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Sonologists to practise only at 2 places: HC

The Gazette Notification of 04 June 2012 issued by the Government of India has been stayed by a double-judge bench of the hon’ble Delhi High Court, announced Padma Shri Dr Harsh Mahajan, National President, Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA). The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Gazette Notification restricted radiologists/ sonologists from visiting no more than two clinics within a district to perform ultrasound and made it mandatory to specify their consulting hours at each clinic. Disproving the Government stand based upon the low female-male sex ratio in India, IRIA convinced the learned judges that the new notification would adversely affect India’s healthcare delivery system as well as poor patients the most.

Clarifying the issue, Dr Harsh Mahajan said: “The Indian Radiological and Imaging Association made it extremely clear that its members were equally concerned about the scourge of sex-selective abortions. Unfortunately, the measures taken by the Government being misdirected, they would in no way help arrest the declining sex ratio. Instead, these steps would lead to the denial of ultrasound facilities to the general public for diagnosing numerous diseases that had nothing to do with pregnancy ultrasound. IRIA also highlighted that pregnancy ultrasound comprises only about 2–5% of all ultrasounds radiologists perform, but the notification would unfairly impact other tests too.”

Some salient points of the judgment:

The restriction on an ultra-sonologist practising only at two places in a district has been stayed, allowing them to practice in as many places as before. The IRIA has, however, advised all its members who have changed their place of working since the law came into force, but did not get their names deleted from the other places, to do so quickly. This is to avoid the impression that sonologists are practising in more places than they actually do.

The restriction to practice only during specified hours has also been stayed. Although sonologists will need to specify their working hours at each centre, they may perform ultrasound at any time in case of exigency. ‘Exigency’, in this context, is a very wide-ranging word covering all situations. Read more…

NPPA revises prices of 154 drug formulations

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has fixed/ revised the prices of 154 drug formulation packs as on 19th July, 2012. Of these, Ceiling Prices have been fixed in respect of 138 drug formulation packs, which are applicable to all manufacturers.  Company specific Non-ceiling prices have been fixed in case of 16 packs of drug formulation.
 
The prices have been fixed for the first time in respect of 33 drug formulation packs. No price increases have been allowed in respect of 17 packs keeping the consumer interest in view.  In the case of 80 packs, the prices have been reduced from the existing level ranging from 0.12% to 37.76%.  In the case of 24 packs, prices have been increased ranging from 0.64% to 31.40%  to accommodate the unavoidable increase in input Raw material cost, Conversion cost, Packing Charges and Packing Material Norms in order to make availability of the essential drugs to the consumers. In absolute term the price reduction ranges from `0.04 to `3.52 per pack.
 
The drug formulation containing the Vitamin C & its derivatives have been revised on Suo-moto basis to pass on the benefit of reduction in bulk drug prices to consumers as manufacturers failed to send price revision application to NPPA within the stipulated time limit of 30 days as per DPCO, 1995.  In these cases the prices have been reduced ranging from 0.12% to 37.76% than the existing price resulting lower price for Vitamin C formulations which will benefit the consumers at a large.
 
The revised prices have been fixed strictly per the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 1995 and the guidelines in this regard.  The revised price lists are to be issued by the manufacturers/importers under sub paragraph (3) of paragraph 14 of the DPCO, 1995 and the compliance  should be reported to the government/NPPA, State Drug Control Authorities and distributors, wholesalers and retailers or any other agent.. Read more…

Infocus News

IIFL recommends 'Add' Lupin

IIFL Institutional Equities, a part of the IIFL Group, one of the leading players in the Indian financial services space, recommends “Add” Lupin.

According to IIFL report, Lupin’s 1QFY13 results were better than our estimates: revenue at Rs22.5bn (up 44% YoY) and reported Ebitda at Rs4.7bn (up 61% YoY) were 6% and 3% ahead of our estimates respectively.

Adjusted for forex losses and better profit from generic Geodon (one-off) in the US, we estimate that core Ebitda was better by 6%. We raise our estimate for operating profit by 2-3%; but this would be completely offset by higher-than-expected tax rate, report stated.

Although growth outlook remains robust, rich valuations at 10-35% premium over peers may limit upside to the stock price. We raise our target price to 620; maintain ADD, brokerage added.

The report was published by IIFL’s Institutional Equities Research desk.

IIFL recommends 'Buy' on Torrent Pharma

Free generic medicine distribution will improve unmet health needs

Result

Fortis Malar Hospitals Q1 net profit jumps 142%

Fortis Malar Hospitals Ltd., a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Ltd., today announced its unaudited results for the quarter ended June 30, 2012.
 
