The drug department on a pharmacy in 11th chemist shop to be sealed and 30 chemists lose licence

NOIDA: The district drug department on Friday sealed a pharmacy in Mamura for being run without a pharmacist making it the 11th chemist shop to be sealed in the past two months. It has also suspended licences of over 30 chemists in the past two months for operating their pharmacies without a pharmacist.

During the Friday raid, a pharmacy in Chhalera also received a show-cause notice by the department. Officials had said that the drive against shops violating rules will be intensified after Dussehra.

Deepanshu Medical Store in Mamura was sealed and Pooja Medical Store in Chhalera was issued a show-cause notice. The department also banned the sale of drugs by the store for now.

During the inspection, the officials found that Deepanshu Medical Store had not appointed a registered pharmacist and was instead being run by the chemist, who was not present in the store at the time of the inspection.

Deepak Sharma, drug inspector of the district told TOI that there was no proprietor or pharmacist present at the store when it was raided and instead a third person was found at the store. "We have sealed the store and the chemist? licence has been sent to the District Licensing Authority for action. No bills were found for the sale and purchase of the drugs," he said.

Similarly, at Pooja Medical Store, no pharmacist was found and hence, a show-cause notice was issued by the department to the store owner and sale of drugs was stopped. Employing a registered pharmacist at the store is necessary for chemists.

The chemist association blamed the government for the mess saying it issued licences without keeping a check on the numbers. Anoop Khanna, president, Gautam Budh Nagar chemist association told TOI that it (the drive against pharmacies) is like asking someone to make a mistake and then punishing them for it. "The government has allowed so many drug stores to run and issued licences but pharmacists are few and have become redundant now. It is very unfair to those who are running their pharmacies with a pharmacist as they don't even need one."


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/11-drug-stores-sealed-30-chemists-lose-licence/articleshow/54859712.cms

The invention of a ‘super condom’ by a team of researchers headed by an Indian American researcher of HIV and AIDS

The breakthrough invention of a ‘super condom’ by a team of researchers headed by an Indian American researcher has opened an innovative way to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS by killing the virus through antioxidants contained in the condom.

The new condom was developed by Professor Mahua Choudhury and her research team at Texas A&M University. She claims that it would help in fighting the spread of the deadly virus.The super condom is made of an elastic polymer called hydrogel, which has antioxidants collected from plants that have the power to kill the HIV virus.

Choudhury, an assistant professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center’s Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, said in a statement, “We are not only making a novel material for condoms to prevent the HIV infection, but we are also aiming to eradicate this infection, if possible.”

She added: “Supercondom could help fight against HIV infection and may as well prevent unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases and If we succeed, it will revolutionize the HIV prevention initiative.”

Choudhury who completed Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Genetics degree in India got her Ph.D. in the US. Since then she has been researching diabetics and obesity epidemic.

Choudhury was one among the 54 people who were awarded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grant for Global Health Challenge.

This year’s challenge for the winners was to develop a latex free condom to help battle the epidemic of HIV, which has by now affected 35 million people in the world.

“If you can make it really affordable, and really appealing, it could be a life-saving thing,” Choudhury said.

The material used in the condom to kill the virus is already in use as a water-based hydrogel for medical purposes such as contact lenses.

In addition to protecting from STDs and pregnancy, the super condom’s antioxidant quercetin is also capable of preventing the replication if HIV and in case if it breaks the quercetin would be released for additional protection.

The researchers also claim that the new design of the condom will escalate the sexual pleasure and people will use it more often.

The condom has already been created and is now awaiting patent approval so that it can go on sales in the market after testing.

Choudhury is hopeful that she can make the condom available to everyone including those in rural areas, where these types of resources are limited.

Since the HIV outbreak in 1981, the deadly virus has killed 39 million people worldwide.


https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2015/12/16/indian-american-researcher-mahua-choudhury-invents-super-condom-to-fight-hiv/

Indian Pharmacists Association Pharmacists play an important role when it comes to medicines to chemical and physical properties

AURANGABAD: Pharmacists across the city organised a series of events, including a rally in Waluj, to mark the World Pharmacists Day (WPD) on Sunday.
This year the day was observed under the theme "Pharmacists: Caring for you" with the aim of updating the knowledge base of the dispensers while creating awareness among people regarding proper use of medicines.

Sanjay Toshniwal, secretray Indian Pharmacists Association (IPA), Aurangabad, said, "Pharmacist community is one of the three main pillars of the healthcare system with doctors and nurses being the other two. The day aims to recognise the relentless efforts of pharmacists as healthcare providers."

He said the IPA will also organise a series of lectures by Sheikh Jahangir, popularly known for his innovations such as converting second-hand scooters into super machines capable of working as a washing machine and even a flour mill.

The extraordinary innovation of this uneducated man from Jalgaon in Maharashtra, the scooter-powered flour mill was also exhibited in the Hindi blockbuster, 3 Idiots, said Toshniwal.

Meanwhile, the WPD was also marked by Yash institute of pharmacy, Waluj. The day was celebrated by organising different programmes like poster-making, elocution competition. Also, a rally was organised to spread awareness on safe use of medicines.

Hiral Majmudar, principal of Yash Institute of Pharmacy, said pharmacy as a profession contributes immensely in the field of health.

