Dear readers,
As you know, we are engaged in the dissemination of knowledge and awareness about issues confronting the health and well-being of people and the challenges before the healthcare sector. Further, to acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of the outstanding doctors, medical institutions and contribution of allied professionals, we also organize national and state level awards pan-India.
This time we are organizing Double Helical National Health Awards on 29th May, 2017 in New Delhi, for which we seek your support and blessings to make the event a success for the further advancement of this noble profession and welfare of the suffering humanity.
In keeping with our mission to regularly update you with the latest health news and views, you will read comprehensive and authentic coverage of health issues in the current issue. As part of the lead story, this time we are covering Depression, which is not merely a feeling of sadness but a serious illness that affects people of every age, educational level, and social and economic background. The World Health Organization (WHO) characterizes depression as one of the most disabling disorders in the world, affecting roughly one in five women and one in ten men at some point in their lifetime
Alcohol and other substance abuse or dependence may also co-exist with depression. Research shows that mood disorders and substance abuse commonly occur together. Depression may also occur with other serious medical illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. People who have depression along with other medical illness tend to have more severe symptoms of both depression and the medical illness, more difficulty adapting to their medical condition, and more medical costs than those who do not have co-existing depression. Treating the depression can also help improve the outcome of treating the co-occurring illness.
Most likely, depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain. Longstanding theories about depression suggest that important neurotransmitters—chemicals that brain cells use to communicate—are out of balance in depression. But it has been difficult to prove this.
In another story, we are covering the recent government advisory to the doctors for prescribing generic medicines. It is expected to bring down drug prices and expand access to affordable health solutions. But in the absence of an international standard drug regulatory mechanism, and enforceable assurance about quality through bioequivalence tests and other globally mandated parameters, the generics-only diktat may not turn out to be a practical idea.
India is an import-driven country for active pharmaceutical ingredients and already facing challenge of substandard quality of generic drugs. Along with this, the current move may reduce FDI inflow in pharma sector and cause a slowdown in research & development in domestic pharma companies. However, India has taken steps like ‘India Pharma & India Medical Device 2017’ and the new IPR policy that offer incentive & ease of doing business in India. India should adopt stricter accreditation and inspection rules for generic drugs.
The new policy can ensure that at least in the Indian market generic manufacturers retain an advantage. Big pharma’s access to Indian consumers will have to be routed through generic companies using channels such as voluntary licensing. Experts believe that this is expected to bring down drug prices and expand access to affordable health solutions.
In an exclusive interview, Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal who is currently National President, Indian Medical Association (IMA), said that IMA under him has been regularly coming up with resolutions, declarations, statements and white papers etc on public health. Being the voice of medical profession, he feels, it is the responsibility of IMA to maintain the dignity and nobleness of the profession.
IMA is for accountability, but it supports a single-window accountability. But at present if dissatisfied, the patient has multiple fora, where he/she can file a complaint against the doctor simultaneously – Medical Council of India (MCI), state medical council, consumer court, human rights court, police complaint under Indian Penal Code, and under special acts for the same complaint.
The public should understand that death of a patient does not always mean negligence. Difference of opinion, error of judgement, any simple deviation from normal practice or a patient not getting cured is not negligence. A known complication is not medical negligence; any unsuccessful surgery or failure to diagnose is not negligence.
There are many more interesting and thought-provoking stories in the May 2017 issue of your favourite magazine Double Helical. Happy reading!

Warm regards,
Amresh K Tiwary,
Editor-in-Chief