Dr Reddy’s Swiss to sell entire stake in Dr Reddy’s Venezuela C.A.

Hyderabad: Through a recent BSE filing, Dr Reddy’s Labs has informed that the wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company, namely, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories SA, Switzerland, (referred to hereinafter as “Dr.
Reddy’s Swiss”) has entered into Stock Purchase Agreement for sale/ disposal of its entire stake in Dr
Reddy’s Venezuela C.A., Venezuela, the wholly owned subsidiary of Dr. Reddy’s Swiss. 
Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, shares will be sold to Kuraduria Holdings Corp (‘KHC’).

Consequently,
Dr. Reddy’s Venezuela C.A. will cease to be a wholly owned subsidiary of Dr. Reddy’s Swiss as well
as step down wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

The completion of sale/ disposal will be effective by April 17, 2024, as per the Company’s expectation.

Read also: Dr Reddy’s Labs, Bayer collaborate to market, distribute second brand of heart failure drug Vericiguat in India

Established in 1984, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. Dr Reddys offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, generics, branded generics, biosimilars and OTC. Its major therapeutic areas of focus are gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management and dermatology. Dr Reddys major markets include – USA, India, Russia & CIS countries, China, Brazil and Europe.

Read also: Dr Reddy’s Labs arm introduces AI, machine learning assisted drug discovery platform Aurigene.AI

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Medical Council denies registration over non-recognition of PG medical courses, Kerala doctors to protest

Thiruvananthapuram: Around 200 doctors from Kerala, who completed their postgraduate studies this year, are upset with the decision of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Council (TCMC) to deny their registration. The medical council decided not to register these doctors noting their courses were not recognised by the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), now the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Therefore, despite completing their PG medical courses, these doctors will continue to be treated as MBBS-qualified doctors.

According to a recent report by TNIE, upset over the medical council’s denial, now the doctors are planning an agitation under the aegis of the Kerala Medical Post Graduates Association (KMPGA). They are also considering to seek the Government’s intervention in this regard.

Registration from the Medical Council is mandatory for doctors wishing to pursue further studies by joining super speciality courses or to be able to seek jobs.

However, as per the State President of KMPGA, Dr Jathin, there are hundreds of other doctors who are affected by the decision of the medical council.

Also Read:Kerala: Medical Council calls for compulsory registration of PG Medical students, faces objection

Commenting on the matter, Dr Jathin informed The New Indian Express, “An estimated 600 doctors, who completed PG in the last three years, are still waiting for a TCMC registration. This cannot be justified.”

Further mentioning that they were planning to approach the Government to seek a solution, Dr. Jathin added, “The issue is not new and has been around for quite some time. If the government does not take any step, then the KMPGA would be forced to agitate.”

He also highlighted that the erstwhile MCI, surprisingly, recognised some seats in the same departments of a medical college. However, the Apex Medical Council refused to recognise others.

Blaming the State for the situation, Dr. Jathin further said, “For instance, 10 out of 14 seats in the Medicine Department of Kottayam Medical College are recognised, while four are not. So, all PG doctors in the department have been denied the TCMC registration.”

“The MCI allowed the government to admit students in PG courses on the assurance that it would address the issues needed for recognition. But, the government did not uphold its end of the bargain, which resulted in some seats losing MCI’s recognition. The doctor is not at fault for completing PG course from such seats. The government should have taken steps to get recognition,” he mentioned.

Extending their support to the affected doctors, the State President of Kerala Government PG Medical Teachers’ Association Dr Ajith Prasad J S and IMA State President Dr. A V Jayakrishnan have also opined that the doctors should be allowed to register as otherwise their future would be affected.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue, a member of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Council and former State President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr Sreejith N Kumar informed the Daily that the council had written to the State Government and the NMC asking about which steps to take for registration. 

While agreeing that the doctors should get registration, he added, “But, the TCMC cannot override the rules. If it allows registration to the PG qualified doctors, it would be in clear violation of the existing rules. It is now for the Centre to take a decision in the matter.”

Also Read: Fee Hike but not Stipend Hike: Kerala PG doctors to go on 24 hour strike on 8th November

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Study shows use of fairness cream driving hike in kidney problems in India

A recent study published in Kidney International highlights the concerning correlation between the widespread use of skin fairness creams and an increase in kidney problems in India. The obsession with fair skin in society has fueled a lucrative market for these creams, but their high mercury content poses serious health risks, particularly to the kidneys.

The study, conducted by researchers including Dr. Sajeesh Sivadas from the Department of Nephrology at Aster MIMS Hospital in Kottakkal, Kerala, found a direct link between the use of fairness creams and Membranous Nephropathy (MN), a condition that damages kidney filters and leads to protein leakage.

