C M Y K ) RNI Regn. No. MPENG/2004/13703, Regd. No. L-2/BPLON/41/2006-2008 +/010+12 *+,-. 303$0 < 7 9 77 67 7 +8+ 9: 9 79 9 !" #$%&' !& 9 < = 9 * 757;7 7 ; 7 9 !#%(') )%!")"#) !%")!!)#% " -.+->/ +1? @"7 '"$//&" !& ! "# $% !&#'()'* +,( ! " #$% + + !" !"# known as FDCs, are unjustified the Central Drugs Standard as far as their therapeutic Control Organisation iting safety concerns, the potential is concerned. (CDSCO) had, by various acts $ % CUnion Health Ministry on DTAB said these combi- of omission and commission, Wednesday announced ban on nations may lead to overuse. failed to restrict the number of manufacturing, sale or distrib- According to the technical irrational FDCs. arranged and early marriage, ution of 328 Fixed Dose body, there is no need to expose A glaring omission point- young motherhood, low social Combinations (FDCs) drugs the patients to that many ingre- ed out was that many FDCs status, domestic violence, and with immediate effect. This dients when one will do the were being marketed after economic dependence. includes brands like Piramal’s work. receiving approval from State In what should come as a Saridon, Macleods Pharma’s The notification stated, regulatory agencies, whereas wake-up call for the health Panderm Plus cream “Hence in the larger public marketing approval can only be authorities, the report said sui- and Alkem Laboratories’ interest, it is necessary to pro- provided by the CDSCO. cide ranked first in India as the Taxim AZ. hibit the manufacture, sale or Amit Sengupta, national uicide deaths have risen in cause of death compared to its The Ministry has also 4/&/"#''!## !"#"##'&" distribution of this FDC…any convener of Jan Swasthya SIndia over the years, but the third rank globally in the 15-39 restricted the manufacture, sale !&#&'/" &"4 '# &/5 kind of regulation or restriction Abhiyan, said that inappropri- trend of killing self is alarm- age group. or distribution of six FDC "#"#&##"6"#$ "$&"#5#&" & to allow for any use in patients ate use of FDC medicines poses ingly higher among Indian At least 63 per cent of all drugs subject to certain condi- " "# is not justifiable.” a major threat to public health. women. India accounts for at suicide deaths reported in India tions. The ban follows recom- "#'#"$" "#5'"#"&/&# &/## According to the notifica- The combinations can lead to least 37 per cent of global sui- were in this age group. mendations from its technical '#$ 5&#""!"#$"5$'" ' tions, the Ministry also plans to additional toxicity, limit choice cide deaths among women, Dandona said there was an advisory board Drugs "#'#$"! clamp down on the manufac- of prescribing physicians, according to a report pub- increase of 40 per cent in the Technical Advisory Board ture, sale and distribution of six increase treatment cost, lead to lished in the Lancet Public number of suicide deaths (DTAB). medicines. had prohibited the manufac- ingredients contained in them FDCs, two of which are used in under or overdosing. In the Health journal. India also between 1990 and 2016, with FDC drugs are two or The respiratory portfolio ture for sale and distribution of and that these FDCs may the treatment of diabetes. case of antibiotics, FDC med- accounts for 24 per cent glob- an estimated 2,30,314 deaths in more medicines combined in a will bear the highest impact, 349 FDC drugs. However, the involve risk to human beings. The 59th report of the icines can contribute to more al suicide deaths among men in 2016 indicating that “dispro- fixed ratio into a single dosage followed by anti-diabetic and move was challenged by the Earlier, an expert committee Parliamentary Committee on rapid development of antimi- 2016. portionately high suicide form. Experts allege that FDCs anti-infective drugs. affected manufacturers in High appointed by the Centre had Health and Family Welfare too crobial resistance, said the Jan The report — The Global deaths in India are a public are developed to escape price They also said the move Courts and the Supreme Court. made similar observations. had pointed out that in 2012 Swasthya Abhiyan convener. Burden of Disease Study 1990- health crisis”. control measures. means that around 6,000 med- Complying with the Considering the recom- 2016 — which was released on The study found wide vari- Market players pointed out icine brands belonging to dif- December 2017 Supreme mendations of DTAB and the Wednesday, said the suicide ations in suicide death rate that the banned combinations ferent companies and with a Court judgment, the DTAB expert committee, the Health death rate for women in India across States in India. on the list belong to several combined market size of examined the matter and in its Ministry, through a gazette is 15 per one lakh women, dou- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, therapeutic areas like cough 2,000-2,500 crore may soon report to the Centre recom- notification, banned the FDCs. ble than that of the global sui- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and cold syrups, gastrointesti- vanish from the drug market in mended prohibition of the The ban has been called for cide rate for women in 2016, West Bengal and Tripura had nal and anti-infective formu- the country. FDCs saying there was no by DTAB since the 328 com- !"