MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'india'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:49:52 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181942&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F09%2Fthrough-eyes-of-consumer-health-care-in.html Here's a guest post from a class mate, Ela Ghose. ---------------------- The past two years have been filled with ailments of various kinds: in some cases I have been the patient and in others the care-giver/ attendant. As a consequence I have met a plethora of doctors: gynecologists, orthopedic surgeons, gastroenterologists, gastric surgeons, cardiologists, endocrinologists, sleep specialists , oncologists to name a few. As you’ve probably guessed, the ailments have ranged from minor (knee pain) to major (stomach cancer). Some of the doctors have been the epitome of caring and compassion, spending time with the patient to explain the disease and the alternatives. Others have exhibited what I would consider an inclination to cover all possibilities and make money in the bargain. As wi... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181942 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 05:40:00 +0100 5181942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182323&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FvMmVEzuXRy0%2F Top of the morning to you. And yet another shiny day is unfolding over the Pharmalot corporate campus, where the short people and the official mascots appear to be snoozing indefinitely. This rare treat gives us more time this morning to brew those mandatory cups of stimulation and poke around for interesting items. So here they are. Meanwhile, we will get back to conducting our own version of R&D. So keep us in mind if you hear something interesting. Have a great day… Sanofi Strikes Deal To Make Generic Lipitor (Reuters) FDA And Drugmakers Agree On 6 Percent PDUFA Fee Hike (Wall Street Journal) XOMA CEO Resigns (Reuters) Baxter Sues Teva To Enforce Propofol Liability (Bloomberg News) Death Rate Rises In Clinical Trials In India (The Tribune) Contract Pharmaceuticals To Lay Off ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182323 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:08:48 +0100 5182323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181943&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F09%2Fwhere-are-indian-medical-entrepreneurs.html The Indian healthcare industry has become sick and disruptive innovations are needed to heal it ! This is a huge business opportunity . We need to remember that healthcare spending in India today accounts for less than 4.2% of the GDP, whereas in most developed countries it is 6-9% and in the USA it is as much as 16%. This means there is immense growth potential in India in this sector ! Since doctors deal with patients daily, and see the problems and pain points firsthand, one would expect them to be leaders in creating fixes to heal the system. However, they are very few medical entrepreneurs in India today . I feel there are many reasons for this. For one, doctors are part of the problem themselves ! They are so used to making patients wait, that they don’t even realize that this u... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181943 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:58:00 +0100 5181943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174694&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fhow-clever-and-corrupt-politicians-will.html Everyone is very excited that Anna Hazare and his team have been able to catalyse the government into passing the LokPal bill. However I think the sense of euphoria is premature. While it's great that everyone seems to want to fight corruption , I wonder how well it will get implemented in real life. What worries me is the fact that lower-level officers have also been included with the ambit of the LokPal bill. If I were a corrupt politician , the best way of protecting myself against the LokPal would be to make sure that a large number of cases were filed against lower-level Babus. The LokPal machinery would then get so swamped with fighting low level corruption that they would then have no ability to go after high-ranking officials or politicians ! In a few years, the LokPal would then... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174694 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 09:10:00 +0100 5174694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169550&cid=t_99925_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-perils-of-fetal-sex-selection-terminating-pregnancies-based-on-babys-gender%2F2011.08.26 What would you do if you discovered early in your pregnancy that you were pregnant with a girl when you wanted a boy? Would you terminate the pregnancy? With the advent of a new DNA test that can determine the sex of a fetus at 7 weeks gestation with a simple blood or urine test, fetal sex selection is now possible. However, before you proceed to pop the cork on your bottle of champagne, a word of precaution is warranted. The Chinese and India dilemmas present a global warning regarding the perils of fetal sex selection. Boys now outnumber girls in China and India and competition is fierce regarding finding a wife or a mate. According to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), by the year 2020, there will be between 30 to 40 million more boys than girls in China and the statistics i... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169550 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:00:03 +0100 5169550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159831&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FD47DNk5dF9Y%2F Remember how side effects of a prescription med were read so quickly in television ads that it was impossible to understand the verbiage? Well, such speaking skills may come in handy in India, where sales reps are lucky if they get one minute to engage a doc. But one physician says the pitches are largely worthless. “They often come pleading to me, asking me to prescribe their company’s drugs,” Bombay Hospital cardiologist PL Tiwari tells Bloomberg News. “I only give them 20 seconds or a minute. You can’t stop your consultation to entertain them…They’re waiting for hours and hours, and just to satisfy them, we listen. What benefit is a doctor going to get from their short speech?” The reps, however, may not realize this and to gain his attention, they often wait 90 mi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159831 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:17:23 +0100 5159831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139920&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Findian-surrogacy-is-successful-but-new.html " It should have been Myleen and Jan Sjodin's greatest happiness. Their newborn was healthy, they were in exotic India and, following Myleen's uterine cancer, their surrogacy was successful.Instead, the Toronto couple claim, it all turned into a nightmare as the doctor hiked her fees just before the baby was born, hitting them at their psychologically weakest point. She also didn't pay outside hospital bills and tried to use India's infamous bureaucracy to delay their homecoming, the couple say."Read more at http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/18/world/la-fg-india-surrogacy-20110418 Let the buyer beware is still sensible advise ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139920 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:03:00 +0100 5139920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139922&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fsuccess-story-for-couple-from-ranchi.html We would like to share our success story and our entire experience and feelings with all those who are involved or will be involved with this clinic and I am confident that it will help them to take a correct and positive decision which will change their life forever. We are very thankful from the bottom of our heart to Dr Malpani and his team for helping us in fulfilling our dream of having a baby and giving us peace of mind and freedom to think without stress like we had in last one years. We were married for two and a half years and were trying to have a baby for the past one year. We are 38 years old. We under went several medical tests and came to know that there is some hormonal imbalance in my husband’s report. The word infertile came as a shock to us and it was ver... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139922 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:28:00 +0100 5139922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130844&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fscam-targeted-surrogates-as-well-as.html " Surrogates went to Ukraine to be impregnated with no prospective parents lined up, believing the arrangement was legitimate. The scheme unraveled when one pregnant woman grew increasingly nervous. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-baby-ring-20110814,0,3021399.story?track=rss I wonder how many such scams unfold in India ? This is why it's so important to find a reputable IVF clinic is you want to do surrogacy ! You can read more about how to protect yourself if you need surrogacy treatment ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130844 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 07:39:00 +0100 5130844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5109438&cid=t_99925_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fpoliomyelitis-india-nigeria-pakistan-and-the-world%2F The growing contribution of Nigeria and Pakistan to global poliomyelitis incidence reflects decreasing incidence in India, rather than an absolute increase in Nigeria and Pakistan. [1-4] These trends continue to illustrate the relative success of mass vaccination. * Health care workers in Nigeria and Pakistan might find the last two graphs useful in convincing citizens who hesitate to vaccinate their children. * Custom graphs are generated using an interactive module in Gideon http://www.gideononline.com/cases/video/multi-graphs/ References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of India, 2011. 480 pp, 65 graphs, 3503 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-india/ 2. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Nigeria, 2011. 410 pp, 60 graphs, 168... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5109438 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:29:50 +0100 5109438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107632&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fhow-to-get-more-patients-by-remaining.html MDConsult training tutorialView more presentations from Aniruddha Malpani.MDConsult is the world's largest online medical library - and Indian doctors can now subscribe to this at a highly discounted price.Check out http://www.thebestmedicalcare.com/mdconsult/to make sure you are always uptodate and well-informed ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107632 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:39:00 +0100 5107632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097083&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNigM4gh7KXI%2F And so, another working week is about to come to an end. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, of course, our signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our modest agenda includes golfing with our shortest of short people, catching up on some reading and taking at least one cozy nap. And you? How about a day at the beach? A night out with someone special? Or perhaps a shopping trip to stimulate what is left of the economy? Whatever you do, be safe and enjoy. Meanwhile, here is an assortment of tidbits. See you soon… Pharma Collaborations Are On The Rise (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery) Payers Will Want More Biosimilar Data Than FDA (Pharma Times) Cost Of Medicare Part D Drug Plan Is Dropping (The Los Angeles Times) Takeda And Amylin Pull The Plug On Obesity Drug (Bloomberg News) NICE Reje... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097083 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:08:49 +0100 5097083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086559&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fo0atlcygBx4%2F Three years after a dispute erupted over the seizure by EU authorities of Indian-made generics as they were being shipped through Europe, India and the European Commission have struck an interim deal that restricts the 27 member EU states from seizing meds unless there is evidence that drugs will be diverted in the European Union, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office in India. The seizures were made after EU authorities in various countries, starting with The Netherlands, maintained the generics violated intellectual property rights and were, therefore, counterfeit. The actions infuriated Indian generic drugmakers, because exporters would be forced to find alternative routes to send shipments, which would increase costs and hurt competitiveness (back story). Pati... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086559 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:36:50 +0100 5086559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077801&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhat-happens-to-patients-who-do-ivf.html I received this email from a patient.I have edited it , but reading it still makes me cringe !My case details :- I am 32- My husband has slightly low motility (around 30% -including slow and rapid linears- during the best of times). However, doctors have always told us that since he has a decent sperm count, the motility is not something to worry.- We have been trying for a child for 4.5 years. We have tried on 7 clomid cycle and 1 letroz cycle. None of them were monitored. But i did check on OPKs. I always ovulated on the minimum dose of clomid.- I used to get my periods regularly (35 day cycle). But my cycle became irregular after we started to try for a baby. However, I still got my periods every 35-45 days-IVF Details:- I had my IVF done through NHS. However, it was a self-funded cycle... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077801 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:46:00 +0100 5077801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086327&cid=t_99925_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fjoin-organization-network-and-get-involved Often times we are so involved in our day to day jobs that we sometimes neglect our careers and the trajectory we want to try and follow.  A job should always bring some type of added skills that expand our career horizons whether it  be adding new talents acquired, engaging into new opportunities or creating and expanding our career networking.  We also have to start thinking about replacing the word “job” with “career."  And networking is an excellent mechanism to support career paths and should be used not only to try to secure a job when approp read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086327 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:21:34 +0100 5086327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069822&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F8WFD_ZbuCB4%2F Hello, everyone, and top of the morning to you. Another shiny day is unfolding on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we have much to do. You know, the drill - reading documents, making phone calls, finding interesting tidbits. To prepare, yes, we are downing that mandatory cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Wild Mountain Blueberry. So please join us. Meanwhile, here are some items from around the world. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Pfizer’s Zyvox and Antidepressants May Cause Fatal Reaction (Bloomberg News) Valeant Approaches Swedish Drugmaker Mada About A Takeover (Bloomberg News) Abortion Pill Given Via Telemedicine Is Safe And Effective (Reuters) Vertex Says Hepatitis C Drug Combo Works (Reuters) Naeja Pharmaceutical R&D Facility Catches Fire (Cal... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069822 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:41:22 +0100 5069822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057787&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhen-do-indian-doctors-create-their-own.html As compared to the USA, Indian doctors have been much more reluctant to go online to establish a digital clinic, and I find this surprising, since India is considered to be the IT powerhouse of the world !For many senior doctors, the web is still a very new tool - and they are not sure what value it will add to their lives . They have practised medicine happily for many years without the internet and are quite happy to continue doing so. For some, it's also the anxiety of having to learn a new tool - and unfamiliar technology creates its own barriers.Most senior doctors who are online have moved there for the following reason.1. Their colleagues and peers have their own websites , which is why they follow suit. This is especially true for highly competitive "fee for service" fields, such a... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057787 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:34:00 +0100 5057787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050775&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhy-do-doctors-give-kickbacks-and-whats.html It's very easy for people to moralise and wax eloquent about the declining standards of ethics and morality amongst doctors in India today. However, rather than blame individuals or the medical profession, I think we need to focus on finding a solution.This is my viewpoint.Individually, most doctors are good people. They enter medicine because they want to be of service to others - and most are intelligent, conscientious, idealistic and hardworking when they enter medical college.However, as time goes by, they gradually become cynical and bitter. There are few positive role models they can look upto - and when they see their seniors indulge in unethical practises, they are quite resigned to toeing the party line. After all, how can you fight the "system" ? In India, isn't everyone corrupt,... