Hemant G Koshia, joint commissioner of Gujarat state Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), has assumed charge as the new Commissioner of the state drug regulatory office. The state government had recently appointed Koshia as the commissioner.

Koshia has been working as the joint commissioner (drugs) with the administration from November 2001 to January 2009. He was also holding charge as licensing authority and controlling authority for the state FDCA from November 2007.

The new commissioner for the office takes charge at a time when the pharmaceutical industry and the state government of Gujarat are busy hosting a series of national and international pharma events in the state. "It is a recognition from the government to assign me as the head of the office. Our team will work together to maintain the regulatory efforts the office has so far made and to make the upcoming events like Informex India, the first Indian edition of Informex USA event hosted in the state," said Koshia.

He also represented various committees, including the State Drugs Advisory Board as member-secretary, State level Denatured Committee as member, Cosmetics Sectional Committee in Bureau of Indian Standards as member.

Meanwhile, Koshia will be felicitated on March 6 at a function in Ahmedabad organised by the Gujarat chapter of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA). Manoj Tongra, Drug Control Officer, Rajasthan will deliver a lecture on DPCO and Drug & Cosmetics Act Amendments. Jaynarayan Vyas, minister for Health & Family Welfare Government of Gujarat will be the chief guest at the gathering.

Koshia is an M. Pharm degree holder from L M College of Pharmacy and joined the State services in October 1986. He later earned his Diploma in Management from Bhavan's Institute.