The second sitting of Mashelkar Committee for Review of Drugs Regulatory System in India will take place within three weeks. The meeting is to consider the suggestions of the two sub-committees on finding ways to counter spurious drug problem and also to strengthen the regulatory system.

The decision on the appointment of independent agencies to conduct field surveys to gauge the extent of the spurious drug penetration is likely to be taken during the meeting.

Informing this to Pharmabiz.com, R A Mashalker, chairman of the committee said that the committee would also meet individual stakeholders and consider all possible suggestions towards improving the efficiency of the drug regulatory system. The date for the next committee meeting is yet to be finalized, he added.

The two sub-committees whose observations would be heard during the meeting have been looking into various drug regulatory aspects in the country and suggest measures for effective implementation of the laws.

Constitution of special courts to try spurious drug cases and establishment of a network of informers are also actively considered by the committee. The last sub-group meetings had expressed displeasure over the ineffectiveness of the existing judicial system in curbing the manufacture and distribution of spurious drugs.

While spurious drug trade is the main issue before the first sub-committee, the second committee would be concentrating on suggesting measures intended to strengthen the regulatory infrastructure in the country to a truly world class set up.

Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association (IDMA), Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Organisation of Pharma Producers of India (OPPI), All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), VOICE (a consumer organization which conducted a study on drugs), commissioner FDA of Maharashtra, drug controllers of Bihar, Haryana and Delhi, officials from various ministries, are all members of the committee.

The sub-committees are to give their suggestions to enable the Mashelkar committee to come out with a roadmap for the effective implementation of the Drug regulatory laws and also recommend significant changes in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, intended to make it more stringent and powerful. Mashelkar Committee has representatives from various ministries including Law Ministry, Home Ministry, Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry and Health and Family Welfare Ministry.