Against Pharma Marketing Malpractices: A Gutsy Step

January 7, 2016 edition of ‘The Financial Times (FT)’ reported that responding to escalating pressure on the drug industry, related to its ‘Conflict of Interest’ with the doctors and other related professionals, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has decided taking a very unorthodox … Continue reading

Booming Sales Of Unapproved Drugs: Do We Need “Safe In India” Campaign For Medicines?

“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men”                      - Abraham Lincoln Not just the Federal Drug Administration of the United States (USFDA), global concerns are being expressed … Continue reading

Does ‘Free-Market Economy’ Work For Branded Generic Drugs In India?

On April 20, 2015, a panel of 31 lawmakers of the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers tabled its report in the Indian Parliament. The committee emphasized that patients in India should have access to all medicines, including life saving drugs, … Continue reading

Pharma FDI: Damning Report of Parliamentary Panel, PM Vetoes…and Avoids Ruffling Feathers?

An interesting situation emerged last week. The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Commerce proposed a blanket ban on all FDI in brownfield pharma sector. Just two days after that, the Prime Minister of India vetoed the joint opposition of the Department … Continue reading

Slugfest in Pharma Land: Isn’t ‘The Pot Calling the Kettle Black?’

Close on the heels of detention of a British Citizen, an American citizen too has  been reportedly detained, for the first time, by the Chinese Government in connection with unfolding mega corruption scandal in the country’s pharma industry involving even ‘third party’. A slugfest … Continue reading

Small Steps, yet Giant Leaps: In Pursuit of Affordable Medicines for All

Since last few years, some small yet very significant steps are being taken, mostly by the respective Governments, in and outside India, to provide affordable healthcare in general and affordable medicines in particular, for all. It is well recognized that … Continue reading

To Curb Pharma Marketing Malpractices in India Who Bells the Cat?

Bribing doctors by the pharmaceutical companies directly or indirectly, as reported frequently by the media all over the world, including India, to prescribe their respective brand of drugs has now reached an alarming proportion, jeopardizing patients’ interest, seriously more than … Continue reading

MCI asks Doctors to Prescribe Medicines in Generic Names

Last week, on January 21, 2013, in a circular addressed to the Dean/Principals of all the Medical Colleges, Director of all the hospitals and Presidents of all the State Medical Councils, the Medical Council of India (MCI) called upon the … Continue reading