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The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) has applauded the Centre's move promoting 21 drugs inspectors for medical devices to assistant drugs controller (India) under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), stating that the inclusion of engineering-trained regulators will help bridge the knowledge gap.
The CDSCO has on August 6 issued an office order announcing that the President of India Droupadi Murmu has promoted 21 drugs inspectors (medical devices) to the post of assistant drugs controller (India) under medical devices vertical.
“AiMeD warmly welcomes the promotion of 21 drugs inspectors (medical devices) to assistant drugs controller (India) under the CDSCO. This long awaited step restores momentum to the careers of officers who, despite their engineering expertise, had been held back and confined to import file evaluations," said Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator, AiMeD.
"Their elevation is not only a recognition of merit but also a strategic boost to India’s National Regulatory Framework. For too long, regulatory audits have been dominated by officers with a drug centric background. The inclusion of engineering trained regulators will help bridge a critical gap — bringing technical knowledge that aligns with the needs of the manufacturing ecosystem and strengthens patient safety oversight," he added.
The Association also appreciated the foresight of the DCGI and the top management of the ministry of health & family welfare for making this course correction, in line with recommendations of the Parliamentary Health Committee and consistent with AiMeD’s long standing advocacy.
The leadership has ensured that the regulatory system evolves to reflect the diversity of expertise required in medical devices.
"It is now essential that these officers be deployed across the country in zonal and field offices, and entrusted with portfolios that make full use of their training, expertise, and skills. This will maximize their impact on regulatory audits, patient safety, and industry facilitation," added Nath.
He added, the Association is confident that under the MoH&FW leadership, more officers will be inducted, and their scientific approach will enable faster, evidence based regulatory approvals without drug bias. This will enhance credibility, support innovation, and ensure that India’s regulatory system evolves in step with global best practices.
The promotion is excellent news for the industry, the regulatory system, and most importantly, for patients who depend on safe, reliable, and scientifically validated medical devices, added the industry leader.
The promotion of the officers is subject to the final outcome of a complaint filed by a person in the Principal Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal, New Delhi, and relevant cases pending in the Supreme Court, said the CDSCO.
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