http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/traditional-drugs-found-unsuitable-for-humans-sold-openly-in-india/1/139768.html
Neetu Chandra | New Delhi, May 30, 2011
It's shocking, but true. Hundreds of popular ayurvedic, homoeopathic and Unani medicines, which have been declared as either "unfit for human consumption", or have otherwise failed to pass essential quality tests for becoming eligible to be exported, are being freely sold in medical stores in Delhi and elsewhere.
Even more shockingly, these drugs have been certified unsafe by a government testing lab. But the Delhi government authority responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules on the part of manufacturers and sellers - the drug control department - professes to be unaware of the practice! "We have no information of such a practice. We will look into the matter seriously," said Ravi Kant, drug controller of Delhi AYUSH (ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and homoeopathy), department of the ministry of health and family welfare.
Nevertheless, scores of such formulations, which have failed to meet the export quality test, are doing brisk business in Delhi drugstores.
According to documents available, over 100 medicines failed to pass quality tests due to "substandard" quality, presence of heavy metals, or prohibited drugs and/or prescription allopathic drugs in alleged "herbal" medicines, are all being openly sold in the market.
Such prohibited content can have adverse and serious effects on the human body on consumption, health experts confirmed.
For instance, 'Missile Power' capsules and 'Xtra Power' capsules, tested at the government of India's Pharmacopoeial Laboratory for Indian Medicine in Ghaziabad, were found to contain Sildenafil Citrate, the chemical in prescription drug Viagra.
Click here to EnlargeThis is not allowed in Ayurveda products, but both were found to be readily available in medical stores visited by this correspondent.
These capsules are consumed for enhancing sexual performance.
Even drugs meant for children were not spared. 'N Tone' syrup (a paediatric tonic for newborns) manufactured by On Ayurvedics, when tested, was found unfit for human consumption as it contained suspended particles.
The tonic is easily available on the internet and in homeopathic stores.
'Mrit Sanjivani Sura', medicinal syrup manufactured by Dabur India Limited, was found exceeding the legal limit of alcohol content, 16 per cent. The tested sample was found to contain 20.56 per cent alcohol.
Samples from other manufacturers of the same syrup, namely Leo Pharma and Rajan Ayurvedics, also failed to pass alcohol limit test. Woodland's medicated Gripe Water, manufactured by Tilak Pharmaceuticals Delhi, which claims to have 'soya seed', failed as there were no soya seeds in it.
While some like ' Panchskar churna' by Sahay Ayurvedic Pharma, failed as the composition and ingredients were not mentioned on the label, others like 'Doctor's Pudin Hara', manufactured by Bandish Chemicals, and Zinzoxin and Fenu Green by Bajaj Herbocare, failed because of prohibited substances, like Methanol, in them.
'Brahmi Vati' by Universal Medicaments, failed as it contained prohibited concentrations of heavy metals. The popular ayurveda medicine 'Rasayan Vati' was found to have exceeded the limit for Cadmium.
'Metascab' ointment was found exceeding limits of Lead and Arsenic, while Debbix tablets were found exceeding limits of lead and cadmium.
Homeopathic medicines Elixir Vita 8 manufactured by Welmans's Homeopathy Delhi and Gastrocin which are used in gastric disturbances, was found to contain alcohol in excess of permissible limits. Alfalfa Q for tiredness and fatigue also failed in alcohol content. Many homeopathic drugs were found in contravention of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954, like Gro-T Tablet by Holistic Remedies, Bio force AG and Heightex.
Click here to EnlargeAccording to the act, treatment for certain diseases cannot be offered through advertisements. These drugs were found claiming to offer treatment by mere consumption of these drugs.
The authorities only appear to be concerned about preventing such medicines from being exported, since overseas health regulations do not permit such formulations.
