-The Hindu Unless a deeper, institutional change is ushered in to break the nexus between drug companies and the regulatory regime, Indians consuming drugs may be exposing themselves to serious risks Even before I walked into the Mayflower Hotel in the heart of Washington on a crisp autumn afternoon to meet Dinesh Thakur, whistle-blower and former director of India-based pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy, I had a hunch that this conversation would spark some...
More »SEARCH RESULT
In a first, economic census to count businesses of transgenders -Surabhi
-The Indian Express For the first time, the government is doing a headcount of businesses run by members of the transgender community. The exercise is a part of the sixth economic census that counts the number of establishments in the country. The issue had cropped up during national level discussions where some states and activists sought this data. The aim was to get a gender dimension of entrepreneurship, said a government official. "Male...
More »Delivery deferred-Aarti Dhar
-The Hindu Health activists remind the Prime Minister of his last year's promise of free medication which will fulfil people's right to essential medicines Last year during his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced free distribution of medicines through government hospitals and health centres. One year down the line, however, the promise is far from being fulfilled and the declaration has made...
More »Drug price policy under SC glare
-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Supreme Court today ticked off the government for "dilly dallying" on an affordable drug pricing policy, following a petition that said the delay was aimed at pushing through suggestions of the powerful manufacturers' lobby. A bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and Gopala Gowda asked the Centre to respond within six weeks. The All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) had filed the application saying the government was delaying a...
More »Branded medicines cost 15 times more than generic ones
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Branded medicines cost 2-15 times more than non-branded generic medicines sold at Jan Aushadhi stores. For example, a 10-tablet strip of Diclofenac SR (100mg), a popular pain killer, costs Rs 51.91 whereas the same generic medicine costs only Rs 3.35 at Jan Aushadhi stores. An 100 ml bottle of cough syrup manufactured and marketed by drug companies costs Rs 33 while those sold at Jan Aushadhi...
More »