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3 OF MARCH, 2009
Vol. 2, No. 3 of
March
NetRUM 2009
Newsletter ©
GROUP OWNER:
Dr. Vijay Thawani
NetRUM is a not-for-profit, voluntary, co-operative, non-funded, E- Associate Professor
discussion group of like-minded rationalists without any conflict of Dept. of Pharmacology,
interest. It is three years young and has >415 members globally. Govt. Medical College,
NetRUM was born on March 16, 2006 during the training course on Nagpur – 440 003, India
promoting rational use of medicines held in collaboration with WHO's vijaythawani@rediffmail.com
EDOM, SEARO. NetRUM continuously conducts E-discussions on hot NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
topics, which are facilitated by knowledgeable moderators who offer Dr. Geer M. Ishaq
their valuable, expert and free services. About 200-300 messages are Assistant Professor,
posted on NetRUM every month. So far NetRUM has conducted 99 Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences
discussions moderated by 30 moderators. For more details please visit University of Kashmir
our group: Srinagar, J&K, India
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/netrum/ Dr. Smita Mali
Senior Resident in Pharmacology,
Govt. Medical College,
Nagpur – 440 003, India
IN THIS ISSUE
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
List of discussions held during February, 2009 04
Summary of the discussion “Good governance in health sector” 05
Summary of the discussion “Traditional medicine: panacea or poison?” 09
Summary of the discussion “Pharmacovigilance of Ayurvedic medicines” 13
News briefs relating to Rational Use of Medicines 16
Details of over 100 discussions held over NetRUM so far 21
Schedule of Forthcoming NetRUM discussions 31
ATTENTION PLEASE:
NETRUM IS CELEBRATING
CENTURY OF E-DISCUSSIONS.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU
AS ITS ACTIVE MEMBER MAKE
A POSTING IN THE
CELEBRATIONS. HAPPY
NETWORKING
4. Pharmacovigilace of ayurvedic
medicines
Period of Discussion: 26 – 31 Feb., 2009
Name of Moderator: Dr. Anand Chaudhary
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD laws requires an independent judiciary Acceptability and (d) Quality (e)
GOVERNANCE and an impartial and incorruptible Adequate sanitation
police force. Health is a fundamental
Good governance has eight major human right, indispensable for the full Transparency
characteristics. It is participatory, enjoyment of other human rights.
consensus-oriented, accountable, Transparency means that information
transparent, responsive, effective and is freely available and directly
efficient, equitable and inclusive and accessible to those who will be
follows the rule of law. affected by such decisions and their
enforcement. According to
Participation Transparency International,
transparency is “a principle that allows
Participation by men as well as women those affected by administrative
is the cornerstone of good governance. decisions, business transactions or
Participation could be either direct or charitable work to know not only the
through legitimate intermediate basic facts and figures but also the
institutions or representatives, such as Every human being is entitled to the mechanisms and processes. It is the
parliamentary and provincial council enjoyment of the highest attainable duty of civil servants, managers and
elections. standard of health conducive to living a trustees to act visibly, predictably and
life in dignity. The right to health in all understandably.”
Rule of law its forms and at all levels contains the
following interrelated and essential Responsiveness
Good governance requires fair legal elements, the precise application of
frameworks that are enforced which will depend on the conditions Good governance requires that
impartially. It also requires full prevailing in a particular State party: institutions and processes must try to
protection of human rights (a) Availability, (b) Accessibility, (c) serve all stakeholders within a
countrywide. Impartial enforcement of reasonable timeframe. Here everyone
who is working in health sector (from from the mainstream of society. This who will be affected by its decisions or
gatekeeper to health minister) has the requires all groups, particularly the actions. Accountability cannot be
prime responsibility to perform the most vulnerable, to have equal enforced without transparency and the
duties with honesty and dedication. opportunities to maintain and improve rule of law.
their well being.
