ESSENTIAL MEDICINES
High costs of orphan drugs: Patients pay the price for policy hurdles in India
India manufactures APIs for over 400 FDA-approved orphan drugs, but patients face high costs due to Indian pharmaceutical companies' reluctance to develop these drugs domestically.
Govt widens composition of drug, medical devices pricing reforms panel
The government has expanded a committee to look into pricing reforms for drugs and medical devices, including civil rights activists like All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), Patient Safety and Access Initiative of India Foundation, and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). The committee will evaluate availability and pricing of essential medicines, incentivize industry growth and exports, and consider a new Drug (Prices Control) Order (DPCO) as the current one is over a decade old.
View: India's pharma giants set sights on superior quality standards
India, known as the 'pharmacy of the world,' ranks third in global drug production and supplies vaccines to over 200 countries. With a target to reach $120-130 billion by 2030, maintaining high quality is crucial. Focus areas include robust investigations, skilled workforce development, and embedding quality in product development. India faces increased scrutiny from global regulators, necessitating adherence to stringent quality standards. Recent moves by CDSCO aim to streamline drug export licensing. Upholding quality is key for India's pharmaceutical industry to remain a reliable global supplier.
Don’t pop that pill daily: Doctors red-flag proton pump inhibitors used to treat acid reflux, heartburns
The reason for the popularity of PPIs among doctors and patients is not tough to gauge. With unhealthy lifestyles and dietary habits, acidity is common among Indians. While many brands of PPIs are sold almost over-the-counter, Pan, Pantop, Omez and Rablet fly off the chemist’s shelves. Doctors warn that overuse of these drugs can have a slow and debilitating impact.
Best Tulsi powder for herbal immunity boost and enhanced health
The article takes you into the world of Tulsi powder, a revered herb in Ayurveda known for its numerous health benefits. It explores various brands and types of Tulsi powder available in the market, considering factors like purity, potency, and sourcing methods. Each product is carefully reviewed and the synopsis provides you with a comprehensive overview of the best Tulsi powders, ensuring only the best is delivered at your doorstep.
Abbott India Q4 Results: Net profit rises 24% YoY on higher sales
Indian drugmaker Abbott India reported a 24% rise in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, as strong sales outpaced the impact of government pricing caps on certain medicines.
India reverses old trend in medical consumables business, is now a net exporter
Till now, foreign-sourced goods used to dominate the medical consumables and disposables market in the country. In the fiscal year 2022-23, India was finally able to reverse that old trend, having sold more than it bought.
The penicillin war: India's journey from self-sufficiency to dependence on China
After India lost its dominance in making penicillin, a drought of three decades is coming to an end. The drug – which forms the base for a raft of extremely potent antibiotics – is part of the govt’s aggressive push for self-sufficiency in critical areas. Will the plan to claw back to the glorious past work?
Govt expands committee for drug and medical device pricing reforms, includes more industry representation
The government has expanded a committee to include more industry representation for reviewing drug and medical device pricing reforms. This move aims to ensure better availability of medicines and devices, while also providing incentives for industry growth and export sustainability. The committee will engage with industry experts and associations to evaluate pricing and availability issues. Ultimately, the government will make the final decisions, with the committee focusing on balancing pricing and availability of essential medicines and designing a price moderation framework for medical devices.
CDCSO issues distribution guidelines for pharma products in market to curb substandard medicines
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has released draft guidelines on good distribution practices to prevent the introduction of spurious, adulterated, and sub-standard pharmaceutical products in the market. The guidelines are in line with the WHO Technical Report Series on good storage and distribution practices for such products.
Delhi government's outdated essential medicines list has more drugs than national, WHO lists
Last updated in 2013, the Delhi government's EML is under scrutiny now as the national capital is reportedly suffering a severe shortage of medicines and consumables at government hospitals and dispensaries. According to a Times of India report, the list has not been reviewed since 2016, with new drugs and medicines being added to the EML. Ideally, any additions to the EML have to be reviewed by a committee that assesses requirements, availability of drugs in markets, new additions and old medicines that become redundant.
No increase in prices of essential medicines this fiscal year: Mandaviya
Union Minister Mandaviya guarantees no essential medicine price hike due to minimal inflation. NPPA approves slight price increase for 54 medicines, while Indian pharmaceutical industry leads in generic drug manufacturing with competitive prices.
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.
Panel to review prices of drugs, medical devices
The government has constituted a panel to reform the pricing framework for drugs and medical devices. The committee will evaluate the availability and pricing of essential medicines, balance price and availability, and consider institutional reforms within the NPPA. It will also design a price moderation framework for medical devices and minimize imports.
Pharma companies seek one-time nod to delink from WPI, avert price cuts
India's pharmaceutical industry is seeking a one-time exemption from price control measures tied to the declining wholesale price index (WPI). Under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 2013, scheduled drug prices are revised based on the previous year's WPI. Industry executives argue that this would lead to marginal reductions and are requesting an exemption due to rising input costs, aiming to make a representation to India's drug pricing authority. Last year saw a record 12% increase in essential medicine prices linked to the WPI.
Urban market has developed a huge appetite for ayurveda medicines: Vicram Sharma, Baidyanath Group
"The last few years have seen a veritable explosion of start-ups in the Ayurveda space. The Ayurveda industry is dominated by some 40,000 MSMEs who account for more than 80% of the enterprises. Government support has taken the form of promoting awareness, financing research, funding start-ups as well as instituting vigilance and regulatory frameworks for manufacturing processes – all this has helped give Ayurveda greater credibility and reach," said Vicram Sharma, Director Baidyanath Group.
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.
Pakistan: Severe shortage of life-saving drugs in Karachi worries patients, citizens
Karachi in Pakistan is facing a severe shortage of essential medicines, including life-saving drugs, causing concern for patients and citizens. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) launched a crackdown last month against an artificial shortage of life-saving medicines, but the illegal sale of essential medicines continues.
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