Now, a software to check quality, authenticity of drugs

1The Union Health Ministry has set up a task force with the aim to create a software to check manufactured drugs. The task force, in which Karnataka drug controller Dr B Jagashetty is also a member, met for the third time here on Thursday.

The task force was set up on the directions of the Allahabad High Court, when a criminal writ petition --  Bhramaji vs State of UP and Others -- was filed in 2008. Although the order suggests that the committee submit its project feasibility report within six months, the members did not seem confident of finishing the job in that period.

First of its kind

The software will be created by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), with the help of the Department of Commerce. The members said that if the project software is implemented, it would be the first of its kind in the world.

The committee also met four groups of stakeholders, including a consumer group, led by social and health activist Dr H Sudarshan.