Consensus oriented Main regimes involved in good
Effectiveness and efficiency governance
Good governance requires mediation
of different interests in society to reach Good governance means that There are three main regimes involved
in good governance. They are the
a broad consensus in society on what processes and institutions produce
State, the Civil Society and the
is in the best interests of the whole results that meet the needs of society Private Sector. All three are critical for
community and how this can be while making the best use of resources sustaining human development. Since
achieved. All men and women should at their disposal. The concept of each one has its weaknesses and
have a voice in decision making for efficiency in the context of good strengths, a major objective of good
health, either directly or through governance also covers the governance is to promote highest
legitimate intermediate institutions that sustainable use of natural resources possible constructive interaction
among the three in order to minimize
represent their interests. Such broad and the protection of the environment.
individual weaknesses and utilize the
participation is built on freedom of strengths optimally.
association and speech, as well as Accountability According to Dr. Vijay Thawani, “If the
capacities to participate constructively. power really rested with people,
Accountability is a key requirement of governance of others will not be
Equity and inclusiveness good governance. Not only needed. It is only that the populations
governmental institutions but also the are not empowered and therefore are
A society’s well being depends on private sector and civil society not self-sufficient; they look at
governance from others. The very fact
ensuring that all its members have the organizations must be accountable to
that some govern; there are others
sense of involvement as stakeholder in the public. In general an organization who are governed by them. Hence in
it so that they do not feel excluded or an institution is accountable to those terms of health empowerment, the
word governance is not in good taste. Corruption in the healthcare sector is a different strategies for its
Because it concentrates on concern for all countries, but it is implementation. In order to ensure
governance, it can never be good! No especially a critical problem in good governance in health, it is
governance in the world has ever been developing and transitional economies imperative to implement all those
good, so how can governance in health where public resources are already strategies which are quite basic. The
be?” Sh. Ram Charitra Sah from Nepal scarce. Corruption reduces the execution of good governance
feels, “Good governance is required for resources available for health, lowers strategies and practices is not only the
all and it is not only the business of the quality, equity and effectiveness of responsibility of the state or
civil society. It is preferable to use the healthcare services, decreases the government, but it is also the job of
word Society rather than Civil Society, volume and increases the cost of civil society and private sector and
considering most part of the society provided services. both of them should be equally
mostly comprises of civilized people”. accountable to the government.
As per Dr. Geer M. Ishaq, “Lack of Embezzlement in health sector
robust, comprehensive and region ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
specific health and medicine policies at Embezzlement is defined as the My warm gratitude goes to Dr. Vijay
national, state, district and hospital misappropriation of property or funds Thawani, who not only participated in
level in most of the economically legally entrusted to someone in their the discussion but provided all of us an
developing and under developed formal position as an agent or opportunity to work together to
countries is a major impediment in guardian. Everyone wants to believe promote good governance for health
effective health administration”. It is that the people they hire are good as well as Rational Use of Medicines. I
very true that robust and employees who can be trusted to am also very thankful to Dr. Smita Mali,
comprehensive health and perform their responsibilities with who invited me for the discussion and
pharmaceutical policies are essential integrity. obliged to Dr. Anupama Sukhlecha, Dr.
at all levels of the nation in order to Conclusion Geer M. Ishaq, Elizabeth Ominde-
ensure good health administration and Ogaja, 'Ranti Opanuga, and Ram
governance. Good governance does not merely Charitra Sah for their active
stand for effective management in the participation and valuable ideas.
Corruption in the health sector health sector. It is a broadly used term, - Dr. Mohammad Bashaar
but new in health sector, which needs
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 8
VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009
a few of the western scientists raised respiratory congestion. In the United of Ayurveda considered in great detail
unfounded concern about safety and States, this herb was marketed as a the possible ways by which untoward
toxicity of these time tested dietary supplement, available OTC, effects can occur and provided all
formulations. Particularly the whose over dosing led to about dozen necessary guidelines to avoid the
Rasaushadhies [Metallic / Mineral deaths, heart attacks and strokes. occurrence of such effects. They
Preparations] have been repeatedly Hence the mute question whether the preferred on exercising great caution
targeted by western scientists, which system is wrong or the drug is while administering drugs for
have affected the reputation of poisonous? We feel the attitude therapeutic purposes. “Primum non
traditional Ayurvedic heritage. towards the drug is wrong. Though the nocere” meaning "first do no harm"
Ayurvedic medicines sold over internet drugs are traditional in origin, they was preached and practiced both while
have been reported to have high levels should always be used with proper approving new drugs, as well as
of heavy metal concentrations. After care and under qualified supervision. prescribing the established ones to
such reports, obviously the present WHO Guidelines 2004 clearly state patients. It implies that, there is a
generation became apprehensive that the drugs if improperly processed chance of getting ADRs with utilization
about the quality standards and safety and if used injudiciously may tend to of classical drugs, if prepared in an
of the metallic compounds and some of cause certain inconveniencies. inappropriate manner or if
the NetRUMians also raised queries administered injudiciously. Hence the
regarding these aspects during E- The metallic/mineral preparations have Gurus prescribed different processing
discussions. occupied coveted position in Ayurvedic techniques to remove the hazardous
pharmacopoeia and have been ingredients or properties, if any, from
Unregulated, injudicious and routinely used in India since centuries. these. They also prescribed testing
inappropriate use of Ayurvedic The Ayurvedic literature says that
methods for the prepared products,
medicines and practices definitely these preparations will be safe,
which will tell the manufacturer
leads to the causation of negative or efficacious even at minute doses and
whether the drug has attained the form
dangerous effects. For instance, the never develop any significant untoward
that does not have hazardous
herb “Ma Huang” (Ephedra) is effects if manufactured in accordance properties when used properly by a
traditionally used in China to treat with specified guidelines. The founders physician.
