Cough syrups containing a mixture of antitussives, antihistamines, decongestants and expectorants may appear logical — one drug to dry secretions, another to suppress cough, a third to open nasal passages. But the underlying flaw is that these ingredients often work in opposing ways or have overlapping side effects
Read More
As long as protecting the reputation and interests of the Indian pharmaceutical industry is the top priority, it is unlikely that there will be any meaningful reforms to prevent future tragedies caused by DEG. The bid to cover up, distract and obfuscate, as seen in the last few days, serves as valuable pointers
Read More
Most antihistamines are sold as generics and are inexpensive. On the other hand, irrational combinations with montelukast sell at two-four times the cost of an antihistamine alone. The drug combinations are nothing but a sinister way to profiteer from common conditions. The proof: sales of montelukast as a standalone drug dropped 14%, while sales of combinations increased by 25% in 2023-24, with close to 200 registered brands selling combinations
Read More
India can continue to be the pharmacy of the global south only if the regulator begins to behave like a watchdog to ensure drug safety, and not as a facilitator for the pharma industry
Read More
By Debaleena Basu A healthy 21-year-old youth was admitted to a hospital for an elective surgery. All preoperative physiological parameters
Read MoreA much-needed public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of misuse and irrational use of antibiotics was recently launched by
Read MoreThe Finance Ministry’s decision to withdraw customs duty exemptions for 76 life-saving drugs will at once make them more expensive
Read MoreThe spectre of Vioxx, the blockbuster non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID), continues to haunt pharmaceutical giant Merck even five years
Read MorePublished in The Hindu on November 8, 2007 Companies in the U.S. that produce drugs and medical devices with a
Read MorePublished in The Hindu on November 5, 2007 Pharmaceutical companies and doctors make for uneasy bedfellows. While the two cannot
Read MorePublished in The Hindu on October 24, 2007 The recent announcement of a public-private partnership by three Europe-based pharmaceutical companies
Read MorePublished in The Hindu on July 4, 2007 The new guidelines issued recently by the World Health Organisation to expand
Read MorePublished in The Hindu on March 9, 2007 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has taken some notable steps to address
Read More