Govt to outsource staff for Kandaghat lab

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 9

The state government will outsource staff for the state’s lone composite testing laboratory (CTL) in Kandaghat, where food and drug samples are tested.

The successive governments have failed to provide adequate staff to the lab, failing which its staff strength is less than the requisite number. The lab has not been upgraded to meet the needs of the growing pharmaceutical industry in the state.

Its pitiable condition can be gauged from the fact that more than 50 per cent key posts are lying vacant. As against the 32 sanctioned posts at the technical level, only 14 officials are available and key vacancies include two posts of a public analyst and an examiner. Out of the 54 sanctioned posts in various categories, as many as 23 are lying vacant. The lab has no facility to conduct specialised analysis like microbiology-related tests. The lab has been outsourcing equipment from other states.

Though the step to hire staff through outsourcing will help deal with the staff shortage, whether the testing of drug samples and food should be handed over to a private agency is questionable as legal issues have been emerging with the regulatory authorities for having outsourced drug testing.

With the pharmaceutical industry in the state having increased from 50 units in 2002 to 625 units, the absence of adequate drug testing facilities has put a question mark on the regulatory system.

Director, Health Safety and Regulation, Naresh Lath, said the Cabinet approval had been granted for outsourcing 19 staffers in various categories for the lab and that the tendering process would begin soon. He said it was a stop-gap arrangement and the staff would be recruited on a regular basis in the near future.

“The Drug Control Administration is already in the process of setting up a modern drug testing lab at Baddi and the CTL is likely to handle only food testing in the near future. The work to equip the new lab with the requisite equipment will be awarded soon. The Central Government has already sanctioned Rs 30 crore for this 2,150 sq m lab,” an official said.

MOre than 50% posts vacant

• More than 50 per cent key posts are lying vacant. 
• As against the 32 sanctioned posts at the technical level, only 14 officials are available.
• Key vacancies include two posts of a public analyst and an examiner. 
• Out of the 54 sanctioned posts in various categories, 23 are lying vacant.