Health Ministry bans 344 drugs

The Health Ministry has banned 344 fixed drug combinations through a gazette notification issued over the weekend. These include several common cough syrup solutions,analgesics and antibiotic combinations, many of which are sold over the counter.

The ban, which comes into effect immediately, follows recommendations of an expert committee formed to examine the efficacy of these drug combinations. The industry though may question the basis of the ban and seek judicial intervention.

The list of banned drugs includes Nimesulide, which had been a cause of concern for long for health experts for its continued use in India despite being banned in most of the developed nations. Fixed drug combinations have mushroomed in the market as companies in their quest for newer products — and often to beat price control — mix and match ingredients into a single molecule to market them as newer remedies.

Fixed drug combinations have mushroomed in the market as companies in their quest for newer products — and often to beat price control — mix and match ingredients into a single molecule to market them as newer remedies. 

Here is the complete list of all drug combinations banned by the ministry:

* fixed dose combination of Aceclofenac + Paracetamol + Rabeprazole

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Diclofenac

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Cetirizine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Tizanidine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Cetirizine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Diclofenac + Tramadol + Chlorzoxazone

* fixed dose combination of Dicyclomine + Paracetamol + Domperidone

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Paracetamol dispersible tablets

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Diclofenac + Tramadol + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Diclofenac + Paracetamol + Chlorzoxazone + Famotidine

* fixed dose combination of Naproxen + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Serratiopeptidase

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Diclofenac + Famotidine

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Pitofenone + Fenpiverinium + Benzyl Alcohol

* fixed dose combination of Omeprazole + Paracetamol + Diclofenac

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Paracetamol injection

* fixed dose combination of Tamsulosin + Diclofenac

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine + Dextromethorphan + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Diclofenac + Zinc Carnosine

* fixed dose combination of Diclofenac + Paracetamol + Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Magnesium Trisillicate

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Pseudoephedrine + Cetrizine

* fixed dose combination of Phenylbutazone + Sodium Salicylate

* fixed dose combination of Lornoxicam + Paracetamol + Trypsin

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Mefenamic Acid + Ranitidine + Dicyclomine

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Dicyclomine

* fixed dose combination of Heparin + Diclofenac

* fixed dose combination of Glucosamine + Methyl Sulfonyl Methane + Vitamin D3 + Manganese + Boron + Copper + Zinc

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Tapentadol

* fixed dose combination of Tranexamic Acid + Proanthocyanidin

* fixed dose combination of Benzoxonium Chloride + Lidocaine

* fixed dose combination of Lornoxicam + Paracetamol + Tramadol

* fixed dose combination of Lornoxicam + Paracetamol + Serratiopeptidase

* fixed dose combination of Diclofenac + Paracetamol + Magnesium Trisilicate

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Domperidone + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Ammonium Chloride + Sodium Citrate + Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Prochlorperazine Maleate

* Combikit of 3 tablets of Serratiopeptidase (enteric coated 20000 units) + Diclofenac Potassium & 2 tablets of Doxycycline

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Paracetamol Suspension

* fixed dose combination of Aceclofenac + Paracetamol + Famotidine

* fixed dose combination of Aceclofenac + Zinc Carnosine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Disodium Hydrogen Citrate + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + DL Methionine

* fixed dose combination of Disodium Hydrogen Citrate + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Caffeine + Codeine

* fixed dose combination of Aceclofenac (SR) + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Diclofenac + Paracetamol injection

* fixed dose combination of Azithromycin + Cefixime

* fixed dose combination of Amoxicillin + Dicloxacillin

* fixed dose combination of Amoxicillin 250 mg + Potassium Clavulanate Diluted 62.5 mg

* fixed dose combination of Azithromycin + Levofloxacin

* fixed dose combination of Cefixime + Linezolid

* fixed dose combination of Amoxicillin + Cefixime + Potassium Clavulanic Acid

* fixed dose combination of Ofloxacin + Nitazoxanide

* fixed dose combination of Cefpodoxime Proxetil + Levofloxacin * Combikit of Azithromycin, Secnidazole and Fluconazole

* fixed dose combination of Levofloxacin + Ornidazole + Alpha Tocopherol Acetate

* fixed dose combination of Nimorazole + Ofloxacin

* fixed dose combination of Azithromycin + Ofloxacin

* fixed dose combination of Amoxycillin + Tinidazole

* fixed dose combination of Doxycycline + Serratiopeptidase

* fixed dose combination of Cefixime + Levofloxacin

* fixed dose combination of Ofloxacin + Metronidazole + Zinc Acetate

* fixed dose combination of Diphenoxylate + Atropine + Furazolidone * Combikit of Fluconazole Tablet, Azithromycin Tablet and Ornidazole Tablets

* fixed dose combination of Ciprofloxacin + Phenazopyridine

* fixed dose combination of Amoxycillin + Dicloxacillin + Serratiopeptidase * Combikit of Fluconazole Tablet, Azithromycin Tablet and Ornidazole Tablets

* fixed dose combination of Ciprofloxacin + Phenazopyridine

* fixed dose combination of Amoxycillin + Dicloxacillin + Serratiopeptidase

* fixed dose combination of Azithromycin + Cefpodoxime

* fixed dose combination of Lignocaine + Clotrimazole + Ofloxacin + Beclomethasone

* fixed dose combination of Cefuroxime + Linezolid

* fixed dose combination of Ofloxacin + Ornidazole + Zinc Bisglycinate

* fixed dose combination of Metronidazole + Norfloxacin

* fixed dose combination of Amoxicillin + Bromhexine

* fixed dose combination of Ciprofloxacin + Fluticasone + Clotrimazole + Neomycin

* fixed dose combination of Metronidazole + Tetracycline

* fixed dose combination of Cephalexin + Neomycin + Prednisolone

* fixed dose combination of Azithromycin + Ambroxol

* fixed dose combination of Cilnidipine + Metoprolol Succinate + Metoprolol Tartrate

* fixed dose combination of L-Arginine + Sildenafil

* fixed dose combination of Atorvastatin + Vitamin D3 + Folic Acid + Vitamin B12 + Pyridoxine

* fixed dose combination of Metformin + Atorvastatin

* fixed dose combination of Clindamycin + Telmisartan

* fixed dose combination of Olmesartan + Hydrochlorothiazide + Chlorthalidone

* fixed dose combination of L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Calcium + Escitalopram i

* fixed dose combination of Pholcodine + Promethazine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Promethazine

* fixed dose combination of Betahistine + Ginkgo Biloba Extract + Vinpocetine + Piracetam

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Diethyl Carbamazine

* fixed dose combination of Doxylamine + Pyridoxine + Mefenamic Acid + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Drotaverine + Clidinium + Chlordiazepoxide

* fixed dose combination of Imipramine + Diazepam

* fixed dose combination of Flupentixol + Escitalopram

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Prochloperazine

* fixed dose combination of Gabapentin + Mecobalamin + Pyridoxine + Thiamine

* fixed dose combination of Imipramine + Chlordiazepoxide + Trifluoperazine + Trihexyphenidyl

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpromazine + Trihexyphenidyl

* fixed dose combination of Ursodeoxycholic Acid + Silymarin

* fixed dose combination of Metformin 1000/1000/500/500mg + Pioglitazone 7.5/7.5/7.5/7.5mg + Glimepiride 1/2/1/2mg

* fixed dose combination of Gliclazide 80 mg + Metformin 325 mg

* fixed dose combination of Voglibose+ Metformin + Chromium Picolinate

* fixed dose combination of Pioglitazone 7.5/7.5mg + Metformin 500/1000mg

* fixed dose combination of Glimepiride 1mg/2mg/3mg + Pioglitazone 15mg/15mg/15mg + Metformin 1000mg/ 1000mg/1000mg

