At a recent function presided over by His excellency, Hon’ble President Shri Pranab Mukherjee, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi called upon IITs to bring about a “positive change” in the quality of life of the people of India. Here Shri Modi was referring to HEALTH and defence. In a country where health seems to be a major concern even in todays times , he urged the IITs to instil among them a sense of service towards the nation by coming up with innovative equipments in the health sector. This has been a major breakthrough by all organisations including PSM India Initiative who have been crusading against the menace of fake medicines and seeking good health for our nation.
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Pooja Khaitan
Chief Editor ,
The PRESCRIPTION
Partnership for Safe Medicines India.
“While the government will do its duty of framing policies and schemes and implementing them, it would require the cooperation and involvement of all to make ‘health for all’ a social movement”
Dr. Harsh Vardhan
Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India
Sample: Request a sample from your physician when you are first prescribed a medication to help you establish a “baseline” of a product’s characteristics, including its appearance, taste, texture, reactions and packaging. Please note that manufacturer samples are usually only available for brand name medications and not generic products. Generics may differ in shape or color but still be a safe and effective product. For specific questions on identification of medications, talk to your pharmacist.
Appearance: Compare the prescription medicine you receive with what it is supposed to look like by taking pictures of the original manufacturer's drug and all associated packaging with the drug you are taking. You can also find pictures in the Physicians Desk Reference. When comparing packaging, look for differences in paper, printing, color, and fonts (i.e. is it the same size, raised print, embossed, etc.).
Mangalore, August 2014 - Nearly 85 per cent of malaria cases in Karnataka are observed in two urban centres of Mangalore and Udupi. This was revealed at a meeting of officials convened by the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) in Mangalore on Tuesday.A Prakash, who represented NVBDCP, said that Mangalore and Udupi have been witnessing cases of malaria since 1996.
Health ministry unveils ‘Phool Khil Jayenge’ song to reiterate its commitment to immunize all Indian children 
Bengaluru, August 2014: Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reiterated its commitment to immunise all Indian children on the occasion of the India’s 68 Independence Day. The government launched a public service message in the form of a music video ‘Phool Khil Jayenge’ which was unveiled by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
P2-M fake drugs seized; 7 doctors probedBaguio City, Aug 2014 — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has cracked down on a syndicate distributing counterfeit medicines in the city through seven doctors believed to be prescribing the bogus drugs to their patients.
Turkish man pleads guilty to importing illegal cancer drugsTurkey, August, 2014 - Sabahaddin Akman, owner of the Istanbul, Turkey, firm Ozay Pharmaceuticals, has pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling misbranded and adulterated cancer treatment drugs into the United States.
Baxter begins recall of two lots of peritoneal dialysis solution from US market due to presence of particulate matter
Deerfield, Illinois, August 2014: Baxter International, a global, diversified healthcare company, announced that the company has voluntarily initiating a recall in the United States of two lots of Dianeal Low Calcium (2.5mEq/L) peritoneal dialysis Solution with 2.5 per cent Dextrose 5000mL (Ambu-Flex II) to the hospital/user level. The recall is being initiated due to the presence of oxidised stainless steel, garment fibre, and PVC particulate matter identified during the manufacturing process.
US FDA approves Biogen's Plegridy for multiple sclerosis treatment
Cambridge, August 2014: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Biogen Idec's Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a), a new treatment for people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS). Plegridy, the only pegylated beta interferon approved for use in RMS, is dosed once every two weeks and can be administered subcutaneously with the Plegridy PEN, a new, ready-to-use autoinjector, or a prefilled syringe. Plegridy offers people with MS robust efficacy, a safety profile consistent with the established interferon class, and significantly fewer injections than other beta interferon treatments,” said George A. Scangos, chief executive officer of Biogen Idec. “Plegridy represents the most significant innovation in the interferon class in over a decade, and is the result of our deep commitment to improving the lives of people with MS and those who care for them.”
US FDA grants orphan drug designation to Mirati Therapeutics' mocetinostat for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
SanDiego, August 2014: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation to Mirati Therapeutics' mocetinostat, a spectrum selective HDAC inhibitor, for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In June, mocetinostat was granted Orphan Drug Designation as a treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Orphan drug designation is also being sought for bladder cancer patients with specific genetic alterations.
PSM's 5th annual conference will be held onSeptember 18, 2014 at the KnightConference Center at The Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Av., NW, Washington, D.C.
Each year, the PSM Interchange brings together policymakers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, patient advocates, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and anti-counterfeiting companies to discuss the problem and solutions to the global scourge of pharmaceutical counterfeiting.
Tickets on sale 
Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What are multivitamin preparations?
Answer: A multivitamin is a preparation intended to be a dietary supplement with vitamins, dietary minerals, and other nutritional elements. Such preparations are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pastilles, powders, liquids, and injectable formulations. Multivitamins are popular amongst majority of people ( from child to aged population) as they believe that these vitamins, minerals and herbs will cure colds, strengthen immunity, build muscles, improve memory, digestive disorders and generally benefit their health and lifespan.
Q2. Are multivitamins safe for regular intake?
Answer: Multivitamins are a good way to help supplement a diet for those who don't always have time to shop for fresh vegetables, fruit and whole grains. But most health experts agree that a multivitamin is no replacement for a good, well-balanced diet. Also, studies have found that an overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K and minerals can cause serious or life-threatening side effects, serious hypersensitivity, allergies and critical medical conditions. So, a tender advice from PSM India Desk that next time before popping up a one-a-day vitamin supplement please discuss it with your doctor and tell him about all your medical conditions and allergies. In some cases, you may not be able to use multivitamins, or you may need a dose adjustment or special precautions (especially in pregnancy, lactation, etc).
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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.