There is a huge treatment gap for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s—how to close it
Health inequities compound the problem, with people living in rural or poor communities disproportionately affected. The coverage of publicly funded medicines needs to be improved. Key Points
ThePrintChalk as tablets! This is how you can spot fake medicines
Medicines with a retail price of Rs 33 lakh were found to be just chalk and starch. An Assocham study says 25% of all medicines in India are fake, counterfeit or substandard. Doctors and chemists reveal how people can spot fake medicines and ensure they buy only genuine ones. Key Points
India TodaySC warns Patanjali of hefty penalties for publishing false claims in ads
The Supreme Court has warned Patanjali Ayurved, a company co-founded by yoga guru Ramdev, against making false and misleading claims in advertisements about its herbal products as cures for various diseases. The court has issued notices to the Union health ministry and Ministry of Ayush and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, alleging a smear campaign by Ramdev against vaccination drives and modern medicines. Key Points
Economic TimesCardinal lifts FY profit outlook again on strong sales of specialty drugs
Drug distributor Cardinal Health (CAH.N) on Friday raised its full-year earnings forecast for the second time in nearly three months, betting on strong demand for specialty medicines. Key Points
ReutersImport of vital medicines from India allowed: Pakistan's drug regulatory authority
Pakistan's drugs regulatory watchdog has said that hospitals and common citizens can import vital medicines, including anti-cancer drugs and vaccines, from India for their use. There is no restriction on hospitals or the common man on importing vital medicines (anti-cancer drugs and vaccines) from India for their own use. Key Points
Economic Times
Centre steps to push affordable generic drugs help Jan Aushadhi stores cross sales target
India's affordable generic medicine scheme, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), achieved sales of INR1,236 crore ($162m) in the fiscal year 2022-23, growing 38% YoY. The scheme exceeded its target, which was revised upwards from INR775 crore to INR1,200 crore by the government. The jump in sales was attributed to initiatives such as increasing the number of retail outlets, publicising the scheme and ensuring adequate medicine supplies. The government aims to increase the number of stores to 10,000 in FY24. The scheme also helps reduce Indian out-of-pocket expenses on medicine and has strict quality control measures. Key Points
Economic TimesMedicine prices to go up by 12%, will it change the way we buy drugs
The prices of essential medicines, including painkillers, antibiotics, anti-infectives and cardiac medicines, are going to go up from April 1. Coming against the backdrop of a rise in prices of household items, will this steep increase in drug prices see a change in how we buy medicines? This is what chemists and buyers have to say. Key Points
India TodayThe king of alternative medicine: King Charles III's love for homeopathy, ayurveda and yoga
In 2018, King Charles III had hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Science Museum in London to launch a new Ayurvedic Centre of Excellence, aimed at creating a first-of-its-kind global network for evidence-based research on Yoga and Ayurveda. Queen Camilla is believed to be a Yoga enthusiast. Key Points
Economic Times24, including 12 infants, die in a day at Maharashtra’s Nanded medical college
Dr. Shyamrao Wakode, the dean in-charge of the medical college, said that the deceased were suffering from various ailments, including snake bites, arsenic & phosphorus poisoning, among others. Key Points
ThePrintFlu outbreak is tonic for medicine sales
Severe cough, cold, influenza infections led to the sale of medicines going up by 20-25% in February, said Rajiv Singhal, general secretary, AIOCD, which is monitoring the situation to ensure that stocks are adequate. We have seen a significant rise in the sales of fever medicines like paracetamol, azithromycin and cough syrups. Key Points
Economic Times
Prices of 800 essential drugs to increase a tad from April 1
After massive annual increases of 12% and 10% in prices on record last year and in 2022, this will be a meagre increase for the pharma industry. The adjusted prices will cover more than 800 drugs on the National List of Essential Medicines. Price changes for scheduled drugs are allowed once a year. Key Points
Economic TimesUP doctors told to prescribe only generic medicines
The government doctors in Uttar Pradesh have been told to prescribe only generic drugs to patients as per the new guidelines issued by the medical health department. Issued by the department's principal secretary Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma on Saturday, the circular lists a set of instructions that all chief medical superintendents and government hospital directors must adhere to. Key Points
Economic TimesCost of 651 essential medicines down 7 pc from April as govt caps ceiling prices
Starting from April, the capping of ceiling prices of scheduled drugs listed under the National List of Essential medicines (NLEM) has resulted in a 6.73% reduction of average costs for 651 essential medicines, according to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). The government has been able to fix the ceiling prices of 651 medicines so far out of the total 870 scheduled drugs listed under NLEM. Key Points
Economic TimesExclusive: WHO to consider adding obesity drugs to 'essential' medicines list
Drugs that combat obesity are under consideration for the first time for the World Health Organization's "essential medicines list," used to guide government purchasing decisions in low- and middle-income countries, the U.N. agency told Reuters. Key Points
