Information about HATHI COMMISSION

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr.V.Thawani!

Before i proceed to get-back-gesture in netrum- i should first fill

this interesting feature....!! i had already copied this whole

reference just after seeing your mail, on Hath......, then i opened

up,to post here at netrum...

Sir i got some more findig/report as below--sply in last two

paragraphs:

There is no national list of essential drugs although some

recommendations have been made. There is no mechanism for monitoring

and documenting adverse drug reactions.

There is no approval process for drugs within the market having

drugs with no proven benefit, some with opium content, some with

combinations of steroids are on the market.

There are 4 ineffective Central Drugs Standard Control Organizations

in Bombay, madras, Calcutta, and Cochin.The State Trading

Corporation (STC) has the responsibility for importing raw materials

and distributing them to private and public manufacturers.

The Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. within the Ministry of

Industry is responsible for drug pricing and controlling raw

materials for the manufacture of drugs within the country.

Quality control of all medications within the country is the

responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. There

is a drug formulary with a limited circulation.

In 2000, there were new regulations to control the quality and

standard manufacturing practices of Indian herbal medications. There

are 9,000 traditional medications that the government wants to

certify with good manufacturing principals. The existing

laboratories were upgraded and ten new laboratories were established

for testing of traditional medications. Randomized clinical trials

have been established.

In 1972, 39 percent of the of drug production was by 50 privately

owned Indian drug firms, 34 percent by two large government firms,

and 27 percent by foreign owned firms located in India.

In 2000, the top 20 firms in the nation controlled 70 percent of

the market. There were 9,000 small firms in the nation with an

increase to more than 20,000 firms in 2000.

There are 63 foreign companies producing medications in the nation.

Unfortunately most of the drug companies produce very few bulk drugs

needed for the masses. Most of the companies produce formulations or

finished products that are 89.38 percent of all the goods produced.

The multinationals also sell medications in India that are not for

sale in their native country, but which have significant side

effects. In 1994, there were more than 50,000 brand name products in

the nation. In 2000, there were several firms that were

selling " copy cat " medications. This was a major threat to the

established manufacturing producers and importers.

Cipla sold its medications for 2 to 5 percent of the price of the

equivalent medication in the United States. The biggest rival to

Cipla is Ranbaxy. Other significant firms are Dr. Reddy's,

Wockhardt, and Sun Pharma. This practice is legal under Indian Law.

Patents cover the process of manufacturing and not the products

themselves. Many medications are produced by reverse engineering.

These firms have none of the overhead that is associated with new

medications trials and approval. Unfortunately not all the firms

produce quality products and there have been cases of weak or toxic

medications.

Fortunately for the world market, in 1994 India became a signatory

of the treaty on intellectual property of the World Trade

Organization. This treaty required India to recognize patents by the

year 2005.

Para1

Meanwhile, in 1975, the Hathi Commission presented a report dealing

with the shortfalls and supply of medications in the nation.

Foreign nations were asked to limit their foreign equity share to 40

percent or less.

An attempt to correct the shortfall of bulk drugs for the masses was

by the state owned pharmaceutical companies (Bengal Chemical and

Pharmaceutical Limited, Bengal Immunity Limited, Hindustan

Antibiotic Limited, Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited, and

Stanistreet Pharmaceutical Limited).

They were to manufacture and supply the 117 designated basic needed

drugs that are affordable to the masses.

All new registered drugs were to be designated by the generic names.

Generic designations were to be displayed more prominently than the

brand names.

Unfortunately, the government companies suffer with obsolete plan

and equipment, decreased capital, decreased technology, and the

competitive pressure from the commercial sector. The state companies

have difficulty in supplying ten percent of the needs. In 1980,

essential drugs were only 28 percent of the total produced. Luxury

medications and those for wealthier clientele are oversupplied with

1,000 vitamins, 700 tonics, and 400 sedatives on the market.

Para2

The prescribing of medications by physicians purportedly enhances

their position. The population feels the need to consume medications

to effect a cure. There is an over prescribing of medications,

especially antibiotics. In 1975, the Hathi Committee proposed a list

of 117 essential drugs. Other findings of the Hathi Committee by the

pharmaceutical companies and the business community approved the

many non-essential drugs on the market, with 16 percent of the

purchases tonics and multivitamins. There are 80,000 formulations of

medications sold in the country. In 1980, India had 1.9 percent of

the world's total drug consumption with 80 percent from a commercial

source. Medications at the primary care clinics are in short supply

and usually received after care is needed.

For more...pl.see next message....

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