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India's drug regulator DCGI has written to drug controllers of all states and Union territories and the Pharmacy Council of India asking them to ensure that pharmacists are physically present in retail medical stores and that medicines are sold under their direct supervision. In a letter, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi sought strict implementation of section 42 (a) of the Pharmacy Act 1947 and Rules 65 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1945 in retail pharmacies. Ensure that pharmacists are physically present in the retail pharmacies/medical stores, and that medicines are sold/dispensed under their direct supervision. Ensure that no prescription medicine is sold/dispensed from the retail medicines shop without a proper and valid prescription," the DCGI said in the letter sent on March 9. The drug regulator referred to a letter from Suresh Khanna, National General Secretary, IPA, Mumbai which highlighted issues pertaining to implementation of Section
India's drug regulator has directed drug manufacturers not to use propylene glycol supplied by a Delhi-based company which provided the ingredient to Marion Biotech, whose cough syrups were alleged to have led to the deaths of children in Uzbekistan. Maya Chemtech India Pvt. Ltd. supplied propylene glycol used in Marion Biotech's cough syrups that were found to be "not of standard quality", according to the regulator. Three employees of Marion Biotech were arrested on charges of manufacture and sale of adulterated drugs. Also, the drugs inspector from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) North Zone last week issued a notice to the pharmaceutical firm asking it to stop the sale and distribution of the drug concerned, stating that the sample was found to be "not of standard quality". Uzbekistan alleged in December last year that several children died after consuming Marion Biotech's cough syrups, which it claimed were contaminated with unacceptable amounts of ethyl
New Delhi [India], February 24 (ANI): Union Health and family welfare Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a two-day 'Chintan Shivir' at Telangana's Hyderabad with a focus on Drug Quality Regulation and Enforcement."Eminent speakers along with Domain experts from government, industry fora, startups, and academia will be participating," official sources told ANI.The Chintan Shivir will be held for two days from February 26- 27, 2023 at Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad.Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bhagwant Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers along with Dr V K Paul, Member (Health) NITI Aayog will attend the meeting. Senior officials including Union Secretary (Health), Secretary (AYUSH), Secretary (Pharmaceuticals), DGHS along with representatives from National Health Authority, NPPA, CDSCO, NIB, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, NIPERs, State functionaries and officials including ACS/Principal Secretary will be present ..
The total sale of medicines by stockists/dealers to retailers in India stood at over Rs 1.40 lakh crore during the April-December period, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. In a written reply to a query, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya laid a statement on the table of the Upper House stating no separate data is, however, maintained regarding consumption of generic medicines in the country. 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. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has taken various steps for increasing the production of drugs in the country and encourage domestic manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs, including PLI scheme for manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates (DIs)/ Active Pharmaceutical ...
Patients cannot be compelled to purchase medicines from hospital-attached drug stores, the Maharashtra Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has said. A notification issued by Commissioner, FDA, Abhimanyu Kale said FDA had received repeated complaints that patients have been forced to buy medicines from the drug store in hospitals. "It is illegal for a hospital to force patients to buy medicines from their affiliated stores," said the notification, addressed to all the divisional joint commissioners, assistant commissioners, and drug inspectors (Drugs). Patients don't need to purchase medicines from hospital-affiliated shops and the same can be purchased from any licensed drug store, it said. The hospitals concerned should prominently display a signboard at a prominent place visible to the patients, as per the notification.