Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: 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 Secretary of Health inaugurated the program, Arun Kumar Mishra, IAS, in the presence of Director FDA Smt Jyoti Sardesai, Dy Director National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, 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 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 congratulated for obtaining PhD degree in Quality Assurance.
An elocution competition on the ‘Scenario of Generic medicines across India’ was conducted. Ms Anushka Nair of Goa College of Pharmacy won the first Prize. Miss Krati Naik from Vergo labs won second place, and Miss Clecy Fernandes from PES College of Pharmacy won third place.
Dr Sarita Bhonsle –Project coordinator, and Dimple Kerekar of “The Goa State Price Monitoring and Resource Unit” compered 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.