"We have strictly issued a circular that herbal medicines found with heavy metals would not be exported to other countries. There is no regulation to curb the practice in India. Other countries refused to accept the India-made Ayurveda medicines with metals," said a senior official with the department of drug controls for alternative medicine, AYUSH. The government has fixed the permissible limits of heavy metals in ayurveda and Unani medicines with only herbal ingredients, which are in line with World Health Organisation and US Food and Drugs Administration norms. These limits are 10 parts per million (ppm) for lead, 0.030 ppm for cadmium, 3.0 ppm for arsenic and 1 ppm for mercury.
The Centre, vide its order dated October 14, 2005, has made testing for heavy metals, namely arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium, mandatory for export purposes in respect of every batch of purely herbal ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines by every licensee.
In view of the regulatory requirements of the importing country, the manufacturer is supposed to submit batch- wise testing reports from approved laboratories certifying that the medicines contains heavy metals within permissible limits.
Only after obtaining the certificate can manufacturers export these medicines to other countries. These tests reports were revealed in an RTI reply to Ramesh Verma an RTI activist. "Someone informed me about this rampant practice. I wanted to expose these manufactures so, I filed the RTI," said Verma.
"Drugs that attract the magic remedies acts are mostly the drugs that claim to increase masculine power. These are easily available in the market and are fooling people.
There should be a proper action against the concerned people," Dr P. N. Varma, former director, Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, said.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, April 04, 2011
State firm on move to hike med-college fee
http://www.hindustantimes.com/State-firm-on-move-to-hike-med-college-fee/Article1-681030.aspx#
Mumbai, April 04, 2011
While legislators in the state council created an uproar against the fee hike in medical colleges on Friday, the state government maintained that the hike was justified. “The hike has come after 2003 and the amount that has been arrived at are fees that you end up paying at pre-school nowadays,” sai d medical education minister Rajendra Gavit, while speaking in the state council.
The decision to hike the fees by almost 120%, taken in February 2011 by the state cabinet, will be applicable to all government-run and aided medical college students from the coming academic year. The hike clause also includes a 10% rise in fees every year in all state-run medical colleges from 2012.
Fees for general medicine have been hiked from Rs18,000 per annum to Rs40,000 per annum, dental college fees have been increased from Rs15,000 to Rs 30,000 per year, Ayurvedic colleges have increased their fees from Rs7,000 to Rs15,000 per year and the fee for Unani medical courses have risen from Rs3,000 to Rs6,000.
Gavit informed the house that providing medical education to students is financially burdensome on the state.
“On an average, we spend Rs4.88 lakh on every student studying general medicine annually. We are spending Rs1.92 lakh on each dental college student and Rs1.36 lakh on each Ayurvedic college student per annum,” Gavit said.
He added that the new fee structure is modest when compared to private colleges, which charge more than Rs3 lakh annually.
“Your fee hike policy is flawed and we are not convinced by your explanation. Just because some parents can afford it, not all can,” said Congress MLC Hussain Dalwai.
MLC Kapil Patil raised concerns about students from the lower economic strata.
In response, Gavit said the state gives 100% concession to students from reserved sections, economically weaker backgrounds, from families of freedom fighters, children of government teachers and armed forces and handicapped students.
Mumbai, April 04, 2011
While legislators in the state council created an uproar against the fee hike in medical colleges on Friday, the state government maintained that the hike was justified. “The hike has come after 2003 and the amount that has been arrived at are fees that you end up paying at pre-school nowadays,” sai d medical education minister Rajendra Gavit, while speaking in the state council.
The decision to hike the fees by almost 120%, taken in February 2011 by the state cabinet, will be applicable to all government-run and aided medical college students from the coming academic year. The hike clause also includes a 10% rise in fees every year in all state-run medical colleges from 2012.
Fees for general medicine have been hiked from Rs18,000 per annum to Rs40,000 per annum, dental college fees have been increased from Rs15,000 to Rs 30,000 per year, Ayurvedic colleges have increased their fees from Rs7,000 to Rs15,000 per year and the fee for Unani medical courses have risen from Rs3,000 to Rs6,000.
Gavit informed the house that providing medical education to students is financially burdensome on the state.