"Pharmacists play an important role when it comes to medicines as they are aware about their composition, chemical and physical properties, manufacturer, uses, side-effects and interactions with food and other medicines. "They also provide specialized information to doctors, nurses and other health professionals. Pharmacists are involved in every aspect of the preparation and use of medicines, from their research and development to eventual supply to a patient," said Suyog Joshi, assistant professor, Yash Institute of Pharmacy.

A pharmacist as a health partner who advises patients on proper use of medicines for maximum effect, how to reduce side effects, how to avoid drug drug interactions especially for patients taking plenty of drugs, medications to prevent untoward drug- food interaction, said Joshi.

It is an undoubted fact that pharmacists are authority on drug matters. Pharmacists are drug experts.

Pharmacists are trained as communicators, counsellors and work within a code of professional ethics that encompasses their relationship with other health professionals and the public, he added.

The Government of India's gazette notification on Pharmacy Practice Regulations-2015 could kindle a new symbiotic relationship between a pharmacist and patients. The Pharmacy Practice Regulations-2015 has sought to widen the role of present day pharmacists, bring in a uniform ethics code, clear-cut definitions of roles and responsibilities of pharmacists towards patients. Interestingly, the new regulations could well boost the concept of community pharmacy, he said. The new pharmacy regulations empower pharmacists to go a step ahead and, in addition to giving drugs, they also can counsel patients at the time of dispensing and provide drug information to patients.

The pharmacist has to interact with patients, doctors and other healthcare providers, and educate patients about medicines and other line of treatment that might have been prescribed to them, he added.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/Events-to-celebrate-role-of-pharmacists/articleshow/54534835.cms

Baba Ramdev endorses all of Patanjali's consumer products the man behind the formidable success of India

Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved has taken the Indian FMCG market by a storm. The company, with a turnover of Rs 5,000 crore in 2015-16 is not only a household name, but has been giving close competition to major international brands. Though Baba Ramdev endorses all of Patanjali's consumer products, the man behind the formidable success of India's fastest growing FMCG brand is Ramdev's close aide, Acharya Balakrishna.

The 44-year old CEO of Patanjali has pushed the company's revenues at a rapid pace. He has not only encashed upon Baba Ramdes's huge base of followers but also attracted Indian consumers by hitting the 'swadeshi' idea.ALSO READ: Challenges ahead for Anil Ambani as Reliance, Aircel merger talks go on

Though Ramdev is the brand ambassador of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, he does not own a single share in it. Balkrishna, on the other hand, is the brain behind the admirable growth of Patanjali as a consumer brand. He has now come in the limelight as one of the richest persons in India with a wealth of around Rs 25,600 crore.

Here are the five things that you may not know about the man behind Pantanjali: 

1. Balkrishna Suvedi, also known as Acharya Balakrishna holds as much as 94 per cent of Patanjali shares and does not accept salary from the company. He heads around 34 companies and three trusts associated with Patanjali brand and Baba Ramdev.

2. Born to Nepalese parents who later migrated to India, Acharya Balakrishna was Ramdev's junior in ashram Khanpur Gurukul in Haryana. In 1995, Ramdev with his close associate, Balkrishna, set up Divya Pharmacy to make Ayurvedic and herbal medicines. Later, with Baba Ramdev's increasing popularity and substantial funds, Patanjali Ayurved was set up as a private company in 2006.

3. In 2011, he was charged with cheating and forgery for acquiring fake degrees to procure an Indian passport. His high school degree and Sanskrit degree from Sampurna Nand Sanskrit University were missing from official records. According to the CBI, his passport was issued on the basis of forged educational degrees and his Indian citizenship was also questioned. However, the case was closed two years later due to lack of evidence.

4. Balkrishna is known to maintain a low-profile. Like all other Patanjali employees, Balkrishna dresses in white to reinforce an aura of spirituality. All the decisions related to marketing strategy and advertising are usually left to Balkrishna. He is a one-man army when it comes to the operations in Patanjali. From hiring senior management staff to dealing with advertisers, he does is it all alone.

5. Balkrishna's Patanjali has given FMCG majors a run for their money. Also, the company is eyeing to hit Rs 10,000 crore revenue by 2017. Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna have formed a phenomenal partnership to grow Patanjali Ayurveda as a brand. They have achieved this by keeping the prices of the products substantially lower than the other FMCG brands and by capturing the nerve of the Indian consumers.


http://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/five-things-you-do-not-know-about-balkrishna-the-man-behind-patanjali/story/237362.html

The Manipal University Association of Pharmacy Students

MANIPAL: The Manipal University Association of Pharmacy Students (MAPS), a student body of Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal, became the first student organization in the country to be granted recognition by the International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF).

MAPS was accorded membership during the 62nd IPSF General Assembly held at Harare in Zimbabwe in August 2016.

The benefits of getting this membership are many. For example, it will help MAPS to contribute towards global pharmacy education and professional development programmes, public health campaigns and other projects of the federation worldwide. Student exchange and pharmacy internship programmes will get a boost at MCOPS following this affiliation.

IPSF is among the world's oldest international student organizations for pharmacy students and pharmacists and it represents more than 3,20,000 pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences students and recent graduates in 80 countries. Headquartered at The Hague in Netherlands, IPSF is associated with the World Health Organization.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/IPSF-tag-for-Manipal-pharma-students-wing/articleshow/54261481.cms

A hospital official said the government had initiated schemes to provide medicines available with govt pharmacy only

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 26
In a fresh order, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), associated with Government Medical College here, has directed all its doctors to only prescribe medicines which are available with the government pharmacy.

