Wishing you and your family the best of health and loads of happiness in this new year 2018! May this year bring forth positive initiatives in the health care sector and may our nation move towards achieving Universal Health Coverage for All and Access to Safe and Quality Healthcare.
Where there is Health, there is peace and where there is peace, there is love and happiness. On this note, I wish you all the very best in this year and urge you to being more aware, sensitive and caring towards your surroundings. Let’s pledge to make a positive difference through our actions, however small, and touch atleast 5 lives this year! Remember, to touch 5 lives, you first need to begin with yourself. So take good care of yourself and don’t negotiate your Heath for anything in the world. Get yourself ready and then reach out to others.
Your time starts now.
There’s lots been happening in our country and around the world in the field of healthcare and this edition of The Prescription sure catches on most of it. From PSM India celebrating patient Solidarity day to Indian startups developing rapid tests to help check antibiotic resistance; from private health sector credibility being at stake to pharmacists not being empowered to open clinics or diagnose diseases and prescribe drugs; from the list of newly approved drugs to the entire year end review by the department of pharmaceuticals, we have it all covered in this issue.
We always strive and bring out important information from the health and medicine world. Do not hesitate to leave 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 pooja@jagograhakjago.com
Stay Healthy. Stay Protected.
Happy New Year.
Pooja Khaitan
Editor-in-Chief,
The Prescription
“I dream of a Digital India where quality healthcare percolates right up to the remotest regions powered by e-Healthcare.”
Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi
Patient Solidarity Day Celebrated
PSM India celebrated Patient Solidarity Day 2017 #PSD2017 with Students, Faculty and Patient Groups on 2nd December in Varanasi India to empower Patients to Access Safe and Quality Healthcare under Universal Health Coverage. Youths pledged to take the Campaign forward in India starting from Uttar Pradesh
Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the image of the private healthcare sector is at stake and that it should adopt a self-regulatory system to improve their credibility. “Private healthcare sector’s image is on a stake. Their credibility has to be seen and they should go for a self-regulatory system. A common man’s aspiration should also be taken care,” Nadda said while addressing 14th India Health Summit. He added that the issue has to be resolved by improving communication within the organizations.
US FDA Proposes Easing Of Medical Device Malfunctioning Reporting
Maryland, Dec 2017: Today’s Federal Register includes a new FDA proposal that is meant to streamline voluntary malfunction summary reporting for medical device companies.
New Warnings Regarding The Use Of Certain Sedative And Anesthetic Drugs During Pregnancy And In Early Childhood
OTTAWA, DEC, 2017: Anesthetics and sedatives are used to prevent pain during surgery and other procedures or tests. However, the use of certain sedative and anesthetic drugs may have an impact on children's developing brains.
The Top 9 Health Risks Women Face From Counterfeit Medications
Disfiguration has been caused by Counterfeit Botox™ containing questionable inauthentic ingredients, such as cooking oil, which caused abscesses, scarring and kidney failure in victims. A New Zealand woman was hospitalized for 6 weeks after being injected by an unknown substance by a friend who bought fake Botox online.
Overdoses Linked To Counterfeit Xanax Cause Police To Issue A Public Warning
December 2017: According to the Yakima Herald, police in Washington warned residents to be on the lookout for a counterfeit batch Xanax being sold on the streets. Although authorities do not think anyone died from taking any of these pills, this is not the first time that counterfeit drugs have showed up on their city streets. The Yakima Herald also reported on a spate of overdoses linked to fake pills laced with fentanyl in 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What are Nutraceuticals?
Answer: Nutraceuticals are products that provide health and medicinal benefits, including the prevention and treatment of diseases in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foodstuff. They are used to promote general well-being, control symptoms and prevent malignant processes. Nutraceuticals are broadly classified as Functional foods and Dietary Supplements.
Functional foods are consumed as part of the usual diet, and are demonstrated to have physiological benefits and/or reduce the risk of chronic disease beyond basic nutritional functions. These products help prevent a disease or compromised health condition and/or improve physical or mental performance. Nutraceuticals ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids (e.g. DHA) can be targeted at heart health or general cognitive health based formulations. Examples of functional foods are Omega Fatty Acid Fortified Foods, Probiotic Fortified Foods, Branded Iodinated Salt, Fictional Beverages like Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks, Fortified Juices etc.
Dietary Supplements are defined as any product containing dietary ingredients intended to supplement a diet. Dietary ingredients in these products may include vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandular and metabolites. Examples of Dietary Supplements are Vitamin and Mineral Supplements, Herbal Supplements, Protein Supplements, Chyawanprash etc.
Q2.What is a Drug food interaction?
Answer: A drug-food interaction occurs when the food you eat affects the ingredients in a medicine you are taking so the medicine cannot work the way it should or cause a side effect from a medicine to get worse or better or cause a new side effect. Due to drug-food interaction the medicine can also change the way your body uses a food. Drug-food interactions can happen with both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, including antacids, vitamins and iron pills, so always ask your doctor and or pharmacist before initiating any course of medication.
Not all medicines are affected by food, but many medicines can be affected by what you eat and when you eat it. For example - Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) e.g. Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, Esomeprazole etc. are very common for chronic acidity and gas. They work by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach. The food may delay or decrease absorption on PPIs, so they are recommended to take in empty stomach for maximum absorption and efficacy.
On the other hand, some medicines are easier to tolerate when taken with food. For example- Common Painkillers and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs like Aspirin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen and Antipyretics Paracetamol are always recommended to administer with food or milk to avoid stomach upset. These medicines may even cause stomach bleeding for alcoholic patients, especially to those who drink three or more alcoholic drinks every day.
Five super foods that every pregnant woman should eat!
Article contributed by one of our Subscriber: Dr. Shreya, Gynecologist, Bangalore
Every pregnant woman should eat the healthiest and best foods as it is the main source of nutrition for their baby. Having a healthy and balanced diet keep expectant mothers healthy to face all the stress, strains of pregnancy, labor and further boosts their baby's growth. A pregnant woman will need about 300 additional calories in their diet every day from the second trimester.
Dr. Deepika Thakur, Physician, Says:I just want to take the opportunity to thank you for doing such a wonderful job of promoting awareness regarding patient safe medicines across the country.
Dr. Jagdish Desai, Journalist, Says: You and your entire staff demonstrated the utmost professionalism, skill and courtesies during the entire production of the newsletters. I congratulate your entire team on a job well done.
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Disclaimer : Our newsletter endeavors to compile patient safety information from various sources . PSM India may not be held responsible for any article published in The Prescription.