The Department-Related Parliamentary Committee for the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently recommended to the Central government to bring the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the Union Ministry of Health for better coordination between the industry and the government. At present, the DoP is a separate department under the Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. DoP was created in the year 2008 with the objective to give greater focus and thrust on the development of pharmaceutical sector in the country. The Parliamentary Committee, in its report on ‘Medical Devices: Regulation & Control’ felt that the mandate of the DoP is very much related to the health sector like drugs and medical devices, their production, development, control, promotion, education, and training & research. Hence, the Committee strongly felt that, for better coordination, the DoP should be brought under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare from the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
