E-pharmacy regulation is being discussed by ministers as the industry grows by leaps and bounds in India. The sector, which accounts for between two and three percent of the US$20 billion pharma market in India at present, is expected to grow sevenfold by 2022 when it is expected to be valued at US$3.7 billion compared […]
Pharmacy
No more pharmacy colleges – for now
No more pharmacy colleges will be established in India for the next few years (with a few exceptions), as such institutes proliferate. There are more than 3,000 colleges teaching more than one lakh undergraduates nationwide, according to Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) president Dr Suresh Bhojraj. “[This] is adequate to meet the country’s need and […]
Supreme Court could hear Pharmacy Council fight over use of the title doctor
The ongoing war of words over whether pharmacists should be able to use the ‘Dr’ prefix may end up before the Supreme Court. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) took umbrage with a Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) decision to allow holders of the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree to refer to themselves as a doctor […]
Online pharmacies: Opportunities for future growth but concerns linger
By 2023, India’s online pharmacies will become a US$2.7 billion market according to the latest growth forecasts – highlighting a major market opportunity in the country’s healthcare sector. “India is adapting to e-commerce rapidly, with mobile-first consumer behavior and improving digital payments infrastructure,” says Ankur Pahwa, who is a partner and national leader in e-commerce […]
Jan Aushadhi Diwas: What the Prime Minister said
Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrations heralded the Centre’s scheme to expand access to medicines – and included a high-profile speech from Prime Minister Modi, in which he extolled the benefits of the initiative. Beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) include both the poor and middle-class, the Prime Minister claimed during a video conference […]
Jan Aushadhi Diwas: Centre expands plans for access to medicines
The Centre will add 2,500 Jan Aushadhi stores to its existing stock by 2020 – with the eventual aim of one store for every block. Jan Aushadhi stores are special kendras (centres) opened under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pari Yojana Kendra (PMBJPK) initiative, which seeks to expand access to medicines. These centres […]
Generic medicines: Centre pushes for cheaper drugs
In a bid to make generic medicines more eye-catching, the Central government is planning to introduce an innovative marketing strategy to increase their brand awareness among consumers. New Union Health Ministry plans would colour-code generic medicines to distinguish them from their more costly brand-name counterparts. This is in a bid to encourage consumers to make […]
State run pharmacies to provide affordable generic medicines
A large number of the Indian population are in a state of poverty. As a direct result, their access to healthcare is often limited. Even on a basic level some cannot afford the price of generic medication. For others it may be the case that these medications are simply not sold in an area local […]