Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Drug prices to go up as govt bans PET medicine bottles, is ban based on data?

Drug prices to go up as govt bans PET medicine bottles, is ban based on data?

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Nov 23, 2014   modified Modified on Nov 23, 2014
-The News Minute

The use of plastic or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles for packaging medicines such as syrups and liquid orals has been banned by the government. Reports say that this ban will lead a price hike for certain drugs meant for children, women and senior citizens.

According to a Times of India report SV Veeramani, president, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) confirmed the move, "There would be estimated 25-30% cost increase per bottle as the alternative for PET is glass. Using glass will increase the cost of medicines."

One lakh metric tonnes of PET used in pharmaceuticals market will have to be replaced by 9 lakh metric tonnes of glass per year. This may lead to a shortage of liquid medicines because of shortage of glass containers. Transportation is likely to also go up by 50% as only 90,000 glass bottles can be transported in a container compared to 1.5 lakh PET bottles, says the report.

The health ministry had prohibited the use of such bottles for packaging pharmaceutical products due to the possible adverse effects on health.

A Business Standard report in December 2013 however says that the government lacks enough scientific evidence confirming a risk to health from the use of plastic bottles.

"Since there is not enough evidence, the DTAB had recommended that in the first phase, the use of plastic or PET containers in liquid oral formulations for primary packaging of pediatric formulations, geriatric medicines, and medicines for women in the reproductive age group and pregnant women should be phased out and banned," an official told Business Standard.


The News Minute, 22 November, 2014, http://www.thenewsminute.com/news_sections/2095


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close