The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal for strengthening drug regulatory system at a total cost of Rs 1750 crore which will spread over a period of three years both at the central and state level. This will help to facilitate domestic manufacture of quality medical products. Out of the total cost of Rs 1750 crore, an amount of Rs.900 crore will be spent on strengthening central structures and Rs.850 crore will be given to the State Governments after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The up gradation will include provision of additional equipment and manpower in the existing drug testing laboratories, setting up of new laboratories for testing drugs, medical devices, to make mobile drug testing laboratories available, creation of additional manpower for regulatory structures, including for new and emerging areas such as stem cell, regenerative medicine, biological and medical devices in addition to drugs. Besides, the up gradation will also introduce organization wide e-governance and information technology enabled and online services and also setting up a training academy for regulatory and drug testing officials of both the central and state governments. The common training programmes for regulatory and laboratory staff will also help in evolving uniform practices throughout the country.
Assistance will be provided to the states for strengthening their drug regulatory structures so that they can improve quality, safety and efficacy of drugs and other medical products manufactured in the country. The scheme will also help easing the disease burden and to increase export of pharmaceutical products and will help to grow the domestic medical devices sector. India is one of the largest manufacturers of drugs and exporter of pharmaceutical products to over 200 countries and economies.