-The Times of India Multinational stent companies claim that the ceiling price fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is commercially unviable, but they are selling at far lower prices in much richer countries with smaller markets than India such as Germany, the UK, Italy and many other European countries. A look at the prices of stent brands in these countries shows that people in India have been defrauded of crores...

-The Hindu Doctors’ objections to prescribing medicines by generic names fly in the face of a recent report on substandard drugs In a surprise move on April 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government will soon make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe medicines by generic names. The decision was to ensure drug prices remain affordable and patients get a wider bouquet of options instead of being forced to...

-Business Standard WPI inflation for April is at 3.9%, which is 144 (bps) lower than the March inflation rate The Ministry of Commerce and Industry unveiled the revised wholesale price index (WPI) on May 12, 2017 as per the 2011-12 base year. As per this release, WPI inflation for April is at 3.9%, which is 144 basis points (bps) lower than the March inflation rate. The decline is mainly due to a...

-The Indian Express Six months later, it is clear that it achieved next to nothing, and inflicted a large cost on the poor and the informal sector. It was six months ago, on November 8, that India hit the headlines the world over, with its sudden demonetisation. It was announced in the evening that, at the stroke of the midnight hour, all bank notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 would cease...

-The Hindu The core issues are affordable access to medicines and their rational prescription and use The Medical Council of India (MCI) issued a circular on April 21 drawing attention to clause 1.5 of its regulations regarding the professional conduct of doctors: “Every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription of drugs.” Further, the circular said,...