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<ul><li>The ban affects an estimated 6,000 brands of ‘fixed dose combination’ drugs.</li><li>A drug review panel deems these drugs potentially toxic. </li><li>Popular painkiller <keyword id="1840022" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saridon">Saridon</keyword> and skin ointment <keyword id="6875076" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="panderm">Panderm</keyword> among those banned.</li></ul>The government on Wednesday banned the sale and distribution of over 328 ‘fixed dose combination’ drugs and restricted six others over safety concerns, a move that affects an estimated 6,000 brands of such <keyword id="306491" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="FDC">FDC</keyword> drugs. Among the brands that have been banned include the popular painkiller Saridon; Panderm, a skin ointment; Diabetes drug <keyword id="6875077" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="gluconorm">Gluconorm</keyword> PG; and antibiotic drug Lupidiclox, the Times of <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/65790311.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&amp;utm_medium=text&amp;utm_campaign=cppst">reported.</a> The government had sought to restrict the combination drugs as early as 2010 followed by a review by India’s drug advisory panel, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, which recommended an outright ban over three years ago. The ban was contested by several drug makers and the matter wound up in courts with the Supreme Court ordering a fresh review by the panel late last year. ‘Irrational’ and ‘unsafe’ The drug review committee deemed these FDC drugs -- which have more than two active ingredients in a single dose -- lacked therapeutic justification and the combinations potentially toxic terming them “irrational” and “unsafe.” According to <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/govt-bans-popular-painkiller-327-other-unsafe-fixed-dose-drugs/articleshow/65790311.cms">estimates</a> by <keyword id="799945" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="All-India-Drug-Action-Network">All India Drug Action Network</keyword>, one of the petitioners behind the ban, the market for unsafe, problematic FDCs in India makes up a quarter of the total pharma market in India valued at ₹1.3 trillion ($14 billion). In a recent statement it noted that the FDCs under scrutiny account for approximately ₹25 billion in sales and “represent only the tip of the iceberg.” “The people of India have been made the consumers of unsafe medicines for too long and this is one step towards rectifying the grave situation of a pharma market brimming with innumerable irrational FDCs,” the drug network said in a recent <a href="https://aidanindia.wordpress.com/">statement. </a> Indian drug makers body, The Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) has <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/6aT2TnCIpzTEO7ZG7cYAkJ/Govt-prohibits-manufacture-supply-sale-of-328-FDC-drugs.html">said </a>it “respects” the verdict as responsible citizens of India, adding it has never advocated “irrational” FDCs but believes in the “advantages of patient convenience and compliance” that these combination drugs provide.

Indian government bans several painkillers, diabetes and antibiotic drugs over safety concerns

Your neighbourhood chemist isn’t really happy about the fact that you are buying medicines online. To protest about the fact that medicines are being sold online, which may soon turn to a potential threat for brick and mortar chemists, nearly eight lakh chemists across the country have decided to keep their stores closed on October 14. 
 
The pre-emptive move from India's most powerful lobby of stockists and distributors of drugs signals an intensifying stir even as a government appointed committee is tasked with examining whether and how online pharmacies can be allowed to supply drugs directly to patients. 
 
Representatives of All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) last week said at a meeting with the committee headed by Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration commissioner Harshdeep Kamble that the practice of online pharmacy is "totally illegal when examined in the context of Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Information Technology Act". 
 
AIOCD president Jagannath Shinde has said that the online pharmacies have a tendency to sell medicines to fictitious buyers without authorised prescriptions. 
 
The members of the organisation also cited a legal proviso which states that no person other than a registered pharmacist shall compound, prepare, mix, or dispense any medicine on the prescription of a medical practitioner. 
 
In contrast, a rapidly expanding community of online pharmacies has rallied in support of sale of drugs through the internet while favouring tighter regulations to curb misuse or indiscriminate sale of prescription drugs. 
 
"The government should factor in the convenience to patients. Also, in terms of keeping record, ensuring quality and tracking prescriptions, online pharmacies that are backed by sound promoters are as good as the best of offline outlets," said Rajiv Gulati, mentor, mChemist Global. 
 
