Following reports that sub-standard drugs were being manufactured in the excise-free zones of Himachal Pradesh, the state drug control administration has launched an intensive drive to ensure quality of drugs by weeding out substandard products.

"Though we get reports about manufacturing sub-standard drugs, most of them prove to be wrong after lab tests and inspections. However, ensuring quality is one of the key focused areas and we are holding regular inspections in each units," HP assistant drug controller R K Chaudhary told Pharmabiz.

The drug administration has also requested the government to sanction more posts, at least four inspectors, to carry out inspections in the manufacturing units in excise-free zones. Besides, the drug control authorities have also put up a proposal with the government to strengthen the department. However, they are still waiting for a positive response from the government.

With a view to speed up procedures and lessen the difficulties for the manufacturers, the state had set up three licensing authorities under three assistant drug controllers. R K Chaudhary was appointed as licensing authority for Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh region and the government set up office of Drug Control Administration at Baddhi in Solan district. For Solan (except excise free-zones), Sirmour, Shimla, Una , Bilaspur and Kinnaur districts, assistant drug controller Kapil Dhiman was made the licencing authority. For Dharamshala, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba districts Navneet Marwaha is in charge.

However, the state is yet to appoint a drug controller after it removed Sher Singh Thakur from the post following his arrest by vigilance bureau in a corruption case in February. Sources said the probe against him was still going on. Though there was a backlog of one month soon after his removal, it was cleared long back, sources added.

Meanwhile, Chaudhary said the administration was also taking steps to see that the units complied with GMP norms. "Though almost all the units have implemented GMP, still training was needed for the workers and staff and we are taking steps to see that units absorb GMP norms fully," he said.