Indian helpline to track medicines

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Copied from E-DRUG as fair use.

Dr Vijay Thawani

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Drug prices in India

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[Copied as fair use. Thanks to Gopal Dabade, India, for spotting

this. HH]

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Times Of India Bangalore

Apr 24, 2008

Rupali Mukherjee | TNN

Soon, a helpline to track medicines

New Delhi: There's good news for consumers. If you have been

overcharged while buying a medicine, or simply cannot find a

particular drug in the market, you will soon be able to call a 24X7

helpline and register a complaint.

It will help consumers to seek information on essential drugs and

their prices, and also to locate a cheaper generic version if an

expensive medicine (sold by the brand name) has been prescribed.

The helpline will be run by a consumer organization, VOICE, and

initially funded by the government. A toll free number, which can be

accessed from anywhere in the country, is likely to be introduced

soon. The helpline will also tell you prices of scheduled drugs,

which are under government control.

In another move to benefit the " aam admi " , the government has

decided to promote sale of non-branded generic drugs (cheaper

versions of branded medicines) by setting up drug stores in each

district. These stores -- to be run by non-governmental

organizations and agencies like Red Cross -- will sell drugs at

reduced prices.

A facility for airing grievances and seeking information on

medicines is available from Wednesday on the website of drug

regulator, NPPA (www.nppaindia.nic.in). So, not only can consumers

lodge their complaints online, they can also inform NPPA about

nonavailability or shortage of medicines or about those being sold

without government approval.