* fixed dose combination of Glimepiride 1mg/2mg+ Pioglitazone 15mg/15mg + Metformin 850mg/850mg

* fixed dose combination of Metformin 850mg + Pioglitazone 7.5 mg + Glimepiride 2mg

* fixed dose combination of Metformin 850mg + Pioglitazone 7.5 mg + Glimepiride 1mg

* fixed dose combination of Metformin 500mg/500mg+Gliclazide SR 30mg/60mg + Pioglitazone 7.5mg/7.5mg

* fixed dose combination of Voglibose + Pioglitazone + Metformin

* fixed dose combination of Metformin + Bromocriptine

* fixed dose combination of Metformin + Glimepiride + Methylcobalamin

* fixed dose combination of Pioglitazone 30 mg + Metformin 500 mg

* fixed dose combination of Glimepiride + Pioglitazone + Metformin

* fixed dose combination of Glipizide 2.5mg + Metformin 400 mg

* fixed dose combination of Pioglitazone 15mg + Metformin 850 mg

* fixed dose combination of Metformin ER + Gliclazide MR + Voglibose

* fixed dose combination of Chromium Polynicotinate + Metformin

* fixed dose combination of Metformin + Gliclazide + Piogllitazone + Chromium Polynicotinate

* fixed dose combination of Metformin + Gliclazide + Chromium Polynicotinate

* fixed dose combination of Glibenclamide + Metformin (SR)+ Pioglitazone

* fixed dose combination of Metformin (Sustainded Release) 500mg + Pioglitazone 15 mg + Glimepiride 3mg

* fixed dose combination of Metformin (SR) 500mg + Pioglitazone 5mg

* fixed dose combination of Chloramphenicol + Beclomethasone + Clomitrimazole + Lignocaine

* fixed dose combination of Clotrimazole + Ofloxaxin + Lignocaine + Glycerine and Propylene Glycol

* fixed dose combination of Chloramphennicol + Lignocaine + Betamethasone + Clotrimazole + Ofloxacin + Antipyrine

* fixed dose combination of Ofloxacin + Clotrimazole + Betamethasone + Lignocaine

* fixed dose combination of Gentamicin Sulphate + Clotrimazole + Betamethasone + Lignocaine

* fixed dose combination of Clotrimazole + Beclomethasone + Ofloxacin + Lignocaine

* fixed dose combination of Becloemthasone + Clotrimazole + Chloramphenicol + Gentamycin + Lignocaine Ear drops

* fixed dose combination of Flunarizine + Paracetamole + Domperidone

* fixed dose combination of Rabeprazole + Zinc Carnosine

* fixed dose combination of Magaldrate + Famotidine + Simethicone

* fixed dose combination of Cyproheptadine + Thiamine

* fixed dose combination of Magaldrate + Ranitidine + Pancreatin + Domperidone

* fixed dose combination of Ranitidine + Magaldrate + Simethicone

* fixed dose combination of Magaldrate + Papain + Fungul Diastase + Simethicone

* fixed dose combination of Rabeprazole + Zinc + Domperidone

* fixed dose combination of Famotidine + Oxytacaine + Magaldrate

* fixed dose combination of Ranitidine + Domperidone + Simethicone

* fixed dose combination of Alginic Acid + Sodium Bicarbonate + Dried Aluminium Hydroxide + Magnesium Hydroxide

* fixed dose combination of Clidinium + Paracetamol + Dicyclomine + Activated Dimethicone

* fixed dose combination of Furazolidone + Metronidazole + Loperamide

* fixed dose combination of Rabeprazole + Diclofenac + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Ranitidine + Magaldrate

* fixed dose combination of Norfloxacin + Metronidazole + Zinc Acetate

* fixed dose combination of Zinc Carnosine + Oxetacaine

* fixed dose combination of Oxetacaine + Magaldrate + Famotidine

* fixed dose combination of Pantoprazole (as Enteric Coated Tablet) + Zinc Carnosine (as Film Coated Tablets)

* fixed dose combination of Zinc Carnosine + Magnesium Hydroxide + Dried Aluminium Hydroxide + Simethicone

* fixed dose combination of Zinc Carnosine + Sucralfate

* fixed dose combination of Mebeverine & Inner HPMC capsule (Streptococcus Faecalis + Clostridium butyricum + Bacillus mesentricus + Lactic Acid Bacillus)

* fixed dose combination of Clindamycin + Clotrimazole + Lactic Acid Bacillus

* fixed dose combination of Sildenafil + Estradiol Valerate

* fixed dose combination of Clomifene Citrate + Ubidecarenone + Zinc + Folic Acid + Methylcobalamin + Pyridoxine + Lycopene + Selenium + Levocarnitine Tartrate + L-

Arginine

* fixed dose combination of Thyroxine + Pyridoxine + Folic Acid

* fixed dose combination of Gentamycin + Dexamethasone + Chloramphenicol + Tobramycin + Ofloxacin

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Levocetirizine + Phenylephrine + Zinc

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Loratadine + Phenylephrine + Ambroxol

* fixed dose combination of Bromhexine + Phenylephrine + Chlorepheniramine Maleate

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Bromhexine + Guaiphenesin

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Loratadine + Phenylephrine + Dextromethorphan + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Phenylephrine + Caffeine + Levocetirizine

* fixed dose combination of Azithromycin + Acebrophylline

* fixed dose combination of Diphenhydramine + Terpine + Ammonium Chloride + Sodium Chloride + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Paracetamol + Cetirizine + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Loratadine + Dextromethophan + Pseudoepheridine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Dextromethorphan + Dextromethophan + Guaiphenesin + Ammonium Chloride + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Ammonium Chloride + Sodium Citrate

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Phenylephrine + Paracetamol + Zinc Gluconate

* fixed dose combination of Ambroxol + Guaiphenesin + Ammonium Chloride + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphen + Bromhexine + Chlorpheniramine Maleate + Guaiphenesin

* fixed dose combination of Levocetirizine + Ambroxol + Phenylephrine + Guaiphenesin

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Chlorpheniramine + Chlorpheniramine Maleate

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Ambroxol + Guaiphenesin + Ammonium Chloride + Phenylephrine + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Phenylephrine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Triprolidine + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Terpinhydrate + Dextromethorphan + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Zinc Gluconate + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Codeine + Sodium Citrate + Menthol Syrup

* fixed dose combination of Enrofloxacin + Bromhexin

* fixed dose combination of Bromhexine + Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Levofloxacin + Bromhexine

* fixed dose combination of Levocetirizine + Ranitidine

* fixed dose combination of Levocetirizine + Phenylephrine + Ambroxol + Guaiphenesin + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Zinc Gluconate + Paracetamol + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Pseudoephedrine + Dextromethorphan + Cetirizine

* fixed dose combination of Diphenhydramine + Guaiphenesin + Ammonium Chloride + Bromhexine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphen + Promethazine

* fixed dose combination of Diethylcabamazine Citrate + Cetirizine + Guaiphenesin

* fixed dose combination of Pseudoephedrine + Dextromethorphan + Cetirizine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Phenylephrine + Dextromethophan + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Ambroxol + Terbutaline + Dextromethorphan

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Chlorpheniramine + Guaiphenesin

* fixed dose combination of Terbutaline + Bromhexine + Guaiphenesin + Dextromethorphan

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Tripolidine + Phenylephirine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Dextromethorphan + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Pholcodine + Phenylephrine + Promethazine

