Apex drug adviser's term expired in October. Government didn't know.

India's highest decision-making body on technical matters related to medicines ceased to exist in October after its three-year term came to an end, bringing all drug-related policy activity to a halt.

- Priyanka Sharma

The Union health ministry is now in the process of reconstituting the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) after the lapse was highlighted in a meeting of the drug consultative committee (DCC) in January, according to three officials familiar with the matter.

The consultative committee is constituted by the Union government to advise the Centre, states and DTAB on matters related to administering the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

DTAB, a statutory body, in turn advises the Union government on policies and rules related to the administration of the Act, including on key public health concerns such as antimicrobial resistance and spurious medicines.