The e-governance initiative of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the first such endeavour in the world that will enable virtual processing of pharma company?s applications possible has caught the attention of the World Health Organisation(WHO) and the Canadian health regulator?Health Canada.
The WHO and Health Canada after knowing about the Indian health regulator?s idea of transferring the entire chain of application-processing-approval-clearance process online have approached the DCGI and made queries about the same. In many developed countries, although pharma companies can avail the facility of electronic submission of request application, but a large part of the processing of application requires physical transactions.
Currently the novel concept that DCGI is working on is somewhat similar to how bank accounts transactions take place online. A large part of data would remain confidential and only the concerned players will be able to access information related to their interest. It will not only enable the companies to electronically submit all required documents but will allow them to check precisely how and when their file is moving within the DCGI at the click of a button. Such information will aid pharma companies set their business targets accordingly and chalk out business plans more efficiently. ?The entire stream of efforts is towards making the system as transparent as possible,? said Surinder Singh, DCGI.
On the issue of data compromise in a sector where confidentiality is of prime importance, Singh said, ?The software will have inbuilt firewalls in the system segregating information into five to six compartments. It will expedite the file processing on one hand, while on the other hand it will ensure that no single individual will have access to the complete set of information?.
DCGI?s technology partner in the private sector is the New York-based May God Rehabilitate Mankind (MGRM), an innovative technology solution provider headed by KVR Murthy. MGRM is credited with devising Online Multidomain Value Card, a microprocessor chip based proprietary value card that stores vital information of an individual in a secure manner that can come in handy at any time.
It can provide emergency contact information, key health data that could save life by making the vital information available on the spot to doctors. MGRM has also been recommending a novel technique ?splintage? to treat soft tissues injuries. The e-governance initiative will take another three years to shape up and two years after that to get validation.