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050775 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:24:00 +0100 5050775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050776&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fare-doctors-just-specialised-knowledge.html Lots of people believe that healthcare today is "mismanaged" - and that better management would allow more efficient and effective medical care to be provided ! After all, how can any argue against the statement that management is better than mismanagement - isn't this a no-brainer ?If you want to manage medical care, you need to manage doctors - and if doctors can be treated as "knowledge workers", then it's possible to use what we have learnt from the experience of managing engineers and computer programmers and then apply it to medicine. After all, aren't doctors just experts who deal with patients, just like computer programmers are experts who handle computers ? This seems to be entirely reasonable and logical - but it's precisely the seductiveness of the this argument which causes ma... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050776 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:41:00 +0100 5050776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050778&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Ffarmers-doctors-and-society.html I was just reading a great book called, Food for Thought – Towards a Future for Farming. This is what the blurb on the back cover had to say. “ The French radical farmers union Confederation Paysanne.., has led the world in demonstrating the possibility of a socially progressive future for training. Rejecting the increasing intensification and industrialization of agriculture, the Confederation has argued for the need for local food production by small, independent farmers-both for the sake of the quality of the food we consume and to support the kind of societies we want to live in. .. the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture are both designed to encourage an increasing free-market, profit-maximizing, destructive agriculture. The majority of farmers have lost out and continue to lose. Agr... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050778 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 03:28:00 +0100 5050778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039572&cid=t_99925_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2Fdiphtheria-in-india%2F Diphtheria rates in India have decreased considerably since 1980, in parallel with increasing vaccination coverage. [1,2] During the past decade rates in India have been similar to those of surrounding countries. References: 1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of India, 2011. 480 pp, 65 graphs, 3503 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-india/ 2. Berger SA. Diphtheria: Global Status, 2011. 303 pp, 441 graphs, 259 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/diphtheria-global-status/ (Source: GIDEON blog) GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039572 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:16:45 +0100 5039572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028520&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhen-things-go-wrong-in-ivf-cycle.html There are lots of hopes riding on an IVF cycle - and every patient thinks in their heart of hearts that the cycle is going to work for them . This is why when something goes wrong, patients are often extremely upset and frustrated , and will often take out their anger both on themselves & on the doctor. Unfortunately IVF is a biological process and no matter how competent your doctor, sometimes bad things do happen. IVF obeys Murphy’s law which clearly states , Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. This is why it’s important to be prepared and have realistic expectations. Every IVF cycle has multiple moments of truth. Think of it like a series of hurdles, and you need to cross all of these in order to reach the finish line. You can trip up on any one of these hurdles.Taking a ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028520 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:02:00 +0100 5028520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008657&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FzvMEtESvnWs%2F File this under ‘Only In Your Dreams.’ To promote its Zolfresh sleeping pill in India, Abbott Laboratories has embarked on an advertising campaign that is being harshly criticized for using unproven data and old-fashioned fear in the guise of educating consumers about insomnia. Moreover, critics say the ads may prompt some people to buy potentially harmful pills that are not really needed, Reuters writes in an interesting expose. To wit, a newspaper ad featuring an attractive Bollywood actress warns that “Hard Work Never Kills. Lack of Sleep Can.” The message then says that “Research shows that sleeping less than 6 hours at night leads to (a) 48 percent increase in developing or dying from heart disease.” But the research cited only demonstrates an assoc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008657 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:12:36 +0100 5008657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008660&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FoGHMXqJ1AYw%2F India has promised not to link a proposed trade deal with the European Union to any limits on making generic AIDS drugs, according to a joint statement from India’s Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. The declaration came in response to growing criticism that pharma was pushing provisions in trade talks that would limit the availability of AIDS meds. The EU and India began talks in 2007 on a free-trade agreement that would be worth an estimated $134 billion in commerce. But a report last year in the Journal of the International AIDS Society suggested provisions could raise prices delay access to improved meds, and recommended that “inappropriate” trade deals should not be pursued unless new policies are created (see here). A key poin... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008660 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:20:18 +0100 5008660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008350&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhy-dont-doctors-stand-up-for.html The press has had a field day writing about doctors in Indore who allegedly perform surgery on helpless little girls to change them into boys. This started off with a badly researched article in the Hindustan Times; and has become a big issue with everyone from the Prime Minister's Office downwards jumping onto the bandwagon, clamoring for an inquiry . In their pursuit of their ten minutes of fame and a few columns of press publicity, activists are happy to talk at length about the stringent measure which need to be taken to book the guilty doctors and punish them, so these innocent girl children can be protected.What amazes me is how willing we are to assume that Indian doctors are crooked criminals who are happy to perform mutilating surgery just to earn a few bucks ! Is this really the ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008350 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:27:00 +0100 5008350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4996610&cid=t_99925_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2011%2F07%2F04%2Fmumbai-india%2F Roma Paryani- MSF Nurse- assisting an MDR TB patient at MSF’s clinic in Mumbai. Since February 2006, MSF has been running a clinic in the Khar district in North Mumbai, providing free comprehensive care and treatment for HIV patients. The clinic is focused on providing comprehensive care to HIV positive patients who have been excluded by the public health system due to social or clinical reasons. The clinic also offers treatment to patients that are co-infected with Hepatitis B or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). Support meetings providing psychosocial support are held regularly, featuring group activities, discussions and sharing of experiences. Special support groups are also held for children. MSF has launched TB&ME: Real stories from people living with multidrug-res... MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4996610 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 08:38:07 +0100 4996610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992782&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fdoctor-bashing-in-media.html The series of articles on "sex change operations" in the Hindustan Times is a great example for how poor reporting leads to doctor bashing.The articles are poorly written - the reporter has not done her homework or tried to verify the facts. It's just a hotch potch of botched statements, many of which are speculative and incorrectFor example, she writes - " While genitoplasty experts of Indore say each of them have turned 200 to 300 girls into ‘boys’ so far, only one could cite an instance where a 14-year-old was converted into a girl. "This means she's not bothered to verify her facts - it's just a series of statements based on what some doctors have claimed ! She seems to have talked to just one parent - and not even bothered to check with an independent expert pediatric surgeon as t... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992782 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:55:00 +0100 4992782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984694&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FBsXbRjQLOOo%2F Last year, the pharmaceutical industry spent about $2 billion on assorted R&D activities in India, but that figure is expected to reach a whopping $25 billion by 2025. The reasons are varied, but can be traced to expanding activities by Indian companies, additional government investment and a growing pool of qualified researchers, according to a new report by the Boston Consulting Group. The optimistic forecast reflects declining R&D productivity in regions where such work has traditionally been conducted, notably the US and Western Europe. Already, the picture is changing. In 2002, pharma spent $25.3 billion in the US, which accounted for 83 percent of the worldwide total. By 2009, that grew to $35.4 million, but represented 76 percent of the total. There were also percentage de... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984694 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:00:28 +0100 4984694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976206&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FvinqO6QozGE%2F Hello, again. And how are you this morning? A beautiful day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus - the birds are chirping, the official mascots are lounging about and the cup of stimulation is brewing. Meanwhile, we are looking forward to another day of R&D. We know you can relate. To help you along, here are some tidbits. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Vertex Tops Merck In Hep C Drug Launch (The Street) Glaxo R&D Chief Says Advair Is Safe From Generics (Reuters) J&J Plans To Market More Products Under The Janssen Name (Financial Times) New Prostate Cancer Drugs Are Expensive (New York Times) Amgen Sells $3 Billion In Bonds To Pay For Dividends (Bloomberg News) Diabetes Cases In Adults Worldwide Has Doubled In 30 Years (Reuters) India Suspend... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976206 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:45:08 +0100 4976206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968909&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVPghfLkLLqc%2F Good morning, everyone. Another working week is about to draw to a close and already, we are daydreaming about weekend plans. Our modest agenda includes catching up on some reading, tending to the official Pharmalot grounds and spending time with our short people. And you? Now that summer is here, perhaps a drive to the beach is in order. Or curling up with a good e-book. Of course, one can always take that proverbial walk in the park. Whatever you fancy, have a great time and see you soon… Patent Overhaul Bill Clears US Senate (Reuters) America’s Vanishing Science Jobs (The New York Post) EMA Delays Decision On Actos To July (Reuters) FDA Inspects New Ranbaxy Plant In India (The Economic Times) Commonly Used Drugs Raise Risk Of Death In The Elderly (Reuters) Pfizer To Keep 350... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968909 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:56:33 +0100 4968909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960135&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fhow-to-treat-paients-with-respect-guide.html This is a clever acronym !" Steps of RESPECTRespect – A respectful approach helps reduce defensiveness. “I appreciate how hard this has been for you…”Explanatory Model – Seeking patients’ explanations of their symptoms conveys an interest; presentsa starting point for discussions (not dismissals); and can promote patients’ forthrightness.“What do you think is causing your symptoms? Why?”Social Context – ‘Chit chat’ can promote comfort and provide insights into patients’ well-being.“How are you doing today?” “How’s work?” “How is the family?”Power – Resisting the impulse to take over and finding ways to share power can encourage patients tothink of themselves as partners in care, not consumers guided by the motto: Buyer Beware!“What would you like... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960135 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:38:00 +0100 4960135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952985&cid=t_99925_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F21%2F6-tips-to-help-summer-depression%2F The kids are out of school. Your neighbors are whistling on their way to work, greeting you with an enthusiasm peculiar to warm weather. And if you hear one more person ask you about your summer vacation plans, you will throw a US map and atlas at them. You don’t mean to be grumpy. But darn it, you are miserable in the oppressive heat, your kids are home for 90 consecutive days, and you are don’t have the stamina to pretend you are giddy that summer has arrived. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. After publishing a piece recently about the trigger of Memorial Day for me — reminding me that most of my relapses have happened in the summer months — I’ve heard from so many readers that fear this time of year for the same reason: summer depression. Ian A. Cook, MD, the direc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952985 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:39:48 +0100 4952985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945195&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-kPWew1MnL8%2F Two people working as brokers for an unnamed Indian drugmaker were arrested for allegedly recruiting poor and illiterate women from a rural section of India as guinea pigs in unauthorized clinical trials for a breast cancer drug. As many as 20 women, who are mostly farm workers and daily wagers, have developed acute joint pains, swelling in arms and throat infections. The brokers hired the women and took them to a lab in Miyapur, Hyderabad, where blood samples were taken and they were given injections and tablets, according to reports. For their trouble, the women were paid around 3,000 to 10,000 Rupees, or roughly $65 to $220, to participate in the trials that were conducted during last three months. “Though the pharma company promised to pay us huge amounts before conducting the te... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945195 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:28:48 +0100 4945195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934398&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fusing-mdconsult-for-cme-for-indian.html While the internet is a great way of delivering medical information to doctors at the "point of care", the trouble with the web is that it can be very hard for doctors to find the content they need. How can they trust the information ? how reliable is it ? has it been updated ?A far better option is MDConsult ! MDConsult allows doctors to remain uptodate by providing online instant access to the FULL-TEXT of over 40 respected medical books and 50 prestigious medical journals which are constantly updated. This means the doctor will never need to buy another medical book in his life ! Even better, he can be reassured that the information he is referring to is reliable and trustworthy !MDConsult provides high quality CME, convenience and peace of mind at the doctor's desktop - for only Rs 999... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934398 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:32:00 +0100 4934398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934399&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhy-patients-need-to-take-initiative.html I am always amazed by how smart some of my patients are ! While I am an IVF expert and know a lot about the technical minutiae of IVF, I do not know much about how to solve the additional challenges patients face when they need to travel to India for their IVF treatment. I am happily impressed by how well organised some of my patients are ! Travelling to India from the US for IVF treatment is quite a challenging exercise - but something they do with ease !What I like about these patients is that they take the initiative, thus making it easier for me to help them. For example, they will design their own IVF calendar ( using Excel or Word ), so it's easy for me to review and approve. This helps them to arrange their logistics efficiently - and makes it easier for me to OK their travel plans.... