KABUL (Pajhwok): Officials from Afghanistan and India have discussed expanding cooperation in medicines and food products, regulating imports and finalising bilateral cooperation agreements, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said.
The ministry said an Afghan delegation, led by Mawlawi Hamdullah Zahid, deputy minister for food and drugs, held separate meetings with officials from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Ayush, and Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).
The meetings covered the finalisation of cooperation agreements, assessment of Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, registration and evaluation of companies and products, regulation of medicine and health-product imports, and challenges related to food imports.
The two sides also discussed joint efforts to combat medicine smuggling, investment by Indian pharmaceutical companies in Afghanistan, joint production of medicines with Afghan factories, and independent investment by Indian companies in the sector.
During a meeting with Pharmexcil officials, the Afghan delegation called for expediting the export of high-quality and standard medicines to Afghanistan. The council pledged to work with Indian pharmaceutical companies to address existing obstacles and facilitate exports.
The sides also agreed to hold online meetings to follow up on the issues discussed.
The Indian side will share its technical views on the cooperation agreements so that they can be finalised through diplomatic channels and signed.
Pharmexcil leadership members also pledged to invite technical representatives of Afghanistan’s Food and Drug Authority to similar international meetings and programmes in the future.
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