The All India Drugs Control Officers Confederation (AIDCOC) has demanded parity in the salaries of all drug regulatory officials across the country. The plea has come after the Central Government upgraded the pay scale of drug inspectors under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recently.

The drug inspectors of several states have complained that they have been denied a pay hike which was granted to the drug officials under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) a couple of months ago. Since drug inspectors in all states are appointed as per the stipulations made by the Central Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the pay scale should also reflect a similarity, they argue. The nature of job and the responsibilities of both state and central drug authorities are also similar, they say.

While the officials coming under the central cadre were given the hike, the state governments, under which the state regulatory authorities function, are yet to take note of the central hike.

Speaking to pharmabiz.com, S W Deshpande, president, AIDCOC said that the discrimination in pay scale was not confined to drugs inspectors, but went across all levels in the drug regulatory department.

"The Maharashtra government had brought in some parity in pay structure a while back. But they are yet to consider the new hike given by the Central Government," he said.'

According to AIDCOC, the salaries of drug officials continue to vary from state to state. With the Central Government planning to have a centralised control over the activities of drug regulatory system in the country, the non-parity can kill the enthusiasm among several state officials, confederation leaders felt.

The confederation is planning to represent the case before all state governments, they informed.