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934399 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:54:00 +0100 4934399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934400&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhy-web-is-much-better-way-of.html Most doctors learn best around their patients, because this information is " sticky" . For most patients with "routine" clinical problems, doctors do not need to refer to their text books . They use their experience to deal with bread and butter problems. However, when they are presented with a patient who has an unusual clinical problem , they do need to refer to medical text books and journals - and the most useful medical information is the information which they can access easily at the " point of care ". Once they encounter a patient with a particular illness , and learn about the management of this issue at that time, this is information which remains with them for the rest of their life, so they can easily access it again whenever they encounter another patient with a similar proble... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934400 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:29:00 +0100 4934400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934402&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhy-doesnt-flipkart-do-better-job-of.html I buy a lot of books from Flipkart and am a fan - I love their prompt and reliable service !I recently bought a new Samsung Galaxy 2 phone from Flipkart. I hate commuting and shopping, so the fact that I could buy this online at one click was great. Flipkart delivered the phone promptly in 2 days, and I am very pleased with the phone and their excellent service !However, I was disappointed with the fact that the Flipkart shopping cart was not intelligent enough to sell me accessories for my new mobile phone. For example, I would have been happy to buy a screen protector film for my phone - but they did not offer me this choice.Flipkart could easily do a better job with tracking customer behaviour - they just lost a chance to sell more products. (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934402 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:32:00 +0100 4934402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911599&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fhappy-patient-from-kolkata.html Hi, We are from Kolkata and this is our story that we would like to share.First of all, would like to extend our warm gratitude to Dr.Aniruddha & Dr.Anjali Malpani, and their staff making our IVF treatment a SUCCESS !!!I am on the ninth week of pregnancy now and hoping and always pray it will be a SUCCESS until the baby is born.We tried 4 times IVF in Kolkata but every time we were disappointed, then from the website of Drmalpani we come to know about Dr Malpani.We were extremely happy by his instant response of all our queries by email . We reached Mumabi and went through the blood test where we found that my AMH level is low and we totally lost our hope. But Dr. advised us to go and take a chance with IVF and we followed his advise.And in my first attempt with him I got pregnant.The ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911599 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:37:00 +0100 4911599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911819&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpiJzMoYrTX4%2F And yet another country wants to get tough on the interactions between docs and drugmakers. This time, India’s Department of Pharmaceuticals is proposing an updated Uniform Code of Marketing Practice for drugmakers that would tighten rules on doling out samples and encounters between docs and reps. The revised code, which is voluntary, would also improve procedures for reporting complaints. Among the dictums: the code requires employees who draft promotional materials to be familiar with the rules; promotional material such as mailings and journal ads must not be designed to disguise their real nature, and sales reps “must not employ any inducement or subterfuge to gain an interview. They must not pay, under any guise, for access to a healthcare professional.” In general,... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911819 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:01:56 +0100 4911819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902502&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fvery-pregnant-patient-from-us.html After three years of trying to conceive our first child (with efforts that included three rounds of Clomid with IUI, plus one un-medicated IUI) with some of the top infertility specialists in California, my husband and I were feeling sad, discouraged and borderline broke (our insurance didn't cover any infertility treatment), with still no baby in sight. We realized that IVF was the appropriate next step for us, but were daunted by the incredibly high costs in the US (our fertility center's rates start at $15K per cycle and can go up to $25K when taking on ICSI and other add-ons, but they couldn't tell you exactly how much it would cost until you were already committed to a cycle). We knew that giving up on our dream of having a family was not an option, but that paying upwards of $20K for... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902502 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:21:00 +0100 4902502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853221&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fpok9CMr79cQ%2F Hello, everyone, and welcome to the working week. Another overcast day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we will be hosting a webinar on the injectable delivery drug market, so please join us. Meanwhile, the time has come to grab a cup of stimulation and peruse the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… FDA Approves Vertex Pharma Hepatitis C Drug (Reuters) Lilly Helps Create Biotech To Develop And Sell Xigris (Associated Press) How PR Tactics Skew Medical Research Presentation (The Guardian) J&J Woes Mitigated By New Drug Bets? (Bloomberg News) Lilly Chops 70 Jobs In Ireland (InPharm) Two Men Convicted Of Selling HIV Meds (NewJerseyNewsroom) Google Warned About Rogue Drug Ads (Wall Street Journal) Provenge, Medicare And Costs (CNBC... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853221 Mon, 23 May 2011 11:59:53 +0100 4853221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852963&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fpromoting-information-therapy-in-india.html The Indian healthcare system has become sick. Doctors are illness experts –not healthcare experts . India just cannot keep up with the increasing demands the ever growing population puts on the healthcare infrastructure . The only effective solution is to empower everyone in the healthcare ecosystem with Information Therapy . The right information at the right time for the right person can be powerful medicine !However, this is still a very new concept in India. When people talk about the problems facing healthcare in India, the focus is primarily on the shortage of doctors – and how we need to invest more money in training new doctors. While opening new medical colleges is very profitable for politicians ( which is why they do this all the time), this does not address the underlying i... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852963 Mon, 23 May 2011 03:25:00 +0100 4852963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829303&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FKx8Hk1e5HcM%2F Shortly after a revelation that drugmakers have not compensated survivors of most volunteers who died during studies run in India, the country’s Drugs Controller General has now issued new draft guidelines for reporting serious adverse events that occur in clinical trials. And there is also a stipulation that all info pertaining to fatalities, including compensation and care, must be reported. A key issue, however, is that drugmakers and contract research organizations are using multiple or different formats and procedures for reporting serious adverse events to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, or CDSCO. And so the regulators want all SAEs reported within 14 days of occurrence (as opposed to 15 days elsewhere) and a so-called causality assessment by clinical trial inv... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829303 Mon, 16 May 2011 14:43:38 +0100 4829303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829020&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fdr-malpani-should-i-complain-about-my.html Every doctor wants to see his patients get better. After all, one of the major reasons people choose to become doctors is that they have a strong urge to heal and help others. Medicine is the ultimate service profession, and because it's a direct one-on-one relationship, good doctors devote a lot of their time and energy in keeping their patients happy.It also make a lot of business sense to do so. Patients who are happy are the best source of new patients ! Word of mouth marketing is the best was of growing a practise for doctors , and doctors understand the value of this.This is why happy patients make for happy doctors !Unfortunately, not every patient is going to do well. Medicines do not always work and the human body can be fickle. This is especially true in IVF cycles, when the outc... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829020 Mon, 16 May 2011 02:35:00 +0100 4829020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813387&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F05%2Flooking-for-healthcare-it-entrepreneurs.html Are you an entrepreneur who wants to improve healthcare in India ? I am an angel investor, and am looking for companies which meet the following criteria.At least 3 years old, with a viable product, who need to grow and scale up and needs funds and a strategic investor to do so. I am especially looking for companies which are active in the following areas: Elearning for healthcareTeaching patients about their health in Indian regional languagesDeveloping healthcare apps customised for IndiaIf you are interested, please send me an email ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813387 Thu, 12 May 2011 11:35:00 +0100 4813387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813389&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F05%2Findian-medical-association-prescribes.html The national unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has decided to make its two lakh members across the country, especially senior medical practitioners, more tech savvy. “We have noticed that, unlike young medical professionals, senior doctors by and large lack computer proficiency. They still use paper and pen for their daily records. The project will help such doctors cope with the competitive world and become tech savvy,” said national vice-president of IMA, Dr Devendra Shirole.This is great news - and will provide a huge impetus to the healthcare IT market in India ! Patients and doctor will benefit - and so will healthcare IT companies such as Plus91 ( in which I am an angel investor !) (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813389 Wed, 11 May 2011 16:20:00 +0100 4813389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803259&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fwhy-are-indian-hospital-websites-so.html Most Indian hospitals have their own websites which clearly means that they understand the importance of having an online digital presence. However, most of them use their website purely as a branding tool which means their sites are just digital brochureware. Inspite of being an IT global powerhouse, Indian medical websites have lagged behind. The biggest tragedy is that with just a little bit of effort, they could become world-class, given the fact that India has an unbeatable combination of medical and IT expertise !Just compare www.mayoclinic.com with any Indian hospital’s website ! Or look at the Alexa ratings or Google page ranks for Indian hospital websites . They get only about one tenth the traffic which much smaller US hospitals do. While it’s true that the number of internet... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803259 Tue, 10 May 2011 03:12:00 +0100 4803259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4797824&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fhealthcare-unwired-health-insurance-and.html " PwC and India Health Progress (IHP) have released a whitepaper "Healthcare Unwired - Health Insurance and Healthcare Access" which recommends health insurance as one of the prime drivers behind increasing healthcare access in India. The whitepaper is the outcome of a roundtable meeting held on 24 January 2011 on Health Insurance at India Islamic Cultural Centre, Delhi. The conference was attended by various healthcare and health insurance industry leaders as well as policymakers who emphasized the need to bring in new health insurance schemes at different price points."I was disappointed that the Report did not talk about how health insurance companies can promote health by prescribing Information Therapy ! It makes business sense for health insurance to empower patients with information... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4797824 Sun, 08 May 2011 10:30:00 +0100 4797824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789635&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fh0ku9JI07Eo%2F An investigation by India’s health ministry has found that drugmakers running clinical trials in the country have not compensated survivors of most volunteers who died during their studies. Of 671 deaths that were reported last year, there is evidence that compensation was given in just three cases, The Business Standard writes. And so, the health ministry has asked 44 drugmakers to explain why they have not provided compensation, which is mandatory under the current law. Among those queried were Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Bayer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi-Aventis. For instance, data compiled by the ministry show there were 152 deaths reported during Sanofi trials and 138 took place in Bayer trials. A Novartis spokesperson tells the paper that its clinical trial inves... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789635 Thu, 05 May 2011 12:27:52 +0100 4789635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775604&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FqGxzJ5UIotM%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. We hope your weekend was refreshing. Now, of course, the routine of meetings and deadlines has returned. This calls for the mandatory cup of stimulation, an invigorating way to discuss the news about bin Laden, as well. Meanwhile, here are some other tidbits from around the world. Have a good one and stay in touch… Teva To Buy Cephalon For $6.8M, Outbidding Valeant (Associated Press) Drug Shortages Endangering Patients (The Washington Post) India’s Generic Drugmakers May Test Compulsory Licensing In June (Business Standard) Strides CEO Discusses Oncology Plant & Pfizer Deal (MoneyControl) Abbott Cuts Prices Of AIDS Drugs For Government Programs (Chicago Tribune) Pfizer And Its Radical Surgery (Forbes) Actelion Loses Licensing Dis... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775604 Mon, 02 May 2011 11:53:40 +0100 4775604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762767&cid=t_99925_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcase-report-a-third-cerebellar-hemisphere%2F2011.04.28 We present a structural anomaly of the cerebellum, which we believe has not been previously reported. A 16-month-old girl presented to the pediatric outpatient department with some delayed developmental milestones. She was full-term with a normal vaginal delivery and no history suggestive of perinatal asphyxia. The motor milestones were delayed, and the child could not stand. The other milestones, including language and socialization, were normal. Examination revealed a bony hard swelling in the occipital region, which, according to the mother, was noticed soon after birth. The occipitofrontal circumference was 52 cm, and the anterior fontanelle was open. There was generalized hypotonia, and the deep tendon reflexes were depressed. Mild truncal ataxia was observed, but there was no nystagm... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762767 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:00:06 +0100 4762767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758804&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fwaiting-for-doctor.html This is a guest post from a very thoughtful patient of mine. I know many IVF patients will be able to identify with her experience . I just wish more doctors would read this as well, so they can provide more support to IVF patients !When you do ivf as a medical tourist soon you'll find out you have become a traveller between the worlds. Between continents and between medical worlds: "normal" obstetrics and ivf. Unexpectingly it turns out to be much easier finding an ivf doctor in India than finding an obstetric gynecologist in your home town. And once you are lucky enough to get an appointment, you are faced with different treatment concepts: pregnancy in obstetrics and pregnancy in ivf are a world apart it seems. Unless you are already established with an ob gyn - not so likely; you would... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758804 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 04:50:00 +0100 4758804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747887&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FScX2CHW6fmI%2F Welcome back, everyone. Nice to see you again after a much-needed break. Hope your own time off was pleasant. Now, of course, the routine of meetings and deadlines has returned. To cope, we are brewing a mandatory cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Wild Mountain Blueberry. Please join us as we catch up with the recent news of the world. And so, here are some tidbits to help your day get started. Stay in touch… FDA Staff Raises Safety Concern With Merck Hepatitis C Drug (Reuters) Vertex Hopes FDA Panel Will OK Its Hep C Treatment (Boston Globe) AstraZeneca To Demolish R&D Facility (Delaware Online) Eisai Aricept Patch For Alzheimer’s Fails To Win FDA Approval (Bloomberg News) Sun Pharma To Sell Merck Diabetes Drugs In India (Reuters) Dr. Reddy’s To Sell Pfizer A... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747887 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:01:51 +0100 4747887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734244&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fpeas-healthcare-and-patient-education.html While patients in the US are deluged with information, patients in India are usually starved for this. They have to depend upon US websites for information ( much of which is not applicable to Indian conditions and diseases); or upon their doctor ( who is often too busy to educate them !)One of the major issues is that the importance of educating patients has still not become a pressing issue for doctors. Traditionally, Indian doctors have always been quite paternalistic; and most Indian patients are quite happy to follow the doctor's orders.While it's true that times are changing, and that the younger generation of doctors is more willing to be open ad to invest time in discussing treatment options with their patients, another limitation has been the acute shortage of patient educational ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734244 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:00:00 +0100 4734244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734438&cid=t_99925_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FR8-2mxVngr0%2F Narayanan Krishnan used to be an award winning chef with Taj Hotels in India. Upon noticing the poverty and hunger afflicting his country, Krishnan decided to quit his lucrative job, and now runs a not-for-profit organization that provides three meals a day to India’s hungry and indigent people, most of whom are elderly. He also bathes them, and provides shaves and haircuts. For all his efforts, Krishnan was recently presented with the CNN Heroes award. In Krishnan’s words, happiness comes from giving, and the joy that comes with making other people happy and healthy. The next time you need a pick-me-up, instead of treating yourself, do something nice for a friend, or even a stranger. You might be surprised at the potent results. Watch Krishnan’s story here: (Video: Dail... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734438 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:05:47 +0100 4734438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734246&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fdoctors-patients-teaching-and-learning.html As i have written earlier, the primary job of a doctor it to teach patients. After all, medical care does not just consist of making a diagnosis or prescribing a medicine. Teaching patients about their illness; what they can do to manage it; and what they can do to remain healthy is an integral part of a doctor's job.However, as important as teaching is learning. Doctors need to learn all the time. Medical science makes dramatic advances all the time, and doctors have to invest time, money and energy in ensuring they knowledge base is updated and current . This is why doctors read medical journals and medical conferences !However, a very important teaching tool ( which many doctors sometimes overlook) are patients. Patients can be your best teachers - if you give them an opportunity to tea... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734246 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 03:26:00 +0100 4734246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734248&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fconference-on-preventing-medical-errors.html Medical errors are a leading cause of preventable deaths. When a patient dies because of perceived medical negligence, hospitals get burnt down and doctors get beaten up. However, not all deaths are because of negligence - and not all errors can be prevented. In order to learn about what we can do to make sure that medical errors are minimised , India's first Patient Safety Workshop is being organised in Mumbai. This is the first conference in India which focuses on this key issue, which is usually misunderstood; and often ignored.I am especially excited about the fact that this workshop will be involving patients as well, as I deeply believe that well-informed patients can play a very important role in preventing medical errors !We've got some great speakers - please do come and join us !... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734248 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 08:55:00 +0100 4734248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723981&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fconference-on-preventing-medical-errors.html Medical errors are a leading cause of preventable deaths. When a patient dies because of perceived medical negligence, hospitals get burnt down and doctors get beaten up. However, not all deaths are because of negligence - and not all errors can be prevented. In order to learn about what we can do to make sure that medical errors are minimised , India's first Patient Safety Workshop is being organised in Mumbai. This is the first conference in India which focuses on this key issue, which is usually misunderstood; and often ignored.I am especially excited about the fact that this workshop will be involving patients as well, as I deeply believe that well-informed patients can play a very important role in preventing medical errors !We've got some great speakers - please do come and join us !... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723981 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 08:55:00 +0100 4723981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714842&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fdoctor-whats-your-website-url.html It's well known that most patients will google their symptoms and signs when they fall ill. Patients use the internet extensively to research their disease; to check on the treatment options available to them; to connect with other patients; and to select the right doctor.However, if there so many patients are online, why don't more Indian doctors have their own websites ? Indian doctors are considered to be well-read; well-informed; and their clinical skills are usually excellent. Moreover, India is an IT powerhouse , which means one would logically expect that most Indian doctors would have their own website, which they could use to attract more patients; and to educate their existing patients.While many Indian doctors now do have their own email address ( though many senior doctors stil... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714842 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 03:21:00 +0100 4714842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714843&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fdoctors-patients-internet-information.html “What can you possibly learn from your doctor that is not available on the Internet?” We suspect we'll hear such radical sentiments increasingly in the future. Knowledge is said to be power, and some of the past imbalance of power between patient and doctor may be equalized. But information and knowledge do not equal wisdom, and it is too easy for nonexperts to take at face value statements made confidently by voices of authority. Physicians are in the best position to weigh information and advise patients, drawing on their understanding of available evidence as well as their training and experience. If anything, the wealth of information on the Internet will make such expertise and experience more essential. The doctor, in our view, will never be optional."Actually, there are some thi... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714843 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:11:00 +0100 4714843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704957&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTqt7VZfCzXA%2F For those who had any doubt about where R&D money is headed…look east. As in the Far East. A recent survey of 241 execs from drugmakers and biotechs finds that R&D budgets are rising just 1 percent overall this year. Meanwhile, outsourcing is expected to rise 11 percent, to 41 percent of the R&D undertaken, and most companies favor investing more of their clinical work in China. There is a price to pay, though. In the three-month period prior to the survey, price increases by contract research organizations outnumbered decreases by a 5-to-1 ratio. Looked at another way, 35 percent of the drugmakers and biotechs reported a price hike from CROs, compared with 6 percent that reported a price drop, according to the survey by RW Baird, the Wall Street brokerage. “We ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704957 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:08:46 +0100 4704957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704734&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fhappy-couple-from-canada.html Hi, We are from Canada and this is our short story that we would like to share as noted below:First of all, would like to extend our warm gratitude to Dr.Aniruddha & Dr.Anjali Malpani, and your staff making our IVF treatment a SUCCESS !!!I am on the eleventh week of pregnancy now and hoping and always pray it will be a SUCCESS until the baby is born.Planning/deciding to undergo IVF is not a joke/easy. There are a lot of things to consider.1. Financial - IVF involves a huge amount of money like travelling expenses, hotel,food,medicine and might affect the job as well2. Stress - Need to manage your stress - IVF involves a lot of stress. 3. Taking the risk a. Job - Ready to quit the job to have full rest if required according to case to case basis before and after the treatment until... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704734 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:12:00 +0100 4704734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696954&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F3Eb37NoKR6k%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. We hope the weekend was refreshing and enjoyable. Now, though, the routine of meetings and deadlines has returned. To cope, yes, we are brewing that mandatory cup of stimulation. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits to get you going. Let us know if you hear anything interesting and have a great, productive day… Endo Pharma Buying American Medical For $2.6 Billion (Associated Press) Intercell Suspends Trial For MRSA Vaccine (Bloomberg News) Actress Sues Lilly For Using Her Face In Prozac Ad (New York Post) Novartis Stops Tasigna Trial In Patients With GIST (Reuters) Inspiration Pharma Eyes Plant In Ireland And 500 Jobs (Irish Post) Merck KGgA Considers Job Cuts At Serono Unit (Reuters) Merck And Sun Pharma Near Generics Deal (LiveMint) British M... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696954 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:51:13 +0100 4696954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684459&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fdoctors-versus-managers-in-indian.html Doctors are having a hard time surviving. Even though small 20-bed doctor-run nursing homes are the most cost effective way of delivering medical care for common problems ( such as elective surgery and childbirth) , it's getting harder and harder for doctors to start a nursing home in India because of the license raj and government bureaucracy. Most doctors are being forced to join corporate hospitals, where they are extremely unhappy because they are exploited and ill-treated by the management.Why are doctors so unhappy in many corporate hospitals ? Doctors have a bottom up approach. They have been trained to be patient advocates and do everything they can to help their patient to get better. This is their primary professional focus - and this is what makes them special. This is what pati... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684459 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:46:00 +0100 4684459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684460&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fhow-you-can-help-to-heal-sick.html Have you got fed up of waiting for ever and ever at your doctor's clinic ?Are you upset when your doctor talks down to you or uses jargon ?Do you resent the fact that it's impossible to make sense of your hospital bill ?Why can't hospitals be more patient friendly ?Why can't doctors be more transparent ?Instead of just complaining, here's an opportunity for you to provide some answers !Remember , if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem !You are invited to attend the launch ofThe Patient Community@HELPon Thursday,7th April, 2011 at 11.30a.m.Introduction and launch of The Patient Community@HELPDr.Aniruddha Malpani, M.D., IVF Specialist, Founder, HELP and Patient Advocate- "How Patients can Heal a Sick Healthcare System".Mr.Kanu (Harshad) Kamdar, Member, Parkinson's D... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684460 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:20:00 +0100 4684460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4677112&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FRNHq-kkANQA%2F Two months ago, several non-governmental organizations urged Novartis to drop its “persistent legal actions” in India, where the drugmaker has spent five years waging a legal battle in hopes of securing a patent for its Gleevec med for treating chronic myeloid leukemia. Novartis made an appeal to the Supreme Court there two years ago and a hearing is scheduled for April 19. The groups argue the challenge is designed to influence the government to introduce laws and policies that would hinder access to medicines at a time when the issue is also the subject of trade negotiations (see here). Meanwhile, the groups charge that Novartis has tried to abuse the Indian patent sytem by continuing to file patent applications with, allgedly, minor chemical variations of the existing active... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4677112 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:10:58 +0100 4677112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636494&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fwhy-emrs-perform-badly.html " Four years after a pilot project to computerise services at state-run medical colleges and hospitals was launched, the state Medical Education Department has done a rethink and no longer considers the idea “feasible”. This is typically what happens when these big buck projects are implemented with a Top-Down approach. A bureaucrat with a lot of money to burn decides this is a clever idea and tries to put it into practise. ( Because there's lots of money involved, it's easy to grease palms) . The results are very predictable - the project flops because there's no buy in from doctors . The project is then scrapped - and the technology gets a bad name ! It's not the technology or the idea which is flawed - it's just the way it was implemented. However, this will set EMR projects back by... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636494 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:25:00 +0100 4636494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636496&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fhappy-ivf-patient-from-mumbai.html After more than 7 years of marriage finally we had started seriously thinking about making an addition to our family, but our efforts were not yielding results. As the age factor was catching up on us, we were advised to go in for IUI treatment. After 3 failed IUI attempts, I was completely disheartened and dejected. Fortunately that's when one of our colleagues mentioned Dr. Malpani and their success story after undergoing his treatment.We had nothing to lose, and decided to give it a shot. My work had anyway brought me to Mumbai from Bangalore and we decided to make the most of this opportunity.Our first consultation with doctor boosted my confidence tremendously and I felt that finally I had reached the right place. The doctor put me to ease instantly. After perusing all my earlier repo... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636496 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:29:00 +0100 4636496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592369&cid=t_99925_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6l3b7Oy1uew%2F By George Scoville How can we have an "adult conversation" on the budget if the White House won't release its budget and deficit projections to the public? A new guide to India's uneven spread of economic freedom could help state-level policymakers there improve the welfare of citizens there. "When the Cato guy tells you someone is corrupting the idea of HSAs, pay attention." Despite having the bully pulpit, and despite touting opinion polls in favor of reform, the Obama administration finds it necessary to use taxpayer funds to tell Googlers what's best for them. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has doubled down on the social issues truce--Cato's John Samples talked about this on Friday on the Cato Daily Podcast: Monday Links is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: C... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592369 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:17:19 +0100 4592369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575111&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fwhy-should-i-select-malpani-infertility.html I just received this thoughtful questionnaire from a patient.We are looking for “gestational surrogacy” in India. There are many clinics offering these services and before moving forward in this decision, we want to have more information about your clinic and some steps of the process. Here are our questions and concerns.1. How many years of experiences in fertility and surrogacy does your clinic have? 20 years2. What are the main steps and what is the time table of the whole process a. Steps The process is described in details at www.indiansurrogates.in b. Timeframe 20 days3. What is the delay from first contact to start of surrogacy? 3-4 months4. What are the legal concerns with surrogacy? Our legal consultant will take you through these5. What are the legal p... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575111 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:36:00 +0100 4575111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4545024&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fovertested-and-overtreated.html Infertile patients can be desperate for a diagnosis. They naively feel that once they know what the problem is, we'll be able to find the solution !This leads to testing - which has now become an epidemic of overtesting.Let's see why. Patients still have unrealistic expectations from IVF treatment. Doctors often do not bother to counsel them. They are so focused on "grabbing patients" to do one IVF cycle, that they overpromise success. They make tall claims during the IVF cycle to keep the patient's hopes high - everything is going very well- you will definitely get pregnant ! Then, when the cycle fails, the doctor becomes inaccessible ! Patients get disillusioned and hunt for a new doctor. The new doctor needs to do something more - something different - as compared to the old one - after... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4545024 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:49:00 +0100 4545024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4543596&cid=t_99925_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2011%2F03%2F03%2Findia-8%2F Delhi, India – March 2, 2011 Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Delhi once again on 2 March in protest over the planned Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union (EU) which will restrict access to life-saving medicines. It’s the most recent in a series of public protests held in Asia, Europe and Africa against the proposed trade deal which could stop Indian generic companies from providing affordable generic medicines for people across the developing world. MSF is currently running a public campaign to tell the EU to back down on the deal. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4543596 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:25:16 +0100 4543596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522286&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fc4iwc7RTeus%2F Two years ago, Pfizer trumpted a deal in which Aurobindo, a large supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients that is based in India, would make a few dozen generic meds for the brand-name drugmaker. The move was part of a grand plan to expand into generics with lower manufacturing costs and revive growth as patents on big-selling, brand-name meds began expiring. “These agreements represent solid, measurable progress, and a strong commitment to achieve our growth objectives,” said David Simmons, who heads the drugmaker’s emerging markets and established products units, in a statement. Established products is a Pfizer euphemism for generics and branded generics. “We will dramatically change Pfizer’s Established Products portfolio to an engine of positive growth.” Since... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522286 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:51:21 +0100 4522286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522291&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FEacgP4fZABY%2F And so another work week is about to draw to a close. And this means daydreaming about the weekend. Our agenda includes visiting with a favorite aunt and uncle, taking the short people to assorted sports activities and tackling our overwhelming to-do list. What about you? Will you make time to exercise? Catch a movie? You can always prepare your taxes (and perhaps your payments could narrow the deficit). Whatever you do, be safe and have a wonderful time. See you soon… Samsung And Quintiles Partner To Make Biologics (Bloomberg News) Elan And Celgene Settle Patent Lawsuit Over Abraxane (Reuters) Plague Kills Scientist In First Lab Case In 50 Years (Bloomberg News) UK Gang Jailed For Counterfeit Mecidines Plot (Securing Pharma) FDA Rejects Pfizer And Protalix Med For Gaucher’s (B... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522291 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:04:10 +0100 4522291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512617&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F3sAMB9LDD1o%2F Rise and shine, everyone. Another day is on the way. And as usual, we are preparing by quaffing the mandatory cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Golden French Toast. We would also like to remind your that we are hosting a webinar on requirements for disclosing payments to physicians (please look here). Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest to help you on your way. We hope today is productive and you achieve your goals. Have a good one… Texas AG Wants Actos Marketing Documents From Lilly (Dow Jones) US Protests Canadian Drugmaker Insolvency Case (Dow Jones) Vertex Reports Significant Data For Cystic Fibrosis Drug (The Street) India Begins Review Of Foreign Takeovers Of Drugmakers (Economic Times) Takeda Pulls Pain Drug That Is Now Called Useless (Japan Times) CMO Consolida... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512617 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:48:46 +0100 4512617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495257&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fwhy-i-want-my-patients-to-become-ivf.html I want all my IVF patients to become an expert on IVF , which is why we spend a lot of time and energy in educating them; and in creating unique online educational tools to help them to learn more about IVF.Now, I am not trying to teach my patients how to do IVF in their bedroom ! The reason we want them to know as much about their treatment as possible is because this is the best way of explaining to them why we are so good at what we do - and what makes us better than other IVF clinics . The outcome of any IVF treatment is always uncertain, and no matter how good I am , there is no certainty that the IVF cycle will be successful. Also, it's a very competitive field, and there are over 40 IVF clinics in Bombay itself ! Sadly, most patients are quite clueless, and do not have the ability t... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495257 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:26:00 +0100 4495257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482842&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fhappy-infertile-couple-from-spain-at.html In our quest of paternity, we made some treatments in our home country, Spain, but we got no success. After a period to find an alternative, we chose to go to Mumbai, India, and in fact Malpani Infertility Clinic. We had more contact with other clinics in India, through e-mail, forums, testimonials of patients who were with them, etc., but finally we opted for Malpani Infertility Clinic for many reasons that during the treatment were confirmed. In the talks held by e-mail us seemed honest, ethicals, professionals and they offered us a good humane treatment.Our experience began in summer 2010, and we decided to begin the pre-treatment that Dr. Malpani suggested us by e-mail while we were in Spain before treatment in Mumbai. He explained to me everything that had to do: medicine, testing, pl... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482842 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:11:00 +0100 4482842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482843&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fsurrogacy-in-india-article-from-modern.html Surrogacy in indiaView more documents from Aniruddha Malpani. (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482843 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:09:00 +0100 4482843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4478155&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FxQAoxKq3qM0%2F Rise and shine, everyone. Another day is on the way. Here on the chilly Pharmalot corporate campus, we are, once again, hustling the short people off to the school houses. Speaking of challenging routines, meetings and deadlines are also beckoning. We assume you can relate. By the way, we would like to remind you that we are co-sponsoring a patient adherence conference and hope you can join us. Meanwhile, the time has come for another cup of stimulation. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Oncology Investigators Needed To Maintain Patient Recruitment (Outsourcing Pharma) EU Taken To Court Over Secrecy In India Trade Talks (Reuters) Tachi Yamada Steps Down As Gates Foundation Health Leader (Xconomy) FDA Approves Medical Devices Too Easily: Study (CBS News) Watson Pharma Earning... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4478155 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:16:41 +0100 4478155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477836&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fone-womans-quest-for-egg-donor.html I was watching TV late one night , into the wee hours of the morning…I was so tired & bored that I started channel-surfing and I stopped on this program called “70&Pregnant” on the Discovery/TLC Cable Channel. Boy! Did it wake me up? Mark & I have tried for years to get pregnant and we realized about 15 years ago that because of my premature ovarian failure, only a donor egg would work for us. So needless to say when I saw this program, I perked up immediately…. On this program, they featured an Indian doctor who helped a 70 year old Indian lady get pregnant and have child with a donor egg. The donor came from a nearby Indian village & the cost was cheap by U.S.A. Standards for IVF.During the program, the doctor discussed the cost of IVF in Indian and immediately, s... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477836 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:51:00 +0100 4477836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4429072&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fdr-malpani-why-did-my-ivf-cycle-fail.html This is one of the commonest questions patients ask me. Doctor, I did an IVF cycle at this other clinic and it failed - can you please tell me why ?Obviously, the next thing I need to do is to drill deeper to find out more details about the medical treatment provided, so I can provide an intelligent answer.I ask patients for more details about their IVF cycle. What were the meds which were used forsuperovulation ? What was the dose used ? How many follicles did you grow ? How many eggs were collected ? What was the E2 ( estradiol) level in the blood ? How many embryos were transferred ? What was the embryo quality ? What was the endometrial thickness ?Most patients look completely blank when I ask them these basic questions - and some even think I am crazy for expecting them to know the an... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4429072 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 04:14:00 +0100 4429072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419231&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fpart-time-versus-full-time-ivf-doctors.html Many gynecologists have started offering IVF services and at last count, there were over 45 IVF clinics in Mumbai ! The reason is because IVF is seen to be remunerative and profitable ! After all, why send the patient away to an IVF clinic and lose all that income ? Never mind that these gynecologists have never been trained in doing IVF or have never done a single IVF cycle in their life - after all, how hard can doing IVF be for a MD gynecologist ? Plus, there are now many companies which are happy to offer a 1-week workshop which certifies doctors as being IVF trained !This is why we are seeing a huge number of " part time IVF doctors" in India. They spend most of their time seeing OB patients and gynec patients - but rather than refer their infertile patients to IVF specialists, they h... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419231 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:32:00 +0100 4419231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411725&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fm_6xhh7VWFQ%2F And so another week will soon draw to a close, which means the time has come to daydream, just a little, about the weekend. Anything special planned? We hope to catch up on our reading and spend time with Mrs. Pharmalot. And we also want to kvell since one of our short people is celebrating another milestone. How about you? Will you take in a movie? Find a good restaurant? Buy a new shovel, perhaps? Whatever your fancy, have a great time, and be safe. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits. See you soon… New Cypress Bioscience Owners Oust CEO (San Diego Union Tribune) Glaxo And Actelion End Development Of Insomnia Pill (Bloomberg News) Bayer And Zydus Cadila Form JV To Sell Drugs In India (Business Standard) Sanofi-Aventis Cancer Drug Has Little Effect In Study (Associated Press) Are Cipla... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411725 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:14:21 +0100 4411725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4406035&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWUnyPvea7wM%2F Just five months after Atul Sobti resigned as ceo of Ranbaxy Laboratories, the Indian drugmaker told the Bombay Stock Exchange that Omesh Sethi had resigned as president and chief financial officer. The move comes as Ranbaxy continues to struggle to correct manufacturing problems and has undergone repeated managerial overhauls. Early last year, the FDA determined Ranbaxy sold misbranded or adulterated drugs in the US, its largest market, and halted approvals at two plants in India, after previoulsy banning imports of over 30 generic drugs (see this and this). There is still no mention on the Ranbaxy web site, however, of the departure and no official statement offering any explanation for the turn of events. But the resignation becomes yet another headache for Daiichi Sankyo, which paid $4... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4406035 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:12:40 +0100 4406035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405844&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fsuccess-story-from-netherlands-baby.html This is a story about perseverance, courage but most of all a good understanding between a doctor and a patient.After some difficult years including infertility treatments, despair and discouragement by infertility doctors (!), my husband and I decided we should take a sabbatical and rest for a while from all the disappointments of the past. We decided to travel to Asia and visit some wonderful countries.After a few months however, my child wish was very strong again and we decided we should try one more time an IVF treatment.The question was where? we had all these possibilities in all of these countries.I decided to do a little research and I wrote to a dozen clinics in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India.Some clinics did not respond at all (!) other were very short in their informat... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405844 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:32:00 +0100 4405844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394748&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpXbefPvyX2U%2F As drugmakers look to do more business in more foreign markets, corruption is always an issue, yes? That’s particularly true now that the US Justice Department - along with the US Securities and Exchange Commission - is paying closer attention to interactions between the pharmaceutical industry and foreign governments. Over the past year, several big drugmakers have received letters as the federal government seeks to uncover any violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which forbids US companies from bribing foreign government officials. One aspect of the probe reportedly involves exploring whether drugmakers and clinical trial organizations pay off third-party investigators to finesse research data. A report by the HHS Office of Inspector General noted that eight percent of... