India Health Progress terms free generic drug programme as critically important

Our Bureau, New Delhi Saturday, July 28, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] www.pharmabiz.com

India Health Progress, an action forum of stakeholders to improve access to healthcare, has welcomed the latest moves to launch the free generic drug programme for giving free medicines at the public health facilities in the States. “The initiative of the Government is critically important step in meeting India’s unmet health needs. A publicly funded drug program for poor populations is essential to reducing the growing social and economic burden of disease in India for the hundreds of millions of Indians who live below the poverty line,” India Health Progress principal advisor Aman Gupta said in a statement here.

Pharmacists can make lives of patients better: Dr Krishna Kumar

Our Bureau, Chennai Saturday, July 28, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] www.pharmabiz.com

India will be a goldmine for pharmacy practitioners if they learn to monitor the patients and advise them in their recovery, said Dr Krishna Kumar, Professor of Biopharmaceuticals and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmacy, Harvard University, Washington. Delivering the key-note address at the “Quality Pharmacy Practice Module Advanced Learning Series” at Sri Ramachandra University here, he said the pharmacists can make the lives of patients all the more better.

High Court stays food safety and standards regulations

BANGALORE, 27 JULY: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday stayed for three months the implementation of the regulations and some of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, which were enforced from August last year. Justice Mohan Shantanagoundar passed the interim order after hearing the petition filed by the Karnataka Pradesh Hotels and Restaurants’ Association.

Himalaya Drug Company’s Liv 52 enters the Limca Book of Records

Our Bureau, Mumbai Friday, July 27, 2012, 14:00 Hrs  [IST] www.pharmabiz.com

The Himalaya Drug Company’s Liv.52, a phyto-pharmaceutical formulation for the management of liver disorders, will feature in the Limca Book of Records: Business Edition (2013) as the highest selling herbal drug in India, both in terms of units and rupee value. Since its launch in 1955, Liv.52 has become the country’s top hepatoprotective. “Currently a Rs. 150 crore brand, it is the only herbal drug to feature in the top ten of the bestselling drugs in India, according a report by Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM),” said Philipe Haydon, CEO - Pharmaceutical Division, The Himalaya Drug Company. Talking about the promotional route for Liv.52, Haydon elaborated, “Like all our pharmaceutical products, Liv.52 is also promoted ethically through doctor prescription. Currently, over 400,000 (4 lakh) doctors across the globe prescribe Himalaya’s products,”

Five states sign joint declaration to provide essential drugs free to all patients coming to govt hospitals

Chennai, 27 July: The medical supply corporations of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan have decided to work jointly to bring down the out of pocket expenditure on medicines and make free supply of essential drugs to all the patients coming to the government hospitals. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of CEOs of the medical supply corporations of these states held at Thiruvananthapuram recently in which SC Pant, managing director of the Central Medical Store Organisation of Gujarat, K Ananadan, general manager, TN Medical Services Corporation, M Shivarudraswamy, chief drugs supervisor, Karnataka Drug Logistics and Warehousing Society, Dr. Samit Sharma, MD, Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation and Biju Prabhakar, MD, KMSCL were present.

NPPA turns down pharma firms' request for hike in insulin price

New delhi, 27 July: Pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly, Cadila, Lupin and Biocon, will have to continue selling insulin at the current price, as the drug price regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has turned down their request for a rate increase. Instead, it has slashed the prices of Vitamin C-based medicines and multi-vitamins by 0.12-37.76 per cent. Drug makers like GlaxoSmithKline, Piramal and Pfizer, leaders in the segment, are likely to be affected by the move. However, the regulator has allowed an increase in prices of Merck’s Vitamin E-based drugs and a few antibiotics and antibacterials from Alkem and Alembic.

