VOL.2, NO.

3 OF MARCH, 2009

Vol. 2, No. 3 of

March
NetRUM 2009
Newsletter ©

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VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

GROUP OWNER:
Dr. Vijay Thawani
NetRUM is a not-for-profit, voluntary, co-operative, non-funded, E- Associate Professor
discussion group of like-minded rationalists without any conflict of Dept. of Pharmacology,
interest. It is three years young and has >415 members globally. Govt. Medical College,
NetRUM was born on March 16, 2006 during the training course on Nagpur – 440 003, India
promoting rational use of medicines held in collaboration with WHO's vijaythawani@rediffmail.com
EDOM, SEARO. NetRUM continuously conducts E-discussions on hot NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
topics, which are facilitated by knowledgeable moderators who offer Dr. Geer M. Ishaq
their valuable, expert and free services. About 200-300 messages are Assistant Professor,
posted on NetRUM every month. So far NetRUM has conducted 99 Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences
discussions moderated by 30 moderators. For more details please visit University of Kashmir
our group: Srinagar, J&K, India
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/netrum/ Dr. Smita Mali
Senior Resident in Pharmacology,
Govt. Medical College,
Nagpur – 440 003, India

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VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
List of discussions held during February, 2009 04
Summary of the discussion “Good governance in health sector” 05
Summary of the discussion “Traditional medicine: panacea or poison?” 09
Summary of the discussion “Pharmacovigilance of Ayurvedic medicines” 13
News briefs relating to Rational Use of Medicines 16
Details of over 100 discussions held over NetRUM so far 21
Schedule of Forthcoming NetRUM discussions 31

ATTENTION PLEASE:
NETRUM IS CELEBRATING
CENTURY OF E-DISCUSSIONS.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU
AS ITS ACTIVE MEMBER MAKE
A POSTING IN THE
CELEBRATIONS. HAPPY
NETWORKING

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VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

DISCUSSIONS HELD DURING FEBRUARY 2009

1. Good governance in health sector
Period of Discussion: 05 - 10 Feb., 2009
Name of Moderator: Dr. M. Bashaar

2. Traditional medicine: panacea or

poison?
Period of Discussion: 12 - 17 Feb., 2009
Name of Moderator: Dr. Ghalib

3. Adherence to STG for asthma in the

community
Period of Discussion: 19 - 24 Feb., 2009

Name of Moderator: Dr. Anita Kotwani

4. Pharmacovigilace of ayurvedic
medicines
Period of Discussion: 26 – 31 Feb., 2009
Name of Moderator: Dr. Anand Chaudhary

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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Dr. Mohammad Bashaar graduated
from Kabul Medical University with
major in Curative Medicine and obtained
his Masters degree in Health Management
from Preston University. At present he is
working for United Nations Development
Programme in Afghanistan besides
serving as a lecturer in Karwan Medical
Institute Kabul, Afghanistan. Dr. Bashaar
has participated in many national and
international events; his last visit to India
being in April, 2008 when he presented a
paper on the Health Status of Afghanistan
post 9/11 at The Jawaharlal Nehru
University, New Delhi. Dr Bashaar is a
medical activist with dynamism and
determination, vision and voice which
can be heard. He has relentlessly been
trying to assist in repair of the health
system of his war ravaged motherland.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
“Good governance in
health sector”
Good governance in health generally
refers to the enhancement of the
stewardship functions and the
improvement of management support
systems of government in terms of its
responsibility for the overall
performance of the health system.
Good governance stands for the aim of
bringing together administrative bodies
and all relevant stakeholders (citizens,
NGOs, industry, etc) to implement
reforms improving the living conditions
for all people.
The concept of good governance is
increasingly being discussed in the
context of public health. This article
explains what exactly is meant by this
buzzword, how good governance can
be justified and how it can be
MARCH, 2009
translated into public health practice for
the betterment of the population.
Governance means decision-making
and the implementation of decisions.
These decisions can be made within all
different kinds of social institutions and
arrangements and relate to
communities, corporations, national
and international levels. Good
governance is a concept articulated
and conceptualized in the context of
development and development aid. It
was influentially formulated by the
United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP). Good governance was
meant to ensure that developing
countries are free from oppression and
corruption and thus can prosper in
wealth and health.
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD laws requires an independent judiciary Acceptability and (d) Quality (e)
GOVERNANCE and an impartial and incorruptible Adequate sanitation
police force. Health is a fundamental
Good governance has eight major human right, indispensable for the full Transparency
characteristics. It is participatory, enjoyment of other human rights.
consensus-oriented, accountable, Transparency means that information
transparent, responsive, effective and is freely available and directly
efficient, equitable and inclusive and accessible to those who will be
follows the rule of law. affected by such decisions and their
enforcement. According to
Participation Transparency International,
transparency is “a principle that allows
Participation by men as well as women those affected by administrative
is the cornerstone of good governance. decisions, business transactions or
Participation could be either direct or charitable work to know not only the
through legitimate intermediate basic facts and figures but also the
institutions or representatives, such as Every human being is entitled to the mechanisms and processes. It is the
parliamentary and provincial council enjoyment of the highest attainable duty of civil servants, managers and
elections. standard of health conducive to living a trustees to act visibly, predictably and
life in dignity. The right to health in all understandably.”
Rule of law its forms and at all levels contains the
following interrelated and essential Responsiveness
Good governance requires fair legal elements, the precise application of
frameworks that are enforced which will depend on the conditions Good governance requires that
impartially. It also requires full prevailing in a particular State party: institutions and processes must try to
protection of human rights (a) Availability, (b) Accessibility, (c) serve all stakeholders within a
countrywide. Impartial enforcement of reasonable timeframe. Here everyone

