The characteristics of the current drug policies in India, Nepal and Bangladesh

The current Indian national drug policy has its roots in two documents originated in the 70-ties and the 80-ties of the XX. century. Although the first National Drug Policy was declared in 1978, it has been revised thrice since then, in 1986, 1994 and 2002. Also, in 1986 another document on the Indian drug policy, titled “Measures for Rationalisation, Quality Control and Growth of Drugs and Pharmaceutical Industry in India” was evolved. The drug policy has been implemented under some legal acts related mainly to the fields of health care, family welfare, scientific research and development, and industry. It emerged from the findings of the Hathi Committee (a committee commissioned to study the operations of multinational drug companies vis-à-vis indigenous companies and public sector undertakings).