The orders have been issued after some patients complained that a few doctors prescribed medicines manufactured by specific companies, which were only available with select medical stores.

The hospital authorities stated that the orders were aimed at cutting the expenses of poor patients, who had to purchase medicines from private chemists if these were prescribed by hospital doctors.

A hospital official said the government had initiated schemes to provide free medicines to all patients attending OPD services. However, a few doctors had been prescribing medicines manufactured by private pharmacies.

A practising doctor, however, said, “In view of public welfare, the doctors have to often prescribe medicines manufactured by private companies as government supply is not adequate and sometimes, their quality is not very good.” He said for a doctor, the benefit of the patient was the most important thing.

However, the fact that a few doctors are indulging in malpractices by prescribing medicines of a particular manufacturer in lieu of commission, cannot be denied as numerous complaints have been received by the hospital.

Medical superintendent Ram Sarup Sharma said the new orders were aimed at proving better services to patients as doctors were required to prescribe only those medicines which were available with the hospital. He said the orders would help in reducing the medical expenses of poor patients.


http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/docs-told-to-prescribe-medicines-available-with-govt-pharmacy-only/286084.html

Pharmacy distributor MedPlus plans to set up 200 stores in Tamil Nadu

 Pharmacy distributor MedPlus plans to set up 200 stores in tier II and III cities in Tamil Naduover the next one year.

"We are planning to reach out to the interior parts of Tamil Naduand set up 200 franchise stores in the initial stage, in the next one year. We will be planning another 300 stores by 2018," MedPlus Health Services, Founder and CEO, Dr Madhukar Gangadi said in a statement here.


Stating that the goal of the Hyderabad-headquartered company was to give access to medicines at affordable prices in all parts of the state, he said, retail expansion initiative would create a lot of entrepreneurs in tier II and III towns and generate employment of more than 1,000 people.

The move to expand retail outlets in Tamil Naduwas in the backdrop of the company tasting success in Andhra Pradeshand Telangana.

"In view of this, we have decided to replicate the model in other parts of the country through the current financial year", he said.

Each MedPlus store spread across 300-500 square foot would require total investment of Rs 15-20 lakh that would cover franchise fee, rental deposit, infrastructure and stock required.


http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/medplus-on-retail-expansion-in-tn-to-set-up-200-stores-116083100822_1.html

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group medication pharmacies need to GP

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group say patients will no longer be able to reorder their medication through their pharmacy.

A spokesman said: “They will need in future to request these through their GP. This will ensure that patients only receive the medication they need.”

The spokesman said this would mean the medication can be reviewed and would hopefully reduce the amount of wasted medicines.

“On average £7.5 million of medicines are wasted each year across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough,” said the spokesman.

“Previously patients could sign up to a managed repeat prescription service with their pharmacy where the pharmacy would automatically request medication on the patient’s behalf.”

It is expected the new service will be rolled out to 50 practices a year.

“This will not impact on vulnerable patients where alternative arrangements are in place, “said the spokesman.

http://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/health_chiefs_to_stop_cambridgeshire_patients_getting_repeat_prescriptions_from_pharmacies_in_future_you_will_need_to_see_gp_1_4653708

The government is keeping on medical stores in the city out pharmaceutical drug Chemist shops near schools and colleges

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in its annual report for 2015, pointed out that abuse of pharmaceutical drugs in India has assumed serious proportions in recent times and the problem seems to be more serious in the Northeast and Northwest region of the country. Common pharmaceutical products that are abused include buprenorphine, codeinebased cough syrups, alprazolam, diazepam and some other sedatives.

"It is extremely important to identify the drug problem in Delhi. There are lots of drug users in the Capital and we need to get hold of the root cause of the problem," Darswal said.

As per the department's directions, all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Aspirin, Disprin, Ibuprofen and Diclofenac cannot be sold as over-the counter drugs by chemists. In last one year, the department has cancelled licenses of 15 chemists for violating rules.

"Some spots have been already identified and we have stopped issuing license in these areas. Various children have been interviewed to understand problem. Drug peddling has become a serious concern. Standard operating procedure is being followed," Darswal said.

Educationists have appreciated the move. "It is a great step taken by the government. It is extremely important to keep a watch on the youngsters these days," said Goldy Malhotra, Director, Academic Staff College and Administration, Manav Rachna International Schools.

CAPITAL OVERDOSE

"Many medicines do have substances which can lead to addictions. These chemists sometimes even sell the medicines without prescription. Also, this is not only about the drugs but even the basic medicines should not be sold to the kids without having any prescriptions."
A knowledge sharing workshop was recently conducted in which various officials from the Delhi Police and CBI participated and discussed ways to tackle this growing problem.

Recently, Delhi Department of Health has also issued orders to various departments to ensure that no banned drugs are available in the shops. "The practice of selling drugs without a prescription is a worrying issue. Today, pharma companies are spending huge amount of money on research of molecules.

There are many drugs in the market that have potential of having drug abuse. A stricter guideline is need of the hour," said Dharmil Seth, co-founder, PharmEasy, an online platform which connects offline pharmacy.