Gulati said online pharmacies, as seen in developed markets, are enabling benefits to patients such as better compliance through additional services such as reminders and ensuring audited health records. Another promoter of an online pharmacy venture, requesting anonymity, a Net -based pharmacy startups are supplying quality drugs at discounted prices and are seen as a threat to chemists who have so far monopolised the business, told the financial daily. He said a majority of chemists do not appoint pharmacy graduates, a mandatory legal requirement, in turn leading to proliferation of questionable drugs in the market. 
 
"We favour clear operating guidelines and an accreditation process for online pharmacies to distinguish from those who indulge in illegitimate transactions," said the promoter. The government has a tough task of striking a delicate balance between the two sides.

Stock up on the essential meds because 8 lakh chemists across the country will soon be going on strike

New Delhi, May 27 (IANSlife) More than 51 percent of women respondents say that Indian schools do not have a proper system to prepare teen and adolescent girls regarding the onset of menstrual periods. Nearly 60 percent women feel schools lack adequate facilities for girls to change and dispose of sanitary pads off, says a survey. Today is Menstrual Hygiene Day 2020 falling , and feminine hygiene brand Everteen had conducted the fifth edition of its annual Menstrual Hygiene Survey. The survey was conducted among nearly 7000 Indian women participating from various cities of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Over 51 percent women respondents claimed that Indian schools do not have adequate systems to educate or mentally prepare teen and adolescent girls regarding the onset of menstrual periods. More than 95 percent women asserted that Indian school system should have some awareness programs to prepare girls on the subject. The survey also revealed that during adolescence, nearly 60 percent women did not have any prior knowledge about menstrual periods. In fact, as many as 38 percent women had first misinterpreted it as an injury or disease. In terms of infrastructure, almost 59 percent women felt that schools do not have adequate cleanliness of public toilets or facilities for girls to change and dispose sanitary pads off. Chirag Pan, CEO, PAN Healthcare, says, "Menstrual hygiene and wellness have been known issues in the Indian context. While there has been progress in recent years, it is imperative that we leverage our strength in the Indian value-based systems and inculcate the importance of good menstrual hygiene from the onset of puberty itself. Schools can and must play a pivotal role in bringing this paradigm shift through classroom education, awareness programs and focused infrastructure development." In workspaces too, 41 percent women felt their office needed better cleanliness and facilities to change and dispose sanitary pads off in toilets. The survey also suggests that the role that doctors can play in preventing gynecological problems is significantly downplayed due to the shame and guilt associated with menstrual cycles in Indian context. More than 50 percent women said they have had some gynecological infection or problem such as UTI, rashes, foul smell or itching during or after menstrual cycle in the past one year. Among these, 20 percent of women had such issues more than 3 times during the year. More than 64 percent women have faced irregularities in their period dates, out of which half have had to deal with it more than 3 times in a year. Ironically, only 37 percent of women said they consult a doctor in case or irregular periods, whereas 32 percent prefer to discuss it within the family and 30 percent just ignore it. Similarly, more than 54 percent women have had white discharge, but only 25 percent prefer to consult a doctor. As many as 56 percent women believe that menstruation is still perceived as a taboo in Indian society. Not surprisingly, then, more than 42 percent of women felt uncomfortable buying sanitary essentials from a shop or a chemist, especially when there were several other customers. Because of the guilt associated with menstrual cycle, 87 percent women admitted that they had to hide or secretly take their sanitary product for changing. Interestingly, more than three-fourth of the respondents said that menstruation would not have been such a taboo subject in the society if men had it too! Another key revelation from the survey shows that 53 percent women have used a public toilet more than 3 times at an office, mall or cinema hall to change sanitary product. Hariom Tyagi, CEO, Wet and Dry Personal Care,says, "Our survey shows that 75 percent women feel uncomfortable having to use public toilets to change sanitary products. Yet, more than 93 percent women still use sanitary napkins. By switching to better, modern-age menstrual hygiene methods (MHM) such as menstrual cups, women can reduce the number of times they have to change their sanitary product in a day. Many women have told us that using menstrual cups has greatly reduced their daily discomfort due to periods." The survey revealed that menstrual cups are now being used by 4 percent of the women, and their adoption has overtaken tampons by almost double. One of the alarming trends that emerged from the survey shows that more than one-third women said they have used a pill or some other method to delay periods in case of an important occasion. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) --IANS adr/tb/

