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Govt exempts antibiotics manufactured before Feb 28 from labelling provisions of Schedule H1

New Delhi, 21 March 2014: The Union health ministry has allowed the chemists to sell antibiotics listed under the Schedule H1, but manufactured before February 28, without the new labelling requirements even as the notification regarding the antibiotics has come into effect from March 1. However, the chemists have been asked to follow other instructions for the sale of these antibiotics with regard to prescription and maintenance of sale records as per the amended rule under the Schedule H1, according to the official sources.

SCHEDULE H1 DRUG LIST AND RETAIL BILLING FORMAT

DCGI puts restrictions on use of tramadol, tapentadol and their FDCs

New Delhi, 24 Feb 2014: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has put restrictions on the formulations of tramadol, tapentadol as wells as fixed dose combinations containing tramadol, in line with the recommendations of the new rug advisory committee as these drugs had potential for respiratory depressions and addiction. Formulation of tramadol has been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on January 27, 1993 for purpose of severe acute and chronic pain, diagnostic measures and surgical pain. Further the formulation of tapentadol had been approved on April 18, 2011 for relief of moderate to severe acute pain in adults 18 years of age or older.

Amended Narcotics Drugs Act notified after getting assent from President

New Delhi, 13 March 2014: The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2014 (NDPS), which is expected to give access to pain relief medicines including morphine to cancer patients, has been notified by the government after it got the assent from the President. According to official sources, the President gave the approval to the Act recently after the parliament passed the bill during its Winter Session in February, thus paving way for the final notification to put it into effect. The Act has been viewed as a welcome step to help the terminally ill patients get relief as it simplified the licensing for storage of morphine which would give the cancer patients access to it, for the first time since 1985 when the narcotics law was enacted.

INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL AT BELGAUM KARNATAKA........

परिवर्तनतर्फे १८ ते २१ जानेवारी २०१४ दरम्यान आंतरराष्ट्रीय पतंग महोत्सवाचे आयोजन

बेळगाव,दि . १४:परिवर्तन परिवारातर्फे दि . १८ ते २१ जानेवारी २०१४  दरम्यान आंतरराष्ट्रीय पतंग महोत्सवाचे आयोजन करण्यात आल्याची माहिती संयोजक माजी आमदार अभय पाटील यांनी पत्रकार परिषदेत दिली . नानावाडी ,सावगाव मार्गावरील माळावर होणाऱ्या  आंतरराष्ट्रीय पतंग महोत्सवात देशातील आणि परदेशातील पतंगबाज सहभागी होणार आहेत .

दि . १८ रोजी पालक मंत्री सतीश जारकीहोळी यांच्या हस्ते सकाळी १०. ३० वाजता आंतरराष्ट्रीय पतंग महोत्सवाचे उदघाटन होणार असून प्रमुख पाहुणे म्हणून खासदार सुरेश अंगडी ,जिल्हाधिकारी एन . जयराम ,उद्योजक राम भंडारी उपस्थित राहणार आहेत .

Chemists’ body fined Rs. 50 crore for holding pharma cos to ransom

Mumbai, 3 Jan 2014: The Competition Commission of India has fined the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) Rs 50 crore for using its control over chemists across the country to dictate terms to pharma companies on pricing and distribution. The Competition Commission order issued in December is being seen as the first blow to the cartelisation of AIOCD, which had been using its distribution muscle to force pharma companies to set aside higher margins for medicines, in the process pushing up retail prices of drugs and hurting consumers.

Knowledge empowerment of pharmacist would drive to achieve Pharma Vision 2020

Thursday, December 19, 2013, 16:40 Hrs  [IST]

Karnataka State Pharmacy Council (KSPC) has been at the forefront of pharmacy trade profession. From the organizing several people-oriented programmes like educating public on various diseases and their management by conducting workshops and seminars, to introduction of online registration, renewal of licences for pharmacists and investing in LED (light emitting diode) display in Bengaluru city, the Council has been leading from the front. The latest is that the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), through its Education Regulation Committee, has gone in for the revision of the D Pharm syllabus. The Committee has approved the KSPC's newsletters, which are seen as informative and educative reference books for the new syllabus of D Pharm. In an interaction with Nandita Vijay of Chronicle Pharmabiz, DA Gundu Rao, president of KSPC, elaborates about 65th IPC 2013 - 'Pharma Vision 2020: Empowering the Pharmacist': Excerpts:

Over Charging of Life-Saving Drugs by Sellers

New Delhi, 10 Dec 2013 (PIB): The term “Life saving drugs” is not recognized under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules made thereunder. However, the Government has published a National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2011 containing 348 medicines. The primary purpose of NLEM is to promote rational use of medicines considering the three important aspects i.e. cost, safety and efficacy. NLEM is one of the key instruments in balanced healthcare delivery systems of the country which includes accessible, affordable quality medicines at all the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare. Pricing of drugs is administered by the Department of Pharmaceutical and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the provisions of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO). The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare do not contain provisions for pricing of drugs. Government in that Department has notified the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy and the Drugs Price Control Order, 2013 to regulate the prices of essential medicines. This was stated by Shri. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Heath and Family Welfare, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.

Pharmacists urge DCGI to issue clarifications on Schedule H1 to avoid misinterpretation

Mumbai, 19 Dec 2013: Pharmacists across the country have expressed huge concern over the lack of clarity in the recently published gazette notification on Schedule H1, which deals with regulating the use of antibiotics in the country. Raj Vaidya, a community pharmacist, points out that there are lot of gray areas in the notification that needs to be clarified so as to avoid complications arising due to misinterpretation of some clauses by different persons or authorities.

