Decision on banning of painkiller drug on June 20

New Delhi, 18 June: Banned in many countries, including the UK and US, popular painkiller drug dextropropoxyphene is now under scanner in India too. At a meeting to be held by the Drug Controller General of India on June 20, over a dozen experts will meet to review the safety of the drug. "It is important to review the drug to see if it is safe for human consumption, after which we will take a decision without taking it for further consultations," said a senior official in the DCGI office. Dextropropoxyphene is sold under popular brands like Proxyvon (Wockhart), Corbutyl (Sanofi), Parvon (Jagson Pal), Dexovon (USV) and Sudhinol (Ranbaxy). The drug can lead to addiction if used for prolonged periods, doctors said.

Indian Express

Health ministry ready with draft for adding Schedule HX under D&C Act

New Delhi, 20 June: The Union health ministry is ready with the draft of a national antibiotics policy by inserting a new Schedule called HX under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act with a view to preventing the misuse of drugs numbering about 70 antibiotics. Sources in the Ministry said the draft has been sent for vetting by the Law Ministry before forwarding it for further steps including getting the approval of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB). The Drugs Consultative Committee had already given its go-ahead to the proposal. Currently the antibiotics are placed under the Schedule H of the D&C Act.

Banned drugs on sale, makers face music

New Delhi, 17 June: Several leading pharmaceutical companies face legal action after raids this week showed drugs manufactured by them continue to be available despite their having been banned by the government. Thirteen teams of officials raided some 135 pharmacists in Delhi and Rajasthan on Wednesday, and found 83 of them selling banned drugs. Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr Surinder Singh said the manufacturer is culpable, as is the retailer. "Once the drug is banned, it becomes the responsibility of the manufacturer to recall the batches of these banned drugs already in the market," Dr Singh said.

CONTINUED EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Dear Members,AContinued Education Programme for the benefit of all members is
being arranged on Sunday 19/6/2011.
Venue                                              : I.M.A.Hall District Hospital Compound,
                                                           Opp.Hotel Milan,Belgaum. 
Time :10 A.M.


Programme     :

1. Welcome adress by Shri N.G.kulkarni,Secretary .
2. 'Lecture on 'Customer Care and Growing Market of Pharma in India"by Shri Anil K.Trikha(Vice President Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd)
3. Lecture on "Feature'sof the Future in Drug Trade"by Shri D.A.Gundurao,(Chairman Karnataka Pharmacy Council)
4. Address by Cheif Guest Shri K.S.Mallikarjun,(Asst.Drugs Controller,Belgaum.)
5. Guest of Honour Shri Ajay Shah(DrugsInspector Intelligence Wing ,hubli.).Shri Sharanbasappa Hanumanal,(Drugs Inspector-Inspector-Belgaum,Circle).

           You all are requested to attend the programme,Thanking you
                             N.G.Kulkarni, (Hon.Secretary,B.D.C.D.A)                                                                      
                                                                                            
                                                                                           

New essential drugs list finalized after eight years

NEW DELHI, 11 JUNE: India has finalized the country's all new National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). It has 348 essential medicines, while the 2003 list had 354. Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr Surinder Singh told TOI that 47 dugs have been deleted from the 2003 list. However, no anti-cancer or anti-HIV drugs have been deleted. He said eight new cancer drugs have been added in NLEM 2011, aggregating the tally to 30. Carboplatin, Chlorambucil, Daunorubicin, Filgrastim, Ifosfamide, Imatinib, Mesna and Oxaliplatin are the new cancer drugs that have been included in the list.

Soon, special cell to monitor global trend on banned drugs

NEW DELHI, 9 JUNE: India is going all out to monitor global ban on drugs. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has ordered the setting up of a new special cell in the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) that will monitor the fate of drugs being sold both abroad and back home. India has always been blamed for allowing the sale of drugs that are banned in other countries for proven adverse effects.

Expired drugs to be moved out of stores in 15 days

CHENNAI, 1 JUNE: Unsold medicines will be cleared out of pharmacies within 15 days of their date of expiry and drug inspectors will be empowered to cancel trade licences of erring pharmacies . These are the recommendations of a high-level panel for amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The existing rules ban sale of expired drugs, but do not specify their disposal. A group of senior drug officials from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi and Punjab who met in Chennai on Monday also recommended that it should be made mandatory for drug manufacturers to track medicines and ensure they are destroyed within 20 days of the date of expiry.