The accusation that Ayurvedic drugs in detoxifying the material and making concentrations. This needs the
are toxic because they contain heavy them potent and suitable for techniques suitable for separation and
metals is based on ignorance. We therapeutic application. Reputed identification of the various bio-
agree that to say that Ayurvedic drugs teaching institutions like Gujrat molecules bound to these metals as
are safe because they have been used Ayurved University, Banaras Hindu well as methods to estimate their
since thousands of years, is also not University have focused research on concentrations. The emerging area of
very scientific. If any ADR or adverse metals and minerals like mercury, lead, proteomics and metallomics aims at
events develop, it is due to the poor arsenic and herbo-mineral /metallic providing information to enable better
product quality or improper use. Weak preparations to screen through understanding of the mechanism by
quality control systems and inadequate relevant analytical and which these preparations exhibit
regulatory measures contribute to it. To pharmacological parameters. Most of therapeutic effects. Additionally there is
promote and improve the quality, and the studies confirmed that the need to carry out biochemical
to reduce the proportion of ADR metals/minerals when converted into estimation of anti-oxidants which are
attributable to poor quality, WHO GMP the medicines by strictly following the responsible for the protection of cells
updated guidelines for herbals and advocated classical guidelines of with respect to free radical induced
updated core guidelines on GMP need ancient texts, were devoid of toxicity damages. It is possible that the
to be followed. even at the levels of 100 TEDs. The therapeutic efficacy of certain
histopathological studies on different Ayurvedic drugs could be through the
To revalidate the safety and efficacy of visceral organs also did not reveal any production of anti-oxidants.
age old remedies, many scientific apparent pathological damage with use
studies have been conducted at of these. It is well known that the exposure to
various post graduate institutions heavy metals is countered by the in-
throughout India, which prove the In-vivo condition many preparations situ synthesis of phyto-chelatins in
necessity and significance of the containing metals bind with peptides or plants and metallothionines in animals.
sanskaras (specific guidelines to be other functional groups. It is essential Such investigations in humans are
mandatorily followed while dealing with to identify these molecules that bind to needed to determine the mode of
metals, minerals or other toxic drugs) the metals, as well as their action of the metallic preparations. In
Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, should be considered before their nourished and nurtured the human
Gujarat Ayurveda University, administration into the patients for civilizations for centuries. In India,
Jamnagar. Later this centre identified proper therapeutic effects. Any British imposed a legal ban in 1835 on
eight regional centers and thirty deviation from these standard the practice of these systems of
peripheral centers all over the country. operating procedures leads to many medicine and opened medical colleges
ADRs. This has been specifically in English system of medicine
It is pertinent to ponder whether these emphasized in the description of throughout the country. There were
centers will adopt the same Charak Samhita, Sutra Sthana, comments that since aspirin interacts
methodology for ASU as followed for Chapter 1, Verse No. 126 which with herbs, we should dump all
allopathic medicines or develop a means, “Even an acute poison can Ayurvedic medicines in Indian Ocean
separate specific protocol for ASU become an excellent medicine if it is and in view of the reports of lead
systems. Experts of ASU systems properly administered; on the other poisoning with some ASU medicines,
visualized that the concept of safety hand, a potent medicine can prove to Ayurveda must be banned all over the
and precautions specified for these be an acute poison if administered globe. They conveniently forgot the
systems for their manufacture and improperly.” In light of this, the present endless reports of morbidity and ever
administration are in tandem with the discussion was taken up in which increasing ADRs due to new and old
aims and objectives of PV. Although members raised their apprehensions synthetic molecules in the allopathic
exact term for PV in Sanskrit language and doubts about drug interactions, system of medicine.
