New Delhi: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, inaugurated the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA), marking the first time the prestigious event is being held in India. Hosted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the conference brings together regulatory authorities, policymakers, and health officials from over 194 WHO member states from October 14 to 18, 2024.
In his inaugural address, JP Nadda emphasized India’s pivotal role in enhancing global healthcare standards, particularly during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. “India emerged as a global leader in health resilience and innovation, reaffirming its position as the Pharmacy of the World,” he said. He credited the nation’s rapid expansion of healthcare infrastructure and the large-scale production of vaccines, which met both domestic and global demands. India’s successful COVID-19 vaccination rollout, covering over a billion people, he noted, showcased the strength of the country’s healthcare system and the dedication of its health workers.
The Minister highlighted India’s significant contributions to affordable access to essential medicines and vaccines for over 150 countries during the pandemic, guided by the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family. This spirit of solidarity, he said, reflects India’s commitment to global health security and sustainability.
Nadda praised the ICDRA platform for fostering partnerships and regulatory frameworks to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of medical products worldwide. He lauded the CDSCO’s efforts in developing robust systems to approve safe drugs and medical devices for both domestic use and export to over 200 countries. “The availability of quality medicine at affordable prices is central to our approach,” he said. He also shared that India now operates eight drug testing laboratories, with two more in the pipeline, and 38 state drug regulator labs, testing over 100,000 samples annually.
The Minister also highlighted that over 95% of CDSCO’s regulatory processes have been digitized, bringing transparency and trust among stakeholders. Additionally, India has introduced barcodes or Quick Response (QR) codes on the top 300 drug brands to ensure a robust drug supply chain. QR codes are also mandatory on all imported or domestically produced Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
Concluding his speech, Nadda reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing global health. “We believe in the three Ss: Skill, Speed, and Scale. These principles guide us in meeting the increasing demand for pharmaceutical products while adhering to global quality standards.”
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended India for hosting the conference and emphasized the importance of global cooperation in drug regulation. He pointed to challenges like antimicrobial resistance and the use of AI in healthcare as critical areas for regulatory attention in the post-pandemic world.
Dr. Saima Wazed, WHO Southeast Asia Regional Director, acknowledged India’s role as the largest provider of generic medicines and the third-largest pharmaceutical producer globally. She stressed the need for strong regulatory systems to achieve universal health coverage and called for greater regulatory convergence and information sharing between national regulatory authorities.
Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary, highlighted the Indian pharmaceutical industry’s growing global influence, noting that it recently became the fourth-largest export sector in India. She shared that India supplies 50% of the world’s vaccines, many of which go to UN agencies like WHO and UNICEF.
In conjunction with the conference, an exhibition showcased India’s pharmaceutical and medical device innovations. Leading industry players displayed their advancements, reinforcing India’s standing as the “Pharmacy of the World.” The exhibition also highlighted India’s growing role in clinical research and healthcare innovation, further cementing its influence in global health.