Drug authorities in AP seize drugs worth Rs.1.5 lakh from an illegal clinic in Medak district

Our Bureau, Hyderabad Wednesday, July 25, 2012, 15:50 Hrs  [IST]

The Andhra Pradesh Drug Control Authorities (APDCA) have seized drugs worth Rs.1.5 lakhs from a self proclaimed RMP (Registered Medical Practitioner) doctor running Mamidyal first Aid Clinic in Mulugu mandal of Medak district in the state. Close on the heels of its action on Gaba Pharmaceuticals just last week in Hyderabad, the DCA authorities are continuing their inspections on the defaulting drug manufacturers and their distributors in the state. Recently, the state drug authorities have unearthed one more illegal medical drugs racket in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh where in illegal drugs worth Rs.1.5 lakhs have been seized by the authorities.

Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan & TN to replicate Kerala model ‘Karunya’ pharmacy to provide cheaper drugs to patients

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai Thursday, July 26, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]

In a move that may result in major changes in the entire drug supply system in the country and likely to cause setbacks to the distributors’ network, an MD level meeting of medical services corporations of five states – Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu --- decided to replicate the Kerala model of Karunya community pharmacies in their states.

Food supplements makers in TN to move court seeking amendment to FSSA rules

Chennai, 24 July: Technical and legal hurdles in obtaining product approval certificates, which are mandatory for getting the new FSSA licence, are forcing the newly formed Tamil Nadu Food Supplement Manufacturers and Traders Association (TFSMTA) to launch a legal battle over the issue, it is learnt. According to Thomas Philip, the advisor of the Association and the managing director of Stamin Millennium Nutraceuticals, the stringent norms in the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA) 2006 obstructs the growth of the industry and creates problems to the manufacturers. He argues that there is no need of product approvals and the provision should be quashed.

NPPA revises prices of 154 formulation packs

New Delhi, 25 July: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) revised the prices in respect of 154 formulation packs based on bulk drugs including of vitamin C, vitamin E, chlorpromazine, multivitamin, and monocomponent human insulin. As per the notification by the NPPA dated July 19, other formulations packs whose prices were revised are based on bulk drugs like aspirin, cefotaxime, chlorpromazine, vitamine E (Tocopheryl), streptomycin with penicillin, norfloxacin, sulphadoxine, dexamethasone, metronidazole, prednisolone, and monocomponent human insulin.

Maha FDA prohibits Mankind from selling, distributing drugs worth Rs.2 cr until further notice

Mumbai, 24 July: The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)-Pune division issued a notice to Mankind Pharma, prohibiting them from selling and distributing drugs worth Rs.2 crore in the state until further notice. The notice was issued to the company for not complying to the storage conditions as required under the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act while storing their drugs in the godown of Sheetal Distributors in Pune. During the initial investigation that was carried out last month, the FDA officials found the company to be flouting the rules and provisions listed under D&C Act 1940 and rules 1945, thus prompting the officials to seize, Mankind's drugs worth Rs.2 crore, for improper storage of goods.

Karnataka drugs control officers track down unlicensed IV set production unit, seize IV sets worth Rs.2 cr

Our Bureau, Bengaluru Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 17:10 Hrs  [IST]

Karnataka drugs control department has unearthed an unlicensed manufacturing unit of Sangam Health Care Products Ltd at Gulbarga in the northern part of the state engaged in the production of Intravenous (IV) infusion sets. The total value of the infusion sets sold under the brand ‘Safti’ is estimated to be valued at Rs.2 crore. This is the largest haul in the state by the State drugs control department. The Hyderabad-based company has violated the Drugs and Cosmetics Act & Rules to indulge in unlicensed manufacturing.

Diabetes Drug Improves Glucose Control Without Increasing Risk of Hypoglycemia, Study Suggests

ScienceDaily (Feb. 27, 2012) — Too high? Too low? Only about half of those with type 2 diabetes have their blood sugar levels on target, but a new drug shows promise in managing glucose levels. TAK-875 works by boosting the release of insulin from pancreatic B cells, but only when diabetics need it most – such as when glucose and fatty acids rise in the blood after a meal. TAK-875, a new treatment for type 2 diabetes, improves blood sugar control and is equally effective as glimepiride, but has a significantly lower risk of creating a dangerous drop in blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, according to a new study.

