The first meeting of the high power inter-ministerial committee headed by Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, director-general of Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has announced two sub-committees for coming out with specific suggestions to counter the problem of spurious drugs manufacturing and related issues in the country.

The newly formed sub-committees have been given 40 days time for getting back to the main committee with their proposals. The meeting, which was organized here during the last week of February, noted the need for active deliberations among the public on the subject before it can come out with concrete suggestions. The need for a website where the public can post suggestions were highlighted. It was also felt that ISM sector has to be included in the talks.

The appointment of nodal officers at state level to counter spurious drug business, special training for drug controllers, amendment to the Section 27 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to make spurious drug manufacturing a non-bailable offence, increasing the number of testing laboratories, setting up of special courts, strengthening of CDSCO, were all discussed during the meeting. The formation of National Drug Authority was another important point discussed by the high power committee. The sub-committees have been asked to revert with their replies on all these issues within the time limit.

According to sources, the first committee consists of the Drug Controller General of India, Director General of Health Services, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance nomineed, Dr M D Nair, drug controllers from Karnataka and Maharashtra and officials from the Department of Law.

The second sub-committee will have Vijay Karan, the IPA representative, representatives of IDMA, OPPI and All India Small Scale Drug Manufacturers Association and state drug controllers from Bihar and Delhi. The sub-committees are to meet often and come out with their responses at the earliest.

The meeting, called by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had discussed all issues pertaining to spurious drug manufacturing and present drug regulatory mechanism, and was attended by representatives of drug industry, trade, consumer organizations, scientists and officials from all concerned ministries.