India’s CDSCO Sets up Whistleblower Reward Scheme

India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation  (CDSCO) has set up a scheme for providing monetary rewards to informers who provide specific information leading to the seizures of spurious, adulterated, misbranded and not-of-standard-quality drugs, cosmetics and medical devices. This reward scheme will be applicable to both the informers and CDSCO officers involved.

The plan calls for rewards of up to 20% of the value of the products seized, to a maximum of around $41,500 for informants and around $8,300 for CDSCO officials.  The reward is to be provided only when the spurious, adulterated and misbranded products are actually seized by CDSCO. In order to ensure the continued cooperation of informants, 25% of the amount is to be awarded at the time of filing of the case in court, another 25% upon a favorable disposition of the case at the first trial level, and the remaining 50% upon final disposition in favor of the government with no appeal pending.

The reward scheme will be overseen by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), along with other officials. The eligibility of informants and the amount of rewards will be decided by a Committee chaired by the Director General for Health Services, and including representatives from CDSCO, the Customs Department, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and social groups/NGOs.

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