“On an average, we spend Rs4.88 lakh on every student studying general medicine annually. We are spending Rs1.92 lakh on each dental college student and Rs1.36 lakh on each Ayurvedic college student per annum,” Gavit said.
He added that the new fee structure is modest when compared to private colleges, which charge more than Rs3 lakh annually.
“Your fee hike policy is flawed and we are not convinced by your explanation. Just because some parents can afford it, not all can,” said Congress MLC Hussain Dalwai.
MLC Kapil Patil raised concerns about students from the lower economic strata.
In response, Gavit said the state gives 100% concession to students from reserved sections, economically weaker backgrounds, from families of freedom fighters, children of government teachers and armed forces and handicapped students.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Coming soon: The first medical museum in Mumbai
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_coming-soon-the-first-medical-museum-in-mumbai_1521293
By Santosh Andhale | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
Sir JJ group of hospitals and Grant Medical College are planning to set up India’s first major medical museum in the premises in the original college building constructed in 1845.
The hospital will display information on the history of medicine in India as well as the history of the college.
For this, the government will give around Rs5 crore to restore the heritage building. Also, the hospital administration has plans to generate money from corporates and alumni for digitalisation of old documents related to medicine.
The 167-year-old college building has been classified as a Grade 2B heritage structure, given its unique early Gothic features such as crenellated fort-like turrets, making it a landmark since it was constructed. The original college building is still standing.
Sir JJ Hospital is one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Southeast Asia. Spread across 43 acres, the campus has 27 buildings, 14 entry points and 65 departments.
Around, 700 doctors, 450 resident doctors, 750 nursing staff and 1,250 support staff work there. The hospital gets 2000 daily OPD registrations and 250-300 daily patient admissions.
“For the last one year, we have been working on this project and we have already appointed an expert who has drawn the museum plans. The hospital has a lot of rare documents related to medicine that will be kept in the museum. It will be like heritage walk, as anybody entering the museum will get all information about the college and medicine,” said Dr TP Lahane, dean, Sir JJ group of hospitals.
“The only hurdle is finding a suitable space to relocate the police station which is situated in the old college building. We will solve this issue soon as we have discussed this with home minister RR Patil. We are hoping that the work on the museum will be completed within a year. There is one small medical museum in the country, but this will be comprehensive and different,” added Lahane.
A part of the building is occupied by the central government’s Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine. The rest is used by the hospital and college.
Heritage is here
Sir JJ Hospital is one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Southeast Asia. Spread across 43 acres, the campus has 27 buildings, 14 entry points and 65 departments. Around, 700 doctors, 450 resident doctors, 750 nursing staff and 1,250 support staff work there. The hospital gets 2000 daily OPD registrations and 250-300 daily patient admissions.
It includes the Sir JJ Hospital, St George Hospital, Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital, and Cama and Albess Hospital.
The 167-year-old college building has been classified as a Grade 2B heritage structure, given its unique early Gothic features such as crenellated fort-like turrets, making it a landmark since it was constructed.
By Santosh Andhale | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
Sir JJ group of hospitals and Grant Medical College are planning to set up India’s first major medical museum in the premises in the original college building constructed in 1845.
The hospital will display information on the history of medicine in India as well as the history of the college.
For this, the government will give around Rs5 crore to restore the heritage building. Also, the hospital administration has plans to generate money from corporates and alumni for digitalisation of old documents related to medicine.
The 167-year-old college building has been classified as a Grade 2B heritage structure, given its unique early Gothic features such as crenellated fort-like turrets, making it a landmark since it was constructed. The original college building is still standing.
Sir JJ Hospital is one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Southeast Asia. Spread across 43 acres, the campus has 27 buildings, 14 entry points and 65 departments.
Around, 700 doctors, 450 resident doctors, 750 nursing staff and 1,250 support staff work there. The hospital gets 2000 daily OPD registrations and 250-300 daily patient admissions.
“For the last one year, we have been working on this project and we have already appointed an expert who has drawn the museum plans. The hospital has a lot of rare documents related to medicine that will be kept in the museum. It will be like heritage walk, as anybody entering the museum will get all information about the college and medicine,” said Dr TP Lahane, dean, Sir JJ group of hospitals.
