As part of bringing in more transparency in the drug administration system by laying down clear procedures and redressing the complaints of the industry, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is meeting the representatives of pharmaceutical companies this week to garner their feedback on various issues foxing them.

DCGI Dr Surinder Singh is learnt to have called a meeting of all liaison officers of drug manufacturers on August 29 to discuss their complaints, hardships and procedural delays in getting clearances. All company representatives based in Delhi, who usually liaison with the officials, have been asked to attend the meeting.

"The attempt is to garner their feedback on the system and improve the functioning of the office of the DCGI. Their suggestions will be taken into consideration to put up a better functioning system in place,'' an official said.

The DCGI office is also learnt to be working on updating its website and placing clear-cut norms including the requisite time limit for clearance of applications. The official said that many of the features in the website have already been updated. The aim is to introduce a fool-proof e-governance system so that companies can track the progress of their applications any time.

Determined to eliminate the complaints about delays in clearance of applications and minimise the complaints on the part of the industry, the DCGI was also planning a multi-level redress mechanism. He had already announced to introduce a grievance box, to be operated and manned personally, so that if complaints still persisted at the lower levels it could be solved fast. Senior official will also be designated to handle the queries and problems every day for a longer time so that procedural delays could be avoided.

As per the plans of the DCGI office, it would display the required time for clearing each kind of applications so that the industry can take up the matter with the highest authority even at any given time. The process of computerising the entire system was also in progress, sources said.