Zero Tolerance For Poor-Quality Medicines: Health Secretary
More than 75 drug inspectors, government analysts, regulators, industry representatives and technical experts from across Andhra Pradesh attended the workshop
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh health secretary G. Veerapandian on Friday called for zero tolerance towards poor-quality medicines, citing recent instances of international contamination and stressing the need for stronger scientific regulation to safeguard public health.
He was inaugurating a one-day regulatory workshop titled 'Ensuring Drug Quality: Scientific Approach in Regulations, Standards and Inspections', jointly organised by the AP Drugs Control Administration, the US Pharmacopeia (USP), the All India Drugs Control Officers' Confederation (AIDCOC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) India Office.
Addressing the participants, Veerapandian said, "Regulation should enable quality, innovation and public confidence. Our responsibility extends beyond state and national boundaries because medicines manufactured in Andhra Pradesh serve patients across the world."
Highlighting Andhra Pradesh's position as one of India's leading pharmaceutical manufacturing states, he urged regulators to strengthen scientific inspection methods, evaluate manufacturing facilities rigorously, verify product specifications and ingredients, and adopt evidence-based regulatory decision-making.
US FDA India Office Country Director Gregory Smith said every inspection, laboratory result and regulatory decision ultimately affects patients and stressed the importance of scientific collaboration and sharing best practices to strengthen global regulatory systems.
USP India Site Head and Senior Vice-President Girish Kapur said medicine quality is fundamental to patient trust and emphasised that collaboration among regulators, scientists and industry experts would strengthen science-based regulation and patient safety.
AP drugs control administration director M. Panduranga Prasad said implementation of the revised Schedule M norms would require stronger regulatory capabilities. He said collaboration with USP, AIDCOC and the US FDA India Office would help equip regulators with the skills needed to ensure effective enforcement and protect public health.
More than 75 drug inspectors, government analysts, regulators, industry representatives and technical experts from across Andhra Pradesh attended the workshop.