IEP Chandigarh“

The studies clearly prove that even in lethal diseases like cancer, generic  drugs are very effective. And again, in transplant, in preventing rejection of transplant, generic drugs are equally effective, and that too, at one fifth of the  price of their counterpart in branded category.. The yardstick is to procure right generic medicines from the right chemist, ”stated Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER* at a press conference organised to deliberate on the issue of efficacy and other misconceptions regarding generic drugs, here at PGIMER today.Kumar Gaurav Dhawan, Deputy Director(Administration) & Official Spokesperson, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER were also present on the occasion. Deliberating about the efficacy of the generic drugs, Prof. Lal cited  evidence from a published study, ‘Real world experience with “generic”pomalidomide in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma,’ as he  shared,” In India, only generic counterpart of the pomalidomide is available and not the original one as its very expensive. So FDI is using only generic counterparts. As per the study cited, there is a superior response to generic drugs as compared to the innovative drug available in the USA. The encouraging experience adds evidence to the efficacy of the generic drug even in such challenging patients such as  multiple myeloma. “Director PGIMER further quoted another published study ‘Cost and complications are limitations in resource-constrained settings for equine anti-thymocyte globulin’ when he said , “We are a leading public sector hospital in organ transplant and we celebrated 50 years of renal transplant on 21st June. The most important part of transplantation is preparing a patient for transplant, otherwise, the patient’s body rejects the kidney. In that preparation, the most important drug to prepare a patient for transplant is a drug called antithymocyte globulin, ATG. This study, again published from PGI, has proven that not only is generic effective, preparing a patient for transplant and preventing subsequent rejection, even half dose generic, is as effective as the innovative drugs available across the globe.”Dispelling the myth about quality control in Jan Aushdhi Centres, Director PGIMER stated, “Outside USA, India has the maximum number of FDA approved factories in the world. We at PGIMER take drugs from WHO approved plants and then every batch will be checked by NABL labs at regular intervals. So, quality is ensured at Jan Aushdhi Centres and its difficult to ensure the same quality when medicine is taken from any other pharmacy store as ethics of the owner of the pharmacy also impact the quality.”   Highlighting further, the Director PGIMER said, “The Institute prefers to procure generic drugs and a testimony to the same is the fact that during the year 2022-23, the total drugs purchased by PGIMER comprised 88% of generic drugs and only 12% of the branded drugs.” “The total sales from 7 Amrit Pharmacy Centres, the highest in the country in any public sector hospital, for the last three months (April1-June 23) amounted to Rs. 44 crores. The total sales from the two Jan Aushadhi Centres  of PGIMER, which stock only medicines and not surgical appliances as in Amrit Pharmacy, for the same period (April1-June 23) amounted to Rs. 72 lakhs,” the Director further elaborated. The media conference witnessed an engaging discussion and the queries pertaining to the road map for the expansion of Amrit Pharmacies and procurement of medicines were aptly responded by Mr. Kumar Gaurav Dhawan, Deputy Director (Administration) & Official Spokesperson, PGIMER.

IEP Chandigarh, June 26        

  The Minister’s Flying Squad, constituted by Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, caught three conductors for swindling government exchequer and passengers. Among them, one conductor had cheated the passengers of about Rs.1200, while another conductor has been reported in two embezzlement cases in two days.          Divulging further details, Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that during the checking at Khanna, the flying squad checked Bus No. PB-02-EG 4728 of Tarn Taran Depot, wherein conductor Jaskaran Singh was found guilty of not issuing tickets to passengers despite collecting Rs.1170 from them. This bus was bound to Tarn Taran from Delhi. Similarly, during the checking of Bus No. PB-10-HT 2834 of Ludhiana Depot at Haidon, conductor Sanjay Kumar was found to have misappropriated Rs.615, which he collected from the passengers but did not give them tickets in return. One day ago, conductor Sanjay Kumar had caused a financial loss of Rs.283 to the department by not collecting adda fee of three buses, due to which he was replaced and deputed on the bus.          As part of the series of checks in other states, the Cabinet Minister said that the Minister’s Flying Squad conducted checking at Banikhet in Himachal Pradesh, from where conductor Manjit Singh of Bus No. PB-02-EG 0964 of Amritsar-1 Depot has been reported for collecting Rs.490 from passengers and not issuing tickets for the same amount.          S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that apart from this, two buses have also been reported for plying on unscheduled routes during the checking on Phagwara bypass. He said, Bus No. PB-08-EX 0976 of Jalandhar-1 depot and Bus No. PB-07-BQ 5442 of SBS Nagar Depot were carrying only 9 and 6 passengers, respectively due to operating on unscheduled route. The Transport Minister directed the higher authorities for disciplinary action against the reported drivers and conductors.