Schools in India should have menstrual awareness programme: Survey

Global technology company <keyword id="1607389" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dyson">Dyson</keyword> on Thursday launched a revolutionary Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Cryptomic <keyword id="1606234" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Purifier">air purifier</keyword> and heater in India that captures pollutants and destroys formaldehyde, delivering <keyword id="1199338" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="cleaner-air">cleaner air</keyword> to every corner of the whole room. When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience adverse effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, wheezing, nausea and skin irritation. Formaldehyde is a colourless chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products. Priced at Rs 61,900, the new Dyson air purifier and heater destroys formaldehyde continuously at a molecular level, transforming this harmful gas into small amounts of water and Carbon Dioxide. "Formaldehyde is 500 times smaller than PM0.1, and it is particularly difficult to capture. Our chemist team has been searching for various methods to solve this problem since 2016. We have tested more than 20 different catalysts before identifying Cryptomelane. Our obsessive approach to engineering has led us to take a different approach," explained Dr Nathan Brown, Head of Research for Environmental Control at Dyson. Living in the era of the "indoor generation", we are breathing in more pollutants indoors as we are spending up to 90 per cent of our time behind closed doors. Many everyday household items can emit formaldehyde, including pressed wood products, antiseptics and cleaning agents, carpets, permanent press fabrics, cigarettes, cosmetics, paints and varnishes. Dyson engineers along with SGS China, an independent advanced testing establishment, recently conducted a study on indoor air quality for Delhi NCR homes using Dyson technology. The study found the average quantity of formaldehyde to be 169.1 mg/kg, while the maximum value in a home was found to be 649 mg/kg. "Harnessing Dyson's expertise in chemistry, sensing, filtration and fluid dynamics, Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Cryptomic machines are engineered to be the total air purification solution for your home -- removing ultra-fine particles, odours, gases and destroying formaldehyde, continuously," said Charlie Park, Global Category Director for Environmental Control. The air purifier automatically senses the indoor air pollution and activates the machine to purify throughout the whole room, capturing 99.95 per cent of ultrafine particles and destroying formaldehyde continuously. Dyson air purifiers can separately display four pollutants -- PM2.5, PM10, VOCs and NO2. A LCD display shows which particles and gases the Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Cryptomic machines are automatically sensing in real time. A unique Dyson algorithm processes the input from three sensors and then displays air quality readings in real time. With thermostat heat control, the machine automatically keeps the room at the target temperature. The heating function will switch to stand-by mode once the target is reached and will switch back on once it senses a drop in the temperature, the company said. The Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Cryptomic air purifier and heater is available in a white and gold colour across online and offline platforms in India. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/pollution-woes-giant-air-purifiers-to-be-installed-in-east-delhi-soon/articleshow/79193063.cms">Pollution woes: Giant air purifiers to be installed in East Delhi soon</a>

Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Cryptomic air purifier launched at ₹61,900 in India

