Medicine labels in regional language 22/04/2019 – Posted in: Daily News
Medicine labels in regional language
For: Preliminary
Topics Covered: Counter fake, sub-standard and expired drugs
News Flash
In order to counter fake, sub-standard and expired drugs, the Union Health Ministry has said Hindi and regional language will be used in the tendering process.
The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) recommended that, drug names and expiry date during tendering will be in Hindi/regional language too for — polio drop and Iron tablets — procured for children under the government programmes.
DTAB, in a meeting held early last year, considered the proposal to amend Rule 96 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 for labelling of iron tablets and polio drops distributed to the children under government programmes with name and expiry date in Hindi also.
DTAB had further constituted a sub-committee to examine and give recommendations to streamline the labelling requirements of drugs. The sub-committee had recommended that name of medicines shall be printed both in English and Hindi for open market. For medicines procured by any state government agencies regional language on label of drug products along with English shall be printed.
Drugs Technical Advisory Board
DTAB is highest statutory decision-making body on technical matters related to drugs in the country . It is constituted as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. It is part of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is the national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and serves parallel function to the European Medicines Agency of the European Union, the PMDA of Japan, the Food and Drug Administration of the United States and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency of the United Kingdom.
Within the CDSCO, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) regulates pharmaceutical and medical devices, under the gamut of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The DCGI is advised by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC).
Source: The Hindu