* fixed dose combination of Codeine + Levocetirizine + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Ambroxol + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Phenylephrine + Dextromethorphan + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Roxithromycin + Serratiopeptidase

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Triprolidine

* fixed dose combination of Acetaminophen + Loratadine + Ambroxol + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Acetaminophen + Dextromethorphan + Phenyephrine + Zinc Gluconate

* fixed dose combination of Diphenhydramine + Guaifenesin + Bromhexine + Ammonium Chloride + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Chlopheniramine Maleate + Codeine Syrup

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Dextromethorphan + Zinc Gluconate + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Desloratadine + Zinc Gluconate + Ambroxol

* fixed dose combination of Levocetirizine + Montelukast + Acebrophylline

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Ammonium Chloride + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Bromhexine + Guaiphenesin + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Acrivastine + Paracetamol + Caffeine + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Naphazoline + Carboxy Methyl Cellulose + Menthol + Camphor + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Cetirizine

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Paracetamol + Levocetirizine + Phenylephrine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Terbutaline + Ambroxol + Guaiphenesin + Zinc + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Codeine + Chlorpheniramine + Alcohol Syrup

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Guaifenesin + Triprolidine

* fixed dose combination of Ammomium Chloride + Bromhexine + Dextromethorphan

* fixed dose combination of Diethylcarbamazine + Cetirizine + Ambroxol

* fixed dose combination of Ethylmorphine + Noscapine + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Dextromethorphan + Ambroxol

* fixed dose combination of Bromhexine + Dextromethorphan + Ammonium Chloride + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Ambroxol + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine + Zinc Gluconate

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Cetirizine + Paracetamol + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethophan + Chlorpheniramine + Guaifenesin + Ammonium Chloride

* fixed dose combination of Levocetirizine + Dextromethorphan + Zinc

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Levocetirizine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorphaniramine + Ammonium Chloride + Sodium Chloride

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Dextromethorphan + Bromhexine + Phenylephrine + Diphenhydramine

* fixed dose combination of Salbutamol + Bromhexine + Guaiphenesin + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Ammonium Chloride + Noscapine + Sodium Citrate

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Dextromethorphan + Bromhexine + Guaifenesin

* fixed dose combination of Diethyl Carbamazine + Chlorpheniramine + Guaifenesin

* fixed dose combination of Ketotifen + Cetirizine

* fixed dose combination of Terbutaline + Bromhexine + Etofylline

* fixed dose combination of Ketotifen + Theophylline

* fixed dose combination of Ambroxol + Salbutamol + Theophylline

* fixed dose combination of Cetririzine + Nimesulide + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Phenylephrine + Paracetamol + Zink Gluconate

* fixed dose combination of Acetaminophen + Guaifenesin + Dextromethorphan + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Tulsi

* fixed dose combination of Cetirizine + Phenylephrine + Paracetamol + Ambroxol + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Guaifenesin + Dextromethorphan

* fixed dose combination of Levocetirizine + Paracetamol + Phenylephirine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Caffeine + Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Ketotifen + Levocetrizine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Levocetirizine + Phenylephirine + Zink Gluconate

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Triprolidine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Caffeine + Paracetamol + Phenylephrine + Cetirizine

* fixed dose combination of Caffeine + Paracetamol + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Ammonium Chloride + Dextromethorphan + Cetirizine + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Paracetamol + Cetirizine + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Terpin + Antimony Potassium Tartrate + Ammonium Chloride + Sodium Citrate + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Terbutaline + Etofylline + Ambroxol

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Codeine + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol+Pseudoephedrine+Certirizine+Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine+Ammonium Chloride + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of N-Acetyl Cysteine + Ambroxol + Phenylephrine + Levocertirizine

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Tripolidine + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Salbutamol + Certirizine + Ambroxol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Bromhexine + Guaifenesin + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Nimesulide + Certirizine + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Naphazoline + Chlorpheniramine + Zinc Sulphate + Boric Acid + Sodium Chloride + Chlorobutol

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Bromhexine + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine + Guaifenesin

* fixed dose combination of Salbutamol + Bromhexine

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Guaifenesin + Certirizine + Acetaminophen

* fixed dose combination of Guaifenesin + Bromhexine + Chlorpheniramine + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Ammonium Chloride + Chloroform + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Salbutamol + Choline Theophylinate + Ambroxol

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Codeine Phosphate + Menthol Syrup

* fixed dose combination of Pseudoephedrine + Bromhexine

* fixed dose combination of Certirizine + Phenylephrine + Paracetamol + Caffeine + Nimesulide

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Cetirizine + Guaifenesin + Ammonium Chloride

* fixed dose combination of Ambroxol + Salbutamol + Choline Theophyllinate + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Chlorpheniramine + Ambroxol + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Vasaka + Tolubalsm + Ammonium Chloride + Sodium Citrate + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Bromhexine + Cetrizine + Phenylephrine IP+Guaifenesin + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Ambroxol + Ammonium Chloride + Chlorpheniramine + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethorphan + Phenylephrine + Cetirizine + Zinc + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Terbutaline + N-Acetyl L-Cysteine + Guaifenesin

* fixed dose combination of Calcium Gluconate + Levocetirizine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Levocetirizine + Pseudoephedrine

* fixed dose combination of Salbutamol + Choline Theophylinate + Carbocisteine

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Vitamin C

* fixed dose combination of Calcium Gluconate + Chlorpheniramine + Vitamin C

* fixed dose combination of Chlorpheniramine + Paracetamol + Pseudoephedrine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Guaifenesin + Bromhexine + Chlorpheniramine + Phenylephrine + Paracetamol + Serratiopeptidase (as enteric coated granules) 10000 SP Units

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Pheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Betamethasone + Fusidic Acid + Gentamycin + Tolnaftate + lodochlorhydroxyquinoline (ICHQ)

* fixed dose combination of Clobetasol + Ofloxacin + Miconazole + Zinc Sulphate

* fixed dose combination of Clobetasole + Gentamicin + Miconazole + Zinc Sulphate

* fixed dose combination of Levocetirizine + Ambroxol + Phenylephrine + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Permethrin + Cetrimide + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Beclomethasone + Clotimazole + Neomycin + lodochlorohydroxyquinone

* fixed dose combination of Neomycin + Doxycycline

* fixed dose combination of Ciprofloxacin + Fluocinolone + Clotrimazole + Neomycin + Chlorocresol

* fixed dose combination of Clobetasol + Ofloxacin + Ketoconazol + Zinc Sulphate

* fixed dose combination of Betamethasone + Gentamicin + Tolnaftate + lodochlorhydroxyquinoline

* fixed dose combination of Clobetasol + Gentamicin + Tolnaftate + lodochlorhydroxyquinone + Ketoconazole

* fixed dose combination of Allantoin + Dimethieone + Urea + Propylene + Glycerin + Liquid Paraffin

* fixed dose combination of Acriflavine + Thymol + Cetrimide

* fixed dose combination of Betamethasone + Neomycin + Tolnaftate + lodochlorohydroxyquinoline + Cholorocresol

* fixed dose combination of Clobetasol + Neomycin + Miconazole + Clotrimazole

* fixed dose combination of Ketoconazole + Tea Tree oil + Allantion + Zinc Oxide + Aloe Vera + Jojoba oil + Lavander oil + Soa noodels

* fixed dose combination of Clobetasol Propionate + Ofloxacin + Ornidazole + Terbinafine

* fixed dose combination of Clobetasol + Neomycin + Miconazole + Zinc Sulphate

* fixed dose combination of Beclomethasone Diproprionate + Neomycin + Tolnaftate + lodochlorhydroxyquinoline + Chlorocresol