<ul><li>The lack of <keyword id="584178" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="menstrual-hygiene">menstrual hygiene</keyword> has always been a challenge in India.</li><li>According to UNESCO and Whisper, 23 Million girls drop out of school due to lack of menstrual hygiene and awareness.</li><li>Ergo, P&amp;G’s Whisper is on a mission to raise awareness and educate girls on Menstrual Hygiene Management.</li><li>We catch up with Chetna Soni, Category Leader - Feminine Care, P&amp;G Indian sub-continent to understand the state of menstrual hygiene in India and how Whisper is working towards improving awareness among young girls in the country.</li><li>We also look at Whisper’s marketing campaigns over the years.</li></ul>For the longest time, the Indian society has treated menstruation as a taboo. The word ‘Period’ is usually uttered in hushed voices and years of social conditioning have built a culture of silence around what is a normal biological phenomenon. With young girls and women having limited access to menstrual education and basic sanitary care products, the concept of menstrual hygiene has also remained a challenge in India. And periods don’t stop for pandemics. In fact, lockdowns intensify the impact of household level taboos and stigmas on women -- making it more difficult to manage menstruation without shame and discomfort in confined spaces. In rural India, the unavailability of sanitary napkins coupled with unhygienic and crowded washrooms and toilets in their localities have worsened the situation for women. According to Menstrual Hygiene brand Whisper and UNESCO, the global pandemic has forced girls to abandon sanitary napkins for menstrual pads made of cloth, which has raised the spectre of a looming health hazard. Adding to the misery, the lack of menstrual hygiene education in India is also impacting 23 million girls dropping out of school. Throwing light on how the global pandemic has impacted menstruating people in rural India, Chetna Soni, Category Leader - Feminine Care, P&amp;G Indian sub-continent, said, “These unprecedented times have made it even more difficult to keep girls in school. The premature closure of schools due to the pandemic affected access to education, especially for girls from marginalized communities. This has made them even more vulnerable to dropping out of school completely. Many of these girls would receive pads for period management from school which stopped, leading to them using unhygienic period protection. According to UNESCO, 74 crore girls were disproportionately impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and it may further affect their return to school. Now more than ever, it is important we ensure girls have access to period protection and education. And support them in every way we can to protect their future.” So, to help these young girls in rural India stay in school during the pandemic, Whisper launched ‘Mobileshaala,’ a free phone-based learning platform. It worked with supporters like Soha Ali Khan, Dutee Chand and Bhumi Pednekar to spread awareness. The brand also donated more than 32 lakh pads to essential workers, women in shelter homes, women from migrant families and communities in need across India, in partnership with various State Government bodies and relief organisations. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="State of menstrual hygiene in India during a global pandemic" text="State of menstrual hygiene in India during a global pandemic">State of menstrual hygiene in India during a global pandemic</cmsannotation> The global pandemic has taken up all our medical attention and resources. On the other hand, period poverty is a decades-old, silent pandemic that is getting worse for menstruating people in our country. This is a direct consequence of social stigma, lack of awareness and poor access to menstrual products. Shedding more light on the current state of menstrual hygiene in India, Soni shared, “Even today, menstrual hygiene is not considered a priority in India. Out of a total of ~40 crore menstruating women in India, less than 20% use sanitary pads. In urban areas, this number only goes up to 52%. This indicates that nearly half of even urban-based women use unhygienic methods for period protection, making them vulnerable to health issues. In our conversations with various young girls, we discovered that many of them prioritize beauty products but are not ready to spend a fraction of the amount on an essential like sanitary pads. Adoption of sanitary napkins is less than 20% in the country whereas adoption of cosmetics like lipstick is significantly higher at 65%. In addition, there is still a social stigma associated with periods.” Whisper is on a mission to help India achieve 100% menstrual hygiene adoption. It is focusing on 3 A’s to build a better world for menstruating women, which are awareness, acceptance and access. As per Whisper and UNESCO’s studies, about 71% of adolescent girls in India remain unaware of menstruation until they get their first period, adversely affecting their confidence and self-esteem. Whisper aims to help all young girls arm themselves with enough information about menstruation. It launched #KeepGirlsInSchool movement with UNESCO. The partnership is aimed at developing an integrated puberty education module in school curricula and helping young girls in achieving their full potential. In addition to this, the brand Whisper has also taken a pledge to educate 3 crore girls in the next three years. Telling us more about the campaign's performance so far, Soni said, “The campaign truly sparked a national movement which was very encouraging. We will be impacting more than 90 Lakh girls and help keep them in school. Supported by UNESCO this year, we aim to integrate a period education module in the school curriculum in India - to ensure systematic changes ensuring girls are equipped to manage periods and don't miss out on school or their dreams. The movement has been able to drive awareness amongst 5.5 crore people in just one year. The support from key opinion leaders like Mr. Eric Fahlt and Dr. Huma Masood from UNESCO, Bhumi Pednekar, Soha Ali Khan, Dutee Chand amongst others has been testament to a movement we can collectively drive. We see this as a pivotal movement to attain 100% menstrual hygiene In India.” But there’s hope after all. 30 years ago, less than 1 crore women used hygienic sanitary protection during their period. Whisper has helped accelerate this number by 10X and it continues to grow. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Using the right marketing tools to empower women and girls" text="Using the right marketing tools to empower women and girls">Using the right marketing tools to empower women and girls</cmsannotation> Soni told us that the brand follows a simple principle for marketing. In every communication, it strives to be a force for female good. She shared with us a few key milestones that Whisper has crossed in its marketing journey so far. Recalling the first change-making campaign that Whisper worked on, Soni said, “Whisper was the first brand to show a sanitary napkin on television and mention the word ‘periods’ in advertising as well as demonstrate how the product works on National TV back in 1993. Pushing communication boundaries for societal good is at our core.” In 2014, Whisper bust the taboo around ‘touching the pickle’ during menstruation. <div type="Youtube" id="5s8SD83ILJY" title="Announcing the End of Period Taboos | #TouchThePickle" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5s8SD83ILJY/mqdefault.jpg"></div> “Whisper became the first brand in India in 2014 to take the topic of period taboos head-on in the globally renowned Whisper ‘Touch the Pickle’ campaign. The campaign went on to win several global awards including Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions and sparked a conversation in India that led to periods being front and center in the society. The campaign is also known as the trailblazer for bringing periods out of the closet in popular culture as the government, entertainment industry and social sector became part of the movement. We followed this up with award-winning revolutionary campaigns such as ‘Whispers Break Silence’ and ‘Meri Life Mere Rules’, characterized by local cultural insights and have led to organic consumer movements,” shared Soni. Under the same campaign, Whisper launched an advertisement urging chemists to not wrap sanitary napkins in a black plastic bag or newspaper. <div type="Youtube" id="SyZDsDthu0Y" title="My #TouchThePickle Moment" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SyZDsDthu0Y/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Its current campaign is the #KeepGirlsInSchool movement. <div type="Youtube" id="10b1vVe_SQ0" title="Whisper Keep Girls in School" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/10b1vVe_SQ0/mqdefault.jpg"></div> While there has been a sea of change in normalising the conversation around periods, there is still so much more road to cover. Here’s hoping that more menstrual hygiene brands stop using blue liquid in their ads to represent period blood and help normalise it.

