Mr. Maulik Chokshi, ACCESS Health’s Global Director of Health System Research and Policy, was invited to frame a high-level consultation convened by NITI Aayog, the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India. The convening explored pathways for further strengthening drug quality, regulatory enforcement, and global competitiveness.
Chaired by Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health), the consultation brought together a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), senior officials from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), representatives from the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP, MoC&F), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), industry associations such as the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) and the Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, as well as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), policymakers, regulators, and other experts.
In his presentation, Maulik underscored the significant achievements of India’s pharmaceutical industry as a trusted global supplier while emphasizing that strengthening drug quality must go beyond compliance checks to ensure that quality is embedded at every level of the system.
As NITI Aayog carries this dialogue forward, ACCESS Health’s engagement reinforces the importance of systems thinking in shaping policy and practice. By contributing evidence and thought leadership, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening India’s health system, ensuring that medicines are not only accessible and affordable but also consistently safe and of the highest quality.