Health Ministry reprimands CDSCO officers for frequent visit to ministry office

All CDSCO officers have been accordingly advised by the Health Ministry via the circular to be careful and not to visit the Ministry except on being specifically being called upon to attend some assigned task or to attend any meeting etc. there.

New Delhi: Observing that the officers of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) Headquarter frequently visit the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Office, the ministry has recently reprimanded the officers, stating the practice to be unethical and should be curbed.

In this regard, a formal circular has been issued by the Deputy Director Admin of the Health Ministry, Pratima Kerketta. The circular is addressed to all the CDSCO officers, JDCI Secretariat, DCGI Secretariat the Under Secretary (Drugs Regulation), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

It has been brought to notice by the Drugs Division of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare that in connection with pursuing their own matters, the employees/ officers from CDSCO (HQ) frequently visit the Ministry and keep running around there to see what opinion is being expressed or 'line of' action taken in such matters. This practice is obviously unethical and needs to be curbed.

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All concerned have been accordingly advised by the ministry via the circular to be careful and not to visit the Ministry except on being specifically being called upon to attend some assigned task or to attend any meeting etc. there.

"Reports of visiting/meeting etc. shall be submitted forthwith along with details, " the circular read.

CDSCO is the national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Within the authority, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) regulates pharmaceutical and medical devices, under the gamut of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The DCGI is advised by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC). It is divided into zonal offices which do pre-licensing and post-licensing inspections, post-market surveillance, and recalls when needed

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