Adoption of sanitary napkins is less than 20% in India, whereas adoption of cosmetics like lipstick is significantly higher at 65%: Chetna Soni, P&G

<ul><li>Neilsen’s latest report takes us inside the minds of Indian consumers. </li><li>It reveals how different demographics are prepared if the lockdown extends beyond July and how they are currently dealing with the pandemic-induced lockdown. </li></ul>Nielsen India’s latest report gives us an insight into the consumer’s brains and how they are dealing with the current situation. The research was conducted online between April 17 to April 28 in 12 cities and included 1900 respondents. It highlighted how people above the age of 35 are feeling more optimistic than millennials as they have a reference point where the normal was on-hold during the emergency period and riots that broke out in Mumbai and Gujarat. They are viewing the current phase as temporary and millennials are finding themselves feeling more anxious as people around them are losing their jobs, they are re-evaluating their future plans. <div type="image" title="neilsen 1" msid="75893873" hostid="261"></div> However, consumers are healing now and moving towards a new normal: <div type="image" title="neilsen 2" msid="75894039" hostid="261"></div> The report further predicts that if <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> lasts for more than 6 months, Techno Maladies Growing Disorder will emerge from the hyper-integration of technology into our lives. Roti, Kapda and Technology will become an absolute essential for survival. <div type="image" title="neilsen 3" msid="75894092" hostid="261"></div> Sixty per cent of the respondents in the study claimed to have decreased income as compared to pre COVID-19 thus managing liquidity at the cost of investment. Proportion of regular expenses have increased among lower (earning less than INR 50k per month) and mid income (50-100k) households, however they are maintaining their savings proportion intact.. <div type="image" title="neilsen 4" msid="75894170" hostid="261"></div> After a three per cent decline in Mar ‘20 (versus Mar ‘19), FMCG industry clocked a 34% decline in April -Traditional Trade channels led this sharp drop, while Modern Trade continued to grow in April 2020.The sharp degrowth of traditional trade channels can be attributed to area/ shop closures - on an average, a traditional retail shop was closed for 12 days in April due to various restrictions and constraint - this number was significantly higher for outlets other than Chemists (4 days) and Grocers (8 days). <div type="image" title="neilsen 5" msid="75894221" hostid="261"></div>