* fixed dose combination of Betamethasone + Gentamycin + Zinc Sulphate + Clotrimoazole + Chlorocresol

* fixed dose combination of Borax + Boric Acid + Naphazoline + Menthol + Camphor + Methyl Hydroxy Benzoate

* fixed dose combination of Bromhexine + Dextromethorphan

* fixed dose combination of Dextromethophan + Chlopheniramine + Bromhexine

* fixed dose combination of Menthol + Anesthetic Ether

* fixed dose combination of Dextrometharphan + Chlopheniramine + Ammonium + Sodium Citrate + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Ergotamine Tartrate + Belladona Dry Extract+Caffeine + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Phenytoin + Phenobarbitone

* fixed dose combination of Gliclazide 40mg + Metformin 400mg

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Ambroxol + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine

* fixed dose combination of Oflaxacin + Ornidazole Suspension

* fixed dose combination of Albuterol + Etofylline + Bromhexine + Menthol

* fixed dose combination of Albuterol + Bromhexine + Theophylline

* fixed dose combination of Salbutamol+Hydroxyethyltheophylline (Etofylline) + Bromhexine

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol+Phenylephrine+Levocetirizine+Sodium Citrate

* fixed dose combination of Paracetamol + Propyphenazone + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Guaifenesin + Diphenhydramine + Bromhexine + Phenylephrine

* fixed dose combination of Dried Alumnium Hydroxie Gel + Prophantheline + Diazepam

* fixed dose combination of Bromhenxine + Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine + Paracetamol

* fixed dose combination of Beclomethasone + Clotrimazole + Gentamicin + lodochlorhydroxyquinoline

* fixed dose combination of Telmisartan + Metformin

* fixed dose combination of Ammonium Citrate + Vitamin B 12 + Folic Acid + Zinc Sulphate

* fixed dose combination of Levothyroxine + Phyridoxine + Nicotinamide

* fixed dose combination of Benfotiamine + Metformin

* fixed dose combination of Thyroid + Thiamine + Riboflavin + Phyridoxine + Calcium Pantothenate + Tocopheryl Acetate + Nicotinamide

* fixed dose combination of Ascorbic Acid + Manadione Sodium Bisulphate + Rutin + Dibasic Calcium Phosphate + Adrenochrome mono Semicarbazone

* fixed dose combination of Phenylephrine + Chlorpheniramine + Paracetamol + Bromhexine + Caffeine

* fixed dose combination of Clotrimazole + Beclomethasone + Lignocaine + Ofloxacin + Acetic Aicd + Sodium Methyl Paraben + Propyl Paraben

Gliptin New Anti Diabetes Drug Cuts Treatment Cost by 80%

There's a new diabetes drug in the market which apparently cuts cost by 80%. We kid you not. This comes as good news for millions of diabetics tackling the debilitating disease.

By lowering the cost of therapy for patients by 80%, the new drug in the 'gliptin' family has disrupted the anti-diabetes market. With 15 companies offering offering the drugs, cost for a day's treatment is down from Rs 45 to an average daily price of Rs 9. This miracle drug could make life easier for the people tackling with the disease which gradually attacks and weakens all body organs.

The cost of gliptin treatment amounted to Rs 16,200 per year (at Rs 1,350 per month). With the entry of the new molecule and subsequently aggressive pricing by domestic companies over the past six months, the cost of therapy has dropped to approximately Rs 3,285 a year (at Rs 270 a month), translating into national savings of roughly Rs 1,300 crore for patients. The new entrant teneligliptin is also the fastest selling in the Rs 1,430 crore gliptin family which occupies 20% of the total anti-diabetic market.

Diabetics in the country have something to cheer about. A new drug in the 'gliptin' family has disrupted the anti-diabetes market by lowering the cost of therapy for patients by 80%, making it easier for millions of diabetics to tackle the debilitating disease which gradually attacks and weakens all body organs.

With the launch of teneligliptin molecule, the popular gliptin category has witnessed a price erosion of over 80% in the last six months, bringing down the cost from 45 for a day's treatment to an average of 9, with over 15 companies now offering it.

Most gliptins are priced around 45 for a day's therapy, taking the cost of treatment for patients to nearly 16,500 a year ( 1,350 a month).

The entry of the new molecule and subsequent aggressive pricing has led to the cost of therapy coming down to approximately 3,285 a year (or 270 a month), translating into savings of roughly 1,300 crore for patients.

The new entrant teneligliptin is also the fastest selling in the 1,430 crore gliptin family, which occupies 20% of the anti-diabetic market.

Teneligliptin, a third-generation new oral anti-diabetic drug manufactured by Mumbai-based Glenmark, received regulatory approval and was priced aggressively at nearly 20 for a day's therapy when it was first launched in June last year.

The launch of Zita Plus and Ziten (teneligliptin brands) by Glenmark paved the way for the entry of a host of other players to launch the molecule in the oral diabetic market, which is valued around 6,000 crore.

As per AIOCD data (December 2015), there are 16 teneligliptin brands in the market, with total sale of 36 crore.

The economic burden of diabetes is high in India as most patients pay out-of-pocket, and due to lack of medical reimbursement.

Worse, the cost of treatment also includes consultation, investigations, drugs, monitoring, complications, while the complications related to the disease may increase it substantially.

Dr Anoop Misra, chairman Fortis-C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes says, "Low cost medications are surely needed in India, however, all of us look at safety data before prescribing any medication. For teneligliptin, safety data is not long term, and confined to patients from far eastern countries, hence confidence to prescribe this medication viz-a-viz other gliptins is lower."

With the entry of the new molecule, the cost of therapy has dropped to approximatelyRs 3,285 a year (at Rs 270 a month), translating into national savings of roughly Rs 1,300 crore for patients.

Price war breaks out among anti-diabetes drug Gliptin in Market

Teneligliptin, a drug to control diabetes, is in the middle of an intense price war. While Mankind Pharma reduced its price by 50 per cent within 24 hours of a launch, Glenmark is evaluating the option of decreasing the price. A week ago, Zydus Cadila, another prominent player, already launched the lowest-priced Teneligliptin.

India's Gliptin market, estimated at Rs 2,000 crore yearly, is growing at around 60 per cent annually. Of the 68 million diabetics in India, about 1.85 million are on the Gliptin therapy to manage their type-2 diabetes.

According to October data from the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), the country's anti-diabetic drug market is seeing a growth of 25 per cent at Rs 7,638 crore.

"We are evaluating the option of lowering the price of our two Teneligliptin brands (Ziten and Zita Plus) to get more patients in the advanced Gliptin therapy fold," says Sujesh Vasudevan, president and head of India Business, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.

Glenmark had launched these two drugs earlier this year at Rs 20 a tablet, half the price of the medicine sold by many multinational drug firms. Last year, anti-diabetes drugs accounted for only Rs 100 crore to Glenmark's overall revenue of Rs 6,600 crore. While it is a dominant player in dermatology, the company is now planning to expand its product portfolio in other therapeutic areas like diabetes.

Mankind Pharma, which launched its own Teneligliptin generic 'Dynaglipt' on November 23 at Rs 20 a tablet, decreased the drug's price a day later to Rs 8.60 a tablet.

"Diabetes is a growing epidemic; to cater to it, we are targeting the middle-class and rural diabetic patients, so that it becomes affordable and more economical. The change in prices will help reduce the cost of medicines by about half," said R C Juneja, chairman & founder, Mankind Pharma. The company is targeting at least Rs 200 crore in annual revenue from this drug.

