India’s generic drug industry has made drugs affordable, and it is called the “Pharmacy of the developing world”. The regulator must ensure the safety and effectiveness of these drugs, for export markets as well as the local market. The articles in this Theme issue discuss the many elements of ensuring “good quality drugs” — addressing policy and regulation, the industry and professional bodies, and prescription guidelines. A tribute to Dr Chandra Mohan Gulhati, who made invaluable contributions to the movement for evidence-based healthcare, completes the Theme section.
The Supreme Court judgment on the Harish Rana case brought clarity to challenging end of life decisions. An editorial analyses the rationale and process for withdrawal of medical intervention from a person in a permanent vegetative state, keeping in mind the patient’s best interests. Other essays in the issue look at how doctors should work with patients who use online self-diagnosis and how online bullying affects vulnerable youth. The issue also carries perspectives on medical education, fair salaries for doctors, and a patient’s lived narrative of childhood tuberculosis.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________Cover credit: Moving slowly…forward, courtesy Shirom Selvaraj.