Given the importance of the offices of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) as watchdogs over the health of citizens, it is vital to ensure transparency and credibility over the appointments and removals to those offices. Discuss (200 words)
Refer – Business Line
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IAS Parliament 7 years
KEY POINTS
Importance of DCGI & NPPA
· DCGI – The DCGI's office deals with giving approvals to drugs and other products marketed in the country.
· It is tasked with inspecting drug manufacturing facilities across the country, besides watching over clinical trials where medicines are tested on humans and animals.
· NPPA – It is the pricing regulator for medicines and medical devices in the country and it enforces prices and availability of the medicines in the country.
· It also monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.
· Between the DCGI and the NPPA, as drug control and drug pricing regulators, they perform the role of watchdogs over the health of citizens.
Lack of transparency
· There seems to be lack of transparency and credibility in the appointments and removals to those regulatory bodies.
· For example, the recent removal of DCGI and the NPPA chairman.
· Notably, both these people had taken critical action on drugs and medical devices manufacturers and established price controls for medical implants.
· While one can’t prove that industry pressure caused the ouster of these people from office, there is ample scope for speculation in that regard.
· Considering the harsh manner in which the above officers were shunted out, it gives little incentive for a new person in office to operate independently.
· The high-headed approach of the government is likely to erode the institutional credibility of regulators, which is of serious concern.
Way Forward
· Instead of muzzling the regulators, the government needs to groom probable candidates with the right scientific and administrative skills.
· Regulators need functional autonomy, and a fixed term (say five years) to implement policies and better structure regulations.
· And if anyone is removed before their term ends, it needs to be for inefficiency or corruption and that reason needs to be made public.
· Stakeholder involvement in policy formulations needs to be enhanced by regularly engaging - the pharma industry, health service providers and the civil society at large.