Zydus Cadila, which launched its own generic drug 'Tenglyn' at Rs 7 a tablet a week ago, has no immediate plans to reduce the price further, according to a senior company executive.

"Considering the incidence of the disease, benefits of the drug, and price, Gliptin could become a large-volume drug and face further price erosion as volumes grow," says D G Shah, secretary-general, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA).

The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India, representing multinational companies, refused to comment on the subject.

INTERPRETER OF REMEDIES

Glenmark to reduce teneligliptin prices (Rs 20 per tablet at present)

Mankind & Zydus Cadila have priced these below Rs 10 a tablet

Teneligliptin is a drug of gliptin category that has shown significant results in controlling blood sugar in type-2 diabetics

India reports 32 percent declining in HIV/AIDS

India is estimated to have registered a 66 per cent decline in new HIV infections from 2000 and 32 per cent decline from 2007, according to the latest round of HIV sentinel surveillance and estimations conducted by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), released by the Union Health Ministry.

There were around 86,000 new HIV infections in 2015. The report noted that Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh currently account for 47 per cent of the number of total new infections among adults with each of these States contributing 7,500 or more new infections in 2015.


West Bengal and Rajasthan registered more than 5,000 new HIV infections, but less than 7,500 new infections, while Maharastra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have new infections in the range of 3,000-4,000. Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab have 1,000-2,400 new infections among adults and the rest of the States have less than 1,000 new adult HIV infections in 2015.


New infections among adults have declined by 50 percent or more in the State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur and Odisha during 2007-2015. Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand are the states where annual new infections declined by 32-47 percent during the same period.

However a rising trend in new infections among adults during 2007-2015 has been detected in Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh.

The report further noted that since 2007, the number of AIDS-related deaths declined by 54 percent in 2015 with an estimated 67,600 people dying of AIDS-related causes nationally.

The annual number of AIDS deaths has declined by 70-81 per cent during 2007-2015 in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Annual AIDS related deaths declined by 60-70 percent from baseline values of 2007 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland, while a decline of 40-47 percent was estimated in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Punjab.

Every year 35 lakh babies are born prematurely in India, Health Minister JP Nadda tells Parliament

Over thirty five lakh babies are born annually in India, making it the country with the highest number of premature births of infants, according to a World Health Organisation report.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda told the Parliament on Tuesday while replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, "As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) Publication 'Born too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth' out of an estimated annual 2.7 crore live births, in India 35 lakh babies are born preterm and out of these 3.03 lakh babies die due to complications of preterm birth."

He said that Under National Health Mission (NHM), key interventions are being implemented all over the country to bring down infant mortality rates.

"Under NHM, government promotes institutional delivery through Janani Suraksha Yojna cash incentive scheme for pregnant mothers and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram which entitles all pregnant women and sick infants to absolutely free and no expense treatment at public health facilities," the Minister said.

He said under NHM, strengthening of newborn care services by establishing facilities for the care of sick newborns such as Special New Born Care Units, New Born Stabilisation Units and New Born Care Corners and provision of home-based newborn care through Asha workers is provided.

Health Minister J P Nadda and Priyanka Chopra launch campaign to combat anemia among teenagers

The Health Ministry officially launched a programme on Wednesday to cut down on anaemia levels among the large adolescent population in the country. Anaemia is a medical condition in which a person suffers from lack of red blood cells/haemoglobin in his/her blood levels, resulting in fatigue, impaired physical growth and weariness. The condition occurs due to deficiency of iron.

Government data show that at least 56 per cent of girls and 30 per cent of boys in the age group of 15-19 years in India are anaemic, with a large percentage suffering from moderate to severe anaemia.

Under the programme titled ‘Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation’ (WIFS), adolescent children, who go to government or aided school as well as those who have dropped out, will be administered a tablet once a week for 13 months. Counselling and a proper information campaign will also be conducted to ensure timely implementation of the programme.

“Through this programme, we can can turn a young India into a healthy India. It is a matter of great happiness for me,” said JP Nadda, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, at the launch in New Delhi. He added that the programme aims to cover 11.2 crore adolescents across the country.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that the young energy is channelized in the right direction. This can only be achieved if the adolescents are physically and mentally well-prepared for the future of their country,” he said.

The launch was also attended by popular actress Priyanka Chopra, who is the UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador.

“The statistics for anaemia are so scary, particularly among the girl child. WIFS is a way of solving our problem to a great extent,” said Chopra, who has spent almost a decade endorsing the campaigns of the Health Ministry and UNICEF.

Chopra said that her health improved to a great extent after she started taking the iron tablets.

In India, even though malnutrition is widely prevalent among men, women and children, lack of leadership and political action has resulted in millions suffering stunted growth and high incidence of heart diseases. The mortality rate among children below the age of five is also high in India.

“Although examples of state-level leadership are emerging, we believe that national policy commitments and national target-setting are critical to clarifying and emphasising policy priorities,” wrote Lawrence Haddad and Purnima Menon, senior research fellows at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Renewed focus also needs to be on India’s national health spending, which has gone down from 4.5 per cent of GDP in 2004 -05 to 4 per cent in 2013-14. World bank data showed that in US, the health expenditure is 17% of the GDP in 2013-14 and 9% in the UK.

Through this initiative, launched on Wednesday, at least 11.2 crore adolescents across the country would be given iron and folic acid supplements to reduce nutritional anaemia.

Nadda said that a nationwide campaign is the need of the hour as "accessibility is not the problem, awareness is".

"We have to make India aware about the issue, resources are not a problem. It is a step to make young India healthy India," he said.

The minister also said: "People start comparing countries and say that India is not up to the mark but that is wrong. We should compare India to equivalent countries. India is a country that cannot be compared as it has own strengths and weaknesses."

Priyanka Chopra also lent her voice to a video clip made for taking the message about the benefits of the tablet forward. The actress said that she feels fortunate to be a part of a campaign for the next generation.

The programme will reach adolescents through schools and anganwadi centers on a fixed day of the week. Biannual de-worming for control of worm infestation, information and counselling to improve their dietary intake and screening for moderate and severe anaemia will also undertaken in the programme.

Realising that pills tend to repel children, the health ministry is also mulling various options of providing food supplements in place of tablets.

As the campaign focusses on young India, the event saw a teenager Kajal, who is associated with an NGO working towards the same goal, list out her favourite dishes and she also narrated how she lost her younger sister due to the lack of care at the right time.

Talking about future plans, Nadda said: "We are taking help of digital India as well. Soon, message in regional languages will come on mobile phones asking about the medicines."

UNICEF representative to India Louis Georges Arsenault also attended the programme.

Mother's Health and Poverty Behind Child Malnutrition In India

Short maternal stature, extreme poverty, poor dietary diversity and mother's lack of education are among the top five risk factors for malnutrition in children in India, according to a new Harvard study.

Nearly 40 per cent of all children in India are stunted - of extremely low height for their age - and nearly 30 per cent are underweight, researchers said.

The study from Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health has now pinpointed the five top risk factors responsible for more than two-thirds of the problem.

The study is the first to comprehensively analyses and estimate the relative importance of known risk factors for child under nutrition.

Examining an array of 15 well-known risk factors for chronic under nutrition among children in India, the study found that the five top risk factors were essentially markers of poor socioeconomic conditions as well as poor and insecure nutritional environments in children's households.

Using data on nearly 29,000 children aged 6-59 months from the 3rd India National Family Health Survey, conducted in 2005-06, the researchers found that the five most important predictors of childhood stunting and underweight were short maternal stature, a mother with no education, extreme poverty, poor dietary diversity and maternal underweight.