“The only hurdle is finding a suitable space to relocate the police station which is situated in the old college building. We will solve this issue soon as we have discussed this with home minister RR Patil. We are hoping that the work on the museum will be completed within a year. There is one small medical museum in the country, but this will be comprehensive and different,” added Lahane.
A part of the building is occupied by the central government’s Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine. The rest is used by the hospital and college.
Heritage is here
Sir JJ Hospital is one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Southeast Asia. Spread across 43 acres, the campus has 27 buildings, 14 entry points and 65 departments. Around, 700 doctors, 450 resident doctors, 750 nursing staff and 1,250 support staff work there. The hospital gets 2000 daily OPD registrations and 250-300 daily patient admissions.
It includes the Sir JJ Hospital, St George Hospital, Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital, and Cama and Albess Hospital.
The 167-year-old college building has been classified as a Grade 2B heritage structure, given its unique early Gothic features such as crenellated fort-like turrets, making it a landmark since it was constructed.
Uttarakhand to focus on education sector: Governor
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/uttarakhand-to-focus-on-education-sector-governor/609756.html
Dehra Dun, Mar 14 (PTI) In a bid to boost education, the Uttarakhand government will set up new universities and colleges in the hill state, Governor Margaret Alva said today.These universities include Uttarakhand National Law University at Bhawali in Nainital district, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Uttarakhand University at Badshahi Thaul in Tehri district and Vanasthali Vidyapeeth University in Dehra Dun district, Alva said in her Governor's address on the first day of the Budget Session which began today.Apart from this, the government will also set up first women technical college at Suddhowala in Dehra Dun.For providing quality and higher education in rural areas, the government has set up a college at Thalisein in Pauri district, she said.For girls belonging to BPL (Below Poverty Line) families, the government will provide them with various scholarships. Free uniforms are also being given to all girl students up to Class VIII. In addition to this, students belonging to BPL and ST (Scheduled Tribe) categories are also given free uniforms.The government has also launched mobile schools to make education more accessible.On the health sector, Alva said the government has made it compulsory for MBBS students to serve in government hospitals for first five years after attaining their degree. A state college of nursing has been set up in Dehra Dun, she said."My government has appointed 227 ayurvedic doctors to meet the shortage of doctors in the hilly areas," she said.A Unani medical college is also being set up at Bhagwanpur area of Haridwar district. Besides, an international Ayush research institute is being proposed at Charekdanda, which is said to be the birthplace of Maharishi Charak, she said.The first Ayush gram is also being set up at Bhawali on PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode with the Kolkata-based Emami Pvt Ltd. A state homoeopathic college is also being set up at Srinagar town of Pauri district.Nearly 2500 industrial units have started production in Uttarakhand with an investment of over Rs 26,500 crore till August 2010, she said.On Corbett park, she said the government has launched new initiatives like notifying the park as Corbett Tiger Reserve, issuing notification for setting up a special tiger protection force and also Corbett tiger conservation foundation.
