The Drug Inspectors Welfare Association (DIWA) of Maharashtra is opposing the proposed formation of Central Drug Authority (CDA) at the Centre which, the association termed, will be a step towards further centralisation of power. DIWA has sent a letter to the central government asking it to desist from the move.

Opposing the move, DIWA Maharashtra president SR Salunkhe said the central government's move is a hasty decision which will slow down the process of drug licensing in the country. It will have an adverse effect on the industry because they have to approach Delhi for all the works. The drug manufacturers of south and central India will be affected more.

Salunkhe said that instead of centralising the system, the Union Minister should further decentralise the drug licensing system in the country. The formation of CDA will prove to be a hindrance to the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the country.

The Union Health Ministry has almost finalised a proposal to create a central body, Central Drug Authority, which will have exclusive authority to issue manufacturing licenses to the drug manufacturing units all over the country. So far, the respective state drug control departments issued the manufacturing licenses for combination drugs. The drug manufacturers had to travel to Delhi to get license from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) only for new drugs.

Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss's move for creation of a central drug authority comes in the wake of widespread criticism that the state drug controllers are misusing their powers to issue drug manufacturing licenses. The CDA is being formed to centralise the drug license system in the entire country. Once in place, all the powers for issuing drug manufacturing license will be in the hands of DCGI.