Reference: NELL-1 associated membranous nephropathy linked to skin fairness cream use- insights from an Indian case series, Ranjit Narayanan, Sajeesh Sivadas, Anila Abraham Kurien, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2024.03.025

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Mid-Surgery tissue sample transported via drone for Pathological Testing

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wednesday announced the successful transportation of a tissue sample via drone from a peripheral hospital to a tertiary setting for advanced pathological testing.

This innovative approach aims to expedite the determination of whether the resected tissue is cancerous, potentially revolutionizing surgical decision-making.

For more details, check out the full story on the link below: 

37 Km In 16 Minutes: Mid-Surgery Tissue Sample Transported Via Drone For Pathological Testing

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45 per cent of doctors give incomplete prescriptions: ICMR study

New Delhi: A study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found that 45 per cent of prescriptions deviated from standard treatment guidelines, with nearly 10 per cent involving “unacceptable deviations”. 

The potential consequences of these deviations could have led to increased cost for patients and probability of increase in the number of adverse drug reactions or even treatment failure, according to the study. 

The study — which was published in the health research agency’s Indian Journal of Medical Research in February — scrutinised 7,800 prescriptions from outpatient departments of 13 tertiary care hospitals and medical colleges, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi and Bhopal, KEM Hospital in Mumbai, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry, news agency PTI reported. 

Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore was the only non-government hospital included in the analysis, which spanned from August 2019 to August 2020.

The study titled ‘Evaluation of prescriptions from tertiary care hospitals across India for deviations from treatment guidelines and their potential consequences’ scrutinized 4,838 prescriptions from August 2019 to August 2020.

Also Read:Attention Doctors: Now, You have to mention exact indication, reason, justification while prescribing antibiotics

A deviation that could result in a drug interaction, lack of response, increased cost, preventable adverse drug reaction (ADR) and/or antimicrobial resistance was labelled as an ‘unacceptable deviation’.

According to the PTI report, “Against all the prescriptions assessed, about one-tenth of them (9.8 per cent) had unacceptable deviations,” the study said.

All the prescribers were postgraduates in their respective disciplines and on average were in practice for four to 18 years.

Of the 475 prescriptions found to have deviations, 102 included more than one diagnosis, sometimes resulting in inappropriate drug prescriptions. Drugs like pantoprazole, rabeprazole and domperidone combination, trypsin/chymotrypsin, serratiopeptidase, ranitidine, azithromycin, cefixime, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid combination, and aceclofenac were commonly identified in prescriptions with unacceptable deviations.

“It appears that the above drugs were prescribed to not only treat the symptoms but also to treat potential side effects of the drugs prescribed.

“For patients with pain as a presenting symptom, analgesics were co-prescribed with pantoprazole. Gastroprotective drugs are to be prescribed if the patient has a risk for developing peptic ulcer.

“Unnecessary prescribing of pantoprazole may lead to potential side effects such as abdominal bloating, oedema and rash,” the study stated.

Similarly, it was observed that rabeprazole and domperidone combination along with antacids was prescribed for functional dyspepsia which is not recommended in national/international guidelines.

In this study, participants presenting with bilateral knee pain (osteoarthritis) were prescribed trypsin/chymotrypsin along with analgesics and/or serratiopeptidase with antibiotics. Existing scientific evidence for serratiopeptidase is not sufficient to support its use, it said.

The study further said the FDC (trypsin plus chymotrypsin) prescription is irrational and increases the cost of therapy. Azithromycin and the FDC (fixed dose combinations) amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid were co-prescribed in upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), which was inappropriate and can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the long run.

Furthermore, cefixime was prescribed to patients suffering from acute otitis media (not the first choice as per STGs) along with an antihistaminic, an analgesic and an anti-ulcer drug resulting in an unacceptable deviation, the study found.

Most of the physicians followed the disease-specific ICMR guidelines and the adherence to it was found to be around 55 per cent.

For those conditions where there were no Indian guidelines or recent updates in the guidelines, physicians used the international guidelines as these are not only updated regularly but also easily accessible in the public domain, the study stated.

To minimise the deviations, clinicians recommended online training on rational prescribing and administrative directives as potential interventions.

Inappropriate prescribing of medicines is a major clinical concern and can negatively impact upon efficacy, safety and economic issues for the patients. Hence, the treatment of patients in clinical practice should be individualised and based on principles of rational prescribing, the study asserted.

The present definition of rational use was drafted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) more than three decades ago at an international conference in Kenya in 1985.

