India to create national drugs database to address quality issues

A seven-member panel has been formed by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to prepare the country's first-ever national drug database, which will be used to monitor the quality of drugs in circulation, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

Since it is not mandatory for companies to provide details, none of the government agencies have been successful in collecting accurate and robust data. The move will empower consumers and enhance monitoring, said an official.

The members of the panel include Dr HG Koshia, Commissioner of Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat, Dr Pooja Gupta from AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr Jerian Jose, scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, DR Gahane, joint Commissioner of Food and Drug administration (FDA), Maharashtra, BT Khanapure, state drugs controller, Karnataka, and Navneet Marwaha, state drugs controller, Himachal Pradesh.