does not figure in Ayurvedic texts, the drug herb interactions, problem of
spirit of PV is vibrant in the scriptures multi-constituent formulations, their Being a student of Ayurvedic
and is emphasized repeatedly in all manufacturing procedures and other pharmaceutics, I salute our ancestors
major samhitas viz. Charak Samhita, aspects which were mostly due to lack for discovering more than 123 dosage
Sushruta Samhita and Astang Hridaya of awareness about ASU medicines. forms out of which at present we are
to name a few. Acharya Charak practicing not more than 35
narrated several factors about Before giving misleading facts about formulations. Their wisdom and
medicines right from harvesting, the science of life, it has to be kept in farsightedness is evident from the fact
procurement, preparation etc which mind that ASU systems have that even before the terms like
galenicals or pharmaceutics came into to understand such disinformation and Members are requested to be assured
being, Ayurvedic and Unani have the ability to differentiate between about the safety and efficacy of
procedures were invented by them. the correct and wrong arguments Ayurvedic medicines. However GMP
One of the NetRUMian suggested about ASU medicines. However should be in place and necessary
some good terms like Ayurgenomics, shortcomings do exist in every growing quality control for the validation of
Herboprint and digitalization of science which need to be overcome these medicines should be taken up on
knowledge vide Ayusoft, Rudra etc. and same holds true ASU. It is priority basis. The PV of ASU
We welcome these suggestions with necessary that these need to be medicines with a positive frame of
full sincerity and one may be pleased improved to ensure globalized mind has just started and like any other
to know that CSIR has done wonderful acceptance of our indigenous systems new approach, is suffering from
job on such aspects. I express my of medicine. teething problems, which will certainly
heartfelt indebtedness to those vanish as we grow up. In the end, I
pioneers who invested their precious While we adopt latest technology in humbly convey my deep sense of
time to study medicines belonging to every walk of our life, we need to apply gratitude to all members of NetRUM for
ASU systems and produced the the basic principles of core sciences to providing their constructive and critical
valuable works before the world with develop suitable technologies for the suggestions on this issue. Prof Vijay
concrete evidence. advancement of these systems of Thawani deserves a special mention
medicine so that without compromising for encouraging me to take
I request all learned members of on the fundamentals, we may be able responsibilities of the moderator in
NetRUM to have a look on the findings to develop such dosage forms of ASU spite of some hindering odds. My
of SASTRA, Thanjavur and notification that are free from ADRs. Further it affectionate appreciations for Prof Vijay
of Govt of India dated Sept 3rd , 2009 needs to be ascertained whether Thawani and his team are also due for
on these issues, most important being reported ADRs are produced by all the painstaking work at NetRUM,
the statement of Robert Saper from genuine ASU medicines or by other especially to our young editor Dr Geer
Boston, during the convention of IPA at spurious, adulterated and misbranded M. Ishaq for his dedicated hard work.
New Delhi in Dec 2008. We have products. - Dr. Anand Chaudhary
enough education, power and insight
softening and liver problems. (Reuters trials," according to a release. Q10 not covered by GMP is optional.
Health dt. April 11th, 2009) However, by adopting the additional
CII to organise 2-day With the robust infrastructural set up, processes outlined in the US Food and
India can emerge as a preferred Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidance
international meet on manufacturers should benefit from the
destination for clinical research and
clinical trials in Mumbai play a key role in drug discovery to innovation and continual improvement
from Oct 23 final product process. India on the that are central tenets of ICH Q10. In
regulatory side also has taken a addition unlike GMP ICH Q10 explicitly
New Delhi: The Institute of Quality at covers all aspects of a product’s
number of initiatives to provide a good
the Confederation of Indian Industries lifecycle, from development through to
environment, the release added.
