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EDITOR'S EMULSION
Warm Greetings !
Welcome to yet another 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
To quote Mahatma Gandhi, “It is health that is real and not pieces of gold.” FSSAI leading the Eat Right India movement, a collective movement of all stakeholders in the food sector to transform India's food ecosystem. This movement is focused on three key themes- Eat Safe, Eat Healthy and Eat Sustainable to improve the health of the people and the planet. This movement is aligned with the Government's flagship public health programmes such as Poshan Abhiyaan, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and Swachh Bharat Mission.
Mr. Arun Singhal
CEO, FSSAI
Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India, New Delhi
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Patient Safety Capsules
Barcodes, Holograms, Radio-Frequency Devices Are Available To Protect Consumers: Harsh Vardhan
New Delhi, 21 Jan 2021 : Noting that the healthcare products industry is one of the most common targets for counterfeiters, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said "vocal for local" will be an extremely potent tool in India''s fight against illicit trade.
Ayush Ministry Asks To Stop Misleading Advt And Claims Of ASU Drugs
Mumbai, 22 Jan 2021: The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy(AYUSH) has issued a directive to the state licensing authorities for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs and all Ayurvedic,Siddha and Unani Drug manufacturers to stop misleading advertisement and claims of classical/shastriye Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs.
Drug Laws & Policy Injections
IPC Proposes Reduction In Tests On Animals For Drug MfgNew Delhi, 21 Jan 2021 : The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), responsible for setting standards for drugs, has proposed a significant reduction in required tests on animals for producing recombinant antibody drugs and for developing test methods for assessing drugs action or effects in living systems.
NHRC Orders Compensation In Infant Deaths Linked To Spurious Drugs In J-K's Udhampur Jammu, 18 Jan 2021: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday recommended a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the families of 11 children who died due to consumption of spurious medicines in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district between December 2019 and January last year.
Covid Vaccine May Not Be Sold In Open Market Anytime SoonPUNE, 23 JAN 2021: Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said on Friday that the two Covid-19 vaccines given approval for restricted use would not be available in the open market till the country’s apex drug regulator, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), approved the data sought from their manufacturers.
CDSCO Issues Guidance Document On License For Import Or Manufacture Of CosmeticsMumbai, 22 Jan 2021: In order to streamline the process of import registration of cosmetics, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) and guidance document for grant or retention of registration certificate (RC) or license for import or manufacture of cosmetics in India under the new Cosmetics Rules 2020.
Health Minister Assures People On Safety, Efficacy Of Covid VaccinesNew Delhi, 21 Jan 2021 : Vaccination against COVID-19 will lead to people not transmitting the disease and its eradication in some time, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday as he unveiled IEC posters to address the emerging issue of vaccine hesitancy in some sections of the population.
IPC Rolls Out Sensitization Programme For Medical Device CosMumbai, 20 Jan 2021: To effectively report serious adverse events (SAEs) due to faulty medical devices, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) on behalf of the Materiovigilance Programme of India (MvPI) has rolled out sensitization programmes for manufacturers on causality assessment and post market recall to ensure safety of medical devices.
Pharma Injections
267 Cases Of Adverse Effect After Vaccination (AEFI) Reported Till 6 Pm On The Seventh DayNEW DELHI, 23 JAN 2021: Over 12.7 lakh healthcare workers have received Covid-19 vaccine jabs in the country till the evening of the seventh day of the nationwide immunisation as per a provisional report, the Union health ministry said on Friday.
No Consensus At WTO On IP Waiver For Covid-19 VaccineMUMBAI, 20 JAN 2021: World Trade Organisation (WTO) members took up the “game-changing” waiver proposal submitted jointly by India and South Africa at the TRIPS Council even as opposition from rich countries continued, leading to no consensus.
Covishield Not To Be Taken By People Severely Allergic To Any Of Its Ingredients: SII New Delhi, 19 Jan 2021: People who are severely allergic to any ingredient of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' are advised not to take it, Serum Institute of India said.
