Jan Vishwas bill passed by the Rajya Sabha, experts raise red flag

The fear now is that manufacturing NSQ or not of standard quality drugs will now not be considered a serious offence. A few examples of earlier cases of NSQ cases under section 27 (D) include an injection failing the test of sterility, to tablets failing quality testing, to lack of an active ingredient.

Cases involving NSQ drugs can have then have serious implications for patients from inadequate treatment to infections to even death. The fear is these serious cases could then be punishable only with fine.

This, according to experts, comes at a time when India has been in the dock for cases of poor quality drugs exported in the past one year from substandard cough syrups linked to Indian companies Marion Biotech, Maiden Pharma and QP Pharmachem to eye drops linked to vision damage in patients in Sri Lanka and the US.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), addressed the Bill and stated that the department is committed to further engaging with the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) to identify provisions that need simplification or decriminalisation. This effort extends beyond the central level, as they also plan to involve the State level.

The primary objective of these actions is to foster an environment that promotes both ease of doing business and ease of living for citizens. As part of their approach, the DPIIT has issued advisories to states, urging them to review and assess their existing provisions. Additionally, advisory notices have been sent to central ministries to ensure comprehensive and coordinated efforts, Singh said.