Rajiv Nath

The price of gold this Dhanteras has been the highest in five years.But this has done little to mar the spirit of buyers who are splurging on the yellow metal like never before.

There is renewed hope of an innovation and R&D fund being finally announced in the Budget this year — a move which will benefit a cross-section of Indian industry, including pharma, IT and manufacturing. The coronavirus pandemic has stressed the need for innovation more than ever before.

The proposal marks continued government activism to reduce costs of medical care and control insurance payouts in view of steep treatment expenses in the private sector. Currently, only a few critical medical devices are under indirect price control and 80% of all devices are imported products.

The drop in Covid vaccinations has now left the country with a massive glut of nearly 12 crore auto-disable and disposable syringes, sources from the All India Syringe & Needle Manufacturers Association (AISNMA) told TOI on Tuesday.

Though pharma and medical devices are in the 'essential list', there are reports of workers not being allowed to travel to work at units located in Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Karnataka. In Sikkim, it’s the employees who are refusing to turn up for work. Manufacturers have warned of potential shortages over the next few weeks.

The government should come up with a separate law to regulate the medical devices sector instead of clubbing it with the pharma sector under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) coordinator Rajiv Nath said on Thursday.

The government is in discussions with the pharma and medical devices industry to create a "national stockpile" of life-saving drugs and vital equipment to combat the third Covid wave. This could prevent the massive shortages of critical drugs like Remdesivir, Tocilizumab, key antibiotics, and devices like oxygenators and pulse oximeters, as witnessed during the brutal second wave with a huge daily case-load.

An interim India-US trade arrangement offers clarity to India's pharma sector, keeping medicines out of reciprocal tariffs. Washington has signaled negotiated outcomes for generics under the Section 232 investigation, which examines imports for national security threats. This agreement is seen as reassuring for strengthening the partnership and ensuring medicine security.

A four-year old boy died after falling in a trench, which was filled with rain water, near PGI police station area, on Saturday.The deceased, Rajiv Nath, lived with his parents in Bangali Tola locality.

As the race for Covid-19 vaccine picks up with governments across the world readying plans for its procurement and distribution, syringe manufacturers in India are ramping up capacities by over 30% to meet the expected rise in demand globally.

The All India Syringes and Needles Manufacturers Association has issued a circular to its members to print the maximum retail price (MRP) on the basis of a maximum of 75% margin from December 24, which is observed as Consumer Day, and to implement this latest by January 26 next year.

Avoidable restrictions have been imposed by local police on the mobility of the citizens associated with the supply, distributions and transport of medicines, raw materials, components to make masks, sanitizers and other medical devices to the factories and manufacturing plants which are holding up production, adding to shortage, AiMeD Forum Coordinator Rajiv Nath said in a statement.

The state is facing a shortage of auto-disabled syringes of 0.5 millilitre capacity — the most preferred variant for Covid vaccination — for almost three weeks now.

India's push for trade agreements has ignited a debate over importing refurbished medical equipment. Domestic players warn of patient safety risks and unfair competition, while MNCs advocate for a globally aligned framework with stringent oversight. The health ministry's committee to frame a policy has intensified industry concerns, particularly amid India-US trade talks.

New Delhi, Aug 24 () Medical devices industry today asked the government to facilitate local development and manufacturing of such equipment under the proposed National Medical Device Policy (NMDP).

The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) today lauded the Delhi government for working on capping profit margins of hospitals on drugs and devices, saying this will help consumers access medical devices at reasonable prices.

Russia is seeking more medical equipment from India after sanctions and logistical logjams following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine have sharply reduced imports from Europe and China. Medical equipment companies from India and Russia will discuss ways to boost supplies during a virtual meeting on April 22.

The India-UK FTA is poised to bolster pharmaceutical and medical device supply chains, enhancing access to affordable medicines and fostering collaboration in bulk drugs and joint research. The agreement is expected to boost India's generic drug exports to the UK, currently valued at $1 billion. The medical devices industry anticipates accelerated bilateral trade, emphasizing the need for streamlined regulatory approvals and stricter Rules of Origin checks.

A Diwali celebration in Assam's Lakhimpur district ended in tragedy when Sadhan Nath was allegedly killed by his relatives following a land dispute. The altercation reportedly led to Nath being struck with an iron rod. Police have arrested three individuals on murder charges and are investigating the incident, including allegations of delayed ambulance services.