Decoding consumers' mindset amid COVID-19: Nielsen Report

<ul><li>A sudden spurt in demand for surgical face masks has led to a massive increase in prices. </li><li><keyword id="131085" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hand-sanitizers">Hand sanitizers</keyword>, on the other hand, have gone out of stock on Amazon as people resort to panic buying amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak. </li><li>Hand sanitizers are still available for purchase at regular prices in retail stores and supermarkets. </li></ul><keyword id="8708697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus-panic">Coronavirus panic</keyword> is gripping India as people rush to buy surgical face masks and hand sanitizers. While prices of surgical masks have increased by ten times, hand sanitizers have gone out of stock, further spreading panic. While surgical face masks cannot protect you against coronavirus completely, people are lining up outside pharmacies. The reason is that these masks are not thick enough to filter out viruses. Surgical mask prices shoot by up to twenty times Nonetheless, people in Hyderabad are hoarding these masks after news broke out about <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coronavirus-hits-hyderabads-it-hub-raheja-mindspace-tech-park-evacuated/articleshow/74475926.cms">two new confirmed cases</a> of coronavirus in the city. Business Insider reached out to a few pharmacies in Hyderabad who confirmed that there was a sudden surge in demand. As a result, chemists have jacked up the prices of surgical masks from approx. ₹3-5 to ₹25-30 per mask. Wholesalers have increased prices from ₹220 for a pack of 100 masks to anywhere between ₹600-900. The situation is worse on Amazon. A pack of 100 masks costs anywhere between ₹1,775 to ₹4,850, suggesting how bad the situation is. <div type="image" title="surgical face mask prices" msid="74489651" hostid="261"></div>

 For example, <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Vivan-surgical-Face-Mask-Disposable/dp/B078MQG56S/">this pack</a> of 100 masks is currently available on Amazon for ₹3,699, which previously retailed at just ₹149. <div type="image" title="face masks order" msid="74489668" hostid="261"></div>

 Hand sanitizers go out of stock on Amazon Hand sanitizers, which are generally available in abundance on Amazon, have now gone out of stock. We tried purchasing <a href="https://www.amazon.in/Dettol-Instant-Hand-Sanitizer-Original/dp/B07V6C9PYP">Dettol hand sanitizer</a> on Amazon. <div type="image" title="hand sanitizer out of stock" msid="74489690" hostid="261"></div>

 We tried multiple addresses in different states to see if the order was accepted, but nothing worked. It’s not all bad, though – we checked out several retail stores and supermarkets in Hyderabad, and can confirm that hand sanitizers can still be purchased at regular prices. Why is this happening? People are rushing to buy face masks and hand sanitizers as they believe these products will soon go out of stock. This would leave them vulnerable at a time when there is a fear of coronavirus outbreak in Hyderabad and other parts of India. While it is still possible to buy surgical face masks, the prices have gone through the roof. In any case, these masks are not effective enough to keep the dreaded virus at bay. An N95 respirator is the more useful option, but the Centers for Disease Control and Protection doesn’t recommend it just yet. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coronavirus-hits-hyderabads-it-hub-raheja-mindspace-tech-park-evacuated/articleshow/74475926.cms">Coronavirus hits Hyderabad’s IT hub, Raheja Mindspace tech park evacuated</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coronavirus-latest-news-and-updates/articleshow/74475059.cms">Coronavirus: Paytm shuts down office, after employee tests positive</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coronavirus-myths-and-facts-here-are-some-rumours-about-covid-19-that-arent-true/articleshow/74487962.cms">Coronavirus myths and facts: here are 10 rumours about COVID-19 that aren’t true</a>

Coronavirus panic grips India, face mask prices surge by twenty times, hand sanitizers go out of stock on Amazon