Meanwhile, factors such as Vitamin A, breastfeeding, use of iodised salt, improved water and sanitation, and even immunisation - all currently high priority interventions in the global discourse on addressing under nutrition - accounted for less than 15 per cent of the cases of under nutrition.

"There is an immediate need to not waste time and resources on short-term and 'doable' interventions," said study senior author S V Subramanian, professor of population health and geography.

"While asking people to change behaviours and offering piecemeal solutions might provide some short-term relief, such strategies cannot be substituted for the urgent need to improve food and livelihood security," Mr Subramanian said.

The study was published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

Renewable energy to increase

India has offered to expand and strengthen its cooperation with the African countries in the field of renewable energy.

Speaking at the IRENA-Africa High Level Consultative Forum meeting in Abu Dhabi on Accelerating Renewable Energy Uptake for Africa's Sustainable Development, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah said that India is already assisting African countries for electrification of villages through solar energy and aims to set up 40 solar charging stations, 40 biomass gasifiers and offer over 250 training positions in renewable energy for the region.

Emphasizing the need for building up human and institutional capacities, the Minister said that India has established many institutes which have tailor-made training programmes in various areas of Renewable Energy. He called upon the African countries to sponsor suitable number of their nationals to these courses so that India could assist in their training and capacity building.

The Minister said that India is ready to share its experience, knowledge and technology in the field of Renewable energy with the African countries. He said that at the recently concluded 2nd Africa-India Forum Summit held at Addis Ababa, Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh had announced an offer of 5 billion US dollars for the next three years under lines of credit and 700 million US dollars as assistance to help Africa achieve its development goals.

As part of these efforts Dr. Abdullah announced over 250 training positions on Rural Electrification, Small Hydropower, Solar energy and Wind energy for African learners and professionals,. He said that India is ready to depute experts to Africa for conducting dedicated training courses in the above areas and also assist in conducting Wind Energy Resource Assessment studies.

Outlining India's achievements in the field of Renewable energy, Dr Abdullah said that India has an installed base of 20,000 MW of Renewable energy which it aims to increase to 70,000 MW in the next 10 years.

He also dwelt on India's National Solar Mission which he described as one of the most ambitious of its kind in the world.

He also outlined India's success in providing energy access through decentralised energy sources and explained how small stand alone solar and biomass based systems are being used to provide enrgy to some of the farthest and remotest corners of India.

He invited the other Ministers to visit India and see firsthand the progress made by us in delivering energy through renewable sources.

Special package for jk

Special package to start private FMs in J&K

While giving a green signal signal to e-auction of new FM radio channels in 227 towns with over one lakh population through a private agency in phase 3, Union Cabinet here on Thursday announced special incentives for Jammu and Kashmir and the North-east. The Cabinet also allowed non-political news, features and also petmitted stations to carry the news bulletins of the government run All India Radio.

The incentives provided in the Policy for North Eastern States, besides J&K would make the operations viable in these areas and are expected to result in better off-take of channels. The steps taken in the new policy will bring down operational costs and improve viability in general, the I&B Minister said.  In J&K, the government has proposed that reserve price be kept at Rs. 5 lakh.

A significant aspect of the new guideline is that at least 11 cities in border areas of North-east even though having a population of less than 1 lakh have been included in the list for strategic reasons and to counter cross border propaganda, after consultation with Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence, sources said.

Union Information and Broadcasting Miniter Ambika Soni while outlining the new policy guideline said that private FM radio broadcasters in North-east (NE) would be required to pay half the rate of annual license fee for an initial period of three years from the date from which the annual license fee becomes payable and the permission period of fifteen (15) years begins.
The revised fee structure has also been made applicable for a period of three years, from the date of issuance of guidelines, to the existing operators in these States to enable them to effectively compete with the new operators, the Minister said.
Apart from the fee relaxation, it is further proposed that Prasar Bharati infrastructure would be made available at half the lease rentals for similar category cities in such areas, said Soni.

The limit on the ownership of Channels, at the national level, allocated to an entity has been retained at 15 percent. However, channels allotted in Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States and island territories will be allowed over and above the 15 percent national limit to incentivise the bidding for channels in such areas.

To improve viability, only three FM channels will be allowed in a city in this phase as against four permitted in phase 2. The lock-in period of shareholding of promoters has been also reduced from five to three years to give them greater freedom to change the ownership pattern.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told a Press conference here that the Cabinet also raised ceiling on the FDIs (foreign direct investment) and foreign institutional investments in the FM radio broadcasting companies from 20 to 26 percent.

The new policy allows private operators to network their own channels across the country and own more than one channel but not more than 40 percent of total channels in a city, provided there are at least three different operators in its jurisdiction.

A company, however, cannot have more than 15 per cent of the total channels in the country, except in Jammu and Kashmir, North East and island territories.

Soni said the Cabinet okayed an ascending e-auction of airwaves for the FM channels on the lines of auction of 3G and BWA (Broadband Wireless Access) spectrum as recommended by the Group of Ministers on licensing methodology.

The permissible broadcast of information by treating it as non-news include traffic, weather, coverage of sporting and cultural events, festivals, coverage of topics pertaining to examinations, results, admissions, career counselling, employment opportunities, as also local administration's public announcements pertaining to civic amenities like electricity, water supply, natural calamities, health alerts, etc.

As a special incentive to the FM operators in Jammu and Kashmir, North East and island territories, they will be charged only half the annual licence fee for the first three years and this includes the existing operators. They will also be allowed use of the Prasar Bharti infrastructure at half the lease rentals.

The e-auction for the channels will be conducted in batches, their number depending upon the response from the bidders after auction of the first batch. Soni said the agency for conducting the e-auction will be selected through a transparent process.
She said her Ministry will separately issue a detailed Information Memorandum, in due course, enabling the prospective bidders to participate, and also indicating the cities, reserve prices city-wise, number of channels to be taken up in each batch and other procedures for e-auction. A Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for participation in the Auction(s) will also be issued in due course of time.

Maran resigns

Pushed to the wall after CBI named him in the 2G spectrum allocation case, high-profile Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran today resigned from the Union Cabinet, becoming the second DMK casualty in the scam.

44-year-old Maran met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh after a Cabinet meeting and tendered his resignation following a word from DMK chief M Karunanidhi, highly-placed sources said.

Maran’s continuance in the Cabinet became untenable after the CBI in its status report on the 2G scam case yesterday, charged him with "forcing" a Chennai-based telecom promoter C Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel to a Malaysian firm in 2006 during his tenure as Telecom Minister in UPA-I.

The Prime Minister is believed to have had a word with DMK Parliamentary Party chief T R Baalu this morning and conveyed to him that the DMK leadership should be apprised of the position that Maran cannot continue in the Cabinet.

Baalu, who is in Delhi, is understood to have conveyed this to Karunanidhi who later asked Maran to put in his papers.

It was business as usual for Maran in the morning as he attended the Cabinet meeting during which he abstained himself for a brief while when the issue of licence for FM channels came up.

He kept himself away on account of conflict of interest because his brother Kalanidhi Maran runs a media empire that includes FM channels in various languages.

Maran went back home from the Cabinet meeting and returned later to give his resignation to the Prime Minister on the DMK chief’s direction.

Div Com inspects Yatri Bhawan

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal today chaired a high level officers meet-ing at Yatri Niwas, Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu to review the facilities being provided to the yatries by the admin-istration during the Shri Amarnathji Yatra.