Experts Ask Govt To Develop Harmonized Standard For Community Face Mask Mumbai, 19 Jan 2021: Experts have recommended to the Union health ministry and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to develop harmonized standard for community face coverings or ordinary cloth/fabric masks used by communities or common public to control Covid-19 in a more effective way.
US FDA Issues Final Guidance For Consumer Antiseptic Rubs Bengaluru, 19 Jan 2021: The US FDA has issued a final guidance for Consumer Antiseptic Rubs as Covid-19 spreads in all its fury. The guidance is intended to help small businesses understand and comply with the Consumer Antiseptic Rub Final Rule which applies to active ingredients used in over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that are referred to as rubs, leave-on products, or hand sanitizers.
Whatsapp Messages Will Have No Evidentiary Value Without Certificate: Punjab And Haryana High Court Chandigarh, 17 Jan 2021: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that WhatsApp messages may be relied upon by investigating agencies during a crime investigation but a certificate Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act is essential for the same (Rakesh Kumar Singla v. Union of India).
Drug Dopes
Pune: Five Die In Fire At Serum Plant, Covishield Unit Not AffectedPUNE, 22 JAN 2021: Five workers were killed in a major fire that broke out at Serum Institute of India’s (SII) vaccine manufacturing plant at Manjari near Hadapsar here around 2.30pm on Thursday. 
1000 Doses Of Covishield Vaccine Found Frozen In Assam; Probe OrderedGuwahati, 20 Jan 2021: The Assam health department has ordered a probe after 100 vials containing 1000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield were found in frozen condition in Sircar Medical College Hospital (SMCH).
Not All Side Effects Are Adverse Events: Experts PUNE, 19 JAN 2021: Experts stressed that all flu-like symptoms — fever, headache, body ache, tiredness and chills — were adverse reactions or side effects of a vaccine if they happened within 48 hours of the vaccination and they resolved on their own.
Seven-Day Monitoring For Covaxin Shot Recipients BENGALURU, 19 JAN 2021: The National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), a Bengaluru-based branch of ICMR, has been identified as the nodal centre to monitor Covaxin’s Phase 3 clinical trials.
Ludhiana: Cop Held For Blackmailing Chemist Ludhiana, 16 Jan 2021: The Basti Jodhewal police registered a case against an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of the Salem Tabri police station on the charges of blackmailing a chemist shop owner. The accused was identified as Surinder Kumar.
Gujarat Information Commissioner Bars 3 From Filing RTI PleasAhmedabad, 15 Jan 2021: In a surprise move, Gujarat’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) has superseded the Right to Information (RTI) Act, asking a public authority not to accept any RTI applications from three citizens for five years. CIC, Gujarat, DP Thakar, issued an order at a scheduled hearing regarding complaint filed by Chintanbhai, Bharatiben and Dilhariben, banning them from making RTI applications for seeking information for five years.
National Injections
Covaxin Efficacy Meets WHO Standards, Safe To Use: S. Eswara Reddy New Delhi, 16 Jan 2021 (IANS) : Allaying the apprehensions associated with the safety of the vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech, S. Eswara Reddy, Joint Drugs Controller, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), said on Saturday that Covaxin has satisfactory efficacy level and there is nothing to worry.
Activist Moves Bombay HC Seeking Info From DCGI On Safety & Efficacy Of CovaxinMumbai, 16 Jan 2021: RTI activist Saket Gokhale on Saturday moved a writ plea before the Bombay High Court seeking directions to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to bring in the public domain all information pertaining to the safety and efficacy trial results of Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’
IPC Invites Suggestions On Draft General Notices On Phytopharmaceuticals Before Feb-28, 2021 Mumbai, 16 Jan 2021: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has asked for stakeholders suggestions on draft General Notices on Phytopharmaceutcal Drugs before 28th February, 2021. The stakeholders are invited to provide their comments to lab.ipc@gov.in.
