India, March 26 -- In the last six months, there have been tragedies in Karnataka and West Bengal due to contaminated ringer lactase solution manufactured by the same pharmaceutical company in Bengal. In total, six young mothers died, with several others hospitalised with critical illnesses. In both states, the Opposition parties heaped criticism on the health ministers. Deaths due to contaminated drugs have been political dynamite especially when they occur in government hospitals. Yet, states are doing precious little to reform the bureaucracies responsible for drug quality.

To be fair, state health ministers are caught between a rock and a hard place because of the fragmented regulatory framework under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 ...