FDA Goa in association with the State-of-the-art Price Monitoring and Resource Unit, an arm of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, situated at FDA, conducted a one-day awareness program on the Availability, Accessibility, and Affordability of essential medicines, at Panaji at ‘Hotel Fidalgo’ recently.
The program was inaugurated by the Secretary of Health, Shri Arun Kumar Mishra, IAS, in the presence of Director FDA Smt Jyoti Sardesai, Dy Director National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Shri Saurabh Bansal, Project coordinator Madhya Pradesh Price Monitoring and Resource Unit; Dr Priti Tagade, President Goa Pharmaceutical manufacturers Association; Dr Praveen Khullar, Principal-Goa College of Pharmacy; Dr GK Rao and Secretary-Chemist and Druggist Association Prasad Tamba.
The program was well attended by all stakeholders from the Pharma Industry, the Pharma trade and both the Pharmacy Colleges and officials of the FDA.
Saurabh Bansal Dy Director NPPA spoke on the overview of the Drugs Price Control order and the functioning of NPPA. Dr Priti Tagde spoke on the topic of the 3As of essential medicines.
The officials of the FDA who had done excellent humanitarian and selfless professional services during COVID-19 were felicitated at the hands of the Chief Guest. The project coordinator of Goa PMRU Smt Sarita Bhonsle was felicitated for obtaining PhD degree in Quality Assurance.
An elocution competition on the topic of ‘Scenario of Generic medicines across India’ was conducted. The first Prize was won by Ms Anushka Nair of Goa College of Pharmacy. Miss Krati Naik from Vergo labs won second place and Third place was won by Miss Clecy Fernandes from PES College of Pharmacy.
Dr Sarita Bhonsle –Project coordinator and Dimple Kerekar of “The Goa State Price Monitoring and Resource Unit”, compèred the function. Smt Shweta Dessai, Deputy Director FDA proposed a vote of Thanks. About 90 Participants present for the session from the pharma sector across Goa.