R.A. Mashelkar, director general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the largest chain of R&D institutions in the world, is popularly called the head priest of the Indian scientific community. Recently appointed fellow at the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, he also heads the government panel probing the spurious drugs trade in India. Excerpts from an exclusive interview with Arindam Mukherjee:
How scary is the problem of spurious drugs in India?
Your other suggestions?
How does one implement such clauses?
Today anyone can get a licence to manufacture drugs...
What changes have you suggested ?
What model will you base the new rules on?
What about controlling sale of drugs? Is the otc route, popular with firms, opening the sector to misuse?