The NCB report also underlined the fact that though there was a perception that pharmaceutical drugs were less harmful than hard drugs like heroin, cocaine etc, this was a misconception, "Since these can be addictive and also have a debilitating effect on health".

Pharmaceutical preparations having narcotic or psychotropic substances are under the purview of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act and the NDPS Act in India. Law enforcement agencies have increasingly seizing sizeable quantities of Alprazolam, Zolpidem Tramadol, Stidonafil tablets.


http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ncb-says-pharmaceutical-drugs-abuse-on-rise-govt-to-closely-watch-chemists-near-schools-and-colleges/1/734640.html

The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand congratulates Community Pharmacy of the Year 547

Guild congratulates Community Pharmacy of the Year, Pharmacy 547

The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) congratulates Pharmacy 547 for winning the Community Pharmacy of the Year award at the 2016 Pharmacy Awards held on Saturday night (6 August).

This year’s awards ceremony was held at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland and saw approximately 370 pharmacy stakeholders from around the country attend the event.

Guild Chief Executive, Andrew Gaudin says “The Guild was extremely honoured to co-host the 2016 Pharmacy Awards for the second time, alongside Pharmacy Today. At the Guild we aspire to see the highest quality of care delivered to patients through community pharmacy in New Zealand and it is a privilege to be so closely involved with an event that celebrates this work.”

“The Guild was proud to again sponsor the Community Pharmacy of the Year award. This year the prestigious award went to Guild member pharmacy, Pharmacy 547, who is thoroughly deserving of this recognition and a prime example of what our patients’ value about community pharmacy.

“The runner up in this category was Guild member pharmacy, Sanders Pharmacy, whose team is also providing an outstanding service to their community. The judges visited finalist pharmacies to see them in action and Pharmacy 547 was judged as the winner. Christchurch pharmacies, Crisps Healthy Living Pharmacy and St Martins Pharmacy, were also judged as highly commended. We are extremely grateful to all pharmacies who took the time to enter this award category and share the excellent work they are doing for the benefit of their patients.

“Pharmacy 547 is located in Hamilton and is led by Ian McMichael. The pharmacy has a philosophy that it needs to be constantly re-inventing itself and adapting what they do in a constantly changing and challenging world.

“In the last year they settled into new premises and made the most of the purpose-built facilities.

Pharmacy 547 believes in three A’s: How can we make health care accessible, affordable and accurate for the people who access our pharmacy services?

“The judges said that all finalists in this category showed a clear understanding of their patients’ needs and that they were delivering services to meet these needs in their local communities. They commented that all had a commitment to patient focused services that were innovative and allowed the pharmacists to work at the top of their scope for the benefit of their community.

“The high calibre of entries was consistent across all award categories with the judges commenting that selecting winners was no easy task.

“The Guild endeavours to support community pharmacy by freeing up time for owners to concentrate on what they do best – providing fantastic services into their community. At the awards we acknowledged a range of outstanding services, and it is our desire to see these services being embedded throughout the pharmacy sector in everyday practice.”

Our congratulations go out to all 2016 finalists and winners who are:

Pharmacy Guild Community Pharmacy of the Year

Winner: Ian McMichael, Alice Madsen, Alexis Mirkin, Pharmacy 547

Runner-up: Gemma Waterhouse-Perry, Sanders Pharmacy

Blackmores Future Pharmacist of the Year

Winner: Sophie Oliff, University of Otago

Runner-up: Kate Farmer, University of Auckland

Douglas Young Pharmacist of the Year

Winner: Charles Walker, Merrilands Pharmacy

Runner-up: Nafessa Mussa, Leanna Peachey and Truc Nguyen, Middlemore Hospital Pharmacy

GlaxoSmithKline "Good Sort" Pharmacist of the Year

Winner: Mark Webster, Stay Well Pharmacy

Runner-up: Mike Riordan, Unichem Mainstreet Pharmacy

Innovation in Delivering Care and Advice

Winner: Mark Webster, Stay Well Pharmacy

Runner-up: Samit Patel, Unichem Greenhithe Pharmacy

Aspen Pharmacare + Pamol Self Care Award

Winner: Amy Chan, Kiri Aikman, Ziyen Lam, Natasha Pool, Ricky Wan, Sarah Wang, Joe Monkhouse,

Auckland DHB Inpatient Pharmacy

The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand Professional Service of the Year

Winner: Eui-Jin Kim and Michael Hammond, Rotorua Area Primary Health Services

Runner-up: Cath Knapton, Midland Community Pharmacy Group

ProPharma Technician Superstar(s)

Winner: Dianne Gulliver, Sian Dawson, and Kim Brackley, Pharmacy Department Auckland DHB

Runner-up: Sandra Edmondson, Pharmacy Department Christchurch Hospital

Voltaren Retail Superstar(s)

Winner: Clair Connor and Glenys Perry, Life Pharmacy Botany

Runner-up: Lisa Erdman, Unichem Spitfire Square Pharmacy

Vitaco NutraLife Best Complementary Healthcare Campaign

Winner: Clair Connor, Life Pharmacy Botany

Runner-up: Mark Webster, Stay Well Pharmacy

PRISM Te Hapai Hauora Award

Winner: Leanne Te Karu, Nga Kāitiaki o Te Puna Rongoā o Aotearoa - The Māori Pharmacists' Association

