AFFORDABLE MEDICINES
No neat solution to NEET, BSc or gap year part of study plan B
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is embroiled in controversy, leading students seeking entrance to medical colleges to explore alternative paths such as taking a year off to prepare for the next round, considering foreign colleges, or opting for domestic Bachelor of Science (BSc) programs.
India's pharma export sales to grow faster this year
India's pharmaceutical exports are projected to grow nearly 11% this fiscal year, up from about 10% last year, driven by the U.S. and UK markets, according to Pharmexcil. Exports are expected to surpass $31 billion, rising from nearly $28 billion in fiscal 2024, despite quality concerns following cough syrup-linked deaths.
Delhi hospital fire: How unchecked private nursing homes thrive amid high costs & poor infra
The high costs of medical care at private corporate hospitals in Delhi, combined with inadequate infrastructure at government facilities, have led to a significant increase in the demand for private nursing homes. Unfortunately, these facilities often disregard regulations, with little effort from the administration to ensure compliance and accountability.
India rubbishes Lancet report, says spending on healthcare is at all-time high
A recent Lancet report highlighted India's healthcare spending low at 1.2% of GDP, but government sources defended increased investments. The Health Ministry aims to reach 2.5% by 2025, with budgets rising significantly. Flagship initiatives like Ayushman Bharat aim to improve healthcare access, while efforts focus on reducing out-of-pocket expenses and expanding services nationwide.
Essential medicines to cost slightly more from April 1
Drug pricing regulator announced an annual change of 0.0055% increase in prices of drugs under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), in line with the annual change in the wholesale price index.
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.
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Invest, and use market as medicine
The low investment in health has led to a demand-supply gap, which private sector has been closing. While this means choice, better medical services and more jobs, it has also led to anomalous pricing of procedures and high out-of-pocket expenditures, making implementation of a cashless health insurance system difficult.
India taking rapid strides in providing quality healthcare: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi expressed admiration for the collective commitment of the government, society, and medical fraternity in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alertness in ensuring preparedness and quick action. Naqvi praised the government's efforts in providing quality healthcare and its philosophy of leaving no one behind.
What GoI needs to do to ensure a secure and prosperous future for most Indians
We need a universal healthcare approach across people, systems and processes. The fragmented healthcare system needs to reverse the fragmentation of funding and service provision to enable the emergence of a strategic buyer (government, both at the central and state levels), and consolidation of the sector, leading potentially to improvements in India's healthcare capacity via the establishment of a market that has fair competition and yet protects patients, while maintaining quality and efficiency.
Companies seek higher ceiling prices for advanced coronary stents
The Standing National Committee on Medicines (SNCM), in its recommendation, included coronary stents in the NLEM, 2022 in two categories -- Bare Metal Stents (BMS) and Drug Eluting Stents (DES) which include metallic DES and bioresorbable vascular scaffold (VBS)/biodegradable stents.
Amit Shah says 241 PACS operating Jan Aushadi Kendras; now rural poor can get affordable medicines
Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announced that 241 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) have established Jan Aushadi Kendras in rural areas, extending the availability of affordable generic medicines to the rural poor and farmers. Previously concentrated in urban areas, the move aims to benefit a broader population, offering quality medicines at significantly lower costs.
Weight-loss drugs: Who, and what, are they good for?
The new drugs are known as GLP-1 agonists, which mimic the activity of a hormone that slows digestion and helps people feel full for longer. In clinical trials, people lost 15% to 20% of their body weight, depending on the drug. Nearly 120 million American adults could be eligible for treatment, while Novo says its target market is more than 760 million people with obesity worldwide.
Sankara Nethralaya founder Dr SS Badrinath, who made eye care affordable, passes away at 83
Dr Sengamedu Srinivasa Badrinath, the founder of Sankara Nethralaya, passed away at the age of 83. He dedicated his life to improving accessibility and affordability of eye care in India. Dr Badrinath's contributions to medicine were widely recognized, and he received several awards for his work. He is survived by his wife and two sons. The last rites were conducted in Chennai.