Financial Highlights for the first Quarter (Q1), ended June 30, 2012
Fortis Malar Hospitals recorded an Operating revenue of Rs. 24.25 Cr., in Q1 2012, a growth of 10% over the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
Operating Profit (EBIDTA) for the period stood at Rs.3.38 Cr, an increase of 34% as compared to Q1, 2011.
Net profit for Q1, 2012, was at Rs.2.69 Cr against Rs.1.11 Cr reported during the same period last fiscal, representing a growth of 142%.
Growth was mainly driven by better performances of Cardiac sciences, Gynaecology,  Gastroenterology, Dialysis and Health checks which grew by 26%, 78%, 38%, 26%, 183%, respectively.
 
Operational Highlights for Q1, 2012

The hospital organized a large number of onsite camps for Corporates and other institutions in Chennai, for Cardiac, Neurology (spine screening), Urology and General medicine.

Fortis Malar expanded its outreach Corporate healthcare programme, by enrolling a larger number of new Organizations,
International camps were conducted at Nigeria and Kenya to educate patients on affordable treatment options available at Fortis Malar Chennai for several diseases.

Dr. Nithya Ramamoorthy, Senior Consultant – OBG, received the “Best Doctor Award” from Tamilnadu Governor, Mr. K. Rosaiah, at a function held at Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai. Read more…

Jyothy Laboratories Q1FY13 net profit zooms 25.68% at Rs.176.2

Domestic News

Fibroscan….Non-invasive technique to diagnose Liver Disorders

In the run-up to World Hepatitis Day – to be commemorated on 28 July – one of the main goals globally is to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and its causes. Despite its staggering toll on human health, hepatitis remains a largely unknown, undiagnosed and untreated group of diseases. Experts are, therefore reiterating the importance of receiving appropriate treatment through timely diagnosis to lower death rates and reduce the suffering of patients.

As part of that endeavor to reduce patient suffering novel, non-invasive techniques are today available to diagnose liver diseases. One such tool is Fibroscan – a new device that assesses liver fibrosis non-invasively, unlike a liver biopsy that is invasive and painful. Diagnosing fibrosis in patients with chronic Hepatitis, Fibroscan has been shown to be accurate and requires no liver biopsy in this case.
 
“Fibrosis progression is highly unpredictable and an accurate result about the extent of damage to the patient’s liver is extremely important,” said Dr Ajay Kumar, Sr Consultant Gastroenterology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. “Fibroscan is a newer investigation modality which gives us an idea of the extent of damage to the liver. In patients with metabolic disorder like fatty liver and alcoholic liver disease, it serves as next best to biopsy as it is completely safe and non invasive.”
 
An easy-to-use tool, Fibroscan provides multiple controls for reliable, accurate and reproducible assessments of liver tissue stiffness. Apart from measuring liver stiffness, Fibroscan allows assessment of Controlled Attenuation Parameter, developed to detect liver steatosis. The only clinically validated device for non-invasive fibrosis and steatosis quantification, Fibroscan aids in decision making, enhancing both patient and practice management.
 
Dr SL Broor, Sr Consultant Gastroenterology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, elaborated on the technique: “A scan that measures the ‘stiffness’ or ‘elasticity’ of the liver, Fibroscan uses an ultrasound scan to create waves and measure their speed. This tests the stiffness of the liver, indicating the extent of liver fibrosis. Although this scan is less sensitive in detecting mild or moderate liver fibrosis, it is very sensitive at ascertaining severe degree of damage. Patients having chronic liver disease in which liver biopsy cannot be done for fear of bleeding risk, Fibroscan is very useful to assess the liver damage and plan treatment.” Read more…

Pearson launches revolutionery screening test for dyslexia

Sun Pharma to streamline manufacturing processes: report

Johnson &Johnson launches OTC Congestion Relief Syrup

Aurobindo Pharma receives approval for Metformin Hydrochloride Extended

Wockhardt completes nutrition business sale to Danone

Biocon announces positive results from its Phase 1 Comparative PK-PD Study

Venus Remedies receives US patent protection for Potentox

PMO to give final call on FDI in pharma

International News

Proparco Invests US$12.50mn in Stride's African Arm

Strides Arcolab Limited announced that Proparco, a French Development Financing Institution, has invested US$12.50mn in the form of equity participation for a 20% stake in Strides’ African front-end arm, valuing the African operations at about US$60mn.

The proceeds will be used to create additional manufacturing infrastructure in key markets in Africa and to build a regional Company with the philosophy of “In Africa for Africa”.

Strides has been present in Africa and contributing to the improvement of healthcare by manufacturing and marketing a wide range of lifesaving antibiotics, lifestyle disease related curatives and nutrition/ relief providing formulations.

Sinhue Noronha – CEO, Africa Operations in a statement said: “Africa is the most attractive business opportunity of tomorrow and this partnership with Proparco further strengthens our commitment to providing quality and timely medication to Africans. Creation of additional manufacturing infrastructure will also provide large employment opportunities and economic growth to all associated with the Strides’ African Business and reinforces our belief that Life is Most Precious”

US court bans Lupin from marketing pregabalin drug

Healthcare IT VC Funding raises $293 Million in Q2 2012

Mylan total revenue up 7%