All India Drugs Control Officer’s Confederationhas decided to focus on direct action as regards to consumer welfare, especially to improve access to medicines.AIDCOC resolve to focus on direct action by going directly to the consumer with a view to educate them on their rights ,brief them about the factual position vis-à-vis claims made about spurious drugs in India, to educate the m about rational use of medicines and care to be taken to prevent abuse of Medicines. As part of this , on 18th November 2005 ,AIDCOC has inaugurated “National Project on Consumer Awareness” at Visakapatnam,Andhra Pradesh. Under this programme 80% of the Chemists and Druggists of Visakapatnam were displaying boards about do’s and dont’s to the Consumers , while purchasing medicines. AIDCOC also proposes to put up hoardings in metro cities at prominent places to disseminate useful information to the consumers.
The theme ‘‘Role of Regulatory Officers in Healthcare’’ in line with the priority agenda of AIDCOC was selected for this year’s convention in which large number of officers from different parts of country participated. Dr Yoganand Shastri, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of NCT, Delhi addressing the delegates appreciated the initiatives taken by AIDCOC and stressed the need to have more vigil for eradicating the menace of spurious and substandard drugs. Mangatram Singal, Minister for Industries, GovernmenT of NCT, Delhi addressed the audience as the guest of honour. He advised the officers to pay special attention to the prices of medicines and ensure that Drugs are available to the consumers at affordable prices. S P Agrawal, principal secretary Health and Family Welfare, Government of NCT, Delhi in speech as special guest touched upon various aspects concerning quality, affordability and proper use of medicines.
Ashwini Kumar, Drugs Controller General India, while addressing the audience stressed the need to make the officers objectively aware of their role in healthcare system and to include the high degree of professionalism in officers.
He also referred pharmaceutical policy 2002 and advised the officers to work towards realising the objectives set out in the policy. Anand Prakash, special secretary Health and Drug Controllers, Delhi also spoke on the occasion.
The excellence in Drugs Control Organisation in different states was recognised by presenting the ‘‘Best Drugs Inspectors Award’’.
Earlier R D Garg, president of local organising delivered the welcome address. Ravi Uday Bhaskar, president, AIDCOC highlighted the inadequacies in Drugs Control Organisations and expressed deep concern over the lack of any substantial action by the government of India and state governments.
S W Deshpande, secretary general, AIDCOC briefed the audience about various initiatives taken by AIDCOC on continuous education programmes and about the recognition of confederation’s efforts by the authorities and by international and Indian press. The inaugural function was followed by scientific sessions in which presentations specific to the theme were made by the experts in the field.