(CII) is organising a two-day discontinuation, and is designed to
Academicians, clinical development
international conference on clinical strengthen the link between pre- and
groups, medical directors, clinical
trials at Mumbai from October 23 to post-commercialisation manufacturing
research associates, project personnel,
create widespread sensitisation on activities.
data personnel, report writers,
clinical trial methodology and to
regulatory officials and biostatisticians
provide an in-depth knowledge on the
can attend the conference, to be guided (in-pharmatechnologist.com dt.
subject. The conference on 'drug
by experts in the field. April 10th, 2009)
discovery to final product' will bring
together all stakeholders dealing US FDA issues final
directly and indirectly in the area. guidance on ICH Q10 Govt plans to restart
state-run Kasauli
Scientific sessions on different streams Maryland: The FDA has provided a vaccine making unit
of clinical research operations, model for implementing the ICH Q10
pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, quality control system in its final New Delhi: Facing flak over halting
qualification validation, and safety audit guidance, which is intended help production of essential vaccines at
will be conducted at the conference, manufacturers adapt processes three state-owned drug makers, the
according to the organisers. "India is throughout a product’s lifecycle. By ministry of health and family welfare is
the signatory of the WTO agreement building upon good manufacturing likely to let the Central Research
and the second largest populated practices (GMP) the International Institute (CRI) to resume production,
country in the world with large pool of Conference on Harmonization's (ICH) two persons familiar with the matter
patient population, well-developed Q10 attempts to provide a said. “We have submitted a proposal to
hospitals, talented work force, and comprehensive model for an effective the DGHS (Directorate General of
strong regulatory environment. Many of quality management system. Health Services) to invest Rs13-14
the companies globally are looking for crore in CRI Kasauli (in Himachal
an alternative destination to conduct The implementation of aspects of ICH Pradesh) to resume production there.
This should be approved soon,” said a Indian plants offer new CDC Finds Rocket Fuel
ministry official, who declined being source for Tamiflu precursor Chemical in U.S. Baby
named. The proposal comes after Formula
officials from the ministry and the Drug Bangalore: Researchers believe they
Controller General of India visited the have found “more promising” sources of Maryland: A rocket fuel chemical called
Kasauli facility last month. The ministry shikimic acid, a precursor in the perchlorate was found in samples of
official quoted was part of the visiting production of Tamiflu, shortages of powdered baby formula tested by U.S.
team. (Livemint dt. April 8th, 2009) which have previously caused Centers for Disease Control and
bottlenecks in producing the bird flu Prevention scientists, but it's not clear
vaccine. Tamiflu demand outstripped how much of a health threat it poses to
USP-India to focus on
production in 2005 owing in part to a infants. The largest amounts of
standard setting shortage of shikimic acid, which is perchlorate were found in baby formula
activities currently harvested from star anise fruit derived from cow's milk, said the
in China and produced in genetically researchers, who wouldn't disclose the
Chennai: USP India, United States modified Escherichia coli. brands of formula they analyzed, the
Pharmacopoeia's Indian chapter, will
Associated Press reported.
focus on developing and revising its
Roche has now managed to increase
standard setting activities in India, said
production to above the current levels of Scientists have said significant amounts
Ashok Dang, senior manager of USP-
demand but the fear remains that in the of perchlorate can affect the function of
India Ltd. The company will encourage
event of a pandemic a shortage of the thyroid, which helps set the body's
the Indian pharmaceutical companies in
shikimic acid would again become a metabolism. Fetal and infant brain
developing higher manufacturing
factor. Consequently researchers from development can be affected by thyroid
standards. With its experienced
Bangalore in Southern India began problems. But the level of risk posed by
scientists, USP-India will provide USP's
bioprospecting in the Western Ghats in the trace amounts of perchlorate in baby
broad range of pharmacopoeial services
an attempt to find an alternative, more formula is difficult to assess, the AP
to customers in India and surrounding
easily cultivable source of shikimic acid. reported. Formula sold in the United
countries, he said. United States
Pharmacopoeia is neither part of US States must contain iodine, which
government nor a regulatory authority The research has now been published in counteracts perchlorate's effects. Other
in the US. It is a standard setting Current Science, with the results factors that influence risk include the
organization. In India, it is registered suggesting that some plants in the infant's size and how much formula they
as USP India Private Limited, he added. region could provide viable alternative consume. Potential health risks weren't
(Pharmabiz dt. April 7th, 2009) sources of shikimic acid. (in-pharma examined in the CDC study, which was
technologist dt. April t5th, 2009) published last month. The
Environmental Working Group issued a
press release Thursday to draw public NEW DELHI: The government has said for manufacturing of
attention to the study. (Health Day dt. that it will prepare the domestic drug Rasaushadhies or
April 3rd, 2009) industry to meet new regulatory Rasamarunthukal and
challenges in the US market, which
arose due to implementation of the Food
Kushtajat (Herbo-mineral-
Two Indian pharma cos metallic compounds) of
and Drug Administration (FDA)
sued for 'inferior supply of Globalisation Act 2009. An unaware Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani
medicines' in Sri Lanka domestic firm may face threat of losing medicines notified
authorisation for marketing its drugs in
Mumbai: The Court of Appeal in Sri the US, said a government official. The New Delhi: Ministry of health and
Lanka has issued notices to two US market is about 50% of India’s Rs family welfare (Department of Ayurveda,
Chennai-based pharmaceutical 30,000-crore drugs export. Indian Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha
manufacturers and their local agent in pharmaceutical firms export relatively and Homeopathy) vide notification No.