Gujarat FDCA seizes drugs worth Rs.89 lakh from dealer of Redix Life Care in Ahmedabad

Our Bureau, Mumbai Saturday, July 21, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] www.pharmabiz.com

The Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) recently carried out a raid and seized drugs worth Rs.89 lakh from the godown of an unlicensed dealer of Redix Life Care for stocking medicines without a valid license. Following the raid, carried out in Sarkej, Ahmedabad, the officials have collected 12 samples of the drugs from the site and have sent them for testing and analysis to the food and drugs laboratory at Vadodara.

दवा महाराष्ट्र की, बंट रही यूपी में

(बस्ती):

Updated on: Wed, 18 Jul 2012 09:20 PM (IST) www.jagran.com

शासन की तरफ से सरकारी अस्पतालों में मरीजों को नि:शुल्क दवा मिलती है। इसी तर्ज पर प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य केंद्र बहादुरपुर में भी चिकित्सकों के सलाह पर दवाएं दी जा रही है। लेकिन मरीजों को दी जाने वाली यह दवा महाराष्ट्र सरकार के अस्पतालों में निश्शुल्क देने के लिए है जबकि दिया जा रहा उत्तर प्रदेश में। खास बात यह है कि एलोपैथिक चिकित्सक द्वारा आयुर्वेदिक दवा लिखा जा रहा है।

Kerala DCA registers cases of violation of DPCO against retail shop; seizes drugs worth over Rs.6 lakh

Our Bureau, Chennai Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] www.pharmabiz.com

The Ernakulam zone of the Kerala drugs control administration has registered cases of violation of DPCO of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for overcharging against a retail pharma shop in the city and reported it to the national authority. According to assistant drugs controller (ADC) Pradeep Kumar, Alpha Drug House on T D Road was selling the drug Nircip 500 mg tab, containing ciprofloxacin HCL 500 mg with an MRP of Rs.80 for 10 tablets, instead of Rs.60 fixed by the NPPA. The inspectors prevented the sales of this drug, which comes around 5740x10 tabs, worth around Rs.4.5 lakh.

Karnataka drugs control dept tracks down sales of psychotropic substances without prescription

Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] www.pharmabiz.com

Karnataka drugs control department has tracked down at least 100 out of the 450 chemists and druggists selling psychotropic drugs without a prescription in several districts of the state. The department carried out a special drive from July 6-8, 2012 to verify if the pharmacy outlets were adhering to Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act (D&C) which calls to  dispense drugs only with a valid prescription. The inspection was carried out by officials as a part of the department's surprise audit.

Trade bodies urge Maha govt to curb dispensing of medicines by doctors

Suja Nair Shirodkar, Mumbai Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] www.pharmabiz.com

Pharma trade associations from Maharashtra has approached the state government requesting them to formulate guidelines to ensure stronger policing of the drug distribution system in the state to restrict doctors from indulging in unethical practice of distribution of medicines to the patients directly. This demand comes in the wake of increased incidents of doctors selling drugs to the patients by misinterpreting the provisions under schedule K (5) of the drugs and cosmetics (D&C) Act. Schedule K (5) from the Act deals with provisions regarding drugs supplied by the registered medical practitioners to the patients directly. It allows the doctors to dispense medicines in their clinics under certain conditions. However, doctors are found to be flouting the rules by dispensing the medicines indiscriminately, at times, even charging a higher price.

Another case related to appointment of Dy DCGI as per RR pending in Madras HC

Ramesh Shankar, Mumbai Tuesday, July 17, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] WWW.PHARMABIZ.COM

Even though the Bombay High Court has vacated the stay on publishing the results of the interviews conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in March this year for the post of Deputy Drug Controller General of India (Dy DCGI), the issue is not out of legal tangle as another case related to the issue is pending in Madras High Court. According to sources, the Madras High Court has already served notice to the government on the petition. But, the case is yet to come up for hearing as the government is yet to file the counter affidavit.

