Solan: Pharma hub without State Drugs Controller since Jan 1

Ambika Sharma

Solan, January 18

Even as the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial cluster is acclaimed as the pharmaceutical hub of Asia, the drugs control administration (DCA) has been functioning without a State Drugs Controller (SDC) since January 1.

The post fell vacant on December 31 after incumbent Navneet Marwaha superannuated. The state government has failed to appoint an SDC since then and this was affecting the working of the pharmaceutical industry as even the charge has not been assigned to any official.

This has impaired the working of the industry as pharmaceutical units, which were looked after by the SDC, have to secure product approvals and renewal of manufacturing licences.

Significant works pertaining to pharmaceutical units having World Health Organisation (WHO) approvals have also been put on hold. There are about 270 WHO-approved units that require the signatures of the SDC for various day-to-day works. No such work has been executed this month as the state government has not even assigned the charge to any other officer. This was despite the fact that both Health and Family Welfare Minister DR Shandil as well as Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sanjay Awasthy, holding the charge of the Health and Family Welfare Department, hail from Solan district.

Key tendering works of the department are also suffering as no office has been assigned duties. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation issues important directions through e-mails to all 29 states on a daily basis but the department is at a loss as no official has been assigned this key duty.

The state has about 650 pharmaceutical units and cases of spurious and substandard drug manufacturing come to fore every now and then.

Working of industry hit

• Significant works pertaining to pharmaceutical units having World Health Organisation approvals have been put on hold
• Export-oriented pharmaceutical units seeking certificate for exports are the worst sufferers
• Export consignments are time-bound but are being delayed in the absence of completion of the required formalities by the State Drugs Controller

Health Minister apprised of issue

The Health Minister was apprised of the problem a few days ago and he promised to do the needful soon. Already two weeks have elapsed and several key works have piled up. The charge should be entrusted to some officer at the earliest. — Rajesh Gupta, president, Himachal drugs manufacturers association