Govt to spend Rs 3k cr to set up labs, double drug regulators

The government will spend about Rs 3,000 crore to double the number of drug regulators to 1,000 in three years and set up testing labs at ports to ensure that pharmaceutical export shipments meet global quality standards, a senior government official said here today.

"While following a zero tolerance policy for any laxity, the government will more than double the number of regulators in three years and set up state-of-the art testing labs at ports to ensure the pharmaceuticals and drugs exports shipments meet global quality standards," Drugs Controller General (India) G N Singh told reporters.

Singh was speaking after inauguration of the three-day international exhibition of pharma and health care - iPHEX 2014, here.

He said the central government will be spending over Rs 3,000 crore in the next three years (under the 12th Plan) towards enhancing the capacity of the regulators both at the Centre and state levels.

The number of regulators will increase to 1,000 from 500 at the Central level, while as many as 3,000 regulators will be deployed at the state levels, he said adding that in India, the regulatory system works at the dual level - at the Central and state levels.

"India's reference system for drugs testing and IP will be at par with the top world standards in two-three years and will even match the US in three-five years," Singh said.

India's regulators including DCGI himself along with state level FDAs have all gathered here at the 'iPHEX', organised by the industry body Pharmexcil and are engaged in deliberations with regulators from 40 countries.