The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has established a seven-person panel to compile a comprehensive “National Drugs Database” of drug formulations manufactured and marketed in India. This is done with the goal of ensuring the quality and efficacy of medications and the uniform administration of drug regulation.
An official office letter headed “Constitution of a Committee for the Development of the National Drugs Database” was issued on October 27 and was reported, naming the seven members of the panel.
The panel will be responsible for making recommendations and creating a database of all drug formulations sold in the country. This database will include information about each drug, including its name, dosage form, strength, and the names and contact information for the drug’s manufacturer, marketer, and importer.
The committee will conduct a series of checks against the existing database, including with the drug control offices of individual states and union territories, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), and various manufacturers, suppliers, and importers.
In addition to making suggestions, the group will also construct a comprehensive “National Drugs Database” of all drug formulations manufactured and commercialised in the country.
The panel includes the following individuals: Dr. HG Koshia, commissioner of the Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) in Gujarat; Dr. Pooja Gupta, from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi; Dr. Jerian Jose, a scientist at the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) in New Delhi; Dr. DR Gahane, joint commissioner of the FDA in Maharashtra; Dr. BT Khanapure, state drugs controller of Kar
AK Pradhan, India’s joint pharmaceutical controller, will head the committee.
After receiving a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) about four different types of cough and cold syrup made in India that were intended for children, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) launched an investigation into the unfortunate deaths of 66 children in the Gambia.
To continue ensuring that the medications sold in India are safe, effective, and up to par with established quality standards, the government has now chosen to build a complete database of drug formulations manufactured and marketed in India.
According to News18.com’s report, a memorandum issued by India’s drug controller general VG Somani reads, “A comprehensive database of drug formulations manufactured or marketed in the country providing detailed information on the drug, its dosage form, strength, details of manufacturer, marketer, or importer, etc. is crucial…”
In addition, the drug controller general of India, VG Somani, claims that such a database will “empower customers” and improve the “monitoring mechanism” for the quality of pharmaceuticals supplied across the country as well as the “uniform administration” of the regulatory system.
The group has three months to submit its recommendations and a national database of drug formulations.