Blood banks can't charge more than rates fixed by NBTC: Gujarat High Court

Ahmedabad, 1 Dec 2013: Soon, blood banks in Gujarat will be able to sell bloods to public only at the rate fixed by National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC). They will also be obliged to give free blood to patients suffering from thalassemia and haemophilia. The Gujarat High Court in its landmark judgement on blood banks on Saturday made it clear that it would be the duty of the state government to appoint sufficient number of inspectors to ensure that rules for running of blood banks are strictly complied with as per the National Blood Policy.

80% of medicines not covered by price control order

New Delhi, 1 Dec 2013: About 38 million people in India (which is more than Canada's population) fall below the poverty line every year due to healthcare expenses, of which 70% is on purchase of drugs. Yet, the much-awaited drug price control order (DPCO) 2013, meant to control the price of medicines does not cover over 80% of the medicines in the market. Many drugs crucial for India's disease profile have been left out, which means people are unlikely to see any significant reduction in expenditure on medicines.

Press Conference................

NPPA revises prices of 63 more formulation packs under new DPCO

New Delhi, 9 Nov 2013: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), which has been revising the prices of essential medicines in accordance with the new Drug Price Control Order, 2013 since June this year, has fixed the prices of 63 more formulation packs. With this, the total number of formulation packs covered under the new pharmaceutical policy has crossed 400, including over 50 packs whose prices could not be revised as information was not available. The price regulator had already announced the new prices for over 300 formulation packs already. According to the new pricing policy, the ceiling of prices are fixed based on the simple average of the prices of all brands of that drug that have a market share of atleast one per cent. The national list of essential medicines lists 348 bulk drugs, which are sold as 650 formulations.

60 drug cos offer increased margins to trade on controlled drugs after talks with AIOCD

Mumbai, 11 Nov 2013: Over 60 drug manufacturers have agreed to increase trade margins of wholesalers and retailers on price controlled medicines after a series of talks between various industry bodies and All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). AIOCD had to initiate talks with the industry bodies as Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has been hesitant to restore the old trade margins by amending DPCO 2013. Says Suresh Gupta, general secretary, AIOCD, "We look forward to getting an increase in the trade margin from over 90 companies for which talks are still going on."

DoP asks NPPA to relook at ceiling price fixed for azithromycin under new DPCO

New Delhi, 31 Oct 2013: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has been directed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) to reconsider the ceiling price fixed for Zithrox and Azilide brands of azithromycin produced by Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd., following a review petition filed by the company against the NPPA revision as per the new Drug Price Control Order, 2013. However, the review petitions by Modi-Mundipharma Pvt Ltd and Win-Medicare Pvt Ltd were rejected by the DoP as many more companies have reportedly challenged the new ceiling prices announced by the NPPA in line with the DPCO and the pharmaceutical pricing policy in the recent months.

After HC disallows ban, govt to put warning on anti-depressant

New Delhi, 6 Nov 2013: Left red-faced after yet another drug ban order failed to pass judicial scrutiny, the government is set to pass an order that anti-depressant Deanxit should be sold with a warning in red that the drug is to be sold only on the prescription of a registered psychiatrist. A notification regarding this will soon be issued under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. In addition, an expert committee comprising psychiatrists and pharmacologists constituted by the Drug Technical Advisory Board will examine the safety and efficacy of the drug and make recommendations about its marketing in India.

SHRI K.E.PRAKASH PRESIDENT KCDA AT.............

Belgaum(9/11/2013)-On the Occasion of Annual Gen.Meeting of "Belgaum District Welfare Chemist & Druggists Association,Belgaum(Karnataka)held on 10/11/2013,Shri K.E.PRAKASH president of Karnataka State Chemists & Druggists Association with office bearers will inaugurate the function.Also he will address to the members of the BDWCDA.
      On this occasion Shri Rajshekhar Malli (Asst.Drugs Controller of Belgaum circle) and Shri K.S.Mallikarjun(Asst.Drugs Controller of Karwar cicle) will guide about the amendments in Drugs & Cosmetics rules.
        Talking with Belgaum Chemist Blog,Shri Gangadhar Turmundi,Secretary of the Association briefed the Successful Activities of the Association,like Solving problems of wholesale distributors,Retail Members.Also by circulating Important circulars about Rules& Regulations of Drug & Cosmetic Act 1940,Vat circulars time to time.In coming days Association is arranging Education Programmes for their Members.

More large pharma cos offer higher trade margins over DPCO 2013

Mumbai, 28 Sept 2013: Shortage of essential medicines on retail shelves may be over soon as nine pharma companies in succession over the past two months have agreed to offer higher margins to the retailers and stockists against what has been mandated in the DPCO-2013. AIOCD has been in the process of approaching over 100 companies with similar demands over the past couple of months. Taking cue from Mumbai-based Blue Cross Laboratories Ltd, Franco-Indian Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, RPG Life Sciences, Delcure Life Sciences and Modi Mundipharma, Mumbai based Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hetero Healthcare Ltd, Indoco Remedies Ltd and FDC Ltd will also offer higher margins of 20 per cent and 10 per cent to retailers and stockists respectively as demanded by trade body All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).

Parliamentary panel starts scrutiny of Drugs & Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2013

New Delhi, 30 Sept 2013: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has started examining the new Drugs and Cosmetics (amendment) Bill, 2013 which was presented in the Rajya Sabha last month, seeking to centralise the licensing system in 17 categories of drugs. The Panel headed Brajesh Pathak is learnt to have already kicked off the process and took the views of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare recently, after the bill was referred to the committee by the Rajya Sabha.