The drug controller general of India (DCGI)has established an International Co-operation Cell (ICC) within the office of the CDSCO to address export related queries more efficiently. Through this initiative, the DCGI hopes to boost the confidence of the exporters further with a single window for better delivery of services through a systematic and organised network specifically for exports.
ICC, an initiative of the DCGI and the commerce ministry is designed to aid exporters address issues on a fast track basis so that the long delays in addressing regulatory issues do not affect the exports. The cell is headed by Dr A Chandra Sekhara Rao, deputy drugs controller (India) comprising of ten members which includes drug inspectors and ADC's who have been selected to exclusively deal with all the exports related issues, while also attending to the queries of the commerce ministry.
Dr P V Appaji, director general of Pharmexcil informed that commerce ministry have been working very hard to enhance and provide a conducive environment to bolster exports from the country and this step is to meant to ease up the procedural delay faced by many exporters and build confidence among the exporters. He further stressed that the Cell's main responsibilities will be to handle not only quality issues relating to exports but also domestics regulatory issues faced by the exporters as well.
“The commerce ministry and the CDSCO have been working very hard to set up this cell and the response that we have received till now have been tremendous. Setting up of ICC is turning out to be a major plus point for the us, as the commerce ministry is able to gauge and analyse the exporters issues on an immediate basis now. Commerce ministry is working very closely with CDSCO to address any issues relating to the quality parameters raised by the exporters, so that the Indian pharma exports do not have to get bogged because of the long regulatory delay,” informed Dr P V Appaji, director general of Pharmexcil.
It is understood that the ICC will be having a monthly review meeting as well with the commerce ministry to clarify and provide a detailed data on the issues referred to them while deliberating and brainstorming important industry matters and solutions.