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FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CURRENT ISSUE

Time and again the scourge of Counterfeit Drugs raises its ugly head. Counterfeiting in all forms is simply a criminal act, which needs severe punishment to be handed out by the long arm of law. The main precipitator of this scourge in developing countries like ours is corruption. Until we take strict measures and stringent action to eradicate this menace, there can be no effective solution.
Our country ranks high in the international list of counterfeiters. What a dubious ranking to have! Though DCGI's survey of 2008 shows only 0.3% drugs as spurious in the market, the ground reality seems to be entirely different. For India to become a major pharmaceutical destination of the world, it has to give the confidence to the global players that the pharma products manufactured in India are not only safe and effective, but also meet the global standards.
Counterfeit drugs are a major threat to public health & safety. Worldwide war on Counterfeit Drugs began in 1985 leading to a series of international round table conferences over the years. In 2006, WHO launched the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT), a partnership of all Anti - Counterfeiting players across the globe.
Moving to the positive side of the spectrum, the Indian Pharma & Healthcare Industry is growing at a great pace. Clinical Trials, Generics and Biopharmaceuticals are the main stimulants. To keep pace with this growth, we need to ensure a flow of highly trained & skilled manpower. Our medical and pharmacy colleges and institutions have not kept pace and need to invest in specialized training. The post product patent era needs R&D and for that we need scientists of the highest caliber to come out of our institutions. In the 1930's Prof. M. L. Schroff pioneered Pharmacy Education in the country. Today, 80 years on we must follow the path shown by him.
By the time the next issue comes out (Mid October), India would (hopefully!) have successfully held the Commonwealth Games. Going by reports in the press, the entire government machinery seems to be in a mess! We must all say a silent prayer on our lips for the success of the games and save the image of India.