India Plans to Enforce WHO-GMP Standards for All Pharmaceutical Products

The World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn up a good manufacturing practice (GMP), to ensure healthcare products are 'consistently produced and controlled' according to quality standards. India is planning to enforce the quality standards for drugs and pharma products to become WHO-GMP compliant. The national drug regulator of India is working on a framework to gradually bring all pharmaceutical companies at par with the global standards in medicines. Dr. G.N. Singh, Drugs Controller General of India, said, "We are going to enhance our standards of the GMP. We have become an international supplier of medicines and want to keep pace with global expectations."

The WHO certification of quality is mandatory for pharmaceutical companies moving in international commerce. GMP is aimed primarily at diminishing the risks inherent in any pharmaceutical products, which are broadly categorized in two groups- cross contamination or mix-ups and false labeling.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals revealed that there are about 10,000 drug manufacturing units in India, out of which only 14-15% are WHO-GMP compliant. Officials of the department feel that if more companies adhere to the quality standards under WHO-GMP, India's share in global pharma trade could go up by five times.

India is world's third largest manufacturer of pharmaceutical products in terms of volume, while it ranks 14th in terms of value.

Source-ANI