The Government claimed to have initiated steps in accordance with the report of the high-power inter-ministerial coordination committee set up by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), on providing quality medicines at affordable prices and to contain the spread of sub-standard drugs.

The concerned departments were asked to create separate action plans as per the recommendations by the panel which submitted the final report last year. The reports were forwarded to the different ministries as procurement of drugs was done separately by the agencies under various departments. Besides, the Central Medical Services Society (CMSS) which was set up by the Union Ministry to streamline the procurement and distribution of medicines is also examining the report, it is learnt.

Referring to the report, Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad said the recommendations of the panel were 'broadly agreeable'. However, he did not elaborate on the recommendations, in a reply in the Parliament recently.

“The DoP had constituted a High Powered Inter-ministerial Coordination Committee (HPIMCC) under the Chairmanship of the Secretary of the Department to implement the Government’s commitment to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the public. As per the available information, the first meeting of the Committee was held on 29.3.2010. Based on the decision taken in that meeting, two Working Groups, viz., Working Group for Quality of Medicines and Working Group for Pricing of Medicines were formed. In its second meeting held on 26.6.2012, the HPIMCC considered the suggestions made in the reports of the two Working Groups. Thereafter, the minutes of that meeting and the Reports of the two Working Groups were conveyed to the Health Ministry,” he said.

To minimize the manufacture of sub-standard drugs in the country and making the regulatory control more effective, the 12th Five Year Plan contains substantial provision for further strengthening the drug regulatory system both at central and state level, he added.

“The licensing and regulatory control of manufacture of drugs are the subject matter of the State Licensing Authorities and State Drugs Control Departments. The information about the details of the manufacturers are, therefore, not maintained centrally. Further, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) does not regulate the quantum of production of drugs by the drug companies,” he said in the reply.