To empower consumers and enhance monitoring, the Union government will form an extensive database "on all drug formulations sold in India," News18.com reports.
A committee will be formed to prepare national drugs database by ministry of health and family welfare.
The panel will give recommendations and prepare "a comprehensive database of drug formulations manufactured and marketed in the country, providing detailed information on a drug, its dosage form, strength, and details of the manufacturer, marketer, or importer of the drug."
As per an office memorandum dated October 27 and titled Constitution of a Committee for preparation of National Drugs Database, a panel of seven members has been formed.
Penned by the drug controller general of India, VG Somani, the memorandum said, “A comprehensive database of drug formulations manufactured/marketed in the country providing detailed information on the drug, its dosage form, strength, details of manufacturer/marketer/importer etc is crucial…”
Somani said such a database will “empower consumers” and improve “monitoring mechanism” for quality of drugs in circulation across the country and the “uniform administration” of the regulatory system.
The members of the committe 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.
AK Pradhan, joint drugs controller of India, will be the convener.
Panel will examine existing database available with various authorities including states and union territories’ drug control departments.
The committee may seek help from any other expert if necessary, the memorandum said.
“The committee shall submit its recommendation including the database of the formulations in next three months," it added.