Platinum-based drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin are on the WHO model list of essential medicines, as highly effective chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of various solid tumors. These drugs react with purine residues in DNA, thereby causing DNA damage, inhibition of cell division, and eventually cell death. However, the mechanisms whereby platinum-based drugs enter cancer cells rem...

Some recent developments in heavy quark theory are reviewed. Particular emphasis is given to inclusive weak decays of hadrons containing a b quark. The isospin violating hadronic decay D s ! Ds 0 is also discussed.

Prior to 1994, most Delhi hospitals and dispensaries experienced constant shortages of essential medicines. There was erratic prescribing of expensive branded products, frequent complaints about poor drug quality and low patient satisfaction. Delhi took the lead in developing a comprehensive Drug Policy in 1994 and was the only Indian state to have such a comprehensive policy. The policy's main...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the drug dispensing practices and patients' knowledge on drug use among the outpatients and to identify and analyze the problems in drug prescribing and dispensing. METHODS A prospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using World Health Organization (WHO) core drug use indicators from July 13, 2008 to August 15, 2008 in Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara...

Background Diabetes is emerging as a major health care problem especially in developing countries. Adhering to the WHO indicators and judicious use of anti-diabetic drugs will be a promising step in health care system. Objective To analyse the prescribing pattern of anti-diabetic drugs in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study was done for six mon...

BACKGROUND In 1977 the World Health Organization created its first Model List of Essential Medicines-a list designed to aid countries in determining which medicines to prioritize on their National Essential Medicines Lists. In classifying drugs as "essential," the World Health Organization has historically stressed drugs' ability to meet priority health needs of populations and cost. OBJECTIV...

Dear Editor, The emergence of endocrine disease has created significant challenges for healthcare policy-makers and payers across the world. Policy-makers have to ensure availability of drugs used for various endocrinopathies. One way in which this is facilitated is through the World Health Organization (WHO) List of Essential Medicines (LEM). The LEM aims to cover the basic pharmaceutical need...