The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘No plans for FDA office in India’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘No plans for FDA office in India’

FDA wants to be a bridge not a barrier, says U.S. health official

US receives goods worth $ 2 trillion from across the globe every year
Existing import safety tools not good for future, says US official

Photo: P. V. Sivakumar

In appreciation: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt (middle), Commissioner of FDA Andrew C. von Eschenbach, (left) and Chairman Dr. Reddy’s Labs Anji Reddy at Dr. Reddy’s on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Tuesday.-

HYDERABAD: The United States has no plans to set up an office of its Food and Drug Administration in India. However, technical help would be extended to the Indian government in establishing a similar agency.

This was told to reporters by Michael O Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, US Department of Health and Human Services, and Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Commissioner, USFDA, after visiting Bharat Biotech International Ltd. at Shamirpet near here on Tuesday. Mr. Eschenbach said the FDA wanted to be a bridge and not a barrier to bring the fruits of science and technology to people.

Strategy

Mr. Leavitt said the US was exploring the possibility of placing its representatives in various countries as part of a new strategy to build safety into every product and develop standards that were commonly shared. He said the current import protection system in the United States was not adequate. It received goods worth two trillion US dollars from eight lakh manufacturers across the globe every year. He said that he was on a visit to India to initiate discussion with the government to work together and evolve common safety norms. Later, Mr Michael O. Leavitt met Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy who briefed him on Aaroya Sri, the health insurance scheme being implemented for the poor. He complimented Dr. Reddy for introducing such a gigantic project to help the disadvantaged sections.

At the two hour long meeting, A. Babu, CEO of Aarogya Sri, explained to Mr. Michael that as many 2.97 lakh patients had been screened under the scheme so far.

Krishna M. Ella, CMD, BBIL, said the US delegation members were impressed with what they had seen and were appreciative of the company’s vaccine programme.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section