Runner-up: Teei Kaiaruna, Pharmacy 547 and Samuel Martin, Huntly West Pharmacy

Onelink Hospital Pharmacy Performer of the Year

Winner: David Ryan, North Shore Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy

Runner-up: Hayley Velden, Michelle Murphy, Ryan Moxham-Smith, Hauora Tairawhiti Pharmacy

Department Gisborne Hospital

PSL Supplier Of The Year

Winner: Annette Smith, Pharmacy Wholesalers Russells and Noel Wright, ProPharma

Runner-up: Mike Siermans and Regan Cooper, Douglas Pharmaceuticals

RB Supreme Winner

Winner: Leanne Te Karu, Nga Kāitiaki o Te Puna Rongoā o Aotearoa - The Māori Pharmacists' Association

Runner-up: Ian McMichael, Alice Madsen, Alexis Mirkin, Pharmacy 547

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1608/S00230/guild-congratulates-community-pharmacy-of-the-year.htm

Access may send some seniors back to pharmacy hospital

THURSDAY, Aug. 4, 2016 -- Limited access to pharmacies may be one reason hospital readmission is more common among older patients in rural, remote or smaller communities, a new study suggests.

Hospital readmissions in the United States cost $17 billion a year and are a serious problem, according to researchers from Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University.

They analyzed data from patients aged 65 and older in Oregon and focused on 507 pharmacies and 58 hospitals.

The average rate of readmissions in rural areas was 15.3 percent, compared to 14.7 percent in cities, where pharmacies are more often open, the researchers found. However, the study only found an association between hospital readmissions and pharmacy availability.

"It's a huge burden both on a patient and our medical system when they have to be readmitted to a hospital," said senior author David Lee, assistant professor in the OSU/OHSU College of Pharmacy.

"The modern pharmaceutical profession is increasingly being recognized as an important partner in health care, and as its services continue to expand it will help even more. This research shows that pharmacy access can help people from going back to the hospital," he said in an Oregon State news release.

"The sooner a person gets out and stays out of a hospital, the better off they usually will be," Lee added.

He noted that in some rural parts of Oregon, the closest pharmacy may be 100 miles or more away. In one small Oregon community, the only pharmacy is open 54 hours a week. In comparison, people in some large cities can find numerous pharmacies that collectively are open more than 3,800 hours a week.

The study was published online Aug. 1 in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/08/04/Lack-of-pharmacy-access-may-send-some-seniors-back-to-hospital/4421470341940/

The preventative drug using private prescriptions or online pharmacies and preventative treatment for HIV

Men and women across the UK at risk of acquiring HIV were offered hope after a high court ruled that a preventative treatment for HIV – known as PrEP – can be legally funded by the NHS.

Until now, those at risk of HIV transmission have been left with no choice but to obtain the preventative drug using private prescriptions or online pharmacies where the quality of medicine cannot always be assured.

Michael, 39, who lives in Sussex, buys Tenvir-EM – a generic version of Truvada, the drug used for PrEP – from online pharmacies. His partner is HIV positive and he takes PrEP to further reduce the “infinitesimal chances” of infection.

“The NHS is digging its heels on reviewing the drug so I, and many in my position, turn to internet pharmacies. I’d much prefer it to be available on the NHS. I would happily pay the prescription charge several times over, if only for the reassurance that the medicines are genuine. For now, I rely on good faith,” says Michael.NHS England said earlier this year that it would not routinely fund the drug as it claimed the treatment was preventative and not its responsibility. Instead, local councils were put in charge, which responded by saying they did not have the funds.
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Dr Will Nutland, founder of Prepster – a PrEP awareness website – and a public health worker at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, began taking the drug this year in part to protect against HIV transmission, but also to test the quality of online purchases.

“I’ve been sexually active for 30 years and I’ve always had the risk that HIV could be transmitted; condoms can break. I bought my first box of PrEP over a year ago as I wanted to demonstrate how easy it is to get hold of. It cost £45 from India. I thought, if I was advocating for it, then I must be prepared to take them myself. I found that, broadly, it was a simple process although I once had to pay 25% import duties,” says Nutland.

About 4,000 people acquire HIV in the UK every year. The average cost of a lifetime of treating each patient at current prices is put at about £360,000. Nutland believes that this cost could be eliminated.

Michael James, 49, from London, buys three months’ supply at a time from an online pharmacy in India at a cost of £150. But he is worried about safety, and angry with the NHS for discriminating against those at risk of HIV transmission.

“Of course it is a risk not knowing the quality and effectiveness of the medication but this is the only option many of us have. It’s a disgrace to be discriminated against in such a way by the government, who continue to handball the responsibility from authority to authority at the risk and expense of the individual,” says James. Nutland isn’t personally concerned about the safety of PrEP bought over the internet, instead he believes the greatest problem is that those most at risk cannot afford to buy the drugs.

“There’s a Facebook group, where people swap information and batch numbers. There are about 100 of us in the UK, who test at sexual health clinics to measure the amount of the drug in our blood. There hasn’t been one person whose test hasn’t shown the drug, the only issue being when the tests have been taken too soon, too little of the drug shows up.