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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
who is working in health sector (from
gatekeeper to health minister) has the
prime responsibility to perform the
duties with honesty and dedication.
Consensus oriented
Good governance requires mediation
of different interests in society to reach
a broad consensus in society on what
is in the best interests of the whole
community and how this can be
achieved. All men and women should
have a voice in decision making for
health, either directly or through
legitimate intermediate institutions that
represent their interests. Such broad
participation is built on freedom of
association and speech, as well as
capacities to participate constructively.
Equity and inclusiveness
A society’s well being depends on
ensuring that all its members have the
sense of involvement as stakeholder in
it so that they do not feel excluded
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
from the mainstream of society. This
requires all groups, particularly the
most vulnerable, to have equal
opportunities to maintain and improve
their well being.
Effectiveness and efficiency
Good governance means that
processes and institutions produce
results that meet the needs of society
while making the best use of resources
at their disposal. The concept of
efficiency in the context of good
governance also covers the
sustainable use of natural resources
and the protection of the environment.
Accountability
Accountability is a key requirement of
good governance. Not only
governmental institutions but also the
private sector and civil society
organizations must be accountable to
the public. In general an organization
or an institution is accountable to those
MARCH, 2009
who will be affected by its decisions or
actions. Accountability cannot be
enforced without transparency and the
rule of law.
Main regimes involved in good
governance
There are three main regimes involved
in good governance. They are the
State, the Civil Society and the
Private Sector. All three are critical for
sustaining human development. Since
each one has its weaknesses and
strengths, a major objective of good
governance is to promote highest
possible constructive interaction
among the three in order to minimize
individual weaknesses and utilize the
strengths optimally.
According to Dr. Vijay Thawani, “If the
power really rested with people,
governance of others will not be
needed. It is only that the populations
are not empowered and therefore are
not self-sufficient; they look at
governance from others. The very fact
that some govern; there are others
who are governed by them. Hence in
terms of health empowerment, the
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
word governance is not in good taste.
Because it concentrates on
governance, it can never be good! No
governance in the world has ever been
good, so how can governance in health
be?” Sh. Ram Charitra Sah from Nepal
feels, “Good governance is required for
all and it is not only the business of
civil society. It is preferable to use the
word Society rather than Civil Society,
considering most part of the society
mostly comprises of civilized people”.
As per Dr. Geer M. Ishaq, “Lack of
robust, comprehensive and region
specific health and medicine policies at
national, state, district and hospital
level in most of the economically
developing and under developed
countries is a major impediment in
effective health administration”. It is
very true that robust and
comprehensive health and
pharmaceutical policies are essential
at all levels of the nation in order to
ensure good health administration and
governance.
Corruption in the health sector
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
Corruption in the healthcare sector is a
concern for all countries, but it is
especially a critical problem in
developing and transitional economies
where public resources are already
scarce. Corruption reduces the
resources available for health, lowers
the quality, equity and effectiveness of
healthcare services, decreases the
volume and increases the cost of
provided services.
Embezzlement in health sector
Embezzlement is defined as the
misappropriation of property or funds
legally entrusted to someone in their
formal position as an agent or
guardian. Everyone wants to believe
that the people they hire are good
employees who can be trusted to
perform their responsibilities with
integrity.
Conclusion
Good governance does not merely
stand for effective management in the
health sector. It is a broadly used term,
but new in health sector, which needs
MARCH, 2009
different strategies for its
implementation. In order to ensure
good governance in health, it is
imperative to implement all those
strategies which are quite basic. The
execution of good governance
strategies and practices is not only the
responsibility of the state or
government, but it is also the job of
civil society and private sector and
both of them should be equally
accountable to the government.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My warm gratitude goes to Dr. Vijay
Thawani, who not only participated in
the discussion but provided all of us an
opportunity to work together to
promote good governance for health
as well as Rational Use of Medicines. I
am also very thankful to Dr. Smita Mali,
who invited me for the discussion and
obliged to Dr. Anupama Sukhlecha, Dr.
Geer M. Ishaq, Elizabeth Ominde-
Ogaja, 'Ranti Opanuga, and Ram
Charitra Sah for their active
participation and valuable ideas.
- Dr. Mohammad Bashaar
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Dr. Galib is working as Lecturer
at the Dept. of Rasa Shastra
(Ayurvedic Pharmaceutics),
Institute for Post Graduate
Teaching & Research in Ayurveda,
Gujarat Ayurved University,
Jamnagar, Gujarat. He has
completed his graduation from
BRKR Govt. Ayurvedic College,
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh,
followed by MD (Ayurveda) from
National Institute of Ayurveda,
Jaipur. Dr. Galib has more than 50
publications to his credit.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
“Traditional Medicine: Panacea
or Poison?”
Maintaining positive state of health and
freedom from diseases are the
fundamental objectives of Ayurveda.
To achieve these, ancient seers of
Ayurveda tried a number of laudable
measures and found that the resources
of different origin (Herbal / Animal /
Mineral / Marine etc) are most suitable
to accomplish the goals. Hence these
resources were converted into four
types of formulations viz. Herbal,
Herbo-Mineral, Mineral and Metallic, to
which a vast range of therapeutic
properties have been attributed. The
science touched its new dimensions
after having been incorporated with the
knowledge of Rasaushadhies (pure
metallic and mineral preparations) from
8th A.D. onwards. Since then the
metals and minerals have been used
abundantly in many dosage forms and
Rasa Shastra (the science dealing with
different processes of mercury and
MARCH, 2009
other metals / minerals) became an
integral part of Ayurveda. The long
history of usage of metallic
preparations in varied pathological
manifestations is enough proof for their
safe, effective and nontoxic beneficial
effects.
In the recent years, use of Ayurvedic
medicines, particularly of herbal origin
has increased substantially world over.
The greater usage has resulted in
number of problems like increased
commercialization, pressure on
harvesting, adoption of short cuts,
adulteration, development of
formulations without conceptual basis
of Ayurvedic scriptures, incorrect use
by consumers and quacks, lack of
awareness of practitioners about
pharmacovigilance of Ayurvedic
formulations and free communication
across borders etc. In addition to this,
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