From cancer to rheumatology, online pharmacy MrMed wants to make speciality medicines affordable & accessible
Super-speciality medicines play an indispensable role in addressing complex health issues, but they often remain ensnared in a web of accessibility, affordability, and reliability issues. MrMed wants to change that.
Airtel sees Rs 8,000 cr market opportunity with CCaaS cloud platform launch
Bharti Airtel has launched Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), claiming it to be the industry's first omnichannel cloud platform. The telecom operator aims to tap into an estimated market opportunity of Rs 8,000 crore in India. Currently, businesses have to source voice, cloud, and software separately, resulting in higher investments. Airtel's CCaaS integrates Voice-as-a-service, cloud, and contact center software from leading providers, allowing enterprises to reduce investments significantly. The platform also eliminates regulatory compliance requirements and challenges associated with troubleshooting, enabling easy scaling to other locations.
Decoded: How India makes affordable drugs for developed world, but ‘deadly’ medicines for developing countries
India is called the 'pharmacy of the world' because it makes and exports drugs worth millions of dollars to many countries. But recent incidents cast a cloud over the country's pharma industry.
Specialty pharmacy MrMed raises $500,000 from Tamil Nadu Emerging Sector Seed Fund
Mr Med will use the funds for team expansion, marketing measures and exploring new ventures of pharma supply chain.
G20 Health Ministers call for building resilient, equitable access to affordable medicines in developing world
According to the outcome document released after the meet in Gandhinagar on August 19, consensus was built on setting up research and development and manufacturing network for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, along with setting up a platform for making open-source and inter-operable digital solutions readily available.
Ensure meds aren't under the influence
The National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2023 is an effort to provide quality and affordable medicare. It lays out norms, including ring-fencing healthcare from mala fide influence of pharmaceutical and medical companies. This intervention is necessary. But it will require complementary regulations and recalibration to be effective.
Affordable gene and cell therapies need of the hour: Dr Kapil Bharti, Scientific Director, National Eye Institute
Limitless potential for future global advancements in gene therapies is originating from India, said Dr David Gamm.
GST exemption on medicines for rare diseases is unlikely to provide any relief to those in need: Health activists
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.
Aurobindo Pharma arm signs pact with Medicines Patent Pool to develop anti-cancer drug
India's Aurobindo Pharma has announced that its subsidiary Eugia Pharma Specialities has signed a voluntary sub-licensing agreement with Medicines Patent Pool to develop and market an anti-cancer drug- Nilotinib capsules. Nilotinib capsules are used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia.
Can't afford Ozempic? Get to know about this organic weight loss alternative
Known as 'nature's own Ozempic' berberine can be a good choice for losing weight.
Regulator plans to cap prices of similar drugs of same pharma company
In a bid to reduce the prices of these essential medicines, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has devised a new formula wherein it will consider the lowest-priced brand for price fixation of multiple brands of the same company, people aware of the development said.
Health policy soon with mix of Ayush, modern medicine
The policy will lay out a roadmap for disease prevention and health promotion in national programmes by combining the best practices of the two systems of medicine, bringing down the cost of treatment while harnessing the benefits of Ayush, a senior government official told ET.
Essential medicines including painkillers, antibiotics to get costlier by 12% from Saturday
India’s 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.
MrMed launches mobile app for access to affordable super-specialty medicines
This launch will ensure that the patients and caregivers across India have access to over 5,000 speciality medicines.
Medicine sales by dealers to retailers stood at Rs 1.40 lakh cr in April-December: Mansukh Mandaviya
During the April-December 2022 period, the total sales of medicines by stockists or dealers to retailers was at Rs 1,40,865.31 crore. In 2021-2022, it was at Rs 1,69,234.82 crore while the same stood at Rs 1,47,586.41 crore in 2020-2021, as per the statement.
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