Wishing all our readers and their family a Very Bright, Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2019! May we step into this year with new hopes, renewed aspirations and magical dreams and the capacity to fulfil them all.
While the coming months would see stricter implementation of quality standards and increased awareness of the risks of online pharmacy, NITI Aayog has pitched for reform in the Health sector. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council will soon consider a proposal that makes it mandatory for hospitals to bill medicines and hospitalisation charges separately, a move that could help plug any leakage in GST collection from healthcare providers. Such a measure is also seen benefiting consumers as it will make hospital bills more transparent.
If a patient did not get a particular medicine from drug distribution counter, which was listed in free medicine scheme, he has the right to lodge his complaint at vigilance or supervisory committee at RMSCL level; revision of guidelines for tackling NSQ drugs and uniform implementation of new labelling norms all make up interesting reads under PSM India Capsules and Drug Laws And Policy Injections.
The year 2019 shall see positive changes with a major turnaround for the Indian Pharma sector and industry and regulators collaborating to understand patient requirements. Read more on this under Pharma Injections while catching up on drug hauls and drug safety guidelines under Drug Dopes.
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Stay Healthy. Stay Protected.
Pooja Khaitan
Editor-in-Chief,
The Prescription
“Regulators’ intention is not to kill the industry but to oversee and standardize the processes. To protect public health, and control discrepancies, both intentionally and unintentionally, we need to have a strong and effective regulatory system.”
Dr.S.Eswara Reddy
Drugs Controller General (India)
Faulty medical devices: Govt sets up panel to frame rules for compensation; PSM India Founder part of sub committee
MUMBAI: In good news for patients, the government has set up an expert panel to frame rules for compensation in case of an adverse event due to a faulty or unsafe medical device. 
Discussions were held on how in the coming months the sector will see stricter implementation of quality standards and increased awareness of the risks of online pharmacy.
The three-day 70th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress, inaugurated by Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu, concluded at the Amity University Campus, Noida. The event was graced by her holiness, Anand Murti Guru Maa as the Chief Guest and Bejon Misra as the Guest of Honor.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council will soon consider a proposal that makes it mandatory for hospitals to bill medicines and hospitalisation charges separately, a move that could help plug any leakage in GST collection from healthcare providers. Such a measure is also seen benefiting consumers as it will make hospital bills more transparent.
Over 100 New China-Developed Medicines Certified
BEIJING, 22 DEC 2018 (Xinhua): A total of 117 new medicines developed by Chinese researchers have been certified thanks to support from a major national project, a health official said Saturday.
AI Can Predict Risk Of Infection After Surgery
London, 16 Dec 2018: Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can successfully predict whether a patient is at risk of developing a serious, and possibly life-threatening infection after surgery.
US FDA Releases Final Rule On Classification, Reclassification Of Medical Devices
Maryland, 14 Dec 2018: The FDA issued a final rule that implements modifications made by the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, as well as updates and clarifies the Part 860 regulations without making substantive changes to existing practices for the classification and reclassification of medical devices.
US FDA Looks To Modernize Generic Drug Labels
Maryland, 13 Dec 2018: FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, announced that FDA was withdrawing the 2013 proposed rule, Supplemental Applications Proposing Labeling Changes for Approved Drugs and Biological Products, that would have allowed generic-drug makers to update and distribute safety information in their drug labeling. The action comes after consideration of the cost such a rule may have imposed on generic-drug manufacturers. In addition, the agency is updating labels on certain generic cancer drugs with new safety and efficacy information so that prescribers and patients have the most up-to-date information.
Multi-State Counterfeit Pill Drug Trafficking Organization Halted By 400+ Law Enforcement Officers On December 5th And 6th
A series of drug seizures by the Bremerton Police Department last year has led Federal authorities to a massive drug trafficking organization that was responsible for bringing thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills made with fentanyl into Skagit and Snohomish counties, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reports.
Thousands Of Fake Pills Purchased From China Shipped To Man In New York State
December 19, 2018: According to the Democrat & Chronicle, a Rochester, New York man pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of smuggling counterfeit pills into the country. Court documents stated that a package mailed from China to Samuel McFarland via DHL was flagged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for inspection on January 8, 2018. Inside the package shipped from the Guangdong Province in China, agents found 100 bottles that each contained 30 Cialis pills. The package’s manifest listed the contents as “free trade samples” valued at $1 each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are Nutraceuticals?
Ans: 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. Read More>>>
End Of Wrong Treatment? ICMR’s Bid To Provide Quality Diagnosis
Article contributed by Prof. Rex Sengupta from Kolkata
New Delhi, 15 Dec 2018: Today, many people are unable to get tested for diseases because they cannot access diagnostic services while many others are incorrectly diagnosed, leading to a situation where they do not receive the required treatment or even the wrong treatment. In order to ensure quality diagnosis at all levels of healthcare facilities, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has articulated a new list of essential diagnostics. The new draft is on the lines of the essential medicines list and is scientifically designed.
Dr. Naresh Kumar, Research Scholar:The Prescription is at all times trying to keep us up-to-date with the latest medication news, fake drug alerts and approvals which is indeed praiseworthy!
Dr. S. Chakravarty, Principal of a reputed Pharma and allied Health Sciences Institution states: My earnest gratitude and applauds to PSM-India for the continuous action they have taken in fighting menace of unsafe medicines in India!
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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.