a few of the western scientists raised
unfounded concern about safety and
toxicity of these time tested
formulations. Particularly
Rasaushadhies [Metallic / Mineral
Preparations] have been repeatedly
targeted by western scientists, which
have affected the reputation of
traditional Ayurvedic heritage.
Ayurvedic medicines sold over internet
have been reported to have high levels
of heavy metal concentrations. After
such reports, obviously the present
generation became apprehensive
about the quality standards and safety
of the metallic compounds and some of
the NetRUMians also raised queries
regarding these aspects during E-
discussions.
Unregulated, injudicious and
inappropriate use of Ayurvedic
medicines and practices definitely
leads to the causation of negative or
dangerous effects. For instance, the
herb “Ma Huang” (Ephedra) is
traditionally used in China to treat
respiratory congestion. In the United
States, this herb was marketed as a
dietary supplement, available OTC,
the whose over dosing led to about dozen
deaths, heart attacks and strokes.
Hence the mute question whether the
system is wrong or the drug is
poisonous? We feel the attitude
towards the drug is wrong. Though the
drugs are traditional in origin, they
should always be used with proper
care and under qualified supervision.
WHO Guidelines 2004 clearly state
that the drugs if improperly processed
and if used injudiciously may tend to
cause certain inconveniencies.
The metallic/mineral preparations have
occupied coveted position in Ayurvedic
pharmacopoeia and have been
routinely used in India since centuries.
The Ayurvedic literature says that
these preparations will be safe,
efficacious even at minute doses and
never develop any significant untoward
effects if manufactured in accordance
with specified guidelines. The founders
of Ayurveda considered in great detail
the possible ways by which untoward
effects can occur and provided all
necessary guidelines to avoid the
occurrence of such effects. They
preferred on exercising great caution
while administering drugs for
therapeutic purposes. “Primum non
nocere” meaning "first do no harm"
was preached and practiced both while
approving new drugs, as well as
prescribing the established ones to
patients. It implies that, there is a
chance of getting ADRs with utilization
of classical drugs, if prepared in an
inappropriate manner or if
administered injudiciously. Hence the
Gurus prescribed different processing
techniques to remove the hazardous
ingredients or properties, if any, from
these. They also prescribed testing
methods for the prepared products,
which will tell the manufacturer
whether the drug has attained the form
that does not have hazardous
properties when used properly by a
physician.

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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
The accusation that Ayurvedic drugs
are toxic because they contain heavy
metals is based on ignorance. We
agree that to say that Ayurvedic drugs
are safe because they have been used
since thousands of years, is also not
very scientific. If any ADR or adverse
events develop, it is due to the poor
product quality or improper use. Weak
quality control systems and inadequate
regulatory measures contribute to it. To
promote and improve the quality, and
to reduce the proportion of ADR
attributable to poor quality, WHO GMP
updated guidelines for herbals and
updated core guidelines on GMP need
to be followed.
To revalidate the safety and efficacy of
age old remedies, many scientific
studies have been conducted at
various post graduate institutions
throughout India, which prove the
necessity and significance of the
sanskaras (specific guidelines to be
mandatorily followed while dealing with
metals, minerals or other toxic drugs)
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
MARCH, 2009
in detoxifying the material and making concentrations. This needs the
them potent and suitable for techniques suitable for separation and
therapeutic application. Reputed identification of the various bio-
teaching institutions like Gujrat molecules bound to these metals as
Ayurved University, Banaras Hindu well as methods to estimate their
University have focused research on concentrations. The emerging area of
metals and minerals like mercury, lead, proteomics and metallomics aims at
arsenic and herbo-mineral /metallic providing information to enable better
preparations to screen through understanding of the mechanism by
relevant analytical and which these preparations exhibit
pharmacological parameters. Most of therapeutic effects. Additionally there is
the studies confirmed that the need to carry out biochemical
metals/minerals when converted into estimation of anti-oxidants which are
the medicines by strictly following the responsible for the protection of cells
advocated classical guidelines of with respect to free radical induced
ancient texts, were devoid of toxicity damages. It is possible that the
even at the levels of 100 TEDs. The therapeutic efficacy of certain
histopathological studies on different Ayurvedic drugs could be through the
visceral organs also did not reveal any production of anti-oxidants.
apparent pathological damage with use
of these. It is well known that the exposure to
heavy metals is countered by the in-
In-vivo condition many preparations situ synthesis of phyto-chelatins in
containing metals bind with peptides or plants and metallothionines in animals.
other functional groups. It is essential Such investigations in humans are
to identify these molecules that bind to needed to determine the mode of
the metals, as well as their action of the metallic preparations. In
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
order to instill confidence in the
medical community, it is imperative to
carry out bio-chemical studies to
understand the action of Ayurvedic
drugs at the molecular level. It is felt
that:
 Skepticism should not be there
about use of the metals/minerals.
To achieve this, there is need to
provide scientific basis to the use of
use of TM.
 Bio-chemical basis to the Ayurvedic
formulations needs to be developed
to answer the scientific questions
like what are the new bio-molecules
synthesized in the body on the
consumption of these medicines;
which are the body tissues that
accumulate these metals and in
what molecular form; the relation
between the dose and the mode of
excretion.
 Cell line studies are essential to
find out the actual
pharmacokinetics and dynamics of
the metallic/mineral preparations.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
MARCH, 2009
 Comprehensive database to discussion. Acknowledgements are
substantiate the actual efficacy and due to the constant backup provided
safety on all the metals/minerals. by Dr Vijay Thawani.
 Implementing stringent quality
control methods. - Dr Galib
To revalidate the actual safety and
efficacy, stratified clinical trials can be
initiated to confirm the efficacy, provide
accuracy and confirm the safety in a
scientific manner. Govt. of India
through GTP, where AYUSH, CSIR
and ICMR are the active partners, is
doing exclusive work on metallic,
herbo-mineral compound formulations.
We hope that in near future the results
of these studies will be a boon to the
Ayurveda. A comprehensive database
covering all these findings will definitely
provide a substantial answer to the
concerns raised by the western
scientists on safety and efficacy of
metals and minerals.
I acknowledge kind participation of all
members of the NetRUM in this
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Dr Anand Chaudhary is
Associate Professor in Rasa
Shastra (Ayurvedic
Pharmaceutics), Faculty of
Ayurveda, Institute of Medical
Sciences, Banaras Hindu
University, Varanasi. He did his
graduation from Allahabad
University in 1986; BAMS from
the University of Kanpur in
1993, followed by MD in 1997
and PhD in 2002 from BHU. His
areas of interest include
Ayurvedic Pharmaceutics of
herbals, Stability profile of
Ayurvedic medicines and
regulatory affairs. He has 68
publications to his credit.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
“Pharmacovigilance of Ayurvedic
Medicines”
Pharmacovigilance (PV) is a science
concerned with activities relating to the
detection, assessment, understanding
and prevention of adverse effects or
any other possible drug related
problems. Specific goals of PV are:
1- Improve patient care and safety in
relation to use of medicines and
other interventions.
2- Improve public health and safety in
relation to the use of medicines.
3- Contribute to the assessment of
benefit, harm, effectiveness and
risk of medicines, encouraging their
safe, rational and more effective
(including cost effective) use.
4- Promote understanding, education
and clinical training in
pharmacovigilance and its effective
communication to the public.
The discussion focused upon origin
and implementation of the PV
MARCH, 2009
programme for medicines of Ayurvedic,
Sidha and Unani (ASU) systems.
Subsequent upon receiving reports of
many adverse drug reactions (ADRs)
of medicines belonging to these
systems, there has been a constant
surge in the demand to address this
specific issue with reliable and genuine
expertise. Consequent upon insistence
by the WHO, Dept. of AYUSH, Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of
India started substantial steps for
planning and execution of a
comprehensive PV programme for
ASU medicines. After a series of
consultations and draft meetings, this
programme was launched for ASU
medicines on 29th September, 2008 by
the then Commissioner-Secretary,
Health & FW, Ms. Anita Das with
establishment of National
Pharmacovigilance Centre for ASU
Drugs at Institute of Post Graduate
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
Teaching and Research in Ayurveda,
Gujarat Ayurveda University,
Jamnagar. Later this centre identified
eight regional centers and thirty
peripheral centers all over the country.
It is pertinent to ponder whether these
centers will adopt the same
methodology for ASU as followed for
allopathic medicines or develop a
separate specific protocol for ASU
systems. Experts of ASU systems
visualized that the concept of safety
and precautions specified for these
systems for their manufacture and
administration are in tandem with the
aims and objectives of PV. Although
exact term for PV in Sanskrit language
does not figure in Ayurvedic texts, the
spirit of PV is vibrant in the scriptures
and is emphasized repeatedly in all
major samhitas viz. Charak Samhita,
Sushruta Samhita and Astang Hridaya
to name a few. Acharya Charak
narrated several factors about
medicines right from harvesting,
procurement, preparation etc which
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
should be considered before their
administration into the patients for
proper therapeutic effects. Any
deviation from these standard
operating procedures leads to many
ADRs. This has been specifically
emphasized in the description of
Charak Samhita, Sutra Sthana,
Chapter 1, Verse No. 126 which
means, “Even an acute poison can
become an excellent medicine if it is
properly administered; on the other
hand, a potent medicine can prove to
be an acute poison if administered
improperly.” In light of this, the present
discussion was taken up in which
members raised their apprehensions
and doubts about drug interactions,
drug herb interactions, problem of
multi-constituent formulations, their
manufacturing procedures and other
aspects which were mostly due to lack
of awareness about ASU medicines.
Before giving misleading facts about
the science of life, it has to be kept in
mind that ASU systems have
MARCH, 2009
nourished and nurtured the human
civilizations for centuries. In India,
British imposed a legal ban in 1835 on
the practice of these systems of
medicine and opened medical colleges
in English system of medicine
throughout the country. There were
comments that since aspirin interacts
with herbs, we should dump all
Ayurvedic medicines in Indian Ocean
and in view of the reports of lead
poisoning with some ASU medicines,
Ayurveda must be banned all over the
globe. They conveniently forgot the
endless reports of morbidity and ever
increasing ADRs due to new and old
synthetic molecules in the allopathic
system of medicine.
Being a student of Ayurvedic
pharmaceutics, I salute our ancestors
for discovering more than 123 dosage
forms out of which at present we are
practicing not more than 35
formulations. Their wisdom and
farsightedness is evident from the fact
that even before the terms like
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

