India stands at first place in the world in USFDA approved plants

Hanamkonda: India stands at first place in the world in US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved plants, stated Dr A Ramkishan, the Deputy Drugs Controller of India, New Delhi.

India is exporting drugs to over 230 countries and USA purchases more medicines from India, he said explaining the current and future trends of pharmaceutical industry in the country.

He addressed a gathering of students and faculty at a lecture session on ‘Future Trends of Pharmaceutical Industry and Health Sciences’ conducted here on Tuesday at St Peter’s Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

He told the students about various schemes like NHPS-Ayushman Bharat in which pharmacists play a major role for improving the health care throughout India, initiated by the Central government. In its 12th 5-year plan, it is decided to set up mini labs at air and sea ports in the country.

Similarly, eight new offices of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) will be set up along with eight testing labs under CDSCO, two each for drugs and medical devices, one for cosmetics and 10 testing labs under State and Union Territories, Ramkishan informed.

He further informed that it is also decided to upgrade existing Central Labs and 20 mobile drug testing labs in States and Training Academy and creation of 3,500 additional regulatory/laboratory posts at Central and State level.

Disclosing the Pharmaceutical Policy 2017, he said its main objectives are to make India sufficient, self-reliant in drug manufacturing and to produce innovator drugs by creating environment for research and development. The institute chairman T Jayapal Reddy and Principal Dr P Rajasekhar, students of M Pharmacy, B Pharmacy and PharmD were present.