Chandigarh: The drug controller general of India (DCGI), Dr Rajiv Singh Raghuvanshi, on Thursday addressed the ongoing interdisciplinary approach in the world, recommending diverse electives in pharmaceutical education to stay ahead in an evolving industry.
“Each year, I see numerous startups emerging. For example, in 2016, we saw just one unicorn, but by 2021, that number rose to 40. However, the growth rate in the pharmaceutical sector hasn’t matched this pace. This is an area that requires research,” said Raghuvanshi, at Panjab University (PU).
As head of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India’s premier drug regulatory body, Dr Raghuvanshi has overseen a growing global footprint, with India now supplying over 25% of the UK’s generic medicines.
In his lecture, Dr. Raghuvanshi delved into the latest breakthroughs, pressing challenges, and the shifting regulatory landscape of India’s pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. Encouraging students to think beyond traditional boundaries, he highlighted how the future of the field lies in interdisciplinary innovation, blending pharmaceuticals with fields like biotechnology, chemical engineering, and advanced technology.
Recognizing the need to flip from volume to value to hit a trade value of $130 billion by 2030, Dr Raghuvanshi reiterated pharmaceutical companies and research institutions to prioritise innovation. The DCGI reaffirmed India’s commitment to global public health.
PU vice-chancellor Prof Renu Vig emphasised pharmacy as a noble profession at the intersection of science and service, innovation, and public welfare.
