Karnataka drugs control department is in the process of upgrading its drugs testing laboratory to ISO 9000 by mid-June this year. As a first step to ISO accreditation process, a Quality Manager will be identified shortly from the department.

The drugs testing lab which received a budget allocation of Rs 80 lakh, is now gearing up for a fresh appearance as finalization for a range of new equipment is on and its installation is likely to be complete next month.

The drugs testing laboratory is expected to commence internal audits for all drugs being tested here beginning from April. The lab is also preparing itself to verify 10 per cent of all its drug test samples by external auditors, Dr Suresh K Muhammed IPS, Karnataka drugs controller, told pharmabiz.com.

The department will now dispose the old equipment that ceased to function through government approved tenders, he informed.

In a bid to modernize the drugs testing lab as a world class facility, the Karnataka drugs controller has put forth a proposal to the World Health Organization to set up the Knowledge Resource Centre in the department which is expected to have a collection of the latest books, journals and CD ROMS relating to pharmacy. The facility can be accessed not only by the department officials but also the public who will have to pay a fee for the same.