'Govt consulting stakeholders on Bill on drugs, med devices'

Government does not want to rush through a legislation aimed at regulating trade, manufacture and sale of drugs and medical devices and is instead carrying out consultations with various stakeholders.
"For the bill to have maximum impact, it is important for us to consider the views of other ministries, the industry and the civil society. We do not wish to hastily push forward a draft Bill without listening to the views of all stakeholders," Minister of State for Health, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, told PTI here.
The Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2013, proposes changes in the regulation of the import, export, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs, cosmetics and medical devices and to ensure safety, efficacy and quality in conduct of clinical trials.

The Bill, which seeks to set up the Central Drugs Authority, was introduced in Parliament in August of last year and later referred to the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare. The Committee came up with its recommendations in December last year.
Choudhury said that the Committee's recommendations were currently being examined by the Ministry.
"We will take the recommendations into account and also ensure that there is sufficient dialogue with stakeholders before we submit the revised draft of the Bill," he said.
The minister claimed that once finalised, the Bill would ensure the highest standards of safety and efficacy.

Referring to the concerns of the medical devices industry, he said, "Medical devices and drugs are very different and we want to ensure that the distinction in their regulation is taken to the last mile.