During the meeting, Director Tourism, Mehta apprised the Divisional Commissioner that 3,318 yatries have left today for the holy cave of Lord Shiva from Yatri Niwas, Bhagwati Nagar, base camp Jammu for their onward journey towards the historic Shrine.

Those who attended the meeting were Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, Municipal Com-missioner, Sawhney, Chief Engineer PHE, B. R. Dogra, SP City North, J. S. Johar and other senior officers of PDD and allied departments.During the meeting Dr. Kotwal reviewed all the facilities including power, drinking water, sanitation, transport, security, langar arrangements and other facilities being provided to the Amarnathji yatries. He expressed satisfaction over the elaborate arrangements being made by all the departments and hoped that this year’s yatra will also be a grand success.

The Divisional Commissioner directed the Chief Engineer PHE to keep ready sufficient quantity of drinking water and said that soft water only be used for drinking purpose. He directed the PDD authorities to ensure that no unnecessary shut down be effected without proper consultation with the Deputy Commissioner.Later, Dr. Kotwal also visited Yatri Bhawan and enquired the yatries about the facilities being provided to them by the administration.

Pilgrims Return Without Darshan

Gujarati yatris return without having darshan after Overcharged

Tired and heart broken, Nattu Bhai and his wife Jasu Behan were taking feeble steps. With tears in their eyes and hoping to return next year they were on their way to Pahalgam for onward journey to Baroda, Gujarat without performing darshan of the holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in the Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas.

They had planned the yatra last year and had been saving money for whole year to make this holy journey. But they exhausted their money in Sheshnag and decided to return.

Fifty eight year old Nattu Bhai is the leader of the 11 member group, mostly elders. All of them from same locality of Baroda, Gujarat. "We had planned this yatra last year. All of us saved money for this trip but at Sheshnag we were short of money. And then we decided to return," said Nattu Bhai.

"We had brought money as per the rates claimed by the Government. But here we were overcharged. For tented accommodation we were charged Rs 250 per person while the rate is Rs 90. We were charged Rs 4,500 by pony-walas from Chandanwari to Amarnath Cave while the rate is Rs 3,200. And palki-walas charged us Rs 18, 000 while rate is only Rs 13, 000, he rued."

Jasu Behan said "it was difficult for us to make the forward journey. When we realized that we exhausted our money we decided to terminate our yatra. If Lord Shiva wishes we will come next year. Begging was the only option for continuation of our yatra but we decided not to go for it."

Seventy-year-old Bindu Behan, who was the eldest member of the group said "It had been my last wish to have darshan but Lord Shiva didn't grant it this year."

The Tent Union president at Nunwan, Muhammad Anwar denied over charging. He said "we are charging only Rs 90 here at Nunwan but we have no idea what others charge at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and other places. If they are overcharging, it is wrong."

Ghulam Muhammad, a pony-wala admitted that they overcharged. "The Government rate is Rs 3,200 from Chandanwari to Cave shrine and back but our rates range from Rs 4000 to Rs 4500 depending upon the customer."

"When it is peak season, the Government enforces rates. If we overcharge and are caught police beats us. But when the season is lean, we even charge Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 and at that time no one checks our rates, he added."

The overcharging complaints by Amarnath pilgrims are rampart. Even the pilgrims allege that helicopter tickets are sold at higher rates.

Alok Tiwari of Uttar Pradesh, who had performed darhan from Baltal route said, he was charged Rs 6,500. Normally the return fare for the traditional Pahalgam route set by the SASB is Rs 6,900 while for the shorter Baltal route is Rs Rs 4850 per person.

Amarnath Yatra 2011

First batch for Amarnath Yatra leaves today

Amarnath Yatra- 2011 is commencing tomorrow as the first batch of around 4000 pilgrims including Sadhus will leave from the base camp Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar at 5.30 AM.“Over 4,000 yatris have arrived from various parts of the country in Jammu today. More pilgrims are arriving,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Farooq Khan said.

The first batch of pilgrim will leave from the Bhagwati Nagar-based Yatri Niwas tomorrow, base camp of Amarnath yatra in Jammu for their onward journey to the shrine located at a height of 13500 ft. The yatra will be flagged off by the Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Zora. Earlier “Pratham Pujan” was performed at Panjtarni by CEO SASB joined Niyas office bearers in June 15.

Khan, who welcomed the pilgrims at the newly set up reception-cum-assistance centre at Kunjwani on the outskirts of Jammu city, said that adequate security measures were made for the yatra period.“We have asked pilgrims and their families to pray for peace to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir when they pay obeisance at the cave shrine,” the DIG said.

Notably for Yatra, elaborate security arrangements have been made besides the deployment of thousands of paramilitary forces and police personnel along the entire Yatra route and its peripheries. Reception and Information Centres have been established enroute for educating the Yatris and providing them first hand information about the routes and lodging available at various places. Besides, Joint Yatra Control Rooms too have been established in each district to deal with the issues relating to Yatra. The main reception centre has been established at Lakhanpur, Kunjwani and Railway station.

Yatri Niwas was opened today for registration of pilgrims for lodging. With a multi tier security, the Niwas, spread in an area of several hectares of land, has started community kitchens, assistance booths, joint control room, registration centre as well as boarding and lodging areas.

In the meanwhile, Jammu and Katra Hoteliers have offered special discount of 30 percent on room tariff on all the advance bookings during the Amarnath Yatra. The representatives of the Hotelier Associations  offered the discount at a meeting with the director tourism Jammu convened to discuss comfortable stay of pilgrims during the annual Himalayan cave  yatra  in Kashmir.

In connection with Yatra, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Sham Lal Sharma also visited yatra base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here today and took stock of arrangements put in place for facilitation of Yatris.The minister directed the senior officers of the police and civil administration to ensure close coordination for smooth conduct of Yatra. He laid special emphasis on sanitation arrangements, round the clock supply of drinking water and electricity during the entire yatra period. He directed health authorities to ensure adequate stock of medicines and other medicare facilities for the pilgrims.

The minister directed the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu to personally monitor Yatra on a regular basis and ensure that pilgrims do not face any kind of inconvenience. He also suggested roping in civil defence, Red Cross and other voluntary organizations to facilitate the pilgrimage Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Engineer PHE, Director Tourism, Director Health Services, Chief Medical Officer, Health Officer, JMC, senior officers of police and allied civil departments of Jammu district were present on the occasion.

Notably on June 21, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had visited Pahalgam and reviewed the law and order situation and the arrangements for the Amarnath yatra. Senior officers of the police and the civil administration had apprised the Union Home Minister about the security situation in the area, particularly in view of the arrangements made for the yatra.

A follow-up review meeting had taken place in Jammu on June 24 to take stock of security arrangements for yatra right from Lakhanpur to Banihal, places of stay and sites of langers.  The meeting was attended by IG Jammu zone, IG CRPF, DIG Jammu and Kathua range, DIG Udhampur-Reasi range, DIG CRPF, DIG CID, DIG IRP, DC Jammu, CMO Jammu, senior police officers, besides officers from paramilitary, army and intelligence agencies.

In the meeting, the deployment worked out by district SSPs, security wing and traffic in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur and Ramban too was discussed and reviewed. The assessment of intelligence agencies too had been taken into account.

Chamliyal Mela Festival

An unquenched thirst to be on the other side:Chambliyal mela: Locked borders, passions unbound

Hardly 500 metres distance from Pakistan’s soil, thousands of Indian people were standing on a mound near Baba Chambliyal shrine and were anxiously peeping on the other side of border to get a glance of the Mela being celebrated on the other side.

