19th International Conference of Drug Regulators Held in India

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA) in New Delhi, marking the first time this event is hosted in India. The conference, organized by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in collaboration with the WHO, gathers over 194 WHO member states to discuss enhancing global healthcare standards and regulatory frameworks for safe medical products. Nadda highlighted India's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the rapid expansion of healthcare infrastructure and the successful vaccination of over a billion people. He emphasized the importance of global cooperation in drug regulation and the digitization of regulatory processes to increase transparency. The event aims to foster partnerships and knowledge sharing among regulatory authorities while addressing critical issues like antimicrobial resistance and AI in healthcare. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros praised India’s role in promoting global health security and collaboration.