PC Working Group Recommends Rs. 6256 Cr To Strengthen Drug Regulatory System

The Working Group of the Planning Commission (PC) on drugs has recommended a total financial outlay of Rs. 6256 crore for strengthening the drugs and regulatory system, including that in the states and creation of a separate authority for medical devices, during the next five year Plan period.

The Working Group recently submitted the recommendations to the Planning Commission which is discussing them to finalize the plans for the period 2012-2017, sources said.

“Strengthening of Drugs Regulatory Mechanisms is one of the major public health interventions. This ensures that safe, efficacious and quality drugs are made available to the people. Keeping in view the recommendations of the Mashelkar Committee, it is important that the infrastructure, both physical and human resource, both at the Centre as well as in the states is substantially augmented,” the Working Group report said.

Inadequate manpower at the State and Central level, inadequate or weak drug control infrastructure at the State and Central level, inadequate testing facilities, non-uniformity of enforcement of law and regulation, lack of training to regulatory officials, lack of data base, and inadequate IT services were cited as the problems in the field of regulatory sector.