The Drug Control Officers Welfare Association (DCO India) is preparing a pan-Indian campaign to amplify and promote the use of generic formulations in support of the Union government’s programmes for generic medicine promotion. The drug control officers, who are concentrating on the benefits of generic medications, will take immediate action to inform the general public about the use of generic versions and to recommend doctors for the prescription of generics in public health facilities. In order to raise public knowledge of the value of generic drugs and the distinction between generic and branded products, awareness classes will be held in cities and rural areas. Also, the association will assist the producers of generic formulations, according to sources within the association.
After its first annual congress, which is scheduled for July 8 and 9 in Gurugram near Delhi, the national organisation of drug control officers will organise meetings in rural and urban areas in every district across the nation as part of this massive undertaking. Senior regulatory officials who hold significant roles in the association have stated that the first annual congress of the DCO India will outline plans for the promotion of awareness and is likely to announce the strategy of the promotional work in the presence of the union health minister and the drug controller general of India (DCGI), who are anticipated as chief guests.
According to reports, the Pradhan Mantri Baratiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana and their retail outlets will be evaluated, along with the operations of the programme, on the second day of the annual congress. There will also be a larger discussion on the topic of generic pharmaceuticals. Generic medication topic will take up the entirety of the second day of the general body meeting. The regulatory officials in the national and state governments, according to DCO India, should have no trouble promoting the particular product category, and the task should be carried out as a matter of social obligation. The promotion of generic medications by Jan Aushadhi Shops is given great emphasis by the Indian government. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge among the public regarding the quality of generic medications, and many mistake it for that of branded ones.
There is no second-quality medication, according to the Indian Pharmacopoeia. Each drug, whether it is branded or generic, must adhere to the pharmacopoeia’s requirements, which must be verified by the regulators who take samples from retail stores. Our purpose is solely based on social responsibility, however it is the obligation of the drug control authorities to verify the legality of the medicines. We shall formulate a strategy for how to carry out our responsibilities with respect to generic stores or items after the general body has discussed the relevant issues. All generics on the market will be sampled by the officers and sent for testing. In the event that a drug is found to be of low quality, the officers will file a lawsuit against the producers, and the DCO India will urge the concerned officers or state drug regulators to act quickly. Indeed, some CDSCO officers raised this idea, and they intend to expand on it at the annual conference, according to G Koteeswara Rao, president of the national association.
Koteeswara Rao, a retired regulatory officer based in Hyderabad, responded to a question about the likely response of manufacturing companies involved in the business of branded medicines, saying that the association is least concerned about their reactions because the regulatory officers are committed to the society to do justice for the people. In response to a different question, he stated that drug control officers do not favour any corporation or specific plan of the federal or state governments, but instead advocate for the use of generic versions and the promotion of local industries. They will emphasise that section, which is their main goal, which is to raise awareness of generic medications. But, they are willing to accept any advise, suggestions, or recommendations for this particular reason. They will not ask any government for assistance in their objective.
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