galenicals or pharmaceutics came into
being, Ayurvedic and Unani
procedures were invented by them.
One of the NetRUMian suggested
some good terms like Ayurgenomics,
Herboprint and digitalization of
knowledge vide Ayusoft, Rudra etc.
We welcome these suggestions with
full sincerity and one may be pleased
to know that CSIR has done wonderful
job on such aspects. I express my
heartfelt indebtedness to those
pioneers who invested their precious
time to study medicines belonging to
ASU systems and produced the
valuable works before the world with
concrete evidence.
I request all learned members of
NetRUM to have a look on the findings
of SASTRA, Thanjavur and notification
of Govt of India dated Sept 3rd , 2009
on these issues, most important being
the statement of Robert Saper from
Boston, during the convention of IPA at
New Delhi in Dec 2008. We have
enough education, power and insight
to understand such disinformation and
have the ability to differentiate between
the correct and wrong arguments
about ASU medicines. However
shortcomings do exist in every growing
science which need to be overcome
and same holds true ASU. It is
necessary that these need to be
improved to ensure globalized
acceptance of our indigenous systems
of medicine.
While we adopt latest technology in
every walk of our life, we need to apply
the basic principles of core sciences to
develop suitable technologies for the
advancement of these systems of
medicine so that without compromising
on the fundamentals, we may be able
to develop such dosage forms of ASU
that are free from ADRs. Further it
needs to be ascertained whether
reported ADRs are produced by
genuine ASU medicines or by other
spurious, adulterated and misbranded
products.
Members are requested to be assured
about the safety and efficacy of
Ayurvedic medicines. However GMP
should be in place and necessary
quality control for the validation of
these medicines should be taken up on
priority basis. The PV of ASU
medicines with a positive frame of
mind has just started and like any other
new approach, is suffering from
teething problems, which will certainly
vanish as we grow up. In the end, I
humbly convey my deep sense of
gratitude to all members of NetRUM for
providing their constructive and critical
suggestions on this issue. Prof Vijay
Thawani deserves a special mention
for encouraging me to take
responsibilities of the moderator in
spite of some hindering odds. My
affectionate appreciations for Prof Vijay
Thawani and his team are also due for
all the painstaking work at NetRUM,
especially to our young editor Dr Geer
M. Ishaq for his dedicated hard work.
- Dr. Anand Chaudhary

