-The Business Standard Govt should streamline its free medicines plan The Centre is reportedly going to shelve a plan to procure generic drugs for free supply to patients throughout the country. This is a serious error. Reportedly, states will instead be asked to do so; but, if a perceived inability to procure, stock and distribute these drugs is the reason for backtracking on the plan, how precisely will states be free of...

-The Business Standard After the US and Indian authorities, the medicines manufactured by Ranbaxy Laboratories are now under the scanner of hospitals, too. Mumbai's leading Jaslok Hospital has already put up a notice advising its doctors to avoid prescribing Ranbaxy drugs, while some others are reviewing the matter. Medanta Medicity officials say they will soon assess the situation and take a decision. "I have received around a dozen queries from patients recently....

-The Times of India SURAT: For 18 years, he took orders from people for piping hot bhajiyas that his father prepared on a small handcart outside Chikhli bus stop in Navsari. Now, he is all set to deliver orders. Subhash Tripathi is awaiting his appointment as a civil judge. After practicing as a lawyer for five years in Chikhli court, Tripathi cleared the exam for judges recently. The family migrated from Varanasi...

-The Business Standard USFDA's zero tolerance policy requires our drug firms to reorient not just processes but organisational cultures to serve that market credibly The following two quotes from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) news releases may help put the Ranbaxy controversy in perspective. The first sums up what it is that drives the FDA and the second is typical of the challenge the pharmaceutical industry faces. (1) "The consent...

-The Times of India MUMBAI: A Mumbai hospital has put up a notice advising its doctors to avoid prescribing drugs manufactured by Ranbaxy Laboratories. This comes a fortnight after Ranbaxy Laboratories agreed to pay a $500-million penalty to US authorities for "selling adulterated drugs" in the American market. It is not known whether the two are linked. Consultants at Jaslok Hospital said an advisory was put up at the receptionist's circular desk...