Cough syrups sale comes under scanner

KOCHI, 12 JULY: The Drugs Controller's office is going to act tough on the sale of cough syrups. Strict action will be taken against medical shops which sell these syrups without prescription and help in their misuse, said the assistant drugs controller. Corex, Phensedyl, Tossex, Linctus and Codeine compound are some of the cough syrups which are being used as sedatives. This abuse is rampant which has made the Drugs Controller's office to take steps to prevent the problem. The sale of drugs like Alprazolam, Spasmoproxyvon, Nitrazepam, Kaverta, Penegra and Fortwin has also come under the scanner. It has been found that many medical shops sell these drugs without prescription and without giving bills, said the assistant drugs controller. The licence of such shops would be cancelled if they were found to flout rules, he said. All medical shops should keep the registers of all drugs and it should be brought before the drugs inspector when necessary, he said.

Times of India

Karnataka Drugs Control Department: Driven by competence and capability

Friday, June 29, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] www.pharmabiz.com

Karnataka drugs control department functions in an environment of transparency and efficiency. Today, the department is manned by 51 inspectors, 38 assistant drugs controllers, 8 deputy drugs controllers and one additional drugs controller. But holding the mantle of the state drugs regulatory authority is Dr. B R Jagashetty, who has driven the need for   computerization, speedy clearances of manufacturing - pharmacy trade licenses, disbursing of quick test reports and ensuring streamlined operations across the offices located across the state. In an interaction with Nandita Vijay, Dr. Jagashetty indicates the issues and the future focus areas of the drugs control department, Excerpts: As the Karnataka drugs controller, member of the DTAB and chairman of Committee on the Amendment of the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, how do you react to the current controversies embroiling on the DCGI appointment? I would refrain from commenting on these issues as they do not come under my purview. Do you feel that the selection process was transparent and do you feel full justice was done to the Recruitment Rules? Actually, it would be difficult to comment on the same as the matter is sub-judice.

Maha FDA issues notice to Cipla for not complying to storage conditions

Suja Nair Shirodkar, Mumbai Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST] WWW.PHARMABIZ.COM

The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)-Pune division, recently issued a show-cause notice to Cipla demanding explanation from the drug major as to why they were not complying to the storage conditions as required under the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act to store drugs in their Pune Western warehousing compound. B R Masal, joint commissioner (drugs), FDA, Pune division said that following a visit to Cipla's warehouse, it was found that the company was flouting the rules by storing the goods improperly. Eighty one samples were taken from the site and sent to the government laboratory in Mumbai for analysis. The surprise visit to the Cipla’s warehouse was carried out by FDA Pune after receiving a complaint by Narendra Jain, national convener of Pharma Gladiator (India) in public interest on May 16.

AIDCOC urges union health ministry to bring medicines in the NLEM list under DPCO

The All India Drugs Control Officers’ Confederation (AIDCOC) has urged the union health ministry to bring the prices of 348 medicines included in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2011 under Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO).Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 08:00 Hrs  [IST]
In a representation to union health minister Gulam Nabi Azad, AIDCOC secretary general Ravi Uday Bhaskar said that the government had promised capping of prices of all essential drugs under NLEM in the pharmaceutical policy 2012, but it has not taken any concrete step towards fulfilling it. He also wanted the ministry to rationalise the difference between the ex-factory price and the MRP of the medicines as the profit margins are exceeding more than 1000 per cent on some of the formulations.

State to urge Centre to ban high alcohol content drugs

BHUBANESWAR, 9 JULY: In view of the drugs-hooch mix tragedy early this year in the State, the Government on Monday took a tough stand on preparation and sale of drugs having high alcohol components and urged the Centre to ban such drugs. "It has been decided that the Central Government will be requested to prohibit drugs with high percentage of alcohol," said Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik after a high-level coordination meeting on checking hooch tragedy and sale of contaminated drugs. Meanwhile, the Drugs Controller has banned the production of such contaminated drugs in the State. Eight pharmaceutical companies manufacturing drugs with high alcohol content have been banned from production and sale of these drugs.