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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
News Briefs Relating to Rational Use of Medicines
Health ministry to add
Schedule Y1 to D&C Rules to
streamline clinical trials
sector
New Delhi: The Health Ministry is
planning to incorporate a new schedule
'Y1' to the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules
1945, to specify all rules regarding
clinical trials including guidelines for
registration of trials, penalty provisions
for defaults, registration of ethics
committees and on-site audits of trials.
The draft guidelines on trials and
requirements for registration of clinical
research organisations, prepared by an
expert panel, and proposed amendment
in rules have already been approved by
the Drug Technical Advisory Board
(DTAB) and the DCC, and are waiting to
be notified. After the approval of the
minutes of the last DTAB meeting, the
guidelines are likely to be announced,
sources said. It is also proposed to
incorporate Rule 122DAB for the
proposed new Schedule Y1, it is learnt.
(Pharmabiz dt. April 13th, 2009)
India's pharmaceutical
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
export goes up by 28%
in April-Dec 2008
Mumbai: Pharmaceutical exports from
India increased by 28.1 per cent during
the first nine months ended December
2008 to Rs 36,878 crore from Rs
28,786 crore in the corresponding
period of last year. As per the
Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion
Council (Pharmexcil) the exports in
December 2008 went up sharply by
80.4 per cent to Rs 4,934 crore from Rs
2,735 crore. The exports to top 25
countries contributed over 66 per cent
at Rs 24,389 crore as against 52 per
cent to Rs 19,183 crore. In dollar
terms, the exports have recorded 21
per cent growth from $6.98 billion to
$8.45 billion. Despite economic
slowdown and stiff competition, the
exports during the first nine months of
2008-09 in the US moved up by 23.1
per cent to Rs 6,657 crore from Rs
5,409 crore in the same period of last
year. The exports to US worked out to
18.1 per cent of the total exports.
Russia stood second largest destination
for Indian pharma exports with strong
growth of 24.9 per cent to Rs 1500.25
crore as against Rs 1201.31 crore in
the last period. However, Russian
MARCH, 2009
exports contributed only 4.1 per cent to
Indian pharma exports. (Pharmabiz dt.
April 13th, 2009)
Report warns of
problems with
multivitamins
NEW YORK - More than 30 percent of
multivitamins tested recently by
ConsumerLab.com contained
significantly more or less of an
ingredient than claimed, or were
contaminated with lead, the company
reports. Several multivitamin products
tested, including three for children,
exceeded tolerable upper limits
established by the Institute of Medicine
for ingredients such as vitamin A, folic
acid, niacin and zinc, according to the
report posted on
www.ConsumerLab.com. For example,
the Institute of Medicine sets a
recommended daily allowance (RDA) of
1,300 international units (IU) of
vitamin A for children ages 4 to 8 years
and an upper tolerable limit of 3,000
IU. However, one multivitamin tested
provided 5,000 IU of vitamin A. In the
short term, too much vitamin A may
cause nausea and blurred vision, and,
in the long-term, may lead to bone
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VOL.2, NO.3 OF
softening and liver problems. (Reuters
Health dt. April 11th, 2009)
CII to organise 2-day
international meet on
clinical trials in Mumbai
from Oct 23
New Delhi: The Institute of Quality at
the Confederation of Indian Industries
(CII) is organising a two-day
international conference on clinical
trials at Mumbai from October 23 to
create widespread sensitisation on
clinical trial methodology and to
provide an in-depth knowledge on the
subject. The conference on 'drug
discovery to final product' will bring
together all stakeholders dealing
directly and indirectly in the area.
Scientific sessions on different streams
of clinical research operations,
pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs,
qualification validation, and safety audit
will be conducted at the conference,
according to the organisers. "India is
the signatory of the WTO agreement
and the second largest populated
country in the world with large pool of
patient population, well-developed
hospitals, talented work force, and
strong regulatory environment. Many of
the companies globally are looking for
an alternative destination to conduct
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
trials," according to a release.
With the robust infrastructural set up,
India can emerge as a preferred
destination for clinical research and
play a key role in drug discovery to
final product process. India on the
regulatory side also has taken a
number of initiatives to provide a good
environment, the release added.
Academicians, clinical development
groups, medical directors, clinical
research associates, project personnel,
data personnel, report writers,
regulatory officials and biostatisticians
can attend the conference, to be guided
by experts in the field.
US FDA issues final
guidance on ICH Q10
Maryland: The FDA has provided a
model for implementing the ICH Q10
quality control system in its final
guidance, which is intended help
manufacturers adapt processes
throughout a product’s lifecycle. By
building upon good manufacturing
practices (GMP) the International
Conference on Harmonization's (ICH)
Q10 attempts to provide a said. “We have submitted a proposal to
comprehensive model for an effective
quality management system.
The implementation of aspects of ICH
MARCH, 2009
Q10 not covered by GMP is optional.
However, by adopting the additional
processes outlined in the US Food and
Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidance
manufacturers should benefit from the
innovation and continual improvement
that are central tenets of ICH Q10. In
addition unlike GMP ICH Q10 explicitly
covers all aspects of a product’s
lifecycle, from development through to
discontinuation, and is designed to
strengthen the link between pre- and
post-commercialisation manufacturing
activities.
(in-pharmatechnologist.com dt.
April 10th, 2009)
Govt plans to restart
state-run Kasauli
vaccine making unit
New Delhi: Facing flak over halting
production of essential vaccines at
three state-owned drug makers, the
ministry of health and family welfare is
likely to let the Central Research
Institute (CRI) to resume production,
two persons familiar with the matter
the DGHS (Directorate General of
Health Services) to invest Rs13-14
crore in CRI Kasauli (in Himachal
Pradesh) to resume production there.
Page 17
VOL.2, NO.3 OF
This should be approved soon,” said a
ministry official, who declined being
named. The proposal comes after
officials from the ministry and the Drug
Controller General of India visited the
Kasauli facility last month. The ministry
official quoted was part of the visiting
team. (Livemint dt. April 8th, 2009)
USP-India to focus on
standard setting
activities
Chennai: USP India, United States
Pharmacopoeia's Indian chapter, will
focus on developing and revising its
standard setting activities in India, said
Ashok Dang, senior manager of USP-
India Ltd. The company will encourage
the Indian pharmaceutical companies in
developing higher manufacturing
standards. With its experienced
scientists, USP-India will provide USP's
broad range of pharmacopoeial services
to customers in India and surrounding
countries, he said. United States
Pharmacopoeia is neither part of US
government nor a regulatory authority
in the US. It is a standard setting
organization. In India, it is registered
as USP India Private Limited, he added.
(Pharmabiz dt. April 7th, 2009)
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
Indian plants offer new
source for Tamiflu precursor
Bangalore: Researchers believe they
have found “more promising” sources of
shikimic acid, a precursor in the
production of Tamiflu, shortages of
which have previously caused
bottlenecks in producing the bird flu
vaccine. Tamiflu demand outstripped
production in 2005 owing in part to a
shortage of shikimic acid, which is
currently harvested from star anise fruit
in China and produced in genetically
