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 In a significant recognition of excellence in India's drug regulatory system, former Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) commissioner Dr H G Koshia was conferred the prestigious Legendary Drug Regulator Award at the 4th Annual Congress of the Drugs Control Officers (India) Welfare Association (DCOIWA).
Held under the theme "One Nation, One Vision: Strong Regulation for Better Public Health," the national congress brought together over 400 drug regulatory professionals, policymakers, industry leaders and experts from across the country to deliberate on strengthening India's regulatory framework and safeguarding public health.
The congress also honoured distinguished regulators for their exemplary contributions to the pharmaceutical sector. Besides Dr Koshia, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Umesh S, additional drugs controller, Karnataka, while Tajbir Singh, joint commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Uttarakhand, received the Best Drugs Controller in India Award. The Pallavi Memorial Best Drug Control Officer in India (Male) award was conferred on Rakesh Dahiya, assistant drugs controller, Haryana, and the Pallavi Memorial Best Drug Control Officer in India (Women) award went to Gyati Siri, drugs inspector, Arunachal Pradesh, recognising their outstanding contributions to drug regulation and public health.
The congress was inaugurated by Prafulbhai Pansheriya, minister of state for health, family welfare and medical education, Government of Gujarat, in the presence of Arava Gopi Krishna, secretary, health and family welfare, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Senior representatives from the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IP Alliance), Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) and leading pharmaceutical manufacturing associations also participated, highlighting the importance of collaborative regulation between government and industry.
Speaking on the occasion, G Koteshwar Rao, national president of DCOIWA, said Daman has emerged as a preferred destination for major national conferences due to its rapidly developing infrastructure. He noted that the annual congress has become a key platform for enhancing regulatory capacity, promoting knowledge exchange and strengthening coordination among drug control authorities nationwide.
The technical sessions focused on improving regulatory effectiveness and embracing modern governance practices. Former CBI joint director Dr Keshav Kumar led an intensive session on investigational skills, while former Haryana State Drugs Controller Manmohan Taneja discussed regulatory challenges involving cosmetics and ayurvedic products, with emphasis on manufacturing standards, licensing and consumer safety.
The programme also featured Shrikrishna R. Chunekar, director of Quality Assurance at Serum Institute of India Ltd., who spoke on scientific sampling of vaccines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, followed by N K Ahooja, former State Drugs Controller, Haryana, who highlighted the need for stronger coordination between Central and state regulatory authorities to improve information sharing and harmonised enforcement.
Technology and quality systems formed another major focus of the congress. Prof C S Mujeebuddin, CEO of Clinsol Research Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence in strengthening inspections, surveillance and risk-based regulatory decision-making, while Dr K Sridhar, director of Sipra Labs Ltd., discussed the design and governance of an effective Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) ecosystem. The technical programme concluded with a personality development session by Paresh Bhatt, director of The Advise and Assist.
DCOIWA National General Secretary Baldev Ram Choudhary said the association remains committed to strengthening enforcement against counterfeit, spurious and substandard medicines, curbing misleading advertisements under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, and improving multi-agency coordination to combat the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The congress concluded with a renewed commitment to building a stronger, technology-driven and harmonised regulatory ecosystem for better public health across India.
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