In order to enhance the capacity of sampling and testing of medicines in the state, three more drug testing laboratories will be established in Rajasthan at Udaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner soon. The labs have been constructed and will now sooner be equipped with the state-of-the-art testing technologies and methods. Currently, there is only one drug testing laboratory in the state which is located at Jaipur.
At present, the drug testing lab at Jaipur gets around 500 samples and testing of samples takes one month to three months time. Says an official from Rajasthan drug control department, "Around 60,000 brands of drugs are available in the market and drug samples are collected based on the random survey. With the coming up of three state drug testing labs in Rajasthan, testing would be done in a mere 15 days time and the capacity would gradually increase over a period of time. The enhancement in the capacities will reduce the downtime significantly."
There are around 20,000 retail establishments and 16,000 drug distribution counters in government hospitals across the state which are closely monitored by the state drug regulators.
Following National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority's (NPPA) proposed plan to set up price monitoring cells for effective detection of drug price violations in all the states three months ago, Rajasthan State Drug Control Department (RSCD) has already trained five drug inspectors for manning the price modulating cells in Rajasthan. RSDCD is, however, awaiting funds proposed for setting up the NPPA cell from the Central government to the tune of Rs.5.5 crore.
Drug inspectors have been trained on the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO-2013) regulation and the actions to be taken upon its violation. Training has also been given on how to conduct sample survey in the market of the respective drugs covered under and outside the DPCO. Drug inspectors are also technically equipped to implement modalities for recovery of the overcharged amount earned as a profit by manufacturer through overpricing of drugs.
"Drug control departments should have such cells as it is high time that pricing is regulated through an effective monitoring mechanism," says an official.
Through the price monitoring cells, NPPA will closely work with the state drug regulators to find out any discrepancies that affect the consumers. The officials heading the cell will report their findings to the NPPA directly in case they find any pharma company violating the law by selling the drugs above the ceiling price.