Dehra Dun, Mar 14 (PTI) In a bid to boost education, the Uttarakhand government will set up new universities and colleges in the hill state, Governor Margaret Alva said today.These universities include Uttarakhand National Law University at Bhawali in Nainital district, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Uttarakhand University at Badshahi Thaul in Tehri district and Vanasthali Vidyapeeth University in Dehra Dun district, Alva said in her Governor's address on the first day of the Budget Session which began today.Apart from this, the government will also set up first women technical college at Suddhowala in Dehra Dun.For providing quality and higher education in rural areas, the government has set up a college at Thalisein in Pauri district, she said.For girls belonging to BPL (Below Poverty Line) families, the government will provide them with various scholarships. Free uniforms are also being given to all girl students up to Class VIII. In addition to this, students belonging to BPL and ST (Scheduled Tribe) categories are also given free uniforms.The government has also launched mobile schools to make education more accessible.On the health sector, Alva said the government has made it compulsory for MBBS students to serve in government hospitals for first five years after attaining their degree. A state college of nursing has been set up in Dehra Dun, she said."My government has appointed 227 ayurvedic doctors to meet the shortage of doctors in the hilly areas," she said.A Unani medical college is also being set up at Bhagwanpur area of Haridwar district. Besides, an international Ayush research institute is being proposed at Charekdanda, which is said to be the birthplace of Maharishi Charak, she said.The first Ayush gram is also being set up at Bhawali on PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode with the Kolkata-based Emami Pvt Ltd. A state homoeopathic college is also being set up at Srinagar town of Pauri district.Nearly 2500 industrial units have started production in Uttarakhand with an investment of over Rs 26,500 crore till August 2010, she said.On Corbett park, she said the government has launched new initiatives like notifying the park as Corbett Tiger Reserve, issuing notification for setting up a special tiger protection force and also Corbett tiger conservation foundation.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Focus on AYUSH: MCD plans separate directorate
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4989570
New Delhi, Mar 3 (PTI) Aiming at streamlining treatment facilities provided by it under Indian systems of medicine, the MCD is planning to create a separate directorate for ayurveda, unani, siddha and homeopathy (AYUSH).
At present, AYUSH is under the supervision of Director, Hospital Administration, MCD.
"The three deputy directors in charge of AYUSH report to additional director (medical), who is a specialist in allopathic medicine," MCD Public Health Committee Chairman V K Monga said.
"The requirement of specialised knowledge in AYUSH reinforces the need for a separate directorate for AYUSH.
Indian systems of medicine are substantially different from allopathy," he pointed out.
According to a proposal put forward this week to the MCD Standing Committee, a key decision-making panel of the civic body, the new directorate will consist of a Director (AYUSH) while three deputy directors will be re-designated as Additional Director (Ayurveda), Additional Director (Unani) and Additional Director (Homeopathy).
The matter, however, has been postponed after councillors raised some issues related to pay-scale for the new post.
Monga said the proposal will be brought before the committee again after making the necessary changes.
Separate directorates for AYUSH have already been set up by Delhi government as well as the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Under Ayurveda section, there are 116 dispensaries, two mobile dispensaries, seven pachkarma hospitals and two 100-bedded hospitals. There are also 37 homeopathic dispensaries and 28 Unani dispensaries being run by the MCD in the city.
New Delhi, Mar 3 (PTI) Aiming at streamlining treatment facilities provided by it under Indian systems of medicine, the MCD is planning to create a separate directorate for ayurveda, unani, siddha and homeopathy (AYUSH).
At present, AYUSH is under the supervision of Director, Hospital Administration, MCD.
"The three deputy directors in charge of AYUSH report to additional director (medical), who is a specialist in allopathic medicine," MCD Public Health Committee Chairman V K Monga said.
"The requirement of specialised knowledge in AYUSH reinforces the need for a separate directorate for AYUSH.
Indian systems of medicine are substantially different from allopathy," he pointed out.
According to a proposal put forward this week to the MCD Standing Committee, a key decision-making panel of the civic body, the new directorate will consist of a Director (AYUSH) while three deputy directors will be re-designated as Additional Director (Ayurveda), Additional Director (Unani) and Additional Director (Homeopathy).
The matter, however, has been postponed after councillors raised some issues related to pay-scale for the new post.
Monga said the proposal will be brought before the committee again after making the necessary changes.
Separate directorates for AYUSH have already been set up by Delhi government as well as the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Under Ayurveda section, there are 116 dispensaries, two mobile dispensaries, seven pachkarma hospitals and two 100-bedded hospitals. There are also 37 homeopathic dispensaries and 28 Unani dispensaries being run by the MCD in the city.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
AMU Malappuram Centre to be independent university by 2020 : VC
http://twocircles.net/2011mar01/amu_malappuram_centre_be_independent_university_2020_vc.html
By TCN News,
Malappuram: The regional centres of the Aligarh Muslim University in Malappuram and Murshidabad will be independent universities by 2020 when the AMU will celebrate its centenary, said Vice-Chancellor Dr PK Abdul Azeez. He was speaking to media persons after the commencement of the first batch of the AMU Malappuram centre at Perinthalmanna yesterday.