modified Escherichia coli.
Roche has now managed to increase
production to above the current levels of
demand but the fear remains that in the
event of a pandemic a shortage of
shikimic acid would again become a
factor. Consequently researchers from
Bangalore in Southern India began
bioprospecting in the Western Ghats in
an attempt to find an alternative, more
easily cultivable source of shikimic acid.
The research has now been published in
Current Science, with the results
suggesting that some plants in the
region could provide viable alternative
sources of shikimic acid. (in-pharma
technologist dt. April t5th, 2009)
MARCH, 2009
CDC Finds Rocket Fuel
Chemical in U.S. Baby
Formula
Maryland: A rocket fuel chemical called
perchlorate was found in samples of
powdered baby formula tested by U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention scientists, but it's not clear
how much of a health threat it poses to
infants. The largest amounts of
perchlorate were found in baby formula
derived from cow's milk, said the
researchers, who wouldn't disclose the
brands of formula they analyzed, the
Associated Press reported.
Scientists have said significant amounts
of perchlorate can affect the function of
the thyroid, which helps set the body's
metabolism. Fetal and infant brain
development can be affected by thyroid
problems. But the level of risk posed by
the trace amounts of perchlorate in baby
formula is difficult to assess, the AP
reported. Formula sold in the United
States must contain iodine, which
counteracts perchlorate's effects. Other
factors that influence risk include the
infant's size and how much formula they
consume. Potential health risks weren't
examined in the CDC study, which was
published last month. The
Environmental Working Group issued a
Page 18
VOL.2, NO.3 OF
press release Thursday to draw public
attention to the study. (Health Day dt.
April 3rd, 2009)
Two Indian pharma cos
sued for 'inferior supply of
medicines' in Sri Lanka
Mumbai: The Court of Appeal in Sri
Lanka has issued notices to two
Chennai-based pharmaceutical
manufacturers and their local agent in
Sri Lanka on a writ petition seeking
suspension of their registration to supply
drugs to the Sri Lankan Health
Department. According to reports, the
petitioner Arushan Raninkumar, a the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23
businessman, complained that the
Director General of Health Services and
the State Pharmaceutical Corporation,
the drug distribution agency under the
state government, had failed to take
action to claim reimbursement for the
supply of inferior quality drugs worth Rs
3,500 million from the Chennai-based
Madras Pharmaceuticals, Bafna
Pharmaceuticals and their local agent,
Pharma Associations, Colombo.
(Pharmabiz dt. April 2nd, 2009)
Centre to help drug cos
meet stringent US quality
laws
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
NEW DELHI: The government has said
that it will prepare the domestic drug
industry to meet new regulatory
challenges in the US market, which
arose due to implementation of the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA)
Globalisation Act 2009. An unaware
domestic firm may face threat of losing
authorisation for marketing its drugs in
the US, said a government official. The
US market is about 50% of India’s Rs
30,000-crore drugs export. Indian
pharmaceutical firms export relatively
cheaper generics to the country. The US
government has recently introduced the
new law to strengthen its drug quality
control system.
The ministries of commerce and industry
and chemicals and fertilisers are
planning to conduct awareness
programmes for the industry. As per
the new law, all medical and health,
including imported drugs and medical
devices, are required to be registered
with the USFDA. The registration will be
reviewed periodically and exporters will
be required to pay an annual
registration fee. The registration would
be done only after physically verifying
the manufacturing facilities. (Economic
Times dt. April 3rd, 2009)
Supplementary guidelines
MARCH, 2009
for manufacturing of
Rasaushadhies or
Rasamarunthukal and
Kushtajat (Herbo-mineral-
metallic compounds) of
Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani
medicines notified
New Delhi: Ministry of health and
family welfare (Department of Ayurveda,
Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha
and Homeopathy) vide notification No.
GSR 157 (E) dated 4th March, 2009 has
notified Drug and Cosmetics (3rd
Amendment) Rules, 2009 in exercise of
the powers conferred by section 33-N of
of 1940). These Rules shall come into
force from the date of their publication
in the Official Gazette ie 4th/9th march,
2009.
In the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules,
1945, in Schedule T, in Part II, in item
C, relating to “List Of Equipment
Recommended For In-House Quality
Control Section,” before note, the “D.
Supplementary guidelines for
manufacturing of Rasaushadhies or
Rasamarunthukal and Kushtajat (Herbo-
mineral-metallic compounds) of
Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines”
guidelines are inserted. These guidelines
are intended to complement those
Page 19
VOL.2, NO.3 OF
provided earlier and should be read in
conjunction with the parent guidelines.
The supplementary guidelines are to
provide general and minimum technical
requirement for quality assurance and
control in manufacturing Rasaushadhis
or Rasamarunthukal and Kustjat (Herbo-
mineral-metallic formulations).
Results of spurious drugs'
survey expected by may
end, govt collected 24000
samples
New Delhi: The results of the much-
awaited official survey to ascertain the
quantum of spurious drugs in the
country are likely to come out by the
end of May as the process of analysing
the samples were in the final stages in
the labs. The CDSCO had collected over
24,000 samples, more than 80 per cent
of the targeted 25,000 samples, from
different therapeutic categories and the
same have been sent for lab tests. The
results of the keenly awaited survey,
undertaken by the DCGI office, are
expected to put at rest the controversies
about the extent of spurious drugs in
the country.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES
DCGI Dr Surinder Singh has stated that
this is just the phase 1 and we want to
go for two or three more phases to
cover the other left out therapeutic
segments too. Our target is to test
between 80,000 and 100,000 samples in
different phases and get a complete
picture on the extent of spurious drugs.
We have sought budgetary provision for
holding the next phase also," he said.
(Pharmabiz dt. March 31at, 2009)
12.5 million Indians suffer
from hepatitis C virus, says
INASL
New Delhi: Every 15th carrier of the
hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an Indian and
12.5 million Indians suffering from HCV,
with the death rate exceeding over one
lakh per year, according to the Indian
National Association for the Study of
Liver (INASL). The key to successfully
tackling the challenge of chronic
hepatitis is awareness and public
education and INASL is committed to
the cause of tackling this menace with
specific projects to facilitate physician
education, along with efforts to drive
community level immunization
programmes, the national conference of
the organisation said.
MARCH, 2009
"Hepatitis C is responsible for as many
as one in four cases of liver cancer and
20 per cent of chronic liver disease is
because of Hepatitis C. However if
detected early, hepatitis C can be cured,
while hepatitis B treatment only
suppresses the infection,"
Gastroenterology department head at
the AIIMS Dr S K Acharya opined.
(Pharmabiz dt. March 31st, 2009)
AP's state-owned drug
distribution body caught
passing on recalled product
Mumbai: The state owned Andhra
Pradesh Health Medical Housing
Infrastructure Development Corporation
has been caught distributing recalled
batch of Clanoxy 375 mg tablet, an
amoxicillin preparation, manufactured
by the Mumbai-based Galpha
Laboratories Ltd, through primary health
centres. The drug control officials seized
1100 numbers of Clanoxy 375 mg
tablets with batch number COT 7031 IB
distributed by the central drug store.
Page 20
VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

