"The Department of Commerce has conducted a study on Pharmaceuticals Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PICS). However, no decision has been taken by the Government to join PICS," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
He said that "isolated" reports of export of sub-standard quality of drugs by some Indian pharmaceutical companies have appeared in the media and on the websites of the regulatory authorities of foreign countries from time to time.
The Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (jointly referred to as PIC/S) are two international instruments between countries and pharmaceutical inspection authorities, which provide together an active and constructive co-operation in the field of GMP.
PIC/S' mission is "to lead the international development, implementation and maintenance of harmonised Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and quality systems of inspectorates in the field of medicinal products."
It reported that India is supplying substandard medicines for markets with non-existent, under-developed or emerging regulatory oversight, notably Africa. "The study is misleading," Nadda said.