#"#$"""#"#& which was 7 per one lakh high suicide death rates for lations, and dermatological The Centre in March 2016 therapeutic justification for the bination of medicines, also $ women. both men and women, in addi- '!#$&& #"#$ '#" &" Contrary to the popular tion to Kerala and Chhattisgarh * belief, marriage was found to which had high suicide death '#"# '+,-.'/'"!"'#$ $& be less protective against sui- rates for men. & #""!"#$012 cide as married women “The trends in SDR in account for the high proportion women in this study suggest ' * #/'"!""#$'"#' of suicide deaths in India, the the need to further assess the #'/" 3"$" "#$'"#"# #"#"#'# study stated. complex relationships between ''"#&"4'#!"# The reason cited by author gender and suicidal behaviour "#' '#" &!5'"##/' of the study, Professor Rakhi to facilitate women-specific /"#'#"#"#'##"&&'4 Dandona from Public Health suicide prevention strategies,” * Foundation of India, are Dandona said. adhya Pradesh Congress is all Mset to form a Jan Ayog to ith criticism mounting over sky-rock- investigate corruption by the BJP Weting petroleum fuel prices, the NDA government in the past 15 years, Government on Wednesday took a slew of ) after coming to power. It has also measures to reduce burden on petrol and decided to introduce a new policy diesel by announcing to incentivise ethanol for sand mining and others. production in the country and approving 100 $ Kejriwal too have jumped into Instead of working on the per cent electrification of rest of the 13,000 the controversy. While Sinha ground, Madhya Pradesh Congress km of the broad gauge railway tracks at a cost %' has demanded that the entire and the PCC Chief are busy in con- of 12,000 crore. BJP leadership, not just Jaitley, vening marathon meetings at the The Cabinet Committee on Economic must come clean on its ties PCC headquarters soon after he Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra with the liquor tycoon, assumed office around four months Modi, approved the hike in ethanol price by Kejriwal has termed Mallya’s ago. 25 per cent. Now, the Oil Marketing he claim of embattled disclosure “shocking”. Other announcements of Nath Companies will buy ethanol from sugar mills Tliquor tycoon Vijay Mallya New agency PTI reported included establishment of a at 52 per litre from 47.5 per litre. Ethanol ! " # on Wednesday that before leav- from London that the 62- Gaushala in each panchayat, while has long been approved as an alternate fuel % & ing India in 2016 he met the year-old former Kingfisher the fact is that the pasture in the vil- that can be blended with petrol to bring down % '( Finance Minister and offered to Airline boss, who arrived to lages has been abolished by the pre- its cost along with reducing carbon emissions. settle the debt issue with the appear before the Westminster vious Digvijay Singh government. The move is part of a bid to encourage procurement policy Pradhan Mantri banks has been rubbished by Magistrates’ Court in London, Nath has also declared that loans of sugar mills to divert production of sugar to Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM- Arun Jaitely, who was Finance told reporters that he had the farmers would be waived off. ethanol. The Government also aims to cut AASHA) allowing States /Union Territories to Minister at that time. met the Minister and offered Of Late, PCC Chief Kamal down crude oil import by raising the blend- choose a compensation scheme and rope in Jaitely said he never gave to settle the issue with the Nath has started addressing public ing of ethanol by 10 per cent. private agencies for procurement to ensure a the businessman an appoint- banks. meetings and he has addressed 16 To cut down usage of diesel, the CCEA profitable price to farmers even when market ment since 2014 but the fugitive “I left India because I had meetings till date. also gave nod for electrification of more than prices are lower. liquor baron misused his posi- a scheduled meeting in Whether in his public meetings 13,000 route kilometres of railway tracks at a The Government also decided to give tion as Rajya Sabha member to Geneva. Before leaving I met or press conferences, he criticized cost of 12,000 crore. Addressing the media, additional Government guarantee of 16,550 accost him in Parliament. the Finance Minister and the State government and declared Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said the pro- crore making it 45,550 crore in total. The pro- Latching on the Mallya’s offered to settle (the issue “factually false” and “does not offer of settlement’.