Sri Lanka on a writ petition seeking cheaper generics to the country. The US GSR 157 (E) dated 4th March, 2009 has
suspension of their registration to supply government has recently introduced the notified Drug and Cosmetics (3rd
drugs to the Sri Lankan Health new law to strengthen its drug quality Amendment) Rules, 2009 in exercise of
Department. According to reports, the control system. the powers conferred by section 33-N of
petitioner Arushan Raninkumar, a the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23
businessman, complained that the of 1940). These Rules shall come into
The ministries of commerce and industry
Director General of Health Services and force from the date of their publication
and chemicals and fertilisers are
the State Pharmaceutical Corporation, in the Official Gazette ie 4th/9th march,
planning to conduct awareness
the drug distribution agency under the 2009.
programmes for the industry. As per
state government, had failed to take
the new law, all medical and health,
action to claim reimbursement for the In the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules,
including imported drugs and medical
supply of inferior quality drugs worth Rs 1945, in Schedule T, in Part II, in item
devices, are required to be registered
3,500 million from the Chennai-based C, relating to “List Of Equipment
with the USFDA. The registration will be
Madras Pharmaceuticals, Bafna Recommended For In-House Quality
reviewed periodically and exporters will
Pharmaceuticals and their local agent, Control Section,” before note, the “D.
be required to pay an annual
Pharma Associations, Colombo. Supplementary guidelines for
registration fee. The registration would
(Pharmabiz dt. April 2nd, 2009) manufacturing of Rasaushadhies or
be done only after physically verifying
the manufacturing facilities. (Economic Rasamarunthukal and Kushtajat (Herbo-
Centre to help drug cos Times dt. April 3rd, 2009) mineral-metallic compounds) of
meet stringent US quality Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines”
laws guidelines are inserted. These guidelines
Supplementary guidelines are intended to complement those
provided earlier and should be read in DCGI Dr Surinder Singh has stated that "Hepatitis C is responsible for as many
conjunction with the parent guidelines. this is just the phase 1 and we want to as one in four cases of liver cancer and
The supplementary guidelines are to go for two or three more phases to 20 per cent of chronic liver disease is
provide general and minimum technical cover the other left out therapeutic because of Hepatitis C. However if
requirement for quality assurance and segments too. Our target is to test detected early, hepatitis C can be cured,
control in manufacturing Rasaushadhis between 80,000 and 100,000 samples in while hepatitis B treatment only
or Rasamarunthukal and Kustjat (Herbo- different phases and get a complete suppresses the infection,"
mineral-metallic formulations). picture on the extent of spurious drugs. Gastroenterology department head at
We have sought budgetary provision for the AIIMS Dr S K Acharya opined.
