Govt To Spend Rs 360 Cr On Health Regulator

National Drug Authority, Modelled On USFDA, To Improve Quality Of Drugs & Clinical Trials

The government is planning to spend about Rs 360 crore in the next four-five years in capacity building of the proposed healthcare and pharma regulator, National Drug Authority (NDA).

Union minister for health, Anbumani Ramadoss said the regulator, which will be on the lines of USFDA, aimed to improve the quality of drugs and clinical trials being conducted in India. Like US pharmaceuticals & drugs regulator, NDA will be autonomous with a complete structure and would function as a self-sustained regulatory mechanism.

"About Rs 360 crore will be spent in capacity building and getting trained professionals for the authority. This will enable recognition of R&D activities being undertaken in the Indian pharma and healthcare sector in the US and other countries," Ramadoss said at the launch of the first management consultation on health care in IIM, Ahmedabad on Monday.

A cabinet note has been circulated and the new regulatory authority should be in place in 18 months time. The NDA will have a minimum of 10 sub-divisions including that of safety, licensing, medical devices and diagnostics, ayurveda and clinical trials. "We are taking help from FDA in formulating the role of the NDA," Ramadoss said. The ministry recently had a meeting with USFDA officials, and the next round of meeting to discuss the scope of NDA, will be held in May.

The management consultation in healthcare being organised by IIM-Ahmedabad and Zydus Cadila between March 20 and 24 is aimed at increasing the interaction between policy-makers, academicians, practitioners, administrators and members of industries associated and involved with healthcare."

(Ref : Economic Times dated March 21, 2006)