Re: Quality of medicines: Reply from LOCOST

[Guest guest]

Here is another reaction on the same issue from Dr Mira Shiva, one

of the leading medical activists. Being reproduced.

Vijay

-------------------------------------------

Dear Dr Narendra ,

Many of us have been involved in the Health Movement as well as in

Rational Drug Use & Rational Drug Policy related activities for

over two & a half decades .

The issue of Access to Medicines for us is clearly based on the

principles of Essentiality , efficacy , Safety , Quality as well as

Affordibility . It is NOT Affordibility alone .

We value LOCOST's contribution in Public Health through its supply

of Rational , affordable drugs of Quality .

Large number of Institutions depend on Locost with which a

relationship of Trust has been built over the years .

Upgrading of their quality control had been undertaken at a fairly

high cost to ensure quality.

Locost does not employ sales Representatives , does not shower

gifts , sponsor conferences to win prescriptions of their drugs ,we

all know ultimately it is the consumers who pay for all these public

Relations excercizes .

It will be good to know Dr Narendra why you asked this question ?

If there is anything additional do get back .

Best wishes

Dr Mira Shiva M.D.

Member Central Council Health

Chairperson Consumer Education Safety Food & Medicine

Member Health Committeee

National Human Rights Commission

-------------------------------------------------------------

> I am reproducing the reply received from LOCOST. Vijay

> -------------------------------------------------------------------

> -- Dear Dr Bachewar, Quality and costs are not either/or. Quality

> cannot be compromised at any rate. Costs are important for

affordable

> access. We are a Schedule M certified and we believe we do not

make any

> compromises. The only way of checking quality is by testing it in

a good

> lab as per the accepted parameters laid in the various

pharmacoepia, and

> in our case the IP. Our pricing shows, we make a profit even

after

> depreciation and tax, that if anything the retail market prices are

> highly inflated and that needs a lot of interrogation.

Sincerely,

> S.Srinivasan for LOCOST

> -------------------------------------------------------------------

-----\

> ---------------------------

>