September 2013

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 guarantees absolute confidentiality to a woman irrespective of her age, while the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 .The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013 — put in place after the horrific gang-rape of the 23-year-old girl in Delhi last year — makes it mandatory for the …

Are India’s abortion doctors required to report suspected rape of girls under 18? Read More »

A new proposed Bill is expected to control unethical practices in biomedical and health research by making it mandatory to register all ethics committees in research institutions, colleges, universities and other organisations involved in research with the Biomedical and Health Research Authority. As reported by the Hindu more on the Bill can be read here.

The Indian government, along with NGO the HIV/AIDS alliance, has launched a special project to provide a care and support structure for the 2.4 million PLHIV (people living with HIV/AIDS) in the country.The project ‘Vihaan’ (meaning “the first light of dawn” in Sanskrit) seeks to ensure that PLHIV and high-risk groups like men who have …

India launches special project for HIV patients Read More »

There has been a lot of wailing amongst multinational pharma companies about India’s uniquely unfriendly attitude to patents. Now, it might be starting to look like the new normal. The MNC’s are worried about three separate developments in India that they think will reduce incentives for innovation Compulsory licences where a local manufacturer is allowed …

India’s patent system on meds may be the new normal #accesstomedicine #patent Read More »

In a recently published article published in the Hindu , it was reported that since 2012 there has been a significant decrease in abortion drugs. Quoting a survey survey done in Maharashtra by the Indian chapter of Ipas, an international non-profit organisation working for safe abortions, the drugs Mifepristone and misoprostol were available in only 10 …

Study: Shortage of drugs hit abortion services nation wide Read More »

In an article published by the Times of India recently, it was reported that non communicable diseases like heart diseases can cost the Indian economy up to $6 trillion in the period between 2012- 2030, due to economic losses. Based on  a study conducted by Harvard School of Public Health the study also stated that ischemic …

#Noncommunicabledisease to cost India $ 6 trillion Read More »

Mint is reporting today that India will soon issue its compulsory licence for a cancer drug. A CL allows generic manufacturers to produce a medicine even if the discoverer of the product still has a valid patent. India issued its first patent (for Bayer’s Nexavar) last year. The Indian generic version of that drug is …

India to issue second cancer drug compulsory licence #pharma #compulsorylicense Read More »