Telangana Drugs Control Administration plans real-time digital alerts to flag unsafe drugs; industry welcomes move
By shifting to near real-time alerts, regulators intend to enable faster action across the pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce the window during which unsafe or substandard medicines may remain in circulation.
Hyderabad: The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) is planning to introduce a real-time digital alert system to flag substandard or unsafe drugs to manufacturers, distributors and retailers, replacing the existing monthly circular-based mechanism.
The proposed system aims to address delays in the current process, where advisories on flagged medicines are often issued weeks after issues are identified. By shifting to near real-time alerts, regulators intend to enable faster action across the pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce the window during which unsafe or substandard medicines may remain in circulation.
Under the new framework, digital alerts will be issued as soon as regulatory concerns are identified, allowing manufacturers, distributors and retailers to respond immediately by halting distribution, recalling stock or initiating corrective measures.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the move, describing it as a potential model for drug regulation across other states.
Sanjay Vyas, President and Managing Director, Parexel India, said the shift to same-day digital safety alerts represents a significant advancement in regulatory practice.
“The move by the Telangana Drugs Control Administration to issue same-day digital safety alerts is a meaningful step forward for drug regulation in India. When safety information moves faster, regulatory action becomes more effective on the ground,” Vyas said.
He added that real-time communication ensures regulatory decisions translate into action across supply chains, healthcare providers and patient interfaces. “Pharmacovigilance today is about discovering new risks as well as reducing delays between detection and response. Globally, real-time alerting is helping regulators close this gap. If scaled thoughtfully in India, it can strengthen compliance across the supply chain and reduce patient exposure to unsafe or substandard medicines,” he said.
The planned digital alert system aligns with broader efforts to modernise drug regulation through technology-enabled oversight and faster risk communication, with the potential to improve patient safety outcomes and regulatory responsiveness across the pharmaceutical ecosystem.
