Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastav has emphasized the need for stricter regulatory standards to ensure that only high-quality and effective medicines circulate in India. Speaking at a meeting with state drug regulators, she highlighted the importance of enforcing prescription-based sales to prevent the illicit diversion of narcotic drugs into trafficking and unauthorized use.
Stronger Oversight to Curb Drug Misuse
Srivastav urged state regulators to enhance their monitoring frameworks, ensuring that medicines are sold strictly through prescriptions. This measure is aimed at curbing the misuse of psychotropic drugs under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, a national initiative focused on combating drug abuse.
She also commended the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and state regulators for successfully conducting risk-based inspections of 905 drug manufacturing and testing firms, resulting in 694 enforcement actions. These inspections are part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with safety regulations and maintain drug quality across India.
Regulatory Crackdown on Illicit Exports
The meeting follows the recent intervention by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), which banned the production and export of all combinations of pain relief medicines tapentadol and carisoprodol. The decision was driven by reports that unapproved drug combinations were being exported to West African nations, contributing to an opioid crisis linked to a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical firm.
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Strengthening India’s Pharmaceutical Standards
The government’s focus on enhancing drug safety and regulatory enforcement is a critical step in ensuring that pharmaceutical companies adhere to global quality standards. With stricter policies and compliance measures, authorities aim to prevent the misuse of narcotic and psychotropic drugs while strengthening India’s reputation as a trusted pharmaceutical hub.
