There is growing euphoria over America’s energy future. Energy experts around the globe have been claiming that the US will gain energy independence in the next eight years. Optimists have even gone on to claim that America’s energy independence will lead to global energy independence. The primary basis for the first of these two claims is a series of technological breakthroughs, the most important of which is the application of what is called shale gas technology to extract oil from rock. Experts and journalists are so impressed by this technological breakthrough that they have credited it for lowering US dependence on imported oil by a quarter from 60% of the country’s overall oil consumption a few years ago to 46% in the current year.  Oil forecasts have been notoriously slippery; we hope that the current forecasts on US energy independence are based on firmer grounds. Experts claim that within the next eight years, shale reserves in the US wil...

Now a days, I have lot of rush in my clinic! I see more MR's (Medical representatives) than patients. While the  patient load has not gone down ( Thanks God!); The number of MR's has increased drastically, what with so many new companies in the market, selling the same drugs. Remembering symptoms of rare syndromes is a easier task, then remembering the different brand names of the same drugs. This observation about the fierce competition in the domestic market along with other indicators like: 1. Two major Pharma promoters ( Ranbaxy and Piramal) cashing out. 2. No new drugs to copy by process patent 3. Difficulties faced by Indian firms to launch Generic versions of off patent drugs in the Western market, that too after spending a fortune on legal fees. 4. Prolonged recession in the West coupled with reduced Medicaid spending. It makes me wonder if it is the end of growth of Indian pharma. Do they deserve the rich 20+ P/E valuations.? While I may be skeptic abo...