“The website IwantPrEPnow lists four reputable pharmacies. I don’t personally have any concerns with the drugs coming in. A major problem is affordability. I can afford the £45 a month, but the people who should use it might not be able to,” he says.

Although it is a positive that PrEP is easy to get, Nutland worries that may stop people from having advisable health checks before taking the drug, which is another reason that he is urging the NHS to fund the drug.

“It’s a concern that people using PrEP are doing so without HIV tests and kidney function tests,” he says. “If it was through an NHS commission, through a sex clinic, there would be a full barrage of tests. People are not safeguarding other things. Those who can protect themselves. Buying online is a stopgap until it’s properly available.”

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/02/users-of-hiv-prevention-prep-urge-nhs-to-fund-life-changing-medicine

The trade defence ties between India and the czech republic visa centre in city

Chennai: With trade and defence ties between India and the Czech Republic going strong, the Czech diplomatic mission plans to open six visa processing centres in association with VFS Global services across the country.

Inaugurating the Czech republic visa application centre in the city on Friday, Milan Hovorka, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India, said bilateral trade between India and the Czech Republic stood at $1.2 billion in 2015.
He said the Czech prime minister would visit India later this year and the diplomatic modalities were being worked out.


With the opening of the centre at Ethiraj Salai in Egmore, the applicants would no longer need to travel to Mumbai, New Delhi or Bengaluru to apply for a Schengen visa.Around 15 Indian companies were doing business in that country in the fields of iron and steel, automobile, IT, textiles, and pharmacy.


He said Chennai topped the list in a survey on the preferred city done among travel agents.


with travel agents on which city would be preferred to launch a visa center Chennai topped the list. A number of Czech companies and experts have worked with Heavy Engineering Corporation. Skoda Power has been a technology licensor to BHEL. The now defunct Jawa established itself strongly in Indian market for decades with its popular Yezdi model (which means "it runs!"). Even now, the Czech Republic is spontaneously associated in India with world-famous Czech brands, such as Skoda, Tatra, Bata or Zetor. Since 2001, trade exchange between these two countries has been growing substantially, as proved by the fact that their mutual trade turnover has risen tenfold the envoy said.


He said the Indian market has become one of the most important destinations for Czech companies. India's role in Czech foreign trade is steadily growing thanks to the India's strong embarkation on liberalization process as the exponential growth of Indian economy has created opportunities for EU and Czech companies. India has become the second largest Asian trade partner of the Czech Republic, Milan Hovorka said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Czech-Republic-visa-centre-in-city/articleshow/53233921.cms

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) e-commerce increase in online pharmacies in India

New Delhi: Growing e-commerce in India is facilitating significant increase in online pharmacies, leading to easy availability of pharmaceutical drugs and their abuse, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said.

In its annual report for 2015, published on Friday, the NCB says abuse of pharmaceutical drugs in India has assumed serious proportions in recent times and the problem seems to be more serious in the northeast and northwest region of the country.

"The emergence of illegal websites (Internet Pharmacy) established in the USA, Europe etc. offering unregulated trade in a range of prescription medicines over the Internet has taken firm root in India as a supplier," said the intelligence agency.

"These online pharmacies transmit orders from paying customers to agents in India, who then procure the medicines from either legitimate or illegitimate sources before dispatching them to customers by mail and courier," NCB report added.

The sheer volume of international post makes it impossible to screen every parcel and hence a vast majority of illegal consignments passes by undetected by the authorities.

"Internet pharmacies are usually highly vulnerable and keep the identity of organisers tightly veiled. In India, nevertheless, the NCB either on its own or in coordination with the outside agencies has been making at least one bust every year over the ears," it added.

The pharmaceutical products that are abused include buprenorphine, codeine-based cough syrups, alprazolam, diazepam and other sedatives. Many of these pharmaceutical drugs are easily available over the counter and this has become the major factor that encourages their misuse, the NCB said.

There is also the perception that these pharmaceutical drugs are less harmful than hard drugs like heroin, cocaine etc.

"However, this is a misconception, since these can be addictive and also have a debilitating effect on health. Pharmaceutical preparations having  arcotic/psychotropic substances are under the purview of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act and the NDPS Act in India," it says.


http://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/100716/internet-pharmacy-helping-unregulated-drug-sale-in-india.html

The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists in Courts

NEW DELHI: The fight between brick-and mortar chemists and online pharmacies is set to reach courts now. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) will approach ten High Courts in India against the central and state drug regulators for lack of action against the "illegal" operation of online pharmacies, which could compromise patient safety.

On their part, online pharmacies are gearing up for the fight in the hopes that it would clarify misconceptions about process they follow and also "expose" public safety hazards offline pharmacies pose.

The move comes even while a health ministry sub-committee is evaluating online pharmacies and their impact on health. Online pharmacies are illegal in India and the central and state drug regulators' negligence in this matter risks public health, AIOCD general secretary Suresh Gupta told ET.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/Chemists-to-take-e-pharmacies-to-court/articleshow/53131252.cms

chemists and online e-pharmacies to reach courts

NEW DELHI: The fight between brick-and mortar chemists and online pharmacies is set to reach courts now. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) will approach ten High Courts in India against the central and state drug regulators for lack of action against the "illegal" operation of online pharmacies, which could compromise patient safety.

On their part, online pharmacies are gearing up for the fight in the hopes that it would clarify misconceptions about process they follow and also "expose" public safety hazards offline pharmacies pose.

