Proposal to strengthen drug regulatory system

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 8

In the wake of a shortage of drug inspectors and poor laboratory testing infrastructure, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has submitted a Rs 98-crore proposal to the Centre for strengthening manpower and the drug regulatory system in the state.

The drug regulatory system strengthening scheme of the Central government for Uttarakhand and other Himalayan states has come as a God-sent opportunity for the state Health Department at a time when the Narendra Modi government has slashed several Centrally-funded schemes.

“The scheme envisages fund sharing between the Centre and the state in the ratio of 90:10. It will be in place for three years. We have already submitted a proposal of Rs 98 crore that envisages strengthening of manpower and systems right from the district to the headquarters,” said Dr RP Bhatt, Director General, Health.

“The regulatory headquarters will be housed in a new building near the Directorate of Health and both Kumaon and Garhwal divisions will have separate divisional offices at Nainital and Pauri. Further, five zonal (regional) offices will be set up at Nainital, Pauri, Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. In all, 26 new posts will be created,” he added.

The proposal also envisages strengthening of the Food and Drug Laboratory at Rudrapur and setting up of a second laboratory at SIDCUL in Haridwar, which will reduce burden on the Rudrapur laboratory.

Poor infrastructure and a perennial shortage of manpower has been the biggest hindrance in the implementation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act in the state. The work of the department entails check on the supply of spurious drugs, taking up court cases and conducting surprise checks on a regular basis. Against the requirement of 13 drug inspectors, only eight have been appointed. The districts of Nainital, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Champawat have no drug inspector.

Similarly, the lone Food and Drugs Testing Laboratory at Rudrapur is not only understaffed but also needs to be upgraded for carrying out sophisticated tests.