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394748 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:01:22 +0100 4394748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394751&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FCvf7cwE0jD4%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. We hope your weekend was relaxing and refreshing. Now, of course, the time has come to resume the routine as those meetings and deadlines beckon. We know the feeling. To cope, we are brewing our usual cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Pumpkin Spice - and we invite you to join us. Meanwhile, here are some interesting tidbits to help you along. Hope your day goes well and do stay in touch… Supreme Court Rejects Vanderbilt Bid On Lilly Cialis Patent (Indianapolis Star) Glaxo Stopped Running Levitra Ads In Late 2009 (Dow Jones) EU Price Cuts And US Reform Weigh On Drugmakers (Reuters) Sanofi Extends Genzyme Bid To February 15 (Bloomberg News) China Health Deal To Boost US Pharma Exports (Pharma Times) Families Drop Case Against Epilepsy ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394751 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:57:03 +0100 4394751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361084&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fpersistent-determined-infertile-nri.html Both my husband and I, born in India but raised almost entirely abroad (he in US, myself all over the world), met purely by chance in 2007 and got married soon after. I'm a career woman who got married very young and had put off having children when I became single again at 25. My husband had also married young and had 4 children, and found himself suddenly single again. After a whirlwind courtship and traditional Indian wedding, I was overwhelmed by gaining an instant family, but also felt a deep longing to experience motherhood for myself. However, I also had a complicated gynecological history and age was not on my side (I am 47), so did not share my husband's hopes that I would ever become a mother (other than through adoption). My husband and I tried one (very expensive) IVF cycle in ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361084 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:59:00 +0100 4361084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349552&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fdoes-your-ivf-doctor-travel-lot.html Many IVF doctors in India travel extensively. They have many clinics all over the city ( and in some cases, all over the country). Naive patients get impressed by such doctors - wow - he is so busy and so much in demand that he needs to travel all over the place. In fact, some doctors even go to Dubai and Africa ! While this seems very impressive, in reality this means that the quality of care they provide to their patients leaves a lot to be desired. Let me explain.The personal goal for these doctors seems to be to maximise the number of patients they treat, so they can maximise their throughput and their revenue. While it's very good for an IVF clinic to be busy, it's also important that the quality of care provided to their patients not be compromised in the quest for quantity !How do t... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349552 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:02:00 +0100 4349552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343130&cid=t_99925_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fobesity-on-the-rise-in-developing-nations%2F2011.01.13 Emerging economies must act immediately to halt rising obesity rates before the epidemic becomes as severe as it is in first-world countries, according to new report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD report was published in the Lancet. It characterizes the prevalence of obesity in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa. Obesity rates were found to vary dramatically across these six countries. In Mexico, a stunning 70 percent of adults were reported to be overweight or obese. Nearly half of all Brazilians, Russians and South Africans fell into these categories. China and India had a lower prevalence of overweight and obesity, but were moving rapidly in the wrong direction, according to the OECD. Developing nations don’t have eno... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343130 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:26 +0100 4343130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338266&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FYyI_ups9eUA%2F Concerned with a slowdown in clinical research in the UK, the Academy of Medical Sciences has issued a report calling for a new independent health agency in hopes of simplifying regulation and speeding the pace at which clinical trials are approved and conducted. In other words, trim the bureaucracy. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency came in for particular criticism, by the way. In discussing its findings, the AMS pointed out that the proportion of UK patients recruited into trials fell to 2 percent of the worldwide total in 2006 from 6 percent just six years earlier. Moreover, the proportion of drugs and devices in European Union clinical trials developed in the UK was 24 percent in 2007, down from 46 percent in 2002. “There is widespread agreement that the reg... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338266 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:56:12 +0100 4338266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318384&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fquality-certification-for-primary.html " On Sunday, the quasi-governmental organization, Quality Control of India, will introduce the accreditation process with the first stop of healthcare for most consumers: neighbourhood doctors. “Once the government passes the Clinical Establishments Act, it will be binding on all healthcare providers to seek accreditation,’’ said QCI secretary general Dr Giridhar Gyani. How will Cliniq 21st help patients ? It will mean that a doctor with the brand has been attending continued medical education (CME) lectures, he or she will provide health checkups for his/her staff and the clinic will have minimum required emergency care equipment and the place will be fumigated once a week. “Once patients or their relatives see this Cliniq 21st board outside a doctor’s chamber or a clinic, they ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318384 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:02:00 +0100 4318384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314219&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FE3M3japSzKk%2F A generic drugmaker in India is seeking a voluntary license to make a version of Pfizer’s maraviroc HIV pill and if the move is denied, as expected, Natco Pharma will then pursue a compulsory license. This step taken by Natco is significant, however, because a successful outcome could open the door for other Indian generic drugmakers to override patents for all sorts of medicines. That’s because Natco is the first generic drugmaker to initiate the compulsory licensing process in India and its application is being seen as a test case. “This will be the acid test and set a precedent for the use for compulsory licensing to make medicines affordable for masses in India,” The Economic Times quotes a source familiar with Natco’s plans. Compulsory licensing, you may ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314219 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:49:25 +0100 4314219 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314075&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Findias-first-free-phone-service-for.html Malpani Infertility Clinic have just launched India's first free phone service to educate infertile couples about infertility.This innovative IVR ( interactive voice response) service called FertilityFactsFoneLine, powered by BolTell, walks patients through their treatment options, and helps to dispel many myths and misconceptions.Best of all, it's free !Try it out by dialling 08042658370 ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314075 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:11:00 +0100 4314075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309852&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F6G2WLJ5CltI%2F In a move hailed by consumer advocates, India has rejected a patent for an HIV med sold by Abbott Laboratories, because it was not deemed to be a novel invention (the Indian Patent Act does not permit patenting of incremental innovations). The decision is expected to give a significant boost to domestic generic drugmakers that are willing to make and sell lower-cost versions of the Kaletra protease inhibitor, which combines lopinavir and ritonavir, in India and developing countries. “The impact of the case is tremendous,” writes Tahir Amin, co-founder and director of the Intellectual Property Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge in a note to us. His group fought to reject the Indian patent and he complained that Abbott has been “gaming the patent system&#8221... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309852 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:04:39 +0100 4309852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309817&cid=t_99925_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2FSQxcT6QaMiQ%2F   Buck and I visit the Taj Mahal   Apropos of nothing (well, okay, the dailypost.wordperss.com suggestion), I dug back in the iPhoto archives and found this sitting somewhere buried in time (2005, in fact). Buck and I were visiting India, and I think tourists are not allowed to leave the country without visiting Agra and the Taj Mahal. Earlier, we had seen New Delhi and traveled north on the Jammu Mail (a bit like a real life version of The Darjeeling Express) to Dharamsala and the Dalai Lama’s home. I was overwhelmed by the vastness of India: here we are in this picture, nearly beaten to the ground from the intense heat that is common in Agra in the summer. A few days earlier, I was cold and gasping for breath in Dharamsala and the Himalayan foothills. In that town, your a... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309817 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:13:31 +0100 4309817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305101&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FCNvylDI-Y7k%2F Concerned that many of its drugmakers may be taken over in a wave of mergers and acquisitions, the Indian government is considering a proposal that would place a 49 percent lid on foreign direct investment in its pharmaceutical companies. Officials from the ministry of commerce and industry and ministry of health have met several times in recent weeks, and more meetings are scheduled, according to LiveMint. The initiative stems from a paper floated last summer by the Indian Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in response to a growing wave of deals in which multi-national drugmakers have been acquiring Indian pharma companies. Global drugmakers have espoused the “emerging markets’ trend as they desperately seek to bolster their thinning pipelines. “Most of these companie... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305101 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:49:51 +0100 4305101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305106&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FIFTJm_-1GXw%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. We hope you had a pleasant respite and feel refreshed after the holiday break. Now, of course, the time has come to resume the routine, which means gearing up for those meetings and deadlines. As always, we have gathered a few items to help you along. Meanwhile, please join us for a much-needed cup of stimulation. Hope your day goes well… Inspire Pharma’s Cystic Fibrosis Drug Fails (Reuters) Elder Pharma Gets Japanese Approval For API Facility (Business Standard) J&J And MassGen Strike Deal For Testing Cancer Cells (Boston Globe) UK’s NICE May Back Avastin For Macular Degeneration (The Guardian) Roche Buys Marcadia And Its Obesity Compounds (BioWorld Today) Indian Pharmas Had Most ANDA Approvals (Business Standard) AstraZeneca&... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305106 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:02:30 +0100 4305106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304943&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fpatient-educational-dvds-now-being.html By passing the Clinical Establishment Act, the Indian government is planning to make accreditation compulsory for clinics, to ensure that patients get good quality medical care from doctors, because they will be forced to meet basic standards.I am thrilled to observe that one of the requirements for accreditation is that doctors provide patient educational materials in their clinics.The good news is that innovative companies like PEAS ( in which I am an angel investor) are producing patient educational DVDs in Indian languages, customised for Indian patients !Information Therapy will hopefully become an integral part of Indian medical practise ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304943 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:53:00 +0100 4304943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304975&cid=t_99925_115_f&fid=34678&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FScanMansNotes%2F%7E3%2FROcF4cgHe7Y%2F … Three news articles in the first two days of the new decade indicate that the Medical Council of India is contemplating a major overhaul of medical education in India Beginning with undergraduate medical education (MBBS). The Hindu: MCI suggests major reforms in undergraduate course [my comments in bold italics in parentheses] The MCI has recommended major reforms in the undergraduate course in medicine by converting conventional education into a competency-based module to develop skilled doctors through early clinical exposure. It has also suggested doubling the intake of medical students to meet the healthcare needs of the country in the coming years. Pointing out that the current undergraduate curriculum in medicine did not make an MBBS degree holder feel equipped with adequate sk... scan man's notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304975 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 03:43:58 +0100 4304975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302172&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fimproving-standards-for-indian-doctors.html On Sunday, the quasi-governmental organization, Quality Control of India will introduce the accreditation process with the first stop of healthcare for most consumers: neighbourhood doctors. "Once the government passes the Clinical Establishments Act, it will be binding on all healthcare providers to seek accreditation," said QCI secretary general Dr Giridhar Gyani.How will Cliniq 21st help patients? It will mean that a doctor with the brand has been attending continued medical education (CME) lectures, he or she will provide health checkups for his/her staff and the clinic will have minimum required emergency care equipment and the place will be fumigated once a week. "Once patients or their relatives see this Cliniq 21st board outside a doctor's chamber or a clinic, they can expect a cer... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302172 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 05:48:00 +0100 4302172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4288580&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fhow-do-infections-cause-male.html The most common cause of azoospermia in India was previously smallpox. This infection injured the epididymis, leading to ductal obstruction. Fortunately, this particular disease is now of historical importance only, as it has been wiped out. Tuberculosis also harms the epididymis, causing azoospermia. Nevertheless, making the correct medical diagnosis of tuberculous epididymitis can be quite difficult, since it is often a silent as well as indolent disease. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis along with other STDs ( sexually transmitted diseases) might also create chaos with the man's genital system; leading to irreparable injury to its epithelium (inner lining).Mumps may also cause orchitis (inflammation of the testis) - particularly when this impacts younger males. This may result in signific... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4288580 Sun, 26 Dec 2010 04:39:00 +0100 4288580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4288581&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fhow-can-you-be-sure-your-ivf-clinic-is.html One of the major decisions infertile patients have to make is - How to pick a really good IVF clinic? The majority of IVF treatment centers appear to be identical on paper, and their websites are quite similar (because some unethical doctors will unashamedly copy and paste content from our website!). Many have happy patients - and most IVF specialists talk the identical talk - all of them quote high success rates and claim they are the finest! Exactly how is a poor patient supposed to separate the wheat from the chaff and assure himself that the IVF clinic he's going to is efficient? After all, while it is easy for patients to evaluate a doctor's bedside manner, it's difficult for them to make a call concerning his medical and technical proficiency.Simply because the IVF cycle fails doesn'... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4288581 Sat, 25 Dec 2010 04:31:00 +0100 4288581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4288553&cid=t_99925_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FAbToL7ckbH8%2F Merry Christmas dear LITFL readers! Have a great day, however you like your bells to jingle. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4288553 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 23:00:49 +0100 4288553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287419&cid=t_99925_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FAbToL7ckbH8%2F Merry Christmas dear LITFL readers! Have a great day, however you like your bells to jingle. