The Drug Control Administration of AP is setting up District Drug Advisory committees in each district of the state with representation of local MLA, consumer organizations, nursing home associations, Red Cross, chemists and druggists, manufacturers and intellectuals in each district. The move is part of DCA's bid to bring in certain basic reforms in pharmaceutical trade.

These committees are likely to operate with absolute transparency. The first such committee has been already set up at Kakinada recently. Committees at Vishakapatnam and Anakapalli are expected to be in place in the first week of November. More committees are likely to be set up by the end of December.

Some of these steps state DCA is pushing with the trade are:
1. Advising to act against inflow of spurious drugs and 'not of standard quality' products.
2. A dress code for pharmacists.
3. Use of gloves while selling or dispensing medicines.
4. Maintenance of refrigerators in shops for preservatives.
5. Keeping wall thermometers to determine the room temperature in the shops.
6. Use of coolers to maintain a suitable room temperature.

DCA has conducted 14 workshops in various districts of the state to drive these guidelines. The places where such workshops were held are Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Mahaboobnagar, Nalgonda, Warangal, Nizamabad, Kama Reddy, Vijayawada, Vishakapatnam, Tirupati, Nellore, Ongole, Kottagudem and Kakinada.

It has also organized seven blood donation camps including Secunderabad, Vijayawada, Ongole, Tirupati (two camps held), Kothagudem and Mahaboobnagar. Blood donation awareness rallies had been held at Vijayawada where 1000 people have participated with large number of chemists, with Surjit Singh Barnala, Governor of Andhra Pradesh inaugurating it. Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Health Minister of AP, also attended the event. Another rally was held at Tirupati, where atleast 800 people took part, with chemists being the majority.

DCA has decided to conduct atleast 10 per cent of its inspections at medical shops during holidays and odd hours. There is a tendancy that most of the chemists and druggists who involve themselves in illegal and unethical practices choose the above mentioned occasions to do their acts. And this decision would limit their involvement in such activities to a great extent.

M. Venkata Reddy, Director, DCA told Pharmabiz.com that they are making all efforts to curb the menace of spurious drugs and supply of NSQs. They are instructing all the druggists and chemists to deal only with the known authorized dealers, to make receipts and payments only through Demand Drafts or Cheques, receive goods only through proper transportation mode, where proofs such as bills can be provided. For products of not of standard quality, DCA has warned the retailers that they will be made responsible and accountable for possession of any such product with them when proved that the products were kept in spite of having full knowledge of their under quality.

P. Ananthasayanam Reddy, Additional Director General, DCA and the health minister have been instrumental for the achievements of DCA in the state, Venkata Reddy added.