Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) included a chapter on traditional medicine in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for the first time – in what many perceived to be a boon to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The ICD is an influential document. In the WHO’s own words, “ICD is increasingly used in […]
China
China reforms laws on generic medicines
Relaxed drug legislation in China comes as a boon for patients, who will now be able to use generic medicines made in other countries such as India. Generic medicines unapproved in China were hitherto classified as counterfeit drugs, making their use illegal. Now, however, a session of the national legislature has relaxed this stipulation. Patients […]
China population set to be overtaken by India
Could India become the world’s most populous country — overtaking China — within the decade? Statistics suggest this is likely. China and India are the world’s most populous and second most populous states respectively. They hold unique positions as the only nations on earth whose populations exceed that of a billion people. The two nations […]
Anti-rabies vaccine shortages continue
Shortages of the anti-rabies vaccine and other essential medicines continue to plague public hospitals across the country, with states turning to one another for assistance. So far, the onus for supply has been on Tamil Nadu. Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Karnataka have also requested for supplies of essential medicines including the anti-rabies vaccine from the […]
Which city is the most polluted in India?
A sharp and worrying rise in pollution rates is being felt especially in the north of India, whose metros dominate the list of India’s most polluted cities. Bihar capital Patna tops the list. Kanpur and Varanasi – both in Uttar Pradesh – follow in second and third place respectively. Delhi places fourth in the rankings, […]
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to face flooding?
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam could witness flooding. The river the northeastern states share with China is swelling following heavy rainfall. The Brahmaputra river flows through China, India and Bangladesh. It originates in Tibet with the Tsangpo river and enters India via the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh with the Siang River. The Siang then […]
Indian pharma saves high-quality APIs for the first world. Indians get cheap Chinese imports.
India’s health sector and medical industry may see negative effects in the future stemming from an over reliance on imports of medicine and raw materials from China, claims the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (IPCA), the apex organisation for Indian pharmacists. However, these Chinese raw materials are used in medicines destined for domestic consumption and for […]
India at risk of a public health crisis amidst tensions with Pakistan and China
Tensions between India and Pakistan could have a knock-on effect on India’s relationship with China – potentially spelling disaster for India’s pharmaceutical industry. The relationship between India and Pakistan had shown some signs of improvement since the beginning of the decade. Last year, Nerandra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Pakistan since […]