E-DRUG: commenting on the proposed changes to WHO EML
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Dear e-druggers,
Re Closing date for comments on medicines for discussion at the next WHO
Expert Committee on Selection and Use of Essential Medicines
For any of you who are considering sending comments or observations on
medicines being discussed at the next WHO Expert Committee on the Selection
and Use of Essential Medicines please note that comments can only be
accepted until 31 January 2005. This is due to the very large number of
medicines to be discussed and the need to prepare for the Expert Committee
which meets 7-11 March 2005. The Committee is responsible for the WHO Model
List of Essential Medicines and the agenda items and comments are regularly
updated and may be found on:
E-DRUG: Issue of Spurious Medicines in Indian Parliament
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Dear friends,
Today at 11:00 AM Indian Standard Time, I just watched in horror the LIVE
TELECAST from National Parliament of India "Lok Sabha", where the
Honourable Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Govenrment of India
attempted to answer a number of questions related to "Spurious Drugs"
without much success.
Honourable Minister termed "Spurious medicines" as those which are entirely
fake and differentiated it from "substandard medicines".
Isn't it shocking to learn that a number of Honourable Members of Parliament
of India officially stated in the parliament, the presence of a number of
industries in India that are involved in manufacturing fake and spurious
medicines. It is indeed more troublesome for countries like Nepal, which
imports around 80% of its pharmaceuticals requirement from India. India is
also one of the main source of drugs to many other developing countries.
It is clear that it would take a number of years for the Health Ministry of
India, and any other snail paced drug regulatory of other developing
countries to tackle the situation. In the meantime, I think it is the
ethical responsibility of health care workers to tackle this problem and
prevent the spurious medicines from reaching till the patients. Are there
any means (or measures) available that pharmacist and doctors could take so
as to protect the patients from these "spurious medicines"?
Are there any example anywhere where health professionals or consumers
themselves have successfully tackled the issue of fake and spurious
medicines?
Thank you,
With regards,
Eurek Ranjit,
(On personal capacity as a pharmacist)
Acting Pharmacist In Charge,
Patan Hospital,
Kathmandu,
Nepal
dhyan@wlink.com.np