The e-governance model pioneered by Gujarat government for issuing sales and drug manufacturing licenses online is likely to be replicated in several other states of the country, a top Central government official said.

"The initiative of Gujarat's Food and Drug Control Administration to introduce e-governance for effectively implementing the software for online model of issuing sales and marketing licenses is impressive," Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Surinder Singh said.

"A concept paper of the project has been submitted to the government. The Centre is thinking about introducing this model in some of the states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, on a pilot scale and then to see how it can be implemented there," he said on sidelines of a seminar here yesterday.

The e-governance model of Gujarat on drug regulation was also discussed during the recently held meeting of all the state drug controllers in New Delhi.

"With the introduction of this e-governance model we have digitalised data base of licenses. We are also able to issue around 1,500 product licenses per day," Food and Drugs Control Administration Commissioner H G Koshia told PTI.

"The biggest advantage of this online model is that in the event of ban on any drug by the apex drug regulator we can easily provide them details of all the units in state selling and manufacturing the banned drug," he said.

According to Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), there are over 700 registered pharmaceutical manufacturing units in Gujarat.