<ul><li>The Union <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="health">Health</keyword> Ministry of <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> has published draft rules for the sale of drugs by <keyword id="6522422" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-pharmacies">online pharmacies</keyword> in the country. </li><li>The draft proposes <keyword id="163506" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="regulation">regulation</keyword> of the ₹30 billion e-pharmacy market and the privacy of user data held with them. </li><li>The registration and accountability of these firms is crucial to countering the phenomenon of fake medicines in India. </li></ul>India has been fighting a losing battle against counterfeit drugs. The phenomenon is not only present at hospitals and offline chemists, but also when buying from online pharmacies. In an attempt to handle at least one side of the problem, the Union Health Ministry <a href="https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/internet/indias-health-ministry-comes-out-with-draft-rules-on-sale-of-drugs-by-e-pharmacy/65653523">published</a> the ‘Draft Rules on Sale of Drugs by E-Pharmacy’. The sunshine segment currently consists of around 282 e-pharmacies in India. The big names include Pharmeasy, Myrameds and Netmeds. And, while pharmaceutical sector has an upward trajectory overall, the subset of e-pharmacies is showing a growth rate in the double-digits. According to the Drug Controller General of India, the online pharmaceutical business is currently worth ₹30 billion. With the aim of regulating online pharmaceutical portals in India, the <keyword id="28351" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="policy">policy</keyword> focuses on 2 key paradigms - accountability and consumers. Accountability In the most basic of requirements, the draft regulations state that no person or entity will distribute or sell, stock, exhibit or offer the sale of drugs through e-pharmacy portal until registered with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). In order to register with country’s apex drug regular, individuals will have to file Form 18AA with the Central Licensing Authority along with a deposit of Rs 50,000 asserting that the registration holder will comply with the IT Act, 2000. This registration is essentially a 3-year license to operate an e-pharmacy. After that period, the companies will have to apply for a renewal. And no matter how many renewal cycles occur, the base of operations of any e-pharmacy will be inspected every 2 years by the Central Licensing Authority. After addressing the supply side of the business, the draft lays out regulations for the incoming demand as well. Whenever a consumer purchases a drug, the pharmacy must file a cash or credit memo through the pharmacy’s online portal. These memos serve as records for the pharmacy in case of problems down the road. And, no matter what the case, the sale of tranquillisers, psychotropic drugs, narcotics and habit forming drugs is prohibited with no exceptions. The ribbon on the package is if any e-pharmacy violates these regulations and requirements, it will lead to the suspension of their license and possible cancellation as well. Consumers The degree of privacy may be up for contention because, while patient details are to be kept confidential from other people or companies, government requests are an exception. Similar to the point on contingency that most people have with the draft bill of data protection, this draft also allows for data sharing if the state or central government come calling. Even the delivery of drugs is held accountable. When placing an order, patients will be able to specify the exact time when they’d like their medical delivery, and the e-pharmacy must adhere to that time line. In addition, online pharmacies are required to set up 24/7 call centers as a customer helpline to address grievances and doubts. These regulations, though not holistic, do implement some of the basic measures that should ideally be in place. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), one is every 10 medical product in countries like India either substandard or fake altogether. The real danger doesn’t lie in their ineffectiveness but unintended adverse effects or allergies resulting in further illness or even death.

India looks to counter the epidemic of fake drugs through regulation of online pharmacies

Launched in 2009, India’s first school <keyword id="6356028" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sports">sports</keyword> and PE Company <keyword id="189534" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="EduSports">EduSports</keyword> is going strong. The company recently raised R.s 65 Crores from <keyword id="234522" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gaja-Capital">Gaja Capital</keyword>. This startup looks to bring about a change in the way sports or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=physical+education">physical education</a> is perceived – that it is not meant only for competitive children playing for trophies but to be inclusive, and improve the child’s general fitness levels. 
 
BI India chats up with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=IIM+Bangalore">IIM Bangalore</a> alumnus and co-founder-CEO of EduSports Saumil Majmudar to find out more about the company and the fitness levels of today’s young minds. 
 
Why should a school outsource their Physical education curriculum? 
The question for any business is what their core is and what isn’t. In schools, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sports">sports</a> is not seen as the core. For many years they got away with not doing much. Now parents are demanding a lot more form the school’s <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sports">sports</a> programme as fees go up. They are now perceived as customers and not grateful recipients of the school’s service. 
 
