-PTI Drug regulator DGCI is conducting a "focussed scrutiny" of medicines sold by Ranbaxy and some other drug makers, but says it remains confident of the quality standards of Indian medicines despite concerns raised by US authorities over some of Ranbaxy's products. While the company continues to assert that its drugs meet all regulatory standards, a few hospitals and pharmacies have adopted a cautious stand on use of its products. However, a majority...
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Arsenic poisoning water in North Karnataka: CAG -Sunitha Rao R
-The Times of India BANGALORE: Safe drinking water for all is a common promise in the manifestos of all political parties. Yet, villagers in North Karnataka are drinking water with high arsenic content, said a Comptroller and Auditor General report released on Thursday. Though the National Rural Drinking Water Mission looked into the issue, it made a conscious effort to keep itself away from the high-cost treatment technologies to deal with arsenic...
More »The Cost of Drugs: Beyond the Supreme Court Order -Sanjay Nagral
-Economic and Political Weekly While the Supreme Court decision in the recent Novartis case has cleared the way for production of generic drugs in India, doctors have to prescribe cheaper alternatives to costly brands if patients with limited means are to benefit. What is being hailed as a victory in the struggle for affordable medicines in the country will actually be one only when there is a pro-patient slant to the...
More »Shortage of MTP pills, thanks to tighter norms of Food and Drug Administration -Pratibha Masand
-The Times of India MUMBAI: Bhavin Dave was married for six weeks when his wife realized she was pregnant. Both rushed to a doctor, who said the best way to deal with the unplanned pregnancy was to use a medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) drug. She prescribed the pills and that was when their ordeal began. Bhavin (name changed) scrambled from pharmacy to pharmacy with the prescription, but to no avail. He...
More »Prescribe generic drugs: MCI to doctors -Rupali Mukherjee
-The Times of India MUMBAI: The Union government and regulatory bodies appear to be serious in ending the pharma-doctor nexus and curb unethical marketing practices. In its latest effort, the Medical Council of India has directed doctors, hospitals and medical colleges to prescribe generic medicines as far as possible. Generic medicines are more affordable versions of branded medicines sold by companies. In its directive dated January 21 to the principals of medical...
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