Kerala Education Minister MA Baby, AMU VC Dr PK Abdul Azeez, AMU Registrar VK Abdul Jaleel, Perinthalmanna MLA V Sasikumar, AMU Malappuram centre special officer Prof HAS Yahya and the AMU Malappuram centre Director Dr P Muhammed were present among other dignitaries at the function of commencement of the first batch. The function was held at the temporary centre of the AMU at the Al Hasmi Tower in Perinthalmanna, where the classes of MBA and BA LLB were commenced by Prof Javed Akhthar and Prof Muhammed Shabir, the respective faculty deans of the two disciplines.
Mr MA Baby said that it was a historic moment for the state and thanked the people of Chelamala who gave land for the centre and the officers who worked on the land acquisition. VC Dr Abdul Azeez said that the Aligarh Movement founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan has now spread to Kerala also. MLA V Sasikumar opined that the allegations that the centre won’t be realized and that it was only for Muslims were no more now. He requested the University to see if reservation would be available for the native people in admission to courses and employment at the centre.
Dr PK Abdul Azeez told media persons that the Malappuram centre of the AMU would be an educational hub by 2017 with more than 11,000 students. B.Tech courses will begin in 2012 and Medical College by 2017. About 13 courses such as biomedical, paramedical, pharmacy, unani and tourism management will also begin by 2017. There are also plans for opening short-term paramedical courses. The AMU is planning to open special college and polytechnic for women as part of the Malappuram centre next year itself, which will be helpful to solve the backwardness of women. The centre will also begin courses for married women.
The VC expressed his hope that the classes could be transferred to the Malappuram centre’s own building in July. The official function of laying the foundation stone of the building will be in June, in which central ministers will attend. The future of the campus will be decided on its functioning of five years. Since the university has no special attachment or detachment to any politics, the centre will function purely on academic basis.
The AMU has submitted a master plan of Rs 1192 crores for the Malappuram centre before the central government. (The central government has allotted Rs 50 crores for the AMU Malappuram centre in its present financial budget.) The VC extolled the support and cooperation of the state government in the realization of the centre.
By TCN News,
Malappuram: The regional centres of the Aligarh Muslim University in Malappuram and Murshidabad will be independent universities by 2020 when the AMU will celebrate its centenary, said Vice-Chancellor Dr PK Abdul Azeez. He was speaking to media persons after the commencement of the first batch of the AMU Malappuram centre at Perinthalmanna yesterday.
Kerala Education Minister MA Baby, AMU VC Dr PK Abdul Azeez, AMU Registrar VK Abdul Jaleel, Perinthalmanna MLA V Sasikumar, AMU Malappuram centre special officer Prof HAS Yahya and the AMU Malappuram centre Director Dr P Muhammed were present among other dignitaries at the function of commencement of the first batch. The function was held at the temporary centre of the AMU at the Al Hasmi Tower in Perinthalmanna, where the classes of MBA and BA LLB were commenced by Prof Javed Akhthar and Prof Muhammed Shabir, the respective faculty deans of the two disciplines.
Mr MA Baby said that it was a historic moment for the state and thanked the people of Chelamala who gave land for the centre and the officers who worked on the land acquisition. VC Dr Abdul Azeez said that the Aligarh Movement founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan has now spread to Kerala also. MLA V Sasikumar opined that the allegations that the centre won’t be realized and that it was only for Muslims were no more now. He requested the University to see if reservation would be available for the native people in admission to courses and employment at the centre.
Dr PK Abdul Azeez told media persons that the Malappuram centre of the AMU would be an educational hub by 2017 with more than 11,000 students. B.Tech courses will begin in 2012 and Medical College by 2017. About 13 courses such as biomedical, paramedical, pharmacy, unani and tourism management will also begin by 2017. There are also plans for opening short-term paramedical courses. The AMU is planning to open special college and polytechnic for women as part of the Malappuram centre next year itself, which will be helpful to solve the backwardness of women. The centre will also begin courses for married women.
