Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Novartis says Khatika Churna-Calcium Sandoz@250 contains no calcium


Both the traders and the Novartis India are giving out absolutely contrasting statements on the controversial issue of a new marketing strategy resorted to by Novartis in which the company has launched an ayurvedic product, Khatika Churna-Calcium Sandoz@250, and is being aggressively promoted through allopathic doctors. The product contains no calcium but the company is apparently using its decades old Calcium Sandoz brand name to give a push to the new product, thereby confusing the consumers.

While a statement issues by Novartis said, "We are not positioning or promoting this product as an allopathic product either to the doctors or to the pharmacists," the traders are up in arms against the product being promoted through allopathic doctors which is not allowed under the law. They fear that this practice will put them in legal trap. Taking strong exceptions against the company's strategy of using an old brand name for its new product, the traders have sought clarifications from the company.

In a statement, Novartis said, "Khatika Curna-Calcium Sandoz@250 is a Proprietary Ayurvedic Medicine, being manufactured under a valid Ayurvedic Licence which contains 250 mg elemental calcium. We have not discontinued the Calcium Sandoz brand. Earlier this was an allopathic drug and we have converted this product to a Proprietary Ayurvedic Medicine by replacing Calcium Carbonate I P with Khatika Curna about four years ago."

"The packaging clearly mentions that this is a Proprietary Ayurvedic Medicine in keeping with the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 and rules there under. As per the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940, this product does not require a prescription to be sold by a retailer or to be recommended by a doctor. In addition, please note that we are not positioning or promoting this product as an allopathic product either to the doctors or to the pharmacists," the statement said.

However, doubts persist over the intention of the company in launching a product with a confusing brand name. According to sources, Novartis' old calcium brand, Calcium Sandoz@250, which is a price controlled medicine, is already in the market and the company wanted to withdraw the product once the new product -- Khatika Churna-Calcium Sandoz@250 (which does not fall under the price control) - captures the market.

13 comments:

  1. Hi,

    I got conned into buying this product for my son. It also contains aspartame!!!!

    Gulnar

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nothing to worry about since this product does contain sufficient calcium.
    As far as ASPARTAME is concerned plz read the safety link in this page

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame#Safety

    ReplyDelete
  3. Khatika Curna- seems to be bone powder. 'Khatik' means butcher. Is Novartis using bone powder? If yes they should tell people this product is non-vegeterian (with a brown dot) and what is the source of bones?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Khatika is a sanskrith word not an hindi word, kindly recheck the meaning in sanskrit dictionary

      Delete
  4. I'm confused !! I just bought a 100 tablet pack & am wondering if I am cheated. I honestly don't care if the product if vegetarian/ non vegetarian or allopatheic or ayurvedic. All i care about is, does the product contain calcium or not ? The presence of calcium is what I bought this & if calcium is not present, I'd just return the product back !!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi
    Nobody answered if it contains bone powder!!!! Please let us know what are the exact contents....

    ReplyDelete
  6. I felt like cheated after buying a 100 tablet pack. The packaging is similar to the earlier Calcium Sandoz. Even the dealer also didn't bothered to mention the difference.
    Can anybody specify the essential constituents of Khatika Curna?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aloke Dey, Founder Secretary, APMGMarch 18, 2012 at 5:32 AM

      A point is to be noted that the dealers/sellers are not aware of the fact because the producer or marketer of the product Khatika/Calcium has never intimated to them about the change its contents. Secondly the earlier Calcium (allopathic) was never fall under price controlled category.
      Mention may be made that this is the recent trend of the pharma industry not to intimate the dealer/seller about any change of the product or its price violating the very essence of the law of the land.
      Concerned Government Departments are solely responsible for this type of unfair practices.

      Delete
  7. 1. The packaging of the Khatika Curna (as spelled on the box) and inclsuion of 'Calcium Sandoz' wording is purposefully made similar to that of the original Calcoum Sandoz, to mislead people intp buying this assuming it to be the orignal calcium sandoz

    2. what is ASPARTAME doing in a product traditionally aimed at and consumed by chidren ???

    ReplyDelete
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  9. khatika churna and calcium carbonate are one and same product?

    ReplyDelete
  10. How can I get khatikacurna calcium sandoz through online

    ReplyDelete