The move comes even while a health ministry sub-committee is evaluating online pharmacies and their impact on health. Online pharmacies are illegal in India and the central and state drug regulators' negligence in this matter risks public health, AIOCD general secretary Suresh Gupta told ET.



The current Drugs & Cosmetics Act (1940) does not allow online portals to sell medicines, he said. "A major problem (with online pharmacies) is that the medicine could maybe change in transit.


It could be spurious and threaten the health of the (patient)," said Gupta. "It is surprising that the government is not taking action even when there is no law at present that allows online sale of medicines.


We are moving High Courts in at least 10 states." AIOCD's state-level units are in the process of preparing petitions against the government and will soon approach the High Courts in states like Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, said Gupta.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/Chemists-to-take-e-pharmacies-to-court/articleshow/53131252.cms

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is growing in the tech pill for pharma sector

Institute watch

*   Institutes offering Pharmaceuticaltechnology are:

* Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai-

* Anna University , College of Engineering, Chennai

* Calcutta Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Kolkata

* Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Usha Albuquerque
Every day we hear about a new drug or medicine being developed. Today we have a drug for practically every disease, or are in the process of developing drugs to alleviate all diseases known to man. With the complexities of medicine and the thousands of drugs being developed and dispensed every day doctors and the general public have come to rely quite heavily on the specialised knowledge of pharmacists.

Pharmaceutical Engineering/Technology is a broad field connected to the process of designing, producing, and marketing pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical engineers are concerned with the transformation of raw materials into valuable products by chemical, biochemical or physical processes. Basically, this is a field of chemical engineering and pharmaceutical engineers utilise the concept of both biology and biochemistry to design, develop, and manufacture pharmaceutical drugs. They work alongside chemists and pharmacists to research and develop active pharmaceutical ingredients, and then formulate it into the product that a patient takes. Chemical and pharmaceutical engineering overlaps with other branches of engineering, as well as with chemistry and biochemistry. This blend of subject material and emphasis on a broad range of physical and chemical processes makes it a distinct and unique discipline. The other branches of Pharmaceutical Technology include: pharmaceutical formulation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, dispensing pharmacy, physical pharmacy and pharmaceutical jurisprudence.

Getting in
There are only a limited number of institutes that offer an undergraduate degree (BE/BTech/BSc) in pharmaceutical science and technology; so many youngsters enter the field at the moment with a chemical or industrial engineering degree.

The minimum eligibility for undergraduate programmes (BE/BTech/BSc) in pharmaceutical science and technology/ pharmaceutical engineering is Plus II with physics, chemistry, and mathematics as mandatory subjects. For admission to postgraduate programmes (ME/MTech/MSc), you would require a bachelor's degree in the relevant subject from a recognised university. Those interested can continue their studies after MTech in research work in the relevant field.

There are many different skills that a pharmaceutical engineer must possess, including a thorough understanding of the technical aspects of the work and of product development, manufacturing systems, quality control, compliance with regulations and production plants /equipment safety. You also need critical thinking and analytical skills, and an ability to design, maintain and operate highly specialised technology.

Job prospects
With more and more pharma companies taking to R&D there are ample growth opportunities for pharmaceutical engineers. They can work in manufacturing, as drug inspectors, drug analysts, pharmacology experts, production managers, and quality managers in government departments, research institutes and with pharmaceutical companies.

Most private pharmaceutical companies have their own research laboratories and recruit pharmaceutical technologists for carrying out research and development of drugs, and for conducting testing and clinical trials and quality control before the drugs are released in the market. These include companies like Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Cipla, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Novartis India, Astra Zenecca and others. Food and drink companies and cosmetic manufacturing companies also employ pharmaceutical engineers to work in manufacturing, R & D and quality control.

There is also scope with government institutes and organisations involved in research and development of drugs and formulations, regulation of their quality, prices etc. These include institutes such as Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) Lucknow; National Chemical Laboratory, Pune; Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, (IICT) Hyderabad; Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO); National Pharma-Co-Vigilance Centre; The Department of Pharmacology, AIIMS, New Delhi; National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER); and Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation limited. (IMPCL).

Pharma engineers can also join Government as Drugs Inspectors in the area of regulatory affairs. This involves the licensing and inspection of medicines and their manufacture to ensure efficacy, safety and quality. Other opportunities for graduates in pharmaceutical sciences include teaching and academics.

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is growing in size and credibility. Not only do we export pharmaceuticals at cheaper prices to more than 200 countries, including USA, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and Brazil, but India is also the leading supplier of AIDS drugs to the world. There is also a huge investment being made in setting up R & D laboratories for development of new drugs, for testing and contract research, all of which will require qualified pharmaceutical professionals.

So if you have the interest and the skills required for the career, there is scope for tremendous growth, both in the Indian market and globally.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jobs-careers/be-the-tech-pill-for-pharma-sector/261568.html

After flooding destroyed a family's pharmacy

After flooding destroyed a family's pharmacy, costing them nearly $700,000 in medicine, Clendenin Pharmacy, Inc. is open once again.

Bill Ore's community pharmacy re-opened its doors today in an emergency capacity, offering service to anyone who needed it. After the devastating flooding last week, many residents are without the medicine they need.

