A drug regulatory system with centralized control would only help to streamline the licensing functions and thereby improving the quality standards in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. The centralization will also give tremendous boost to the image of Indian drug industry abroad, says JVR Prasada Rao, secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, appreciating the Mashelkar Committee's recommendation for centralized drug administration.

Speaking to Pharmabiz.com on the sidelines of an international health conference here, Rao said that the centralized system would be the ideal remedy for the ills of drug regulatory system. However, he was not optimistic about the states' reaction on the proposal to centralize the powers for drug regulation.

Earlier, addressing the delegates of the conference, Rao was all praise for Indian pharmaceutical industry and its achievements. Lavishing praise over the singular achievement of Cipla in bringing down the global prices of anti retroviral drugs, he said that Indian drug companies are capable of achieving big.

He was of the firm belief that the emerging issues in the health sector would open tremendous opportunities for Indian drug industry across the world. However, it would be in the best interest for India to change the existing mindset, which is blocking India's efforts towards globalization, he said.

Highlighting the importance and scope of clinical trials, he said that India should be open for allowing large-scale human trials. "The debate over the pros and cons of clinical trials should be brought down to public. Our regulations and rules should be transparent enough to make the public aware of the truth. People need to be educated, or else they will be carried away by newspaper reports", he said.

According to Rao, India is a big player and it is time to stand up and be counted. "Come January 2005, India will shift to product patent regime and therefore, it is important to invest more in R&D". He also urged the Indian industry to become more proactive.