New Delhi, April 9 -- The health ministry has reconstituted India's apex drug advisory panel, paving the way for long-pending discussions on spurious drugs, OTC norms, antimicrobial resistance, and more.

Mint had reported on 5 February that the term of India's Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) expired in October last year, bringing a whole lot of drug related policies to a halt, the union health ministry has constituted a fresh DTAB.

The formation of DTAB holds significance as India's pharmaceutical market for FY 2023-24 is valued at $50 billion with domestic consumption valued at $23.5 billion and exports at $26.5 billion.

India's top drug regulator, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) also wrote to the Union health minist...