Also, parents no matter how privileged they might be do not have access to quality on-going regular physical activity for their children. Urban planning has also let down the Indian kid. As a parent you really don’t have the options except the schools. We designed a program that embraces the constraints of limited time and space in the schooling system and still deliver a positive experience. 
 
What are the things you can take care of for a school? 
We can handle the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=physical+education">physical education</a> program from Nursery to the 10th standard. That includes the curriculum, assessment, inter-class tournaments, leagues, parent sessions, participating in tournaments and school team building. 
 
How much do you charge for these services? 
Roughly it comes to Rs. 150-200 per student per month. Of course, there are over 500 children, so it’s a broad ballpark. 
 
The typical business mentality has been you outsource for cost-cutting. Do you face that question? 
In the contrary we’ve often found that schools have invested 3 to 4 times in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=physical+education">physical education</a> after employing us. Ours is not a cost saving proposition. It’s a value proposition. 
 
As newer schools crop up, where are the current physical education teachers falling short? 
To be fair to them, trustees have been telling coaches to just make the school team win. That way you’ll take the 20 talented ones and focus on them. There has been a structural lack of focus on being an inclusive program. Sports in schools have always been a performance-oriented program. That’s like saying the Maths program is only for people who can get into an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=IIT">IIT</a>! *laughs* 
 
Also, the tools required to run an inclusive age appropriate program is not what is being taught in BE colleges today. The colleges teach coaches how to organize teams and campaigns. 
 
Do you see the mentality of schools and parents changing? 
Most parents in their 30s and 40s have realized that marks account for only a part of your overall success. A larger part is based on your ability to work as a team, goal-setting and so on. 
 
The more fundamental issue is the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=physical+fitness">physical fitness</a> of a child. In most cases, the school sports program is the only assured sporting activity a child might have. Not everyone learns Chemistry to become a Chemist, right? *laughs* A well rounded education should cover several touch points, and sports is also a part of that. 
 
You’ve worked with over 400 schools across 100+cities in India. Is space a constraint in the newer schools? 
Some of the higher end schools have space. Most of the lower end ones have lesser space. Schools worldwide are facing the problem. Sports is often reserved to the common areas, and those are being taken away. 
 
Since we can’t approach schools or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=urban+planners">urban planners</a> to offer more space, we can only get more children to play. The question we ask is whatever we can provide meaningful activity to children in the limited space we have access to. 
 
What are the health risks children face due to lack of exercise? 
Broadly we’ve seen lack of flexibility and strength in one of two kids. 30% plus don’t have the right BMI. Almost a similar percentage is obese. The problem is apparent. It’s time we shift the conversation to the solution. 
 
What is the possible market size for a service like this? 
We’re currently working with around 400 schools. There are around 25,000 schools in this price bracket, and the segment is growing at 5-7% p.a. Roughly thousand odd schools are being added every year. An average investment of Rs. 10-12 lakhs per year from each school means that it’s a hundred crores market every year and cumulating. 
 
The government has a million schools. If 10,000 government schools outsource at 10 lakhs a year, its a thousand Crores market. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

A startup to help India’s
young minds

Aimed at curbing black money, demonetization has taken a toll on India’s <keyword id="34523" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="fmcg">FMCG</keyword> sector. After a good monsoon this year, traders believed that the winter would be better than ever. However Modi’s decision to demonetize old notes of higher denomination has dipped the sales by 1-1.5% or Rs 3,840 crore in November, as compared to October. 
 
"While 1¬1.5% net impact of demonetisation does not look huge, considering the size of the FMCG industry at Rs 2.56 lakh crore, this is a large drop in terms of absolute value," said Nielsen. 
 
Data revealed also shows that retailers across the country are stocking less goods that earlier. 
 
Purchase of personal care items such as toilet soaps, toothpaste and shampoo has seen the steepest decline by retailers. The fall in off-take is driven by urban India (-3.1% Nov vs Oct), while rural India has managed to stay flat at 0.4% mainly due to smaller packs, smaller currency transactions and a flourishing barter system. However chemists were relieved of this because they were allowed to take old notes and grew better in rural India.

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India’ FMCG sector has lost Rs 3,840 crore last month, thanks to demonetization

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