The VC expressed his hope that the classes could be transferred to the Malappuram centre’s own building in July. The official function of laying the foundation stone of the building will be in June, in which central ministers will attend. The future of the campus will be decided on its functioning of five years. Since the university has no special attachment or detachment to any politics, the centre will function purely on academic basis.
The AMU has submitted a master plan of Rs 1192 crores for the Malappuram centre before the central government. (The central government has allotted Rs 50 crores for the AMU Malappuram centre in its present financial budget.) The VC extolled the support and cooperation of the state government in the realization of the centre.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
WIPO to organise traditional knowledge meet in March
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/wipo-to-organise-traditional-knowledge-meet-in-march/125597/on
Press Trust of India / New Delhi February 13, 2011, 12:07 IST
The World Intellectual Property Organisation, a specialised UN agency, along with Indian government will organise a three-day meet on traditional knowledge, including ayurvedic medicine and unani, next month.
Geneva-headquartered WIPO is responsible for promoting and protecting intellectual property rights worldwide.
The meeting, to be held here, would help in creating more awareness about intellectual property rights and patents, that are crucial for protecting traditional knowledge.
"We (WIPO) will be holding a major meeting on traditional knowledge in March in India," WIPO Director General Francis Gurry told PTI.
"India has been a leader there in terms of technology for the preservation and monetisation of traditional knowledge... notably ayurvedic medicine, unani and other medical systems," he said.
Gurry, who would be attending the meet, stressed that he is very keen to engage India, which has a great tradition of science and culture.
According to a WIPO official, the event would focus on utilisation of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) as a model for the protection of traditional knowledge.
"Tentatively, the event would be from March 22 to 24. It would be organised by WIPO and CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)," the official said.
TKDL is a project between CSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology and Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
As per its website, the project involves documentation of the traditional knowledge available in public domain related to Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Yoga. The content is gathered in digitised format in English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish.
Press Trust of India / New Delhi February 13, 2011, 12:07 IST
The World Intellectual Property Organisation, a specialised UN agency, along with Indian government will organise a three-day meet on traditional knowledge, including ayurvedic medicine and unani, next month.
Geneva-headquartered WIPO is responsible for promoting and protecting intellectual property rights worldwide.
The meeting, to be held here, would help in creating more awareness about intellectual property rights and patents, that are crucial for protecting traditional knowledge.
"We (WIPO) will be holding a major meeting on traditional knowledge in March in India," WIPO Director General Francis Gurry told PTI.
"India has been a leader there in terms of technology for the preservation and monetisation of traditional knowledge... notably ayurvedic medicine, unani and other medical systems," he said.
Gurry, who would be attending the meet, stressed that he is very keen to engage India, which has a great tradition of science and culture.
According to a WIPO official, the event would focus on utilisation of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) as a model for the protection of traditional knowledge.
"Tentatively, the event would be from March 22 to 24. It would be organised by WIPO and CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)," the official said.
TKDL is a project between CSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology and Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
As per its website, the project involves documentation of the traditional knowledge available in public domain related to Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Yoga. The content is gathered in digitised format in English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish.
'Establish centre for pure and applied biological chemistry'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Establish-centre-for-pure-and-applied-biological-chemistry/articleshow/7517867.cms
MYSORE: The two-day international symposium on challenges in drug discovery came out with a proposal to establish a centre of excellence in pure and applied biological chemistry and suggested chemical scientists from the region to work out a plan and seek funds from the government. Scientists from abroad attending the conference promised to chip in and explore their respective countries' financial and scientific involvement in developing this centre.
A white paper presented at the symposium by organizers said the government should prioritize and fund programmes for the development of drugs of importance to the country, so that, the much needed drugs for country-specific diseases are made available at affordable costs.
