S SYMPTOM
Hospitals Still Not Displaying Medical Device Prices, Consumer Groups Say (22-07-2019)
MUMBAI, 22 JULY 2019: Two years after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority introduced price caps and made it mandatory for hospitals to display the Maximum, Retail Price (MRP) of medical devices, a survey has found that most devices that hospitals use still do not have MRPs displayed on the packaging.
Blog Addicts
Mrs. Sunaina Gupta, Medical journalist: Right to quality healthcare is right of every citizen, both those residing in urban areas as well rural. Thanks PSM India for creating the awareness amongst common people like us!
Avinash Raut, Pharma professionalThe PSM-India’s initiated “The Prescription” newsletter provides beneficial information and a very positive endeavour.
Dr. Lopamudra Dixit, Physician:
India continues to be among those countries of the world that have a high burden of diseases. Thanks PSM India for updated news on such crucial matters!
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