The All India Drugs Control Officer's Confederation (AIDCOC) is initiating a massive consumer awareness programme at Visakhapatnam on April 29 and 30, 2006. The theme of the programme is 'Towards Empowerment of Consumer- Regulator's Initiative'.

AIDCOC has decided to focus on direct action as regards to consumer welfare, especially to improve access to medicines. AIDCOC resolves to focus on direct action by going directly to the consumer with a view to educate them on their rights, brief them about the facts vis-à-vis claims made about spurious drugs in India, to educate them about rational use of medicines and care to be taken to prevent abuse of Medicines. As part of this, on November 18, 2005, AIDCOC has launched a "National Project on Consumer Awareness" at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

AIDCOC has started a pilot awareness campaign in Andhra Pradesh with pamphlets, banners and displays in retail chemist outlets elaborating the evils of self medication, adverse drug reactions, consumer rights, responsibilities of pharmacists etc. Soon AIDCOC will extend the campaign to other states.

Ashwini Kumar, drugs controller general of India; Dr K Paul Thadikonda, president and CEO of Eminent Services Corporation, USA; DV Subba Rao, former chairman, Bar Council of India; AN Mohan, president, All India Organization of Chemists and Druggsits; Amitava Guha, joint general secretary, Federation of Medical Representatives Association of India, Prof A Prasanna Kumar, director, Centre for Policy Studies; Dr Jaya Prakash Narayan, National Co-ordinator, Lok Satta; Dr LV Raghava Rao, president, Indian Medical Association, Andhra Pradesh Chapter, will share their views and experiences on the related issues.