Details of 100 discussions held over NetRUM so far

Moderator Discussion topic Duration Best posting Number of

award to posts

Dr Anand Chaudhary Pharmacovigilance of Ayurvedic medicines 28-31 Mar

2009

Dr Anita Kotwani Adherance to STG for Asthma in the community 19-24 Mar
2009

Dr Anita Kotwani Medicine prices in India - Who cares? 10-16 Dec

2007

Dr Anupama Sucklecha Six sigma in healthcare 01-09 Jun

2008

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha Problems in choice of brand names 11-20 Jul

2007

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha Pharmacoeconomics - light on pocket 11-17 Oct

2007

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha Irrational use of nutritional supplements 01-08 Feb

2008

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha Protecting health from climate change 16-22 Jun

2008

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 21

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha National immunization schedule - Is it being 07-13 Aug

followed? 2008

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha Cautions in using computers 26-30 Oct

2008

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha Doping in sports 01-07 Apr

2008

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha Rationale of cosmeceuticals 01-07 May

2008

Dr Anupama Sukhlecha The challenges in research funding 09-13 Sep

2008

Dr B. Gitanjali Drug quality 01-05 Nov

2008

Dr Bharat Gajjar Should medicines be prescribed by generic or 20-28 May

brand names? 2007

Dr Bharat Gajjar Justification for OTC sale of medicines 05-11 Aug

2007

Dr Bharat Gajjar Role of Pharmacologists in community health 02-10 Sep - 1965

care. 2007

Dr Bharat Gajjar Modern medicines in drinking water 09-16 Apr

2008

Dr Bharat Gajjar Agricultural products(Fertilizers and Pesticides) 10-16 May

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 22

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

as xenobiotics. 2008

Dr Bharat Gajjar Integrated teaching in medical curriculum 01-06 Oct

2008

Dr Bharat Gajjar Selection of topic for dissertation / research O2-12 Jan Dr Narendra
2007 Bachewar

Dr Bharat Gajjar Research protocol designing 01-12 Feb Dr. Anupama

2007 Sukhlecha

Dr Chaitali Bajait Concept of 'P' medicine 18-23 Dec

2008

Dr Chetna Desai 98. Coexistence of pathies 10-15 Apr

2009

Dr Chetna Desai How to conduct sponsored clinical trials in an 10-21 Jun

ethical manner? 2007

Dr Chetna Desai Scientific Journals in Pharmacology - What 01-10 Jul

makes a good, useful and balanced reading? 2007

Dr Chetna Desai Are medicine samples ethical? 20-27 Oct

2007

Dr Chetna Desai How to make PG curriculum in Pharmacology 01-10 Nov Dr. Kiran Chaudhari
adequate for current needs 2006

Dr Chetna Desai Use of computers and internet in teaching- 20 - 30 Dec

learning 2006

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 23

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

Dr Chetna Desai Medical ethics - Relevant but difficult to 01-07 Sep

implement - Reasons and possible solutions 2008

Dr Chetna Desai Medical research ethics 28 Nov-03

Dec 2008

Dr Deepali Tehre Access to controlled medication 10-14 Mar

2008

Dr Fatai Fehintola Altrenative medicine:Perspectives, perception 10-17 Feb

and practice 2008

Dr Galib Traditional medicine: Panacea or poison? 12-17 Mar

2009

Dr Geer M Ishaq Pharm. D. Course in India -Prospects & 04-09 Dec

constraints 2008

Dr Geer M Ishaq Need for regional, state-specific medicine policy 19-24 Oct
2008

Dr Geer M Ishaq The menace of spurious medicines 23-29 Jun

2008

Dr Kiran Barar Problem of compliance with the use of ARV 10-21 Dec
drugs 2006

Dr Kiran Barar Role of telemedicine in RUM 14-20 Aug

2007

Dr Kiran Chaudhari Impact of health insurance on medicine pricing 09-13 Feb

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 24

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

2009

Dr Kiran Chaudhari Indian Medlars 24-28 Feb

2009

Dr Kiran Chaudhari Role of pharmacogenomics in rational use of 10-16 Jan

medicine 2008

Dr Kiran Chaudhari Orphan medicines - are they getting any shelter? 17-22 Apr
2008

Dr Kiran Chaudhari Closure of vaccine PSUs in India 01-05 Aug

2008

Dr Kiran Chaudhari RSS - for convenient search downloads 08-10 Oct

2008

Dr Kiran Chaudhari Ancillary care in clinical trials 13-17 Oct

2008

Dr Kiran V. Barar Role of proteomics in new drug development 16-20 Nov

2008

Dr Mangesh Bankar 97. Need for developing consumer information 3-8 Apr 2009
on traditional medicine

