Finally, BBN pharma hub to get testing lab

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, February 15

The much-awaited drug testing lab catering to the pharmaceutical hub of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) may soon be a reality with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare granting the requisite funds.

The ministry has recently granted Rs 30 crore to the Health Department and at least Rs 15 crore would be made available for setting up this lab at Baddi, revealed sources.

Officials were now on the lookout for a suitable building measuring around 20,000 to 25,000 sq feet at Baddi to house this lab. The lab would be equipped with the latest technology and it would facilitate testing of at least 8,000 to 10,000 legal samples of drugs annually. Apart from facilitating the Drug Control Administration (DCA) it could also help the 350-odd manufacturers to enable them test their drug samples.

The manufacturers are forced to get such samples tested from labs in Chandigarh and other places which was a time consuming and cumbersome exercise.

The ministry had earlier invited proposals under the 12th Five-Year Plan from states for providing funds for strengthening the DCA which includes strengthening of staff and upgrade of testing labs.

Likewise, a proposal to set up a drug testing lab at Baddi costing Rs 30 crore was submitted to the ministry in 2016. A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the state and the ministry later to facilitate this grant. Once set up this lab will facilitate the DCA which has been dependent on the ill-equipped Composite Testing Lab (CTL) at Kandaghat for carrying out its functioning.

Since the CTL is not equipped to handle specialised analysis, including microbiology-related investigations in the absence of sophisticated equipments, the DCA had to outsource such tests from Chandigarh-based labs. Only physico-chemical testing of drug samples was being conducted in the CTL and at times legal issues also cropped up due to inadequate drug testing facilities in the state.

The funds will now be utilised for strengthening the DCA with enhanced staff and computerisation of various procedures like grant of manufacturing licence and product approvals also on the anvil. Sixty to 70 staffers, including data entry operators, were also proposed to be recruited to strengthen the working vis-à-vis the strength of pharmaceutical companies.

Sanjay Guleria, Advisor, Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association, while terming it as a welcome move said it would enhance the regulatory framework and enforce quality in manufacturing firms.

The presence of a drug testing lab in the BBN area was badly required keeping in view the presence of 120 export-oriented units and presence of renowned companies like Dr Reddy’s Lab, Cadila, Cipla, Torrent, etc.