Health , India , said India had to ramp up its efforts if it had any hope of meeting its WHO targets of a 30 per cent reduction in salt consumption by 2025 . Professor Jha said : “ We need a country wide educational program teaching people about to eat and how to reduce the salt in their diet . It can be done but it needs investment and it needs to be made a priority given our rapidly rising levels of CVD and high blood pressure .
FSSAI TO SHELL OUT RS 482 CRORE ON UPGRADING FOOD TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ( FSSAI ) has rolled out a major scheme for strengthening of Food Testing Infrastructure in the country at an estimated cost of Rs 482-crore , in the light of the recent observations by Mumbai High Court , regarding the urgent need to upgrade Food Testing Laboratories in India .
The Empowered Committee constituted for implementing this scheme held its first Meeting on November 2 , 2016 in New Delhi , which was chaired by Chairperson , FSSAI . Representatives from various Ministries such as Ministry of Health and Family Welfare , Ministry of Food Processing Industries , Export Inspection Council , NABL and seven States / UTs were present . Proposals from 7 States / UTs , namely , Goa , Delhi , Karnataka , Kerala , Madhya Pradesh , Tamil Nadu and Punjab were considered for strengthening their food Testing infrastructure . Two proposals , from Chandigarh ( Punjab ) and Calicut ( Kerala ), were approved in principle . The other States were requested to revise and resubmit their proposals according to the scheme guidelines with mentorship support from FSSAI .
The Committee also approved the proposal for strengthening the Referral Food Laboratory at Central Food Technology Research Institute ( CFTRI ) through provision of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities . Introduction of these equipment facilities would significantly enhance the testing capability of CFTRI for adulteration of honey and pesticide and antibiotic residues in food samples .
INDIA TO UNDERTAKE TB RESEARCH UNDER UNIQUE MISSION MODE
The “ India TB Research and Development Corporation ” ( ITRDC ), a flagship initiative by ICMR , aims to bring together all major national and international stakeholders to develop new tools ( drug , diagnostics , vaccines ) for TB . The vision of the corporation is “ To achieve Elimination of TB from India by investing in new tools ( drugs , diagnostics , vaccines ) as well as provide these solutions to the world .”
Elaborating on the initiative , Dr Soumya Swaminathan , DG ( ICMR ) stated that under the guidance of the Prime Minister of India , TB has been taken as a national priority . The aim is to reduce the incidence of new TB cases by 95 percent and also reduce mortality by 95 percent . She also stated that research will be accelerated to improve cure rates and to accelerate decline in new cases . She added that implementation research will focus on finding and framing strategies to treat TB patients by
involving all stakeholders . The aim is to ensure that all TB patients get assured quality diagnosis and treatment .
The initiative has been undertaken after a consensus from the various Government , Non-Government and international research organizations in a high level meeting with officials from MOH & FW , DBT , CSIR , DST , TDB , WHO , Gates Foundation in Feb 2016 wherein all the members agreed to support the Corporation . The concept also has an in-principle by PMO for setting up a new entity . In a few months time the detailed landscape analysis of the national and global leads in four thematic areas namely diagnostics , vaccines , therapeutics and implementation research has been done and most advanced leads have been identified for taking forward . The first International Scientific Advisory Group ( ISAG ) meeting was convened on 9th and 10th November in New Delhi bringing together the eminent international and national TB experts from four thematic areas . The ISAG consisted of 6 international experts and 3 experts from India .
GOVT TO RECONSIDER ITS EARLIER BAN ON E-PHARMACIES ?
If reports are to be believed , the government may very soon reverse its earlier order on ban on online sale of
health medicines . The decision could be based on expert committee ' s comments that keeping prescription drugs out of the online platform may not be justified to the consumers in present times . The Drugs Consultative Committee has submitted its report to the Drugs Controller General of India ( DCGI ) in this regard . The DCGI ' s office is now set to forward the recommendations by expert committee to the health ministry , which will then take a decision on the implementation .
In May last year , the government had asked the drug regulator to draft guidelines and introduce provisions in the law to monitor and regulate online sale of medicines . However , the regular chemists and pharmacists opposed the move and even went on a daylong strike across the country in October 2015 .
The committee has reportedly suggested number of safeguards , including a legal framework and maintenance of prescription record , while allowing sale of medicines online . It has indicated the consensus in the government as well as among regulators to allow sale of medicines through e-commerce platforms .
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