New Bill will Aid in the Creation of a Registry of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Units in the country, says the Health Minister

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare as well as Chemicals and Fertilisers, stated that the provisions in the proposed New Drugs, Medical Devices, and Cosmetics Bill, 2023 will assist the Centre in creating a registry with the details of pharma manufacturing units in the country to ensure drug quality. In response to the quality concerns raised about cough syrup manufactured in India and exported to various countries, he stated, "In the pharma sector, there are blames and counter-blames because of national and international competition."

We must be aware of this as well." He was responding to a reporter's question during a press briefing about the upcoming India MedTech Expo (IMTE), which will be held in Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat, from August 17 to 19, 2023, coinciding with the G20 Health Ministers' Working Group meeting. According to the Minister, a team of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) officials conducts inspections in four to five companies across the country every day, and actions are taken against fraudulent drug manufacturing or manufacturing facilities that do not follow Good Manufacturing Practises (GMP). While action is taken almost every day, there are over 10,500 industries, and under the federal system, powers alternate between the states and the centre.

"We are bringing in new drugs and cosmetics acts to address such issues holistically," he explained. On the healthcare related meetings and exhibitions to be held along with the G20 Health Ministers' Meeting, he said that there would be investment coming into India from other countries, while some of the countries are also requesting Indian vaccine manufacturers to set up their facilities in those countries. There are also opportunities for collaboration and joint ventures in the sector.