...... 66 RIGHT TO HEALTH 6.11 The Chairperson, NHRC, Dr. Justice A.S.Anand in his remarks stated that right to health is one of the areas of major concern for the Commission which also includes in its ambit, the issue of unsafe drugs. He observed that the right to life is one of the most cherished rights and the Supreme Court interpreted it to mean not mere existence but right to healthy life with dignity. He expressed serious concern over the fact that unsafe drugs, devices and spurious drugs have reached alarming proportions. He highlighted their impact on people who become hapless consumers. Referring to the long chain of manufacturer-middlemen–retailer-consumer, he wanted to know what control was being exercised at the stage of manufacture and at other stages. He added that unsafe and spurious drugs exacerbate malnutrition, lack of primary health care infrastructure and anaemia. He asked the participants to indicate how many licences of retailers were cancelled, how many prosecutions launched, how many manufacturers booked and how many such units were closed during last one year. He emphasized the need for appropriate quality control, well-placed safety monitoring practices and creating public awareness. Based on these discussions, an Expert Group was set up by the Commission with the following composition: 1. Prof. S.D. Seth, Chair in Clinical Pharmacology, Indian Council of Medical Research 2. Dr. Prema Ramachandran Director, Nutrition Foundation of India 3. Dr. Mira Shiva, Director, Women Health & Development, Voluntary Health Association of India 4. Shri Raj Kumar, Secretary, Deptt. of Health Govt. of Haryana 5. Shri R.D. Garg Deputy Drug Controller Govt. of NCT of Delhi 6.12 i) The Terms of the Reference of the Expert Group are as follows: To examine the issue of unsafe drugs and medical devices from the perspective of human rights and to evolve appropriate recommendations to various authorities, both in the Centre and in the States. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION