-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The health ministry was actively mulling compulsory licensing, apart from price capping, of “orphan drugs” (for rare diseases), when the department of pharmaceuticals abruptly issued an order exempting such medicines from price control, derailing plans to make these drugs affordable. The health ministry discussed price capping and invoking compulsory licence for these “exorbitantly” priced “orphan drugs” at a meeting on January 3, the day when DoP...

-The Hindu A farmer’s house in the nondescript Kirugavalu village is the country’s largest private rice museum A serpentine road from Mysuru cuts through lush green fields and leads to an obscure village dotted with run-down houses and petty shops with thatched roofs. Sidestepping a passing herd of sheep, I enter a narrow lane and reach a 75-year-old house with a row of pillars. It is this house, in the nondescript Kirugavalu village in...

-The Hindu The disease cannot be eliminated without universal access to affordable, quality diagnostics and drugs After decades spent battling the scourge of tuberculosis (TB) in developing countries, 2018 might be the year that it is finally accorded the gravitas it deserves. On September 26, the UN General Assembly will, for the first time, address TB in a High-Level Meeting and likely release a Political Declaration, endorsed by all member nations, to...

-The Times of India BHOPAL: Now, it is official that Kadaknath, the all-black fowl, belongs to Madhya Pradesh. The Geographical Indications Registry issued certificate in this regard on Monday, six years after the filing for the GI registry on February 8, 2012. GI registered Jhabua Kadaknath Black Chicken Meat to geographical area, MP. GI registration is valid up to a period of around five years till February 7, 2022.   B Manghnani, state...

-Deccan Chronicle Ayush ministry states that experience and evidence of effectiveness of these drugs is based on textual rationale and published in literature. Hyderabad: Fraudsters would flourish if patented or proprietary Ayruvedic, Siddha and Unani products are given licence without insisting on safety trials, industry experts and medical professionals have stated. The Centre has issued drug regulators in states a directive to issue licenses to patented and proprietary products of Ayurvedic, Siddha and...