IEPChandigarh, June 23:       

  The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann, is continuously making efforts for the welfare of the poor people. Various schemes are being implemented by the state government in this regard. Dr. Baljit Kaur  the Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minority, stated that an amount of Rs. 1 crore 47 lakh has been released for the repair and maintenance of the building of Ambedkar Institute of Careers and Courses at 3B-2 Mohali.          Giving more information Dr. Baljit Kaur the Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minority, highlighted that the Ambedkar Institute of Careers and Courses is one of the esteemed institutes in the state, offering high-quality career-oriented training and courses. Continuous efforts are being made in this institution to create an environment conducive to the optimal learning and development of the students. The institute provides excellent facilities in various fields, aiming to improve the standard of living for economically disadvantaged individuals.          Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized the need for some repairs in the building and confirmed the immediate release of the aforementioned amount. Furthermore, she directed the officials of the department to ensure transparency and quality in the repair and maintenance works of the building of Ambedkar Institute of Careers and Courses, as well as to utilize the funds efficiently and effectively

IEP Chandigarh, June 23      

    Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Friday expressed satisfaction over the progress of Nangal Flyover construction works.          While presiding over the weekly review meeting at the Punjab Civil Secretariat here, the Cabinet Minister said that the speed of construction found satisfactory for the past few days. He instructed the official of the construction company that as the construction work above the railway line would be completed, the pace of work should be accelerated to complete the remaining work of flyover as soon as possible.          During the meeting, the Cabinet Minister instructed the officer of the local administration to shift residents of ‘Nangal Kusht Ashram’ to new place in next two days and to vacate this place and start the construction work related to the flyover.          Mr. Bains also resolved the various issues between the construction company and the railway on the spot. He instructed the officials of Municipal Council Nangal to speed up the repair work of city roads and also to resolve the issues of street lights and CCTV cameras in the city.          Pertinently, the next weekly meeting regarding Nangal Flyover will be held on July 3rd, 2023. 

IEP CHANDIGARH, June 23     

      In order to keep Punjab safe and secure as envisioned by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police on Friday thoroughly checked ATMs and Petrol Pumps across the state from security point of view, especially, to ensure that Closed-Circuit Television (CCTVs) cameras are functioning and security guards were deployed.          The checking was conducted from 10am to 2pm simultaneously in all the 28 Police districts of the state on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav. The CPs/SSPs were directed to personally monitor this operation and make sufficient number of Police teams to carry out checking.          Special DGP Arpit Shukla informed that the checking was conducted keeping in mind the vulnerability of Petrol Pumps and ATMs, which are prone and could be soft-target of anti-social elements.           He said that one team per Police Station was deployed to conduct inspection and review security arrangements at all such establishments. Police teams were also asked to ensure that all the ATMs and Petrol Pumps have CCTV cameras installed at the premises and are guarded by the watchman/security guard, he added.          At least 471 Police teams, involving over 3000 Police personnel, carried out checks at as many as 2758 ATMs and 1861 Petrol Pumps across the state.          Meanwhile, CPs/SSPs have also been directed to intensify Police Patrolling around such vulnerable places to keep vigil on anti-social elements.