Last Updated on August 8, 2024 by The Health Master
Brand Name of Drugs
The Indian government is gearing up to take a stringent stance against pharma companies employing confusing and risky practice of brand name of drugs.
The primary target is to eliminate lookalike and soundalike brand name of drugs that pose a significant threat to patient safety.
A Dangerous Game of Names
The government is set to introduce a new rule where only the first approved brand name of drugs will be considered valid.
Any subsequent brand name of drugs with a similar name or appearance will be prohibited from entering the market.
To enhance transparency, pharma companies will be required to disclose detailed product formulations alongside brand name of drugs on a government portal.
A recent health ministry discussion highlighted the alarming prevalence of identical brand name of drugs treating vastly different medical conditions.
The potential for severe patient harm due to pharmacy mix-ups was underscored.
Unmasking the Problem
To address this pressing issue, the government plans to make a database of all brand name of drugs publicly accessible through the Sugam portal.
India has grappled with this problem for years, as evidenced by notorious examples like ‘Olvance‘ (for hypertension) and ‘Oleanz‘ (for psychosis), or ‘IMOX‘ (human antibiotic) and ‘INIMOX‘ (veterinary drug).
A Call to Action
The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has already recommended a ban on identical brand name of drugs to safeguard patient well-being.
The Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) has subsequently urged the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks to intensify surveillance of pharmaceutical trademarks.
The DGHS letter emphasizes the critical need to prevent confusion among healthcare professionals and patients, which can lead to medication errors, adverse reactions, and other severe health consequences.
The trademarks office has been instructed to prioritize this issue and tighten regulations for brand name of drugs.
The drugs consultative committee is scheduled to deliberate on the matter this month and provide recommendations.
This decisive action by the government is a crucial step towards ensuring patient safety and restoring public trust in the pharmaceutical industry.
By cracking down on deceptive brand name of drugs, India is setting a strong precedent for protecting its citizens from the perils of medication mix-ups.
Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.
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