Violations force government to train pharma workers
Since the reputation of India that is known as the pharmacy to the world is at stake, the government has begun sending health ministry staff to drug manufacturing hubs to train workers in good manufacturing practice. The training sessions will continue for five years.
Since the reputation of India that is known as the pharmacy to the world is at stake, the government has begun sending health ministry staff to drug manufacturing hubs to train workers in good manufacturing practice. The training sessions will continue for five years.
Last month, the US drug regulator found seven violations of manufacturing standards at Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd’s formulations plant in Mohali, Punjab. Also, the US Food and Drug Administration had issued a warning to Wockhardt for violating current good manufacturing practice norms.
“We need to put stringent regulation practices in place in accordance with foreign norms. Hence, we are planning workshops and hand-holding sessions at various locations,” GN Singh, drug controller general of India, told HT. “As most units are in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi, we have begun holding sessions from there.”
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation officials will visit the drug manufacturing hubs across India. “We are training CDSCO employees who will further train the staff of other units,” said Singh who heads the organisation.
Nearly 7,000 manufacturing units in India produce and supply medicines and vaccines worth over ₹2 lakh crore. The industry also exports to over 200 countries, as per government estimates.
In preparation of a training module, the central drug organisation will engage with the drug producers so it can understand issues they face. “Our objective is to train every drug manufacturer,” it said.