Covaxin: Use Of Chloroquine And Corticosteroids May Impair Antibody Response, Says Health Ministry New Delhi, 15 Jan 2021: Ahead of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Health Ministry has issued an advisory to the states stating that both the vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin - are not recommended for individuals younger than 18 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Covid Push: Pharma Exports Surge 16%, Defy Broader Gloom New Delhi, 15 Jan 2021: India’s pharmaceutical exports grew an impressive 16% year-on-year in the first eight months of this fiscal, defying an almost 18% contraction in the overall mechandise exports, as the Covid-19 pandemic caused a spurt in demand for medicines, especially from the largest market — the US.
Industry Urges Centre To Streamline Drug Regulatory Regime Related To Nutraceuticals Mumbai, 15 Jan 2021: The industry has once again alerted the Centre towards streamlining the drug regulatory regime related to regulating nutraceuticals as several brands containing ingredients above permissible limits have entered the drug retail supply chain evading Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) prescribed recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values.
Global Injections
New Curriculum Guide To Improve Action Against Substandard And Fake Medicines Now AvailableHague, 20 Jan 2021: A curriculum guide to support educators in ensuring that pharmacists are better able to prevent substandard or falsified (SF) medicines and medical products from reaching patients is published today by FIP in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mexico Says Illicit Labs Are Making Fake COVID-19 VaccinesMexico City, 20 Jan 2021: Mexico says that organised criminal networks have set up laboratories to manufacture falsified vaccines for COVID-19, and are also planning to steal supplies during distribution.
Fake Johnson And Johnson Sutures Racket Busted In Mumbai
Mumbai, 19 Jan 2021: In a major swoop, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch has busted a racket involving sale of fake sutures of pharma giant Johnson & Johnson Co and arrested five persons, an official said here on Tuesday.
Fake COVID-19 Vaccines Now In Nigeria, NAFDAC Alert
Lagos, 16 Jan 2021: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday said it has reports of the importation of fake COVID-19 vaccines into Nigeria.
Lockdown Aided More Drug Seizures On India-Bangladesh Border
GUWAHATI, 12 JAN 2021: The COVID-19 lockdown apparently did not make much of a difference for cattle smugglers and drug traffickers along the India-Bangladesh border. But it helped the BSF Guwahati Frontier catch more of them and the contraband items they were ferrying in 2020 than in 2019.
Johnson & Johnson To Submit Trial Data Of Single-Dose Covid Vaccine This Month
Washington, 12 Jan 2021: Johnson & Johnson’s preliminary data from the South African arm of a phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial will be ready for submission to U.S. regulators by Jan. 21, according to the head of the country’s Medical Research Council.
PSAIIF PILL
E-Pharmacies Retain Big Chunks Of Customers
Kolkata, 15 Jan 2021: Online pharmacy chains in and across West Bengal have retained around 70% of the customers who had logged in during the lockdown period to buy medicine.
Information Under RTI, If Sought For Vested Interests, Cannot Be Provided: Delhi HC
New Delhi, 13 Jan 2021: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said that whenever information is sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, especially by disgruntled persons in the garb of transparency, the authorities have to see whether the details asked are for some personal or vested interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there Any Indemnity For Vaccine Makers In Purchase Pacts?
New Delhi, 13 Jan 2021: The government is yet to decide on providing indemnity to Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech International, and the purchase pacts with the two vaccine makers do not include the provision, three people aware of the development said. Read More>>>
SUBSCRIBER'S SYMPTOM
In The Future, Scientists Feel Covid Will Resemble The Common Cold-Causing Virus
NEW DELHI, 13 JAN 2021: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, may resemble the mild cold-causing coronaviruses that currently circulate in humans if it becomes endemic and most people are exposed in childhood, according to a study. The modelling study, published on Tuesday in the journal Science, is based on research of the four common cold coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-1.
Blog Addicts
Dr Sonali Singh, MD It is always a great pleasure reading the articles published in this newsletter. Keeping the reader engrossed with current pertinent topics is really welcoming.
Ms Vineeta Kant, IT ProfessionalAlways look forward to the newsletter editions every month for an interesting read. Great work!
Ms Jolly Fernandes, Professional
"The Prescription" is a much awaited dose for my monthly consumption of important pharma developments and news. Well done!
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