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Prescription for health

A. Jacob Sahayam, Karigiri.

In the write-up, `Fool-proof pharmacy' (Sept 18), the author asks why despite a plethora of laws, drugs continue to be sold over the counter without a prescription. In fact, drugs such as crocin are available even in paan-shops.

If laws are to be enforced, the proper conditions must be created. Public health units must be established in adequate numbers, covering all parts of the country, where any sick person can avail of the services of a qualified doctor.

With the escalating costs of medical treatment, there is need for a national health insurance scheme covering all sections of the population, especially the very poor.

Pricey disparity

Padmavijayam Rangaswami via e-mail.

The article, `Price indices sans meaning' (Oct 23), is all the more relevant today as prices are spiralling due to the recent revision in petrol prices.

Naked truth dazzles and blinds us to the simple realities. It has become fashionable for the powers-that-be to quote economists of foreign origin to substantiate their arguments even as they fail to listen and discuss things at home.

Light and enlightening

V. Chandrashekhar, Chennai.

I enjoy reading Life. It provides the much-needed relaxation for corporate executives on a Monday morning. It is light without being flippant. And it is enlightening without being boring.

Lax and lost

R. Sethuraman and Vidya Sethuraman via e-mail.

We were delighted to see the writer's observations in `Paying for the lax regulator' (Aug 28), highlighting the sufferings undergone by gullible investors who had put their hard-earned money in non-banking financial institutions during the 1990s.

We agree with the writer when he says that depositors could have been saved of their heavy financial losses had the RBI intervened and sounded the warning in time.