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287419 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 23:00:49 +0100 4287419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275397&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Flessons-from-my-daughters-fever.html My daughter has not been well for the last 14 days. She’s been running a fever of about 100- 102 F – and this has been worrisome as a parent. As a doctor , I have learnt quite a bit about how healthcare works ( and does not). What have the lessons been ?As with all illnesses, we hoped that the fever would be self – limited and would settle down on its own. We therefore treated it symptomatically, with masterly inactivity. My wife is now blaming herself for not doing anything for 4 days. However, I think this was the right decision. If we start treating every fever, then we’ll end up wasting time and money on overtesting and overtreatment. Fortunately, the body has quite a bit of its own wisdom and most problems are self-limited. Of course, we have no way of knowing in advance which... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275397 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:12:00 +0100 4275397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272384&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fwhat-i-have-learnt-from-trying-to-learn.html One of the reasons my blog has been a little neglected lately is that I have been trying to learn Sanskrit. Learning a new language is hard work – especially for someone like me, who has poor aural skills ! What have a learnt during this journey ?The key is to find a good teacher, and I have been very fortunate in finding a superb guru ! This is Mr Sudhir Kaicker who teaches Sanskrit out of the love of his heart – and keeps me going when I falter or feel that I am never going to make any progress ! He never criticizes and is extremely patient and supportive. He’s taught me a lot – and not just Sanskrit, but how to help others to learn !However, the surprising lesson for me was the discovery that I learn a lot from other students ! We are all in the same boat – and while strugglin... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272384 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 04:00:00 +0100 4272384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266264&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FSZ-Te091wg0%2F And so another working week draws to a close, which means the time has come to daydream, just a little, about our weekend plans - a brisk walk with the official Pharmalot mascots, spending time with our short people and taking a nap or two. What about you? Will you brave the shopping crowds? Curl up with your favorite e-book reader? Connect with a special person? Whatever you do, we hope you have a pleasant time. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits to jumpstart the day. Stay in touch…. Merck Extends Deadline For Closing Organon Dutch Facilities (Reuters) Your Pharmaceutical Cargo Theft Update (Securing Pharma) Celgene Raises Revlimid Price To $85K A Year (Dow Jones) FDA Considers Generic User Fees (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Sanofi-Aventis And Merck KGgA Sign Cancer Drug Deal (Bloomberg N... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266264 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:44:28 +0100 4266264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245603&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FmW_dDStfJV4%2F Hello, everyone. Another sunny - and cold - day here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are, as usual, hustling the short people off to this or that school house. To keep warm, we are brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation and searching for some hot news. Meanwhile, here are a few items of interest. We hope your days goes well. Do stay in touch… Pfizer Names Simmons As Head Of Emerging Markets (Bloomberg News) Teva’s MS Drug Meets Primary Endpoint (Reuters) Nigeria Denies Blame For Delay In Pfizer Payments (AllAfrica) India Will Not Compromise Local Pharma In EU Pact (LiveMint) Roche Advances Schizophrenia And MS Drugs (Reuters) Daily Aspirin Slashes Cancer Risk: Study (PharmaTimes) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245603 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:00:39 +0100 4245603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230203&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fexcellent-website-on-health-in-marathi.html I just stumbled across this excellent website on health in Marathi !As far as Indian patients are concerned, there are 2 major problems with the internet as a source of health information.1. Most of the material is in English.2.Very little information is India-specificIt's great to see that doctors like Dr Ashtekar have taken the initiative to fill this huge gap ! Keep it up - and I just hope many other doctors will be inspired to follow in his foot-steps ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230203 Sat, 04 Dec 2010 17:08:00 +0100 4230203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4219830&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fwhy-my-father-is-my-hero-and-role-model.html My father is an ENT surgeon who has now retired. What's remarkable about him is how active he still remains. He is a proponent of organic farming; and this video demonstrates the remarkable work Mr Deepak Suchde is doing at his organic farm ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4219830 Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:43:00 +0100 4219830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214486&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FytaYMSbbu9s%2F Rise and shine, everyone. Another day is on the way. And here on the busy Pharmalot corporate campus, we have already fed the official mascots, hustled one of the short people off to the local school house and brewed a cup of stimulation. What next? Documents to read, phone calls to return and the never-ending search for new ideas. While we get started, here are some tidbits to help you jumpstart your own routine. Have a good one and stay in touch… More Clinical Trials Are Being Held In India (The Times of India) BRIC CRO’s Are Getting More Business (Outsourcing Pharma) UK ‘Patent Box’ Will Create New Jobs (Pharma Times) AstraZeneca Cancer Drug Linked To Toxicity (Wall Street Journal) Mom Vows Fight Against Sanofi Despite Setback (News & Star) The Generic Threa... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214486 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:58:50 +0100 4214486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4200610&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Flooking-for-patient-information.html HELP is India's largest patient education resource center. We want to establish patient education resource centers all over India, to promote Information Therapy. We are now looking to recruit doctors to spearhead this initiative. You will need to create India-specific relevant information for patients; build closer relationships with physicians, pharma and health insurance companies; and help to set up patient education centers at hospitals and train patient information officers.This is an exciting and unique opportunity with helps to Put Patients First !Please send your resume to : helplibrary@gmail.com (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4200610 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 05:17:00 +0100 4200610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4229209&cid=t_99925_115_f&fid=34678&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catscanman.net%2Fblog%2F2010%2F11%2Ftop-ima-officers-suspended%2F … via DNA - Centre cracks the whip on Indian Medical Association for endorsing products. Sending a strong signal to doctors endorsing products for private companies, Medical Council of India (MCI) has banned top office-bearers of Indian Medical Association (IMA) from practising medicine for six months. IMA’s national president Goparaju Samaram and secretary Dharam Prakash have been removed from the Indian medical register for six months, which means they cannot practise as doctors in this period. The action was taken following a complaint that IMA was endorsing products for private companies. Earlier, MCI had issued warnings to IMA and affiliated associations to refrain from endorsing such products. This is probably the first time IMA office-bearers have been punished, though MCI ha... scan man's notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4229209 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 03:21:11 +0100 4229209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179525&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FXGVfJpCTsxU%2F Hello, everyone. Another shiny day is unfolding here at the Pharmalot corporate campus where, as usual, we are hustling short people off to the local school house and brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation. A truly busy day, however, lies in store. You know that feeling, yes? So please join us as we prepare for another round of meetings and deadlines. And of course, here are some tidbits to get us going. Have a good one and see you soon… Pfizer And Cipla May Ink Global Supply Deal (The Times of India) Genzyme Sells Diagnostic Unit To Sekisui Chemical (Reuters) India Tightens Clinical Trial Guidelines (Outsourcing Pharma) Israeli Biotechs Flock To Ohio For Funds And Experts (Bloomberg News) FDA Panel Backs Merck’s Gardasil To Thwart Anal Cancer (Associated Press) Montana Gover... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179525 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:55:37 +0100 4179525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168026&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fwanted-patient-information-officer-for.html HELP is the world's largest free patient education library, located in Mumbai.We are looking for Patient Information Officers, to help promote Information Therapy in India.You will help to empower patients with information.If you are interested in this exciting job which please email your resume to: malpani@vsnl.com ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168026 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:51:00 +0100 4168026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4155402&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FB8VV4pLwrP4%2F Good morning, everyone. Another brand new day is under way here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where the short people are showing signs of arriving at the local school house on time. This calls for a celebratory cup of stimulation and we invite you to join us. While you indulge, the news of the world awaits you. Have a great day and do stay in touch… J&J Holds Talks To Resolve Risperdal Probe (Dow Jones) Former Pfizer Exec Leaves CEO Job At Cellceutix (Xconomy) Novartis Halts Cancer Drug Trial (TheStreet) Medicare Chief To Make First Appearance Before Congress (Bloomberg News) Hawaii Sues McKesson And First DataBank Over Pricing (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) Activists Lobby India To Reject Obama Lobbying On IP And Meds (Pharmabiz) One Million More Kids Are Diagnoses With ADHD (... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4155402 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:08:24 +0100 4155402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139308&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fwhy-are-patients-so-naive.html I just saw a patient who was at her wit's end. She had done 4 IVF cycles at the same clinic and had failed all of them. She was angry; and was complaining bitterly about how badly the doctor at the IVF clinic had treated her. " She would make us wait for hours - and we only got a chance to talk to her at the first consultation. After this, all the care was provided by her assistants, who refused to allow us to meet Madam ! "I asked her some basic questions about her medical treatment. " I need more details about your prior IVF cycles . What were the medications which were used for superovulation ? What was the dose used ? How many follicles did you grow ? How many eggs were collected ? What was the E2 ( estradiol) level in the blood ? How many embryos were transferred ? What was the embryo... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139308 Sat, 06 Nov 2010 07:52:00 +0100 4139308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139214&cid=t_99925_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3nvUMBUeJXg%2F By Daniel GriswoldDuring his visit to India, President Obama should bury once and for all his divisive rhetoric about American companies shipping jobs overseas. Our growing commercial ties with India are a great opportunity, not a problem. U.S. exports to India have doubled in the past four years. American companies that have set up shop in India have helped to fuel demand in that country for U.S. products and services. The president should be celebrating rather than demonizing our deeper economic ties with India. Commercial Ties with India Are An Opportunity, Mr. President–Not A Problem is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139214 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:00:53 +0100 4139214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139481&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FYx4Lr3S96k8%2F Good morning, everyone. And we are happy to say that the time has come to daydream - just a wee bit - about the weekend. With any luck, we hope to catch up on some reading, perhaps see a movie and frolic with the short people. Never mind the leaves piling up. What about you? A drive in the country? Dinner with someone special? Whatever you do, have a good time. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits. See you soon… FDA Approves Lilly’s Cymbalta For Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain (Reuters) Roche Melanoma Drugs Shows Promise In Study (Reuters) Canada’s Share Of Health Spending To Drop (PharmaTimes) Acceleron Cuts 40 Percent Of Its Workforce (Boston Globe) Teva Backs 2015 Goals (The Wall Street Journal) Zydus Claims Injunction Against Generic Strattera Doesn’t Apply (Law.com) G... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139481 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:06:46 +0100 4139481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133664&cid=t_99925_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHv3bLt3_CDY%2F By Swaminathan S. Anklesaria AiyarTo make his coming visit to India meaningful, President Obama needs to combat the impression that India fares better with Republican presidents than Democratic ones, because the latter are instinctively more protectionist. In his quest for economic recovery, he has bashed US corporations that outsource jobs to places like India, forbidden companies getting government rescue funds from outsourcing work, and has now enacted higher visa fees for visiting IT professionals which seem designed to hit Indian companies quite specifically. This may be designed to win votes in the Congressional elections, but will not win hearts and minds in India. President Obama needs to state categorically that he will not follow the Great Depression formula of trying to combat u... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133664 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:00:44 +0100 4133664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4122071&cid=t_99925_151_f&fid=35797&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewrecovery.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fif-alcohol-were-invented-today.html [Originally posted on hellowellness.in 29 Sept 2010]The word 'alcohol' was coined around 1540 by an Arabic chemist to describe the fine powder, or 'kohl,' used to stain or paint the eyelids.  Two centuries later, British writers borrowed the word to describe the intoxicating essence of wine -- an ironic twist, since the original Arabic chemist was very likely a Muslim and, as such, forbidden to drink it.  If alcohol were invented today, international law would class it with the controlled substances, alongside opium, heroin, cocaine and the like.  The World Health Organization (WHO), in its most recent comprehensive report, writes:Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with a known liability to produce dependence in humans and animals. If considered in the frame of the 1971 Con... New Recovery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4122071 Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:19:00 +0100 4122071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119709&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F1YpzzeHadKw%2F Are you worried that you may soon join the thousands of other former sales reps looking for work? Are you already among them? Yet you hold out hope of finding yet another position knocking on a doctor’s door? Well, you’re in luck. We know of a company that wants to hire 5,000 reps - that’s right, 5,000. There’s one catch - it’s going to be a long commute if you’re not already in India. No, we’re not kidding. PharmexxIndia, an outsourcing firm, plans to hire that many reps to blanket the market over the next five years. With predictions that the Indian market will surge, managing director Chenthir Kumaran tells The Business Line that science grads and pharmaceutical diploma holders will be sought, and about 3,000 will be deployed in rural and semi-... