The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad is soon to announce the results of one of the biggest household surveys carried out in the drugs and food sector of the country. The national survey, for which NIN was the nodal institute, was an attempt to understand the knowledge, attitude, belief and practices for both drugs and food that are prevalent among Indian households.

Official sources informed that NIN has already completed the survey and is in the process of finalizing its report. The report is expected to be ready within three to five months from now, they said.

The household survey was the direct result of the recommendations of Dr R A Mashelkar, Director General, CSIR on the need for a study to understand the drug usage pattern of the patients in the country. A proper data would give light into the seriousness of the spurious drug problem, it was felt.

The survey was completed with the assistance from four regional institutes ie, Lady Irvin College, Delhi, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta. NIN also performed as a regional centre. Each centre was given charge of six states, sources said.

As reported earlier, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has initiated series of studies and surveys as part of the World Bank-supported capacity building programme in the food and drugs sector. The national surveys and studies are expected to help gather better understanding on the current practices and perceptions that govern the drug usage and food habits of the citizens.