However, inappropriate prescribing is still a problem and worldwide over 50 per cent of the medications may be prescribed or dispensed inappropriately and 50 per cent of the patients may be non-compliant to their medication.

Inappropriate prescriptions can lead to an increase in adverse drug reactions, hospitalisation and increase in cost of treatment.

Inappropriate use of medicines includes but is not limited to, selecting injectable forms or expensive drugs when cheaper alternatives are available, polypharmacy, unwarranted antibiotic use, failure to adhere to clinical guidelines and non-compliance by patients to prescribed drug regimens.

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3 private hospitals get notices for registering alarmingly high C-section deliveries

The Health Department officials in Telangana have taken decisive action by seizing the labor rooms of three private hospitals. Two of these hospitals are situated in the temple town of Vemulwada, while the third is located in the district headquarters town of Sircilla. This action comes in response to alarming reports indicating an exceptionally high rate of cesarean (C-section) deliveries, reaching 100% during the 2023-24 period.

Under the directive of Collector Anuraag Jayanti, the Health Department is intensifying efforts to curb unwarranted C-section deliveries. Notices have been promptly issued to the management of the three implicated hospitals – Amrutha Nursing Home and Vasudeva Hospital in Vemulawada, and Sarayu Hospital in Sircilla. They have been instructed to refrain from conducting any deliveries until further directives are received from the government. Dr. Suman Mohan Rao, the District Medical and Health Officer, affirmed this course of action in an official statement.

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Health Bulletin 15/ April/ 2024

Here are the top health stories for the day:

Three private hospitals in Telangana served notices sue to high c-section rates
The Health Department officials in Telangana have taken decisive action by seizing the labor rooms of three private hospitals. Two of these hospitals are situated in the temple town of Vemulwada, while the third is located in the district headquarters town of Sircilla. This action comes in response to alarming reports indicating an exceptionally high rate of cesarean (C-section) deliveries, reaching 100% during the 2023-24 period.
Under the directive of Collector Anuraag Jayanti, the Health Department is intensifying efforts to curb unwarranted C-section deliveries. Notices have been promptly issued to the management of the three implicated hospitals – Amrutha Nursing Home and Vasudeva Hospital in Vemulawada, and Sarayu Hospital in Sircilla. They have been instructed to refrain from conducting any deliveries until further directives are received from the government. Dr. Suman Mohan Rao, the District Medical and Health Officer, affirmed this course of action in an official statement.


Use of fairness cream driving surge in kidney problems in India: Study

A recent study published in Kidney International highlights the concerning correlation between the widespread use of skin fairness creams and an increase in kidney problems in India. The obsession with fair skin in society has fueled a lucrative market for these creams, but their high mercury content poses serious health risks, particularly to the kidneys.
The study, conducted by researchers including Dr. Sajeesh Sivadas from the Department of Nephrology at Aster MIMS Hospital in Kottakkal, Kerala, found a direct link between the use of fairness creams and Membranous Nephropathy (MN), a condition that damages kidney filters and leads to protein leakage.
Reference: NELL-1 associated membranous nephropathy linked to skin fairness cream use- insights from an Indian case series, Ranjit Narayanan, Sajeesh Sivadas, Anila Abraham Kurien, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2024.03.025

Drug safety alert: IPC flags ADR linked to Cefuroxime, Nimesulide, Dutasteride plus Tamsulosin and some beta-blockers

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), through its recently issued drug safety alert, has revealed adverse drug reactions linked with the popular antibiotic Cefuroxime, fixed-dose combination drug Dutasteride plus Tamsulosin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Nimesulide, and beta blockers such as Metoprolol, Propranolol, Atenolol.

In accordance with the drug safety alert, Cefuroxime which is an antibiotic, indicated for lower and upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections (UTI), gynecological infections, and skin or soft tissue infections, etc can cause Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP).

For more information, click on the link below:

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Physical activity lowers cardiovascular disease risk by reducing stress-related brain activity, study finds

New research indicates that physical activity lowers cardiovascular disease risk in part by reducing stress-related signaling in the brain.

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A quarter of deaths among young adults in Canada were opioid related in 2021: Study

Premature deaths related to opioids doubled between 2019 and 2021 across Canada, with more than 1 in 4 deaths among young adults aged 20–39 years attributable to opioids, according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

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Severe morning sickness: New research explores diagnosis and treatment

Severe morning sickness in pregnancy, known medically as hyperemesis gravidarum, can negatively affect both maternal and infant health. A review published in Canadian Medical Association Journal provides information to clinicians on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition.

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