Wide-ranging issues from upgrading of regulatory system to match with the global mechanism, interstate cooperation to curb on substandard drugs movement, and to bringing in checks on medical devices formed part of the discussions at the two-day meeting of the 37th Drugs Consultative Committee, began here on Monday.The matter of creating good system of intelligence-cum-legal wings, efforts to generate information and prepare dossiers on the culprits, sharing of information with stake-holders to facilitate curbing this menace, harmonization of procedure through joint efforts by the States and regulators and amendment of the DMR (OA) Act also came up for deliberations.

Inaugurating the meeting, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss called for inter-State cooperation to prevent and curb the movement of substandard and counterfeit drugs.

``The Government is aware of the significant role the drugs and pharmaceuticals play in the health care system. It is taking lot of initiatives to upgrade the country's regulatory system with that of global regulatory system,'' he said.

As a part of this exercise, the Government of India was trying to have proper coordination with US FDA. One of the major concerns of the Government was the lack of system and uniformity within the States. Time has come for the regulators of State Governments to join together and harmonize a procedure within the country, which is essential before an effort is made for global harmonization, he said.

As a part of global harmonization exercise, the Government was taking initiatives to have working relations at regional level with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) on drug legislation for human use. The Government was looking for opportunities for bilateral agreements for mutual recognition, the Minister said.