ReutersDelhi Lt Governor seeks CBI probe over 'non-standard drugs' supplied to hospitals
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has recommended a CBI probe into the "non-standard drugs" being supplied to Delhi government hospitals. He said these medicines were being given to lakhs of patients in Delhi government hospitals and possibly supplied to the mohalla clinics. Key Points
India Today
'No brands, prescribe only generic drugs': India's diktat to doctors
The government has been doing this because of the cost. Generic medicines are a lot cheaper compared to the branded ones. Key Points
Firstpost48 commonly-used drugs fail latest quality test; CDSCO issues alert
The alert list also includes iron and folic acid tablets, probiotics and several multivitamin tablets. It also includes Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid and Niacinamide injections. Key Points
FinancialexpressEssential medicines including painkillers, antibiotics to get costlier by 12% from Saturday
Indias drug pricing authority on Monday allowed a price hike of 12.1218% from April 1 for scheduled drugs that are under price control. This will cover more than 800 drugs on the National List of Essential Medicines. Last year, the NPPA allowed a 10.7% increase in drug prices, citing a similar change in the WPI. Key Points
Economic TimesBritain's health service rolls out breast cancer prevention pill
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Thousands of women at increased risk of breast cancer are set to benefit from a risk-reducing drug to be offered by Britain's National Health Service (NHS) after it was licensed for use to help prevent the disease, the state-funded health service announced on Tuesday. Key Points
The Tribune IndiaBritain's health service rolls out breast cancer prevention pill
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Thousands of women at increased risk of breast cancer are set to benefit from a risk-reducing drug to be offered by Britain's National Health Service (NHS) after it was licensed for use to help prevent the disease, the state-funded health service announced on Tuesday. Key Points
The Tribune India
WHO to consider adding obesity drugs to 'essential' medicines list
Drugs that combat obesity could for the first time be included on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “essential medicines list,” used to guide government purchasing decisions in low- and middle-income countries, the U.N. agency told Reuters. A panel of advisers to the WHO will review new requests for drugs to be included next month, with an updated essential medicines list due in September. Key Points
The HinduYouth no longer shy of seeking psychiatric help: Gen Z demand for mental health drugs lifts sales 9 per ce
Consider this. Neuro-psychiatry medicines are among the top 10 therapies in the country and the category is valued ₹11,774 crore, data from pharmaceuticals market research firm Pharmarack show. Mental health platform Mind Peers says the number of people seeking therapies has increased 80% in the last few months and almost 85% of these patients are below the age of 35 years. Key Points
Economic TimesEU proposal may accelerate pharma innovation decline, industry group says
A major pharmaceutical rules overhaul, proposed by the European Commission in April, could see Europe's share in global research and development contract by a third to 21% by 2040 translating to 2 billion euros ($2.15 billion) per year in lost investment, industry group EFPIA said on Monday. Key Points
ReutersEMA says no evidence GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic linked to thyroid cancer
The European medicines Agency (EMA) on Friday said its safety panel did not find a causal link between popular GLP-1 drugs such as Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO) Ozempic and thyroid cancer after a months-long review. Key Points
ReutersNorris medicines recalls toxic syrups, says only sold in India
India's Norris medicines (NORI.BO) has recalled a cough syrup and an allergy syrup that the country's federal drugs regulator had found to be toxic, its managing director said on Friday, adding that the products had only been sold in India. Key Points
Reuters
Packages of top drug brands to have QR codes from today
The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) had last year identified brands including Dolo, Saridon Fabiflu, Ecosprin, Limcee, Sumo, Calpol, Corex syrup, Unwanted 72 and Thyronorm. They were shortlisted on the basis of their moving annual turnover value as per data from market research firm Pharmatrac. Key Points
Economic TimesGST exemption on medicines for rare diseases is unlikely to provide any relief to those in need: Health ac
The recent GST exemption on medicines for rare diseases in India is unlikely to help many patients as the drugs are still too expensive, say health activists. Activists say they had hoped for a tax exemption for medicines already approved by India's drug regulator and available locally. With patient requests for exemption for Indian medicines, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the health ministry must decide but Indian GST exemption on medicines remains pending. Key Points
Economic TimesU.S. will allow drugmakers to discuss Medicare drug price negotiations
The U.S. government on Friday released its revised guidance for its Medicare drug price negotiation program, saying it will allow drug companies to publicly discuss the negotiation at their discretion. Key Points
ReutersView: India's drug industry needs a major overhaul
Despite campaigns for regulatory reform since a corruption and fraud scandal in 2013, India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation remains unreformed, and a law on drug recalls has been under discussion since 1976 without resolution. Experts call for overhaul, transparency, and accountability to ensure safer manufacturing and export practices. Key Points
Economic Times