Dr Mangesh Bankar Thearpeutic utility of monoclonal antibodies 03-08 Mar

2008

Dr Mangesh Bankar IPR and access to essential medicines 25-29 Jul

2008

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 25

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

Dr Mangesh Bankar Proliferation of nonessential medicines 06-10 Nov

2008

Dr Mangesh Bankar Advocacy in medicines 16-21 Jan

2009

Dr Mangesh Bankar Rationality of HPV vaccine 25-30 Aug

2008

Dr Manoj Swaminathan Promotion of condom use 10-21 Dec

2006

Dr Manoj Swaminathan How to succeed with the National 21-30 Jul

Pharmacovigilance Programme? 2007

Dr Manoj Swaminathan Repercussions of pharmaceutical company take 16-22 Jul

over in developing economies 2008

Dr Mira Desai Medicine promotion : Are we promoting science 23-29 Aug

or sales ? 2007

Dr Mira Desai Off label use of medicines 28 Nov-02

Dec 2007

Dr Mira Desai Ethical issues in medicine development 18 - 30 Nov Dr. Narendra

2006 Bachewar

Dr Mira Desai Emergency contraceptives as OTC in India : 22-26 Sep

boon or curse ? 2008

Dr Mira Desai Evaluation methods in medical education: 11-15 Nov

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 26

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

Contemporary versus new 2008

Dr Mohd Bashaar Good governance in health sector 05-10 Mar

2009

Dr Mohd Bashaar The Gulran / camel belly/ charmak disease in 01-07 Jul
Afghanistan 2008

Dr Mohd Bashaar Mother & child morbidity and mortality rates in 20-24 Aug
Afghanistan 2008

Dr S. Ziaur Rahman Rational use of investigations for diagnosis 26-31 Jan

2008

Dr Smita Mali Safe medicines for children 20-27 Nov

2007

Dr Smita Mali Rationale of reverse pharmacology 25-28 Mar

2008

Dr Smita Sontakke WHO pre-qualification program 11-15 Jun

2008

Dr Smita Sontakke Counterfeit medicines 03-10 Oct

2007

Dr Smita Sontakke Publication ethics 01-05 Jan

2009

Dr Trupti Swain Rational use of analgesics 17-23 Mar

2008

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 27

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

Dr Trupti Swain Rational use of Anti malarial medicines 10-17 Nov

2007

Dr Trupti Swain Pro-active management of natural disasters 25-30 Dec

2008

Dr Trupti Swain Rational use of antimicrobials 20-26 Dec

2007

Dr Trupti Swain Rational use of medicines in respiratory 9-14 Jul 2008

infections

Dr Vijay Thawani Inclusion of RUM in UG curriculum 16-28 Oct Dr. Mira Desai
2006

Dr Vijay Thawani The games in medicine pricing 19-31 Jan Tauqueer Mustafa
2007 Choudhry

Dr Vijay Thawani Should life saving medicines be taxed by the 01-10 May
Government? 2007

Dr Vijay Thawani Should inducement be offered for 14-19 May

vaccination/nutritional supplement programmes? 2007

Dr Vijay Thawani Need of antimicrobial policy for institutional 24-29 Jun 1123-
hospitals 2007

Dr Vijay Thawani Should doctors accept free gifts, tours,money ? 20-22 Aug
2007

Dr Vijay Thawani Misuse of WHO name in medicine promotion 24-28 Apr

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 28

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

2008

Dr Vijay Thawani (100) The pleasures and pains of NetRUM 24-28 Apr
2009

Dr Vijay Thawani & Dr Anand Safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic formulations 08-13 Jan
Chaudhary 2009

Dr Vijaya Chaudhari International ethical guidelines for medical 24-29 Jan

research 2009

Dr Vijaya Chaudhari (99) Is narco analysis ethical? 17-22 Apr

2009

Dr Yashashri Shetty and Dr Mohd Status of OTC medicines 15-20 Sep

Bashaar 2008

Drs Narendra Bachewar, Sarang Making RUM compulsory for prescribers 11-18 Sep
Deshmukh, Smita Mali and Deepali 2007
Tehre.

Mrs Kunda Gharpure Pros & cons of generic policies 01-06 Feb
2009

Mrs Kunda Gharpure Essential medicines as a human right 16 Feb - 2 Dr. Manoj
Mar 2007 Swaminathan

Mrs Kunda Gharpure Why Pharmacovigilance? 01-09 Jun

2007

Mrs Kunda Gharpure Is patient the king in deciding his medicine? 24-30 Sep

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 29

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

2007

Mrs Kunda Gharpure ATC and DDD - What we learnt at WHO 01-08 Jan
Technical Briefing Seminar. 2008

Mrs Kunda Gharpure Rabies and other neglected envenomings 20-24 Feb
2008

Mrs Kunda Gharpure Role of pharmacists in rational use of medicines. 25-31 May
2008

Mrs Kunda Gharpure Improving access to medicines 11-16 Dec

2008

Rajendra Diwe Doctors as selling agents 21-24 May

2007

Rajendra Diwe Rationale of hepatitis B vaccination 15-19 Aug

2008

Ram Charitra Sah Bio-medical waste management 01-07 Nov

2007

Ram Charitra Sah Mercury in the health care system 22-27 Nov
2008

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 30

VOL.2, NO.3 OF MARCH, 2009

Schedule of Forthcoming Netrum Discussions

DISCUSSION NAME OF MODERATOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION PERIOD OF
NO. DISCUSSION

101 Dr Swapnil Jaiswal Gene therapy 01-05 May 2009

102 Dr Trupti Swain Medicine use problems in elderly 08-13 May 2009

103 Dr Anupama Sukhlecha Drug abuse 15-20 May 2009

104 Dr Anand Chaudhary Problem and solutions to global 25-31 May 2009
acceptance of Ayurveda as system of
medicine

105 Dr Geer M Ishaq Does combination HRT offer any 03-08 Jun 2009
safety?

106 Dr Trupti Swain Rational use of steroids 11-15 Jun 2009

HAPPY NETWORKING

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE NETWORK FOR RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES Page 31