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119709 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 21:20:17 +0100 4119709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119138&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fhow-do-we-decide-how-many-embryos-to.html Saiprasad Gundeti, Senior Embryologist, Malpani Infertility ClinicThere are multiple variables which need to be considered while deciding how many embryos to transfer.When we decide about the number of embryos to transfer , our aim is to :Select Top Quality Embryo(s) for transferMaximise the chances of pregnancy.Minimise the risk of failure.Minimise the risk of multiple pregnancy.Each country has its own policies depending upon their patient population, their healthcare system and their laws.In Scandinavian countries , not more than one embryo is allowed to be transferred.In such countries, doing a Day 5 transfer is ideal.Top Quality Day 5 EmbryoThat’s not the case in India where we can transfer multiple embryos. However, we need to individualise this decision for each patient ! More is ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119138 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 05:32:00 +0100 4119138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4098460&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FHCAp9mIKhM0%2F The US trade group representing the world’s biggest drugmakers are meeting today in India to review a recent proposal that endorsed the use of compulsory licensing to assure that prices - particularly for cancer and AIDS meds - remain affordable. The notion was floated two months ago by the Indian Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in response to a growing wave of deals in which multi-national drugmakers have been acquiring Indian companies (back story). “Most of these companies are export oriented,” the DIPP wrote in its paper. “There is a concern that their takeover by multinationals will further orient them away from the Indian market, thus reducing domestic availability of the drugs being produced by them. This may weaken competition leading to headroom for incre... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4098460 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:51:55 +0100 4098460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077351&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fabuse-and-misuse-of-surrogacy.html Surrogacy in India gets a lot of press - and often for all the wrong reasons.There's a lot of talk about how rich Westerners are coming to India for surrogacy and exploiting poor women by using their uterus to have a baby.Actually, it is true that there is a lot of exploitation occurring - but it's not just the poor women who are being exploited.In my opinion, a lot of the exploitation is by the IVF clinics - but not of the poor women, but of the rich infertile couples who come to them for treatment !Many infertile couples are quite desperate to have a baby and are willing to clutch at straws. They've read a lot about how India has become the surrogacy capital of the world - and how it is much less expensive to do surrogacy in India than in other parts of the world. Because so many of them... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077351 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:40:00 +0100 4077351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077352&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fhow-mdconsult-helps-me-to-become-better.html A book which I have found very useful in helping me to grow my practise is Dr Marshall Zaslove's text book, The Successful Physician - A Productivity Handbook for Practitioners.Dr Zaslove emphasises that there are 3 tools you need to master if you want to become a successful doctor.1. Time management, to improve your efficiency. Remember that you are a daily-wages earner - and the more productive you are, the better your clinic will run ! Doctors are often a major bottleneck in a clinic's efficiency ( but are often not smart enough to realise this , or too clueless to fix the problem. )2. Relationship management ( which includes dealing with patients, staff and colleagues)3. Knowledge managementIn this post, I'd like to focus on knowledge management. The reason patients come to doctors is ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077352 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 04:39:00 +0100 4077352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074172&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fwhy-do-indian-doctors-provide-such-poor.html Indian doctors have an excellent reputation for their clinical skills and patients all over the world look upto them . Because of their exposure to a large number of patients during their training in medical college, they have a lot of clinical experience; excellent diagnostic acumen; and are technically proficient. They are quite conscientious and are willing to work long hours for the sake of their patients.However, most doctors in India still do not use technology intelligently. The majority do not bother to store and keep their patient's medical records ; or if they do, it's done in an extremely disorganised fashion. Most prescriptions are hand written illegible scrawls - and most doctors still manage their clinics very poorly . The doctor is often rushing from clinic to clinic , while... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074172 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 04:02:00 +0100 4074172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4054866&cid=t_99925_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2010%2F10%2F11%2Findia-7%2F Bihar State, India – April 2010 A boy holds a small fish he found while digging out a ditch around a rice field. Food insecurity is a root cause of childhood malnutrition in Darbhanga District. MSF runs a nutrition program, in cooperation with the ministry of health, treating children with severe acute malnutrition in Biraul Block, in Darbhanga District in Bihar State, one of the poorest states in India. The program currently consists of a stabilization center, one fixed and three mobile ambulatory therapeutic feeding centers where patients come for weekly check-ups and to receive rations of therapeutic ready-to-use foods. From the start of the project in February 2009 up to May 2010, more than 2,920 patients were enrolled in the program and nearly 250 admitted to the stabilization c... MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4054866 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 07:40:01 +0100 4054866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045390&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVlI5FAUruKA%2F The ongoing trade talks between India and the European Union are inflaming passions among some consumer activists, who worry a Free Trade Agreement will limit access to medicines. And so a protest was held in front of the Indian Commerce Ministry in New Delhi in which an effigy of the minister was burnt. And then the police start swinging batons at the members of Delhi Network of Positive People, who are agitating on behalf of people with HIV and AIDS. Activists say the trade talks include proposals that could delay or restrict Indian generic drug makers by extending patent terms for brand-name meds, requiring data exclusivity and imposing tighter rules on enforcing borders. A recent report in the Journal of the International AIDS Society suggests prices could rise and access delayed to im... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045390 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:05:41 +0100 4045390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4027243&cid=t_99925_115_f&fid=34678&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.catscanman.net%2Fblog%2F2010%2F09%2Fdiluting-medical-care%2F This article is also cross-posted in his blog. … In July 2010 the Madras High Court, in a landmark judgment, ruled that doctors qualified in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine can practice ‘modern scientific medicine’ along with their respective systems. This Judgment was further buttressed by a Government Order (GO) issued by the Department of Health, Government of Tamilnadu, permitting practitioners of traditional systems of medicine to prescribe allopathic drugs and perform a range of surgical procedures including orthopedics, gynaecology, ENT, Ophthalmology etc. To understand the grave dangers posed by this unfortunate decision, one must understand the evolution of traditional and ‘modern’ medicine. Conventional medicine that is practiced around the world... scan man's notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4027243 Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:41:37 +0100 4027243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4025610&cid=t_99925_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMII5tKb42w0%2F By David BoazFree-marketers often point to the varying success of pairs of countries — the United States vs. the Soviet Union, West vs. East Germany, Hong Kong and Taiwan vs. China — to illustrate the benefits of markets over planning, regulation, and socialism. Some even point out the closer but real differences in GDP per capita between the United States and Western Europe. In his 1984 book Endless Enemies (p. 380) Jonathan Kwitny added the less familiar pairs “Morocco versus Algeria, Malaysia versus Indonesia, Thailand versus Burma, Kenya versus Tanzania.” Now Rama Lakshmi reports in the Washington Post that we can see the results of two systems of political economy in one country: It didn’t take long for the first athletes arriving in New Delhi last week f... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4025610 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 20:23:37 +0100 4025610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4002976&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fhospitals-crm-and-prm.html CRM ( customer relation management ) is a tool which all service industries to keep their customers happy. While one would expect hospitals to use CRM routinely, unfortunately, most hospitals still do not bother. Given the large patient:hospital bed ratio in India, most hospitals continue to take the approach that patients do not have a choice as to where they can go for their treatment, which is why most hospital staff adopt a high-handed attitude towards patients . Stories of hospital staff rudeness and arrogance are innumerable - and this is reflected in the increasing number of incidents of violence against doctors and hospitals.Progressive hospitals are willing to learn lessons from the hospitality industry , and are willing to implement CRM to help their patients have a better experi... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4002976 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:40:00 +0100 4002976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4002992&cid=t_99925_115_f&fid=34678&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FScanMansNotes%2F%7E3%2F8Qkoejs3EP0%2F … Note: This a guest post by my colleague and neighbour, Dr. George Paul. He is a maxillofacial surgeon and lawyer. He writes and speaks on various legal and ethical issues in medical care. He is also an occasional blogger. His blog is here. … In July 2010 the Madras High Court, in a landmark judgment, ruled that doctors qualified in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine can practice ‘modern scientific medicine’ along with their respective systems. This Judgment was further buttressed by a Government Order (GO) issued by the Department of Health, Government of Tamilnadu, permitting practitioners of traditional systems of medicine to prescribe allopathic drugs and perform a range of surgical procedures including orthopedics, gynaecology, ENT, Ophthalmology etc. To unde... scan man's notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4002992 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 03:28:22 +0100 4002992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987236&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FcB0AB5jloI4%2F Welcome back, everyone. We hope you had a pleasant weekend and feel refreshed. Now, of course, the routine resumes as meetings and deadlines approach. To steel ourselves, we are preparing the mandatory cup of simulation. So please join us as we indulge and scan the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and do stay in touch… Bristol-Myers And Astra Tout Diabetes Study Results (Dow Jones) Roche’s Avastin Fails In Late-State Colon Cancer Study (Bloomberg News) India May Separate Approvals From Patent Status (LiveMint) Drugmakers Protest New Prices In Greece (PharmaTimes) Some African Nations Side With India Over Generics Debate (Economic Times) Genentech Exec Looks Ahead To Rockefeller University (Nature) Novartis Pulls European Application For Blood Pressure Pill (PharmaTime... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987236 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:35:40 +0100 3987236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980885&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fpatient-education-videos-in-indian.html I am an angel investor in PEAS, which makes patient educational videos for Indian patients in Indian languages - Hindi , Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malyalam, and Bengali !They now have an extensive library, which is growing weekly ! Because they use an animated format, they can get the message across to patients with low-literacy as well !Thanks to the flexibility of the audio-visual media format, P.E.A.S™ offers both customers and potential users the benefits of enjoying highly engaging patient education series on multiple channels - whether for personal viewing, online viewing or group sessions. You can watch many of their videos free online - for example the Angioplasty video ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980885 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:07:00 +0100 3980885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3981015&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FhFvpmaAFRys%2F Want to hinder the supply of low-cost, accessible AIDS/HIV meds to poor countries? One way is to continue to implement free-trade agreements between India, which is an increasingly important supplier of these meds, and the European Union, according to a new report co-authored by an official from UNITAID, the United Nations relief organization that supplies the drugs to such nations. How so? Trade talks currently taking place between India and the European Union include proposals that could delay or restrict Indian generic drug makers by extending patent terms for brand-name meds, requiring data exclusivity and imposing tighter rules on enforcing borders. The report, which appears in the Journal of the International AIDS Society, suggests prices could rise and access delayed to improved med... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3981015 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:48:27 +0100 3981015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965704&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0BKEg-uDqt0%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. We hope you enjoyed the weekend, which amounted to an extended break, in our case. In any event, the routine has now returned and, of course, we are brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation to help us along. Please join us with a cup of your own, or a water bottle, perhaps, we scan the news of the world. Have a great day and stay in touch… IRB Delays Frustrate Investigators (OutsourcingPharma) India Becomes A Hub For Counterfeit Meds (The Washington Post) Genzyme Sells Genetics Unit For $925M To LabCorp (Associated Press) An Eli Lilly Scout Discusses Social Media (140conf) AstraZeneca And UCL Sign Stem Cell Deal (The Guardian) Hopes Fade For Roche And Ipsen Diabetes Drug (Reuters) Mcgarrybowen Wins Creative Duties On Pfizer Advil Account (AdWee... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965704 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:56:12 +0100 3965704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933265&cid=t_99925_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaKrQUrCNzEU%2F Good morning, everyone. How are you today? Slowing down just a bit, perhaps? Here in the states, of course, a three-day weekend is fast approaching. And so we will pull in the sidewalks early. We hope you have the opportunity to do the same. Meanwhile, here are a few nuggets to help you close out the week. Whatever you do over the next few days, may it be enjoyable. Cheers… Celldex Says Pfizer Ends Cancer Vaccine Deal (Reuters) Allergan Steps Up Overseas Clinical Trials (CBS News) Novartis Experimental Malaria Drug May Be First In 30 Years (Bloomberg News) Abbott Cancels Sale Of Solvay Vaccines Unit (The Wall Street Journal) Accenture And ICRI Partner On Indian Clinical Research Training (Outsourcing Pharma) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933265 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:02:08 +0100 3933265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3920925&cid=t_99925_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fmaking-use-of-tradtional-remedies-for.html Infertile couples in India will often resort to using traditional medicines . Many will go to temples and take a prasad or tie a holy thread to help them to have a baby. Not only does traditional medicine have a long history in India, it has also helped many couples with unexplained infertility to have a baby, which means it has an established track record of success !However, many modern IVF doctors make fun of these "remedies". They believe these are useless, and will often discourage a patient from adopting these.It's not smart to do this. A good doctor respects a patient's beliefs, and understands that different people have different world views - and there is no one right way of looking at things ! After all, IVF specialists and Western medicine do not have a monopoly on the truth !Th... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3920925 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:55:00 +0100 3920925