In order to ensure better regulatory compliances and also to ensure quality of medicines in the state, the Drugs Control Administration of Andhra Pradesh (APDCA) is all set for a major expansion by adding manpower at senior levels and other facilities.

The state government has recently appointed two assistant directors and 50 drug inspectors as per its request to provide six assistant directors and 50 drug inspectors. It is considered to be the major expansion since the last 30 years. The move is expected to enable the department to meet the manpower requirement for strictly ensuring the regulatory compliances.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, R P Meena, director general, Drugs Control Administration of Andhra Pradesh, said, "This kind of an expansion is happening for first time in the last three decades. It has brought additional strength and which can be utilized to ensure the quality of medicines. As we have the required manpower strength, three assistant directors will be exclusively looking after the enforcement side, which can ensure the quality and supply of good drugs".

The department has also received a grant of Rs 2.91 crore from the state government under various schemes. It will be utilized to hire vehicles for officers at four levels such as inspectors having jurisdiction over agencies and undeserved areas, assistant directors, deputy directors and officers who ensure the regulatory requirements of manufacturing units. Recently, the department has hired 30 vehicles for the district licensing authorities, which would enable the officers to be physically present in the manufacturing units to ensure quality of medicines.

Commenting on this Meena, said, "With the allocation of vehicles, which is very much required for physical movement, the officers will be able to visit the manufacturing units and ensure the quality of medicines and can also put a check on the spurious drugs. The government has also sanctioned 148 mobile phones to the drug inspectors, which will ensure the proper communication".

The department has also received a fund of Rs 6 crore to put up additional facilities in the Vijayawada lab. At present the lab has a facility to test only 600 samples and once the expansion is over it will be able to cover 2000 samples per year. It is expected to reduce the time period from the current 3 to six months to 30 to 45 days. In the previous year the drug administration in Andhra Pradesh has seized spurious drugs worth Rs 6 crore from various parts of the state. It is the highest seizure of spurious drugs in the state.