The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) established an expert committee on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, Drugs Controller General of India Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi announced on September 18. The committee aims to evaluate, approve, and regulate AI applications in drug discovery and healthcare, according to Business Standard coverage of Raghuvanshi’s remarks at the 8th Confederation of Indian Industry Pharma and Lifesciences Summit in New Delhi.
Details on the committee’s composition, terms of reference, and timeline remain undisclosed. CDSCO has not published an official order constituting the committee, nor has it released a member list or formal documentation on its website. MediaNama’s review found no public record of the committee on CDSCO’s committees page, advisories, or homepage as of September 21. There is also no Press Information Bureau release or mention in the August parliamentary reply regarding the committee.
The formation of this AI expert committee reflects growing global attention on regulating AI in healthcare, a sector where safety and efficacy are critical. Raghuvanshi noted that regulation of AI in healthcare is under discussion worldwide. The committee’s focus on drug discovery aligns with increasing AI integration in pharmaceutical research and development, where regulatory frameworks are still evolving. This move positions India alongside other countries working to establish governance for AI technologies in medical fields.
The CDSCO’s announcement came during the CII Pharma and Lifesciences Summit, but no recording or transcript of Raghuvanshi’s full remarks has been published. The next official update on the committee’s activities or formal establishment is awaited from CDSCO’s communications or government releases.