Union Ministry of Health has included the passage of the bill seeking to create the Central Drug Authority (CDA) and the revival of the three public sector vaccine manufacturing units as part of the 100-day action plan for the ministry.

An oversight committee has already prepared a roadmap for revamping of the vaccine manufacturing facility at CRI, Kasauli. Project reports are being prepared for revival of BCG, Guindy and PII, Coonoor, according to the long and medium term policy initiatives announced by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

A bill to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Act (1940) would be prepared for creation of the Central Drug Authority, an autonomous body to regulate drugs and pharmaceutical products. The objective of this Act is to ensure that all regulatory norms like Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), and Good Distribution Practices (GDPs) are enforced in uniform manner throughout the country, the minister said.

"The bill would also provide separate provisions/chapters in the Act to regulate medical devices, clinical trials and exports. This would further ensure that high quality drugs are within the reach of Indian population at affordable prices and would also ensure freer movement of Indian pharmaceutical products in international trade and commerce," he said.

On the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the ministry has the feeling that more to be done and in consultation with state governments, it will identify, difficult, most difficult and inaccessible areas, particularly in hilly states, North Eastern States and tribal areas in other states. After having identified these areas, the ministry shall help these state governments in filling up the deficiencies in the strength of doctors and paramedical staff.

A web-based Health Management Information System (HMIS) will be made fully operational by July 31 to enable district specific reporting of progress in NRHM on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. This will enable timely monitoring of physical and financial progress more effectively.

While Government is taking action to expedite the setting up of 8 AIIMS like institutions and upgrade 19 state medical institutions across the country, the ministry will formulate a comprehensive medium and long term policy within the next three months for meeting the deficiencies of human resources in health sector. This would also include the initiation of setting up of a National Council for Human Resources in Health as an over-arching regulatory body as announced by the President of India in the Parliament, the minister said.

Within the next three months, the ministry would also formulate a scheme for strengthening and upgradation of State Government Medical Colleges to increase post graduate medical seats in departments where there are critical shortages such as gynaecology, anaesthesia, paediatrics, etc.