A high-level panel constituted by the health ministry is likely to suggest a system of negotiated prices for all new medicines approved in the country. The proposal to control the launch prices of drugs comes at a time when the chemicals and fertilisers ministry, responsible for deciding medicine prices, is busy preparing a national pharmaceutical pricing policy covering all essential medicines.

DoP to continue with production cost-based model for pricing of essential drugs

The Health Ministry has decided to ban serological diagnostic test for tuberculosis, in line with a World Health Organisation recommendation.

The alleged illegal clinical trials of untested drugs by pharmaceutical firms in the country, has come under the judicial scrutiny with the Supreme Court seeking the Centre's stand on a plea for an independent probe into it.

A bench of justices R.M. Lodha and H.L. Gokhale issued notices to the Centre, the Union Health ministry and the Medical Council of India seeking their replies on a Public Interest Litigation alleging that the country is being used for illegal clinical trials by multinational pharmaceutical firms because laxities in implementing laws here.

New Delhi: India has reported its first case of vaccine derived polio virus (VDPV) infection of 2012.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has utilised 84 per cent of the Rs 592.61 crore received from the Centre under the flagship National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme.

After having witnessed a year-long polio free period and being taken off the list of polio endemic countries, India is now looking at the endgame strategy to combat the deadly virus.

With an aim to decide the long-term strategy in fighting the virus, the India Expert Advisory group (IEAG) which consists of experts from both India and abroad will present its recommendation to the government on Friday.

Jaipur: A division bench of the high court has called for an explanation from the Union and state governments on a PIL seeking court intervention on the failure of the governments as also other agencies in checking teh steep decline in sex ratio.

The PIL stated that the anti-dowry law, as also PCPNDT Act are not being complied with, especially in Rajasthan. It was also stated in the PIL that the court should direct that no party in a marriage shall call more than 250 guests for the ceremony.

New Delhi: The annual budget to combat tuberculosis (TB), the deadly air-borne disease, for 2012-13 will see about 80% increase over last fiscal.

A meeting at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday decided to increase the total expenditure on health to 2.5 per cent of the GDP from the current 1.4 per cent by the end of the coming 12th Plan period.

Chaired by Pulok Chatterji, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the meeting decided to request the Planning Commission to allocate adequate resources to achieve the target and motivate and incentivise the States