What lessons has India learned from the cough syrup scandal?

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India is considering a new drugs bill to enhance regulatory standards following incidents linked to its pharmaceutical exports.

India is moving to introduce a new drugs bill aimed at strengthening the regulation of imported, manufactured, and sold medicines. This legislative effort seeks to ensure the quality, safety, efficacy, and performance of new drugs, establishing a transparent regulatory framework with the highest possible standards. The move comes after incidents involving pharmaceutical products, including cough syrups, have impacted the country's global reputation.
New Bill to Address Regulatory Standards

Lawmakers are set to review the Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023, which, if passed, will supersede existing drug legislation. The proposed bill's objective is to guarantee the quality, safety, efficacy, performance, and clinical trial integrity of new drugs. This aims to establish the highest attainable regulatory standards and a transparent system for oversight.
Global Reputation Impacted by Export Incidents

The international standing of India's pharmaceutical sector, often referred to as the "pharmacy of the world," has faced scrutiny. This follows associations of India-made cough syrups with the deaths of at least 89 children in Gambia and Uzbekistan. Additionally, an India-manufactured eye drop was linked to three fatalities in the United States.
Mandatory Testing for Cough Syrup Exports Implemented

In response to these events, India has instituted mandatory testing for all cough syrup exports. This measure was introduced last month, signifying a concrete step to bolster quality control for products leaving the country. Companies involved in the cough syrups linked to the reported deaths have maintained their innocence, denying any wrongdoing.

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What lessons has India learned from the cough syrup scandal?

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