The event was the annual Chambliyal Mela, organised by Border Security Force (BSF) every year, at village Chambliyal of Ramgarh sector of Samba district where more than 1.5 lakh pilgrims visited today to pay obeisance to the revered saint of the shrine. But a yearning to be on the other side of the border fence surpassed faith that brought them to this place.

Most of the people were unhappy with BSF personnel, who didn’t allow them to go near Zero line except some BSF officials, civil officials and few media persons to witness the famous “Chadder Exchange Ceremony” between BSF and Pakistan’s rangers at zero line.

Among the hundreds of devotees standing on the mound, an infuriated Pritam Singh a resident of Bishnah said that the BSF jawans had earlier said that common people would be allowed only after 2 PM to go near the Zero line to see Pakistan’s fair.

“VIP’s, officers are permitted to go near Zero line but poor villagers are dying in the scorching sun, waiting endlessly. Security forces don’t bother about the distance covered by people to reach here,” he said, adding that security forces gave excuses that if allowed near Zero line then people would cross the fencing. 

  

  When asked, why he wanted to see the border, he replied, he has love for border, they didn’t have any interest in internal clashes in Pakistan’s territory but they wanted to see 4-5 lakh Pakistani brothers who had assembled on the other side. Angry villagers, smitten by the BSF officials maintained that they felt betrayed.

A magician at the shrine was busy keeping some people engaged with his trick of disappearing coin. Pritam Singh keenly watched him at work and finally said to the magician, “Agar Aaap Main Shakti Hai To Is Tar (Fencing) Ko Gayab Kar Do.” The poor magician humbly replied that if he would have such ability then he would also go to other side to see the fair.

A friend of the magician said, “Magicians can only make pigeons and coins disappear, nothing else.” Highly emotional, Pritam Singh sighed and said, “Atleast pigeons have freedom to go to any country, I wish I were one and would have flown unhindered to that side of the border.”

When asked, since how many years he was visiting the border, he replied that every year the border changes contours. “Kaun Sa Border, Kabhi Inki Tar 2 kilometer Pakistan Main Chali Jati Hai, Kabhi Is Side Aa Jati Hai. Sirf Do Ghanto Ke liye Border Khol do, Humne Border Dekhna Hai, Koi Pakistan Par Attack Thoda Hi Karna Hai, Humne Sirf 4-5 Lakh Pakistani Log Dekhne Hain Aur Wapis Aa Jana Hai,” Pritam added. (The border fencing keeps shifting, sometimes more to Pakistani  side, sometimes more to this side. How does it matter if they open the border for 2 hours so that we can meet their people and come back. We are not attacking Pakistan.)

Though borders are the annual fair very strictly under vigil, anyone forbidden to even venture close to the zero line, leave alone cross them, passions and emotions here knew no boundaries, no limits. Many enthusiastic people were also seen watching Pakistan’s side from around 50 feet high old Surveillance post of BSF located near the Shrine. Several times, BSF personnel stopped the people from climbing the post but whenever security forces left the place devotees again started climbing up to get a better glimpse of action on the other side.

At around 1 PM, BSF personnel seized the observation post by erecting barbed wire. Excited devotees then tried another way and went into the fields near the Zero line where security was absent but huge rush of people in fields again put the security forces and security personnel on their mettle and later they restricted people from venturing into the fields close to Zero line.

Dayal Singh, originally from Bhimber Tehsil in Pakistan administered Kashmir said that Pakistani nationals “look like us” but they were differently dressed up. “I have a strong desire to go to the other side but now it is not possible, no one will allow us to go,” he adds.

An army pensioner Babu Ram Bhagat of Bishnah echoed similar emotions. “We don’t have any ill will for Pakistanis, we want that they come to visit our side and vice-versa,” he said. And then he turned to the media persons with a word of advice, “Work passionately and try to patch up the gap between both countries.”

Beating the heat, huge rush of pilgrims was also seen in long queues for “Darshan” of Baba Daleep Singh Manhas’ shrine. Several temporary stalls of eatables, toys and decorative items, different rides like Marie go round, slides and many other entertainment sources also attracted the huge crowd despite hot and moist weather.

Div Com reviews Amarnathji Yatra arrangements

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal today said that first batch of Shri Amarnathji yatris would leave Yatri Niwas at Jammu on June 28, 2011and all arrangements for the smooth conduct of Yatra are being put in place.

Dr. Kotwal said this at an officers meeting organized here at Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar Jammu to review the Yatra arrangements.

The meeting discussed in detail the arrangements being put in place for the hassle-free stay of the yatris in the city of temples for pilgrimage of Amarnath. These include identity cards to the yatris, their transportation, drinking water and power supply at the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar and other lodging sites spread across the city, sanitation and health check facilities and regulation of prices of essential commodities and other eatables. Other arrangements like security, traffic, regulation and parking of vehicles were also finalized in the meeting.

Among others, DIG, Jammu Kathua Range, Farooq Khan, Additional Commissioner, Jammu, D. R. Sharma and Director Tourism, R. S. Mehta, ADC Jammu Sheetal Nanda, Chief Engineer PDD, RTO, Jammu, Virinder Singh Slathia, Joint Commissioner, JMC,. Babu Ram, Deputy Director Information, (PR), Jammu, Suram Chand Sharma, SP Traffic, Zahid Manhas, XEns of various Wings and other officers from SRTC, CAPD, BSNL, CRPF, Health etc were present.

Later, the Divisional Commissioner also discussed various projects recommended by Special Task Force for Jammu division at a meeting attended by officers of various developmental departments.

The main projects deliberated upon include upgradation-widening of Ramnagar-Dudu Basantgarh-Latti road in Udhampur, Solid Waste Management project for Udhampur, Widening of Patni-Top-Sanasar road, Water Supply Scheme for pilgrim town of Katra from Dhanser nallah in Reasi district, Alternate Bridge near Abdullah Bridge in Rajouri district, New District Office Complex/ Mini-Secreatariat at Poonch, Construction of Patimahal-Dachhan Road in Kishtwar district.

Upgrading Jammu Airport-including shifting of utilities, Modernization of General Bus Stand/development of multi-tier parking at Jammu, Alternate water supply scheme to save lakes of Surinsar and Mansar, Approach road and bridge to Railway Station Banihal in Ramban district, Tourism Projects of Jammu division, Upgrading the Chakrohi Seed Multiplication Farm for Jammu Basmati etc. were also discussed. The Divisional Commissioner exhorted upon the officers complete the DPRs of various projects within stipulated time frame. He asked for maintaining close coordination between various departments to ensure early completion of preliminary works.

2.25 lakh pilgrims registered

Over 2.25 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves for the pilgrimage to 13,500-feet high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas.

 As many as 2,25,076 lakh pilgrims for Amarnath yatra have been registered at various registration counter and online centres across the country, Nodal officer of Registration officials and Vice President, Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Abdul Hamid said.

 The registration process is going on smoothly without any problem, he said. Of the total 2.25 lakh registered pilgrims, 45,495 pilgrims have registered themselves through online while rest have registered at counters at different places across the country. Giving details Hamid said that as many as 1,13,048 pilgrims have registered themselves for pilgrimage to cave shrine via Baltal route, while 1,12,028 pilgrims opted for the traditional Pahalgam-Amaranth route via south Kashmir.

 The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) began the registration process on May 10 for the yatra. "The registration counters have been set up at 121 designated branches of the J&K Bank, 24 of the YES Bank and four of the District Cooperative Banks," the SASB spokesman.

 The Shrine Board, at its meeting on February 18 this year, has curtailed the period of the annual pilgrimage by 15 days. The yatra would commence simultaneously from Baltal and Chandanwari routes on June 29 and culminate on August 13.