The symposium recommended policy makers to establish a regulatory body similar to USA's FDA/EMEA, so that drugs developed under such authorities in the country, will have an equal chance for marketing in the global market.
It said there is an imperative need to establish standards for current Good Laboratory Practices (cGLP) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) in consultation with the newly-established FDA centres in Mumbai and Delhi.
Establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for drug discovery, screening at cellular and molecular levels, with animal models, and human studies in approved CRCs is the need of the hour, the participants said. The symposium suggested development of standard consent forms for human participation, and approved ethical boards with regulatory authorities to facilitate clinical research and similar regulatory guidelines for other traditional therapies such as ayurveda, unani, siddha and homeopathy, so that the standard of care would be safe and effective.
MYSORE: The two-day international symposium on challenges in drug discovery came out with a proposal to establish a centre of excellence in pure and applied biological chemistry and suggested chemical scientists from the region to work out a plan and seek funds from the government. Scientists from abroad attending the conference promised to chip in and explore their respective countries' financial and scientific involvement in developing this centre.
A white paper presented at the symposium by organizers said the government should prioritize and fund programmes for the development of drugs of importance to the country, so that, the much needed drugs for country-specific diseases are made available at affordable costs.
The symposium recommended policy makers to establish a regulatory body similar to USA's FDA/EMEA, so that drugs developed under such authorities in the country, will have an equal chance for marketing in the global market.
It said there is an imperative need to establish standards for current Good Laboratory Practices (cGLP) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) in consultation with the newly-established FDA centres in Mumbai and Delhi.
Establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for drug discovery, screening at cellular and molecular levels, with animal models, and human studies in approved CRCs is the need of the hour, the participants said. The symposium suggested development of standard consent forms for human participation, and approved ethical boards with regulatory authorities to facilitate clinical research and similar regulatory guidelines for other traditional therapies such as ayurveda, unani, siddha and homeopathy, so that the standard of care would be safe and effective.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
‘Depressed’, Unani doctor injects himself with poison
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/depressed-unani-doctor-injects-himself-with-poison/746848/
“God has made me a doctor. I am deciding to kill myself because I am upset for having taken money from my patients for their treatment.”
This is what a 26-year-old Unani practitioner wrote on a slip of paper before allegedly committing suicide by injecting himself with a poisonous drug on Saturday afternoon inside his one-room accommodation at Daya Hospital in West Delhi’s Paschim Vihar. According to the police, the doctor, Ghazab Ali, had been depressed for the last one-and-a-half years. After verification, police said Ali got his degree in Unani from Deoband.
“PCR call was made by the hospital at 5 pm after someone came looking for Ali, who didn’t answer the door despite repeated knocks. He was rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where he was declared brought dead,” a senior police officer said. The drug used will be ascertained after the post mortem, he added.
Ali had come to Delhi from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.
“After questioning the hospital authorities, it was learnt that the man was depressed for the last 18 months. His timings were erratic and at times, he would abstain from food and water for days,” said the officer. Police do not suspect foul play and claim it to be a case of suicide. No case has been registered.
“God has made me a doctor. I am deciding to kill myself because I am upset for having taken money from my patients for their treatment.”
This is what a 26-year-old Unani practitioner wrote on a slip of paper before allegedly committing suicide by injecting himself with a poisonous drug on Saturday afternoon inside his one-room accommodation at Daya Hospital in West Delhi’s Paschim Vihar. According to the police, the doctor, Ghazab Ali, had been depressed for the last one-and-a-half years. After verification, police said Ali got his degree in Unani from Deoband.
“PCR call was made by the hospital at 5 pm after someone came looking for Ali, who didn’t answer the door despite repeated knocks. He was rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where he was declared brought dead,” a senior police officer said. The drug used will be ascertained after the post mortem, he added.
Ali had come to Delhi from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.
“After questioning the hospital authorities, it was learnt that the man was depressed for the last 18 months. His timings were erratic and at times, he would abstain from food and water for days,” said the officer. Police do not suspect foul play and claim it to be a case of suicide. No case has been registered.
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