Drug controllers of 10 states follow Gujarat model

AHMEDABAD, 9 JULY: Ten states across the country are keen to adopt Gujarat's model for speed and transparency in the pharmaceutical industry. The Food and Drugs Control Authority (FDCA)'s unique software- Extended Laboratory Node-is being shared with states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, among others, for free. The Gujarat FDCA is the first state in the country to adopt this software for making all its applications and services online. This software helps FDCA bring all the information relating to retailers and wholesalers from the state under the preview of public domain. FDCA issues online product licenses in the bulk drug segment through this software apart from using it for other initiatives.

AIIMS store under cloud for changing drugs

NEW DELHI, 4 JULY: The AIIMS medicine store which claims to be giving medicines on 56% discount has come under scanner for allegedly substituting the medicines prescribed by doctors with other drugs to make more profit. The 24X7 store allegedly provides discount on generic versions with print rate almost as high as the branded ones. For example, a lesser known generic version of sulbactum and cefoperazone (2g) - antibiotic for serious infections - is priced at Rs 525 (before the discount) while the company which owns research molecule sells it for Rs 598 without the discount. Several other generic drugs with the same molecule are available in the market for less than Rs 250 (minus the discount) only.

21 docs violated abortion drug norms: FDA

Kolhapur, 6 July: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) here has found irregularities in abortion drug stocks with 21 gynaecologists in the district. FDA assistant commissioner NA Yadav informed the civil surgeon, LM Patil, about the irregularities. As per the provisions, the doctors have to maintain receipts of medicines purchased, details of patients to whom the medicines have been given. Recording the medicine batch number is mandatory. These 21 gynaecologists have not maintained the records.

Gujarat FDCA puts updated info on retailers,wholesalers in public domain

Mumbai, 8 July: To ensure strong consumer awareness and effective delivery of services, the Gujarat Food & Drugs Control Administration, (FDCA) recently started an initiative that aims at bringing all the information relating to retailers and wholesalers from the state under the preview of public domain. With the information available freely on the official web site, FDCA hopes to bring in better transparency into the system that will enable effective functioning of the office

GURU PURNIMA

Guru Purnima

The full moon which appears in the Hindu month of Aadi (Aashada) (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage, Vyasa. Indeed, we are all indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata.

On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship their guru and all disciples perform a ‘puja’ to their respective spiritual preceptor or ‘Gurudeva’.

SHARDHANJALI TO SHRI S.S.HALBHAVI

  

 GOKAK-Shri Shankar S.Halbhavi,(76yrs) of "S.S.HALBHAVI MEDICAL STORES GOKAK"expired today at 2PM.Shri S.S.Halbhavi was the past President of Belgaum Dist.Chemists&Druggists Association.He was the Active President in the history of the Association.We the member of Belgaum Dist C&DAssociation & Belgaum Dist C&D Welfare Association,pray for his Soul rest in Peace.

Drug trials in India killed 2,031 persons

New Delhi, 30 June: As many as 2,031 people in India have died because of the clinical drug trials they were subjected to in the past four years. Only 22 of them have been compensated. What's more, no action has been taken so far against any pharma company, ethics committee that oversees clinical trials or contract research organisation that conducts the trials, which have been found guilty of unethical practices. The information became public during the hearing of a Right To Information (RTI) petition by the Central Information Commission on June 29. This is the first time that the office of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has admitted to not paying compensation for any of the deaths that have occurred so far except in 2010-2011.

Pharmacist held for illegal sale of abortion drugs

PUNE,13 JUNE: A drug wholesaler in Pimpri was arrested on Tuesday for illegal sale of abortion drugs following an FIR lodged against him by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). The suspect found to have sold over 12,000 abortion pills against fake receipts in a span of one-and-a-half months, FDA officials said.