Karnataka drugs controller Dr Bharatesh R Jagashetty lays down his office on October 31, 2013. His tenure as the head of the state drugs control department has been marked by efficiency, transparency and accountability.
Dr Jagashetty completed BSc from Dharwad University, B Pharm and M Pharm from Bangalore University. Armed with these qualifications, he joined the Karnataka drugs control department on July 19, 1982 as drugs inspector.
Convinced that it would be only a combination of hard work and higher qualifications that would lead him to the top echelons of the drug regulatory service, he pursued his graduation in law and thereafter received a PhD in Law pertaining to Drugs and Patents.
In 2005, Karnataka government promoted him from assistant drugs controller to deputy drugs controller and on March 6, 2008, he became Additional Drugs Controller. Thereafter, on May 1, 2008, he was appointed as the Karnataka Drugs Controller.
During his five and half year tenure as the Karnataka Drugs Controller, he embarked on a total computerization and networking drive linking all 45 sub-offices enabling online registration of 236 companies and 28,000 pharmacy trade outlets besides issue of manufacture-marketing and trade licenses.
Other initiatives include providing a six-storied modern drugs control headquarters currently under construction, launched the department website that also indicates daily status of blood and blood products in Karnataka, opened CDSCO sub-zonal office in Bengaluru and notified Bengaluru International Airport Limited for drug import-export.
He convinced the Karnataka government on the need for additional drug testing laboratories (DTLs) at Hubli and Bellary. In March 2013, government introduced a state-specific Karnataka Pharmaceutical Policy.
He chalked a Five Year Plan strategy for 2012-17 which includes commissioning of a biologics lab and mobile test vans. On October 14, 2013, DTL Bengaluru was certified by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
Calling for constant surprise inspections of production plants and pharmacy outlets, he ensured speedy disbursal of test reports via short message service (SMS) on not-of-standard quality drugs and thereafter issued warnings to violators.
Dr Jagashetty gave ample importance to training. His staff of over 500 personnel received the required exposure to latest capabilities at the industry which helped create a Code of Conduct to file complaints.
The Union government selected him to accompany DCGI Dr GN Singh to represent India at Estonia with 350 global drug regulators from 100 countries for a WHO conference. He participated in regulatory events at US, Europe, East Africa and Sri Lanka.
Policy and regulations were Dr Jagashetty’s forte. He chaired the DCC sub-committee for Amendments to Drugs & Cosmetic Rules constituted by DCGI, and was selected as member, Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), besides empanelled on two sub-committees of computerization and spurious drugs.
In December 2005, he bagged the Best Drugs Control Officer award at IPC, Hyderabad. In February 2013, he won the National Award for e-governance along with Dr H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA.