India's Drug Panel Seeks Tighter Watch on Narcotic Medicines, States' Aid Against Fakes

India's Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), at its 70th meeting on September 18, recommended a tighter system for tracking medicines containing narcotic and psychotropic substances. This initiative aims to curb the diversion of legally sold strong painkillers and sedatives into the illegal market, a concern outlined in the “Vision Document on Drug Control 2026 to 2029.”

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has been tasked to address regulatory gaps by March 2027. The expert panel stressed the need for a reliable national database covering manufacture, sale, stocking, inspections, and enforcement actions. States and union territories are expected to submit monthly reports detailing licenses issued, medicine handling, inspections conducted, and actions taken, with CDSCO finalizing the reporting format.

Additionally, the committee proposed a common digital platform for data submission and analysis, suggesting the adaptation of an existing Central Bureau of Narcotics portal for end-to-end tracking of these drugs from factory to shop. All these recommendations require approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to take effect.

Separately, the DCC is pushing to combat fake medicines, following recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)'s open house on February 25. States and union territories will be circulated the NHRC recommendations for comments and details on current measures, paving the way for a combined proposal from CDSCO and coordinated action among various agencies.

What to watch: The DCGI's approval and implementation timeline for the proposed drug tracking system.

Editor's note: The draft provides a comprehensive summary of the DCC's proposals and the context provided in the source.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: News18 India