New Delhi, Nov. 3 -- The Union health ministry has proposed making pharmaceutical companies formally designate a qualified person to authorise the release of every batch of drugs into the market, tightening accountability for drug quality, the government said on Tuesday.

Under the draft amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, every drugmaker will have to appoint an expert specifically responsible for batch release. Companies will also be required to issue a "Batch Release Certificate" in a prescribed format and keep records for every lot produced.

At present, drugmakers are required to declare the technical personnel overseeing manufacturing and testing, but there is no specific provision for identifying the individual authorised to releas...