Healthcare :: Harsh steps on cards to check spurious drug makers

In a move to firmly deal with manufacturers of counterfeit drugs, Government today said it is amending the law to provide stricter penalties including life imprisonment to offenders and making all drug-related offences congnisable and non-bailable.

Government has already initiated the process of amending Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 to provide stricter penalties based on recommendations of the Mashelkar Committee which was set up for a comprehensive review of drug regulatory system, Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss told Lok Sabha during the Question Hour.

The major amendments proposed in the Act relate to enhancement of punishment which could extend up to life imprisonment, provision of special courts for speedy trial of drug-related offences, compounding of offences and authorising police to file cases, he said.

“All this is expected to act as a strong deterrent for manufacturers of counterfeit drugs,” Ramadoss said admitting the country did not have at present adequate regularity mechanism.

Government, he said, is also considering establishing a National Drug Authority which would go a long way in setting up a holistic mechanism to check manufacture of spurious and misbranded drugs and synergising the licensing policy.

Drug testing laboratories were being established under a Rs 360 crore World Bank-aided project, he said.


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