holding the next phase also," he said. (Pharmabiz dt. March 31st, 2009)
(Pharmabiz dt. March 31at, 2009)
Results of spurious drugs'
survey expected by may
end, govt collected 24000 12.5 million Indians suffer
samples from hepatitis C virus, says
INASL
New Delhi: The results of the much- AP's state-owned drug
awaited official survey to ascertain the New Delhi: Every 15th carrier of the distribution body caught
quantum of spurious drugs in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an Indian and passing on recalled product
country are likely to come out by the 12.5 million Indians suffering from HCV,
end of May as the process of analysing with the death rate exceeding over one Mumbai: The state owned Andhra
the samples were in the final stages in lakh per year, according to the Indian Pradesh Health Medical Housing
the labs. The CDSCO had collected over National Association for the Study of Infrastructure Development Corporation
24,000 samples, more than 80 per cent Liver (INASL). The key to successfully has been caught distributing recalled
of the targeted 25,000 samples, from tackling the challenge of chronic batch of Clanoxy 375 mg tablet, an
different therapeutic categories and the hepatitis is awareness and public amoxicillin preparation, manufactured
same have been sent for lab tests. The education and INASL is committed to by the Mumbai-based Galpha
results of the keenly awaited survey, the cause of tackling this menace with Laboratories Ltd, through primary health
undertaken by the DCGI office, are specific projects to facilitate physician centres. The drug control officials seized
expected to put at rest the controversies education, along with efforts to drive 1100 numbers of Clanoxy 375 mg
about the extent of spurious drugs in community level immunization tablets with batch number COT 7031 IB
the country. programmes, the national conference of distributed by the central drug store.
the organisation said.
Dr Anita Kotwani Adherance to STG for Asthma in the community 19-24 Mar
2009
as xenobiotics. 2008
Dr Bharat Gajjar Selection of topic for dissertation / research O2-12 Jan Dr Narendra
2007 Bachewar
Dr Chetna Desai How to make PG curriculum in Pharmacology 01-10 Nov Dr. Kiran Chaudhari
adequate for current needs 2006
Dr Geer M Ishaq Need for regional, state-specific medicine policy 19-24 Oct
2008
Dr Kiran Barar Problem of compliance with the use of ARV 10-21 Dec
drugs 2006
2009
Dr Kiran Chaudhari Orphan medicines - are they getting any shelter? 17-22 Apr
2008
Dr Mangesh Bankar 97. Need for developing consumer information 3-8 Apr 2009
on traditional medicine
Dr Mohd Bashaar The Gulran / camel belly/ charmak disease in 01-07 Jul
Afghanistan 2008
Dr Mohd Bashaar Mother & child morbidity and mortality rates in 20-24 Aug
Afghanistan 2008
Dr Vijay Thawani Inclusion of RUM in UG curriculum 16-28 Oct Dr. Mira Desai
2006
Dr Vijay Thawani The games in medicine pricing 19-31 Jan Tauqueer Mustafa
2007 Choudhry
Dr Vijay Thawani Should life saving medicines be taxed by the 01-10 May
Government? 2007
Dr Vijay Thawani Need of antimicrobial policy for institutional 24-29 Jun 1123-
hospitals 2007
Dr Vijay Thawani Should doctors accept free gifts, tours,money ? 20-22 Aug
2007
2008
Dr Vijay Thawani (100) The pleasures and pains of NetRUM 24-28 Apr
2009
Dr Vijay Thawani & Dr Anand Safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic formulations 08-13 Jan
Chaudhary 2009
Drs Narendra Bachewar, Sarang Making RUM compulsory for prescribers 11-18 Sep
Deshmukh, Smita Mali and Deepali 2007
Tehre.
Mrs Kunda Gharpure Pros & cons of generic policies 01-06 Feb
2009
Mrs Kunda Gharpure Essential medicines as a human right 16 Feb - 2 Dr. Manoj
Mar 2007 Swaminathan
Mrs Kunda Gharpure Is patient the king in deciding his medicine? 24-30 Sep
2007
Mrs Kunda Gharpure ATC and DDD - What we learnt at WHO 01-08 Jan
Technical Briefing Seminar. 2008
Mrs Kunda Gharpure Rabies and other neglected envenomings 20-24 Feb
2008
Mrs Kunda Gharpure Role of pharmacists in rational use of medicines. 25-31 May
2008
Ram Charitra Sah Mercury in the health care system 22-27 Nov
2008
102 Dr Trupti Swain Medicine use problems in elderly 08-13 May 2009
104 Dr Anand Chaudhary Problem and solutions to global 25-31 May 2009
acceptance of Ayurveda as system of
medicine
105 Dr Geer M Ishaq Does combination HRT offer any 03-08 Jun 2009
safety?
HAPPY NETWORKING