The ongoing computerization process of the Tamil Nadu Drug Control Department as the pilot project for creating a nationally networked IT- enabled drug control administration in the country, is likely to be completed within a few months.

The project is progressing in accordance to the schedule, and the Chennai based ACCEL-ICICM, the firm entrusted with the task of developing the software and networking the drug control administrations, is in the process of updating the data and fine-tuning the software, M Kannan, drug controller (in charge), Tamil Nadu told Pharmabiz. Some of the senior officials with the Tamil Nadu DCA are undergoing training to handle the operations of the software.

A few weeks ago, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) himself had visited Chennai and held discussions with the State Drug Control and ACCEL officials in charge of the project to assess the progress. Once the data is ready and a dedicated connectivity is established with the central drug administration, the date of commissioning the project could be announced, said the DC.

As Pharmabiz reported earlier, the network, with enough security firewalls and privacy provisions for the officials, will have details about the manufacturing licenses granted by the state drug control authorities, the number of products handled by the state drug testing labs, samples drawn by the drug inspectors etc. The network will help the central drug control administration to effectively monitor the data of various state drug control administrations.

Expected to be implemented by the year-end, the DCAs in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal are likely to be the other states where the programme will be implemented in the first phase, depending on the success of the project in Tamil Nadu.

Accel was entrusted with the task of undertaking the job of electronic networking the department's functioning by Noida-based Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation (India) Limited (HSCC), the nodal agency selected by DCGI for implementing the programme. The project involves development and installation of computer hardware and system software, application software, data communications arrangements, entry and validation of extensive data on licenses and training etc.