Who Gains from Drug Policy Liberalisation?
THE manufacture of drugs and the pharmaceuticals was regulated under the rules of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 which made it necessary for the manufacturers to obtain necessary licences from the state drug control authority only. On May 8, 1952 drugs and pharmaceuticals were put under the first schedule of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1952. According to this Act all manufacturers excepting those registered under the District industries Centre (Small Scale Industries) were supposed to apply for registration certificate and industrial approval.' In a meeting of the licensing committee held on November 23, 1953 implication of the term "New Article" was defined and certain parameters for exemption from obtaining such registration certificates were also decided. Between 1953 and 1966 only 17 multinational companies applied for such exemption, all others ignored/Violated the government directives.
