The Centre has set up a Public Relations Office at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation in New Delhi. It will act as a ‘single window’ for disposal of grievances of stakeholders apart from providing information to innovators regarding regulatory requirements for commercialisation of their products.

The PR office will be headed by Sunil Kulshresta, Assistant Drugs Controller (India). Two other officials will assist and they will report to the Drug Controller-General of India.

The move comes as a quick follow-up of the recent BioAsia 2018 held in Hyderabad. At the event the DCGI, S Eswara Reddy, outlined his plan to set up a dedicated cell for supporting and regulating innovation and start-ups in the pharma sector. It will specifically help Telangana proactively given the large presence of the pharma sector in the state, according to a state government release.

Reddy also emphasised the need to bridge the gap between regulators and innovators. He said, "Many start-ups are also coming up in the pharma and allied segments and are clueless about regulation, which is affecting their performance. Unless innovators and regulators work in close coordination, the industry cannot come up with innovative products, which are the need of the hour."

The PR office will provide clarifications pertaining to the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and rules made thereunder. It will also guide and assist investors in various phases of the business lifecycle in line with the existing focus on ‘Invest India/ Make in India’, according to the release.

Big players or start-ups working on innovative products or solutions can approach this office at any stage for any purpose. This office will explain to the innovators about the regulatory framework they have to comply with for market authorisation or commercialisation, it added.

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