"We're without a grocery store, a pharmacy, a barber shop, we have nothing," said Ore. "It's a catastrophe."

Ore credits his daughter, Lindsey, as the driving force behind the re-opening. According to Ore, she was the one who found and rented the lean-to trailer they could use as a part of the re-opening.

"I'm not sure I could've done it without [Lindsey]," Ore tells WSAZ. "I may have given up long ago."

The pharmacy officially opened today. While not yet at full service, the family expects to have their medicine shelves fully restocked by July 5th.

Ore and his daughter both say that because of the extensive damage done, the pharmacy will not only be servicing Clendenin, but also making deliveries to places like Clay and Elkview as well.

http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Family-opens-pharmacy-in-spite-of-flood-damage-385320141.html

Life is all about motivation

Sindhu Joseph

CEO of CogniCor Technologies

Breaking the glass ceiling, this woman entrepreneur from Wayanad sheds light on her startup journey in a tete-a-tete with Pramod Thomas.  Her company’s Digital Assistant is now making waves in artificial intelligence and neuro-linguistic programming. But Sindhu Joseph says that the  other side of the startup journey has not been a bed of roses...

The entrepreneurial life of Sindhu Joseph, Co-founder and CEO of CogniCor Technologies, can be summed up with her journey from Wayanad to the US. Born to teachers in Wayanad, her success has seen her company collect several laurels, including the crown of the most innovative startup in Europe in 2012. Ask Joseph, and she describes her startup journey as “both sweet and bitter”

CogniCor, Joseph’s firm, offers advanced customer service technology. Its Digital Assistant has been pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and neuro-linguistic programming but Sindhu Joseph says that the journey has not been a bed of roses.

“Once I had to attend a few meetings in New York. I was thrilled when I found a single room for $18 per night with bare minimum facilities. The reception area was open and all kinds of people walked in and out. Towards evening, I began to feel itchy all over, but I ignored it. When I came back to the hotel, I could stand no longer, and as soon as I entered the reception, I removed my coat and there was not a single place in my body that was not bitten by bugs. When I showed this to the girl at the reception and she just handed me a $10 bill and asked me to buy a lotion from a nearby pharmacy. I spend the next night sitting on one stool. My husband has lived an entire month in our office because we thought we could save on rent,” she points out.

“I just wanted to highlight the other side of the startup journey. We lived a very precarious life,” she adds.

CogniCor got its first break in 2012, when it was selected as the top startup out of 350 startups for the accelerator program of Telefonica, one of the largest telecoms in Europe. Soon came the European award which eventually led to $1 million in seed funding in 2013. Now, the company has presences in three continents, Europe (Barcelona), Asia (India) and the US.

“The Indian startup life these days is glorified. Young college students listening to such hype think that it is the easiest and fastest way to make money. From our experience, it is a hard life. Only someone with motivation greater than making quick bucks or looking for a path to glory will persevere in such situations,” she signs off.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/news/Life-is-all-about-motivation-not-making-quick-bucks/2016/07/03/article3510859.ece

Pharmaceuticals and retail to FDI serves one big purpose it prepares the country for attracting funds as global corporations

With green shoots in the economy looking to strike roots, the government’s decision on Monday to open up a buncWith green shoots in the economy looking to strike roots, the government’s decision on Monday to open up a bunch of sectors including defence, aviation, pharmaceuticals and retail to FDI serves one big purpose: it prepares the country for attracting funds as global corporations scout around for better returns with easy ownership rules in promising markets. Amidst global headwinds, India still is an economy with comparatively brighter growth prospects over the coming two years.h of sectors including defence, aviation, pharmaceuticals and retail to FDI serves one big purpose: it prepares the country for attracting funds as global corporations scout around for better returns with easy ownership rules in promising markets. Amidst global headwinds, India still is an economy with comparatively brighter growth prospects over the coming two years.

It was only last November that the government undertook an overhaul in the FDI regime targeting more than a dozen sectors including construction, airport services, banking, defence, broadcasting, etc. Monday’s measures are a continuation of the progressive liberalisation process. But the government could have dared to be even more radical given the fact that appetite for investment is low, and the scope for improvement both in terms of ‘ease of doing business’ and FDI rules in certain sectors leave many investors only half-convinced about the India story.

or instance, why cap foreign airline stake in Indian companies at 49 per cent when you do away with the FDI cap or in other words allow 100 per cent FDI? Foreign airlines, more than private equity funds or FIIs, would be interested in getting a larger share of the growing domestic business. Coupled with this, why shouldn’t the government put Air India on the disinvestment roster?

In some other sectors, say pharmaceuticals, the foreign investor concern is not so much FDI caps, but on the larger issue of price controls. While the government could have fully opened up the sector (it has now allowed up to 74 per cent FDI in brownfield projects under automatic approval), what’s bothering drug companies is the enlarging scope of drug price controls, which adversely affects profits. The sector can definitely do with more clarity and certainty on the pricing regime.

India did attract record FDI inflows of $55.46 billion in 2015-16 compared with $36.04 billion in the previous year. And FDI is far more durable and sustainable than foreign portfolio investments. FDI in manufacturing creates employment, quite desperately needed in a country like India where a million plus youth enter the job market every month.

http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/govts-100-fdi-window-of-opportunity-why-its-a-good-thing-but-could-have-been-even-better-2866628/