‘It will hinder access to quality, affordable generic medicines produced in India' People in Asia living with HIV and who depend on affordable generic AIDS medicines to stay alive have impressed upon the Indian government to stand strong against European Union demands on the sensitive Intellectual Property (IP) chapter in ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. The EU is pushing for harmful IP provisions to be included in the trade agreement...

Caught between public outcry and Congress reservations, the government on Tuesday indicated that it was willing to review the Budget proposal to levy a service charge on healthcare costs of individuals. But those opting for medical insurance might have to remain under the ambit of the levy. ''Whether the service tax will be on 25-bed hospitals or whether it will be on all tests is something that can be discussed,'' revenue...

Altogether 40 lakh people were treated during the month-long health awareness campaign throughout Bihar that concluded here on Sunday. State Health Minister Ashwani Chaube said this while releasing a report card of the initiate launched by the State Government last month to take medical facilities to the doorsteps of the people. The doctors also operated upon 22,000 Patients and another 2200 people underwent eye operation, Mr. Chaube said. The health department organised medical...

The Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) has pocketed over Rs 1 crore by allowing pharma companies to conduct clinical trials of drugs on its Patients — victims of the gas disaster of 1984. Shockingly, out of the 7 trials carried out in the hospital since 2004, only one was inspected or monitored by the government watchdog Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). This was revealed in response to...

I was awakened early one morning recently by someone who said he was enormously enjoying my on-going debate on economic growth in India. I was very pleased that I had given someone some joy, but I also wondered what on earth he could be talking about, since I have not been involved in any such debate. As it happens, I am getting a steady stream of telephone calls and electronic...