New Delhi- India is hosting the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA) for the first time, bringing together regulatory authorities, policymakers, and health officials from over 194 WHO member states. The event, taking place from October 14-18, is organized by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Union Health Minister JP Nadda inaugurated the conference, emphasizing India's commitment to enhancing global healthcare standards and safeguarding public health. He highlighted India's role as a global leader in health resilience and innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing the country's success in expanding healthcare infrastructure, scaling up vaccine production, and providing affordable access to essential medicines globally.

"India rapidly expanded its healthcare infrastructure and scaled up vaccine production to meet both domestic and global demands. The successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program, covering over a billion people, is a testament to the robustness of our healthcare system, the dedication of our health workers, and the soundness of our policies," stated Shri Nadda.

The Union Health Minister also stressed the importance of the ICDRA platform in sharing knowledge, fostering partnerships, and developing regulatory frameworks for safe and effective medical products worldwide. He highlighted the achievements of CDSCO in developing robust systems for approving drugs and medical devices for both domestic use and export to over 200 countries.

Shri Nadda emphasized the importance of affordable medicines, stating that "availability of quality medicine at affordable price is at the core." He outlined India's efforts in strengthening its regulatory framework, including digitizing over 95% of regulatory processes at CDSCO and implementing mandatory barcodes or QR codes on top 300 drug brands and API packs to ensure transparency and streamline the drug supply chain.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, commended India for hosting the conference and highlighted the critical need for global cooperation in drug regulation, particularly in addressing challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, the post-pandemic world, and the safe use of AI in healthcare.

The conference will feature plenary sessions and workshops on crucial regulatory issues, including smart regulation, medical device regulation, quality of pharmaceutical starting materials, the role of AI in healthcare, and regulatory preparedness for future public health emergencies. The event also includes an exhibition showcasing India's capabilities in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and clinical research sectors.