No drugs consignment sent from Himachal after June 4

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, June 14

The manufacturing of narcotics and psychotropic drugs in the state appears to has halted, albeit temporarily, as no consignment has been sent to any state by 139 manufacturers since June 4.

The Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has made it mandatory for manufacturers to follow standard operating procedures (SoPs) from June 4 after large-scale irregularities were found in two Sirmaur firms. As per the SoPs, during sale to any state, a manufacturer will have to inform the local drugs inspector, the SP as well as the State Drugs Controller through an e-mail. This will enable the officials to keep tabs on drug manufacturing in the state.

Sources in the pharmaceutical industry said out of the 139 licensees of such drugs, a sizeable number could surrender their licenses in the coming days.

“No information has been furnished by any of the manufacturers about the sale of narcotics and psychotropic drugs to the DCA since the SoPs became applicable from June 4,” informed the State Drugs Controller (SDC) Navneet Marwaha.

The image of the state’s pharmaceutical industry has taken a hit since it has been found that large-scale opioid drug tramadol, worth crores of rupees, manufactured by two units in Kala Amb and Paonta Sahib, was being diverted for use as intoxicants in Punjab. They have been raided by the local and Punjab Police, both of whom have booked these manufacturers. Though tramadol is banned in Punjab, it was found marketed through fake marketing firms in Delhi, Mumbai, etc., and diverted to Punjab by these units.

In a bid to tighten the noose around all such manufacturers, the DCA is now examining all such units. “Out of the 139 units which manufacture these drugs in Solan, Una, Kangra and Sirmaur district, 53 have been inspected. The process to examine the others is underway,” said Marwaha.

The DCA has also initiated action against the erring units. Two firms in Baddi have been directed to stop manufacturing by the inspecting team. An FIR has been registered against one of them by the Baddi police under the NDPS Act and for cheating and forgery. “In another unit at Lodhi Majra in Baddi, which has been manufacturing codeine formulations, relevant record has not been produced. Its purchase order for exports is being examined. Gross violations of the good manufacturing practices have been noticed and a further probe is underway,” said Marwaha.

Notices have been served to six other manufacturers where the upkeep of records pertaining to such drugs was found improper. Further action as per their reply would be initiated soon, he said.