The computer networking of all state level drug control administrations and the regional and central offices of the Drugs Control General of India is to begin within a month as Chennai based, Accel-ICIM (International Computer India Manufacturers), a joint venture company has successfully developed a software that can be uniformly used across the country. The DCGI officials are to give a go ahead signal to Accel after verifying the user friendliness of the new software developed by the company within few days.

The networking of the functioning of the department is expected to solve a host of major issues arising out of "lack of coordination" within the regulatory authorities at the central and state levels. Immediate recall of defective drugs from the market will be one of the major positive outcomes as electronic alerts can put the entire Indian drugs control machinery into action within a matter of seconds. Officials also feel that the complaints of state drug authorities giving license to drugs with look alike names of established brands can also be reduced if there can be a centralized monitoring of all the drug licensing activities taking place within the country. The networking process is expected to be complete within a year.

Accel was entrusted the task of undertaking the job of electronic networking the department's functioning by Noida-based Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation (India) Limited (HSCC), the nodal agency selected by DCGI for implementing the programme. The project involves development and installation of computer hardware and system software, application software, data communications arrangements, entry and validation of extensive data on licenses and training.

Accel is to subcontract the responsibilities to reputed agencies that can take charge of specific zones. The company is to monitor the computerization programme of at least one state from every zone and validate the effectiveness of the software before subcontracting the work to others.

Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal are likely to be the pilot states where the programme is to be implemented first.

The proposed system would provide for licensing, inspection and enforcement of drugs related laws in the drug control authorities in the states and union territories and linking these with the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) as well as the central and state drug testing laboratories for testing of drugs.

The HSCC comes under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and will take care of four important aspects in the project, which includes meeting the entire hardware and software requirements, looking into the data entry of existing licensees and training of the officials.

DCGI sources said that the department is very careful to ensure that the system is foolproof and any system breakdown in one center will not affect the entire network. The government will also identify a private partner who can maintain and upgrade the facilities on a long-term basis.