Karnataka drugs control department has set up a Consultative Committee for its drugs testing laboratory to improve the functioning of the laboratory to global standards. Although there is a mandatory requirement to have a Consultative Committee in the Drugs Control General of India (DGCI) office which is mentioned in the Drugs and Cosmetic Act; this is for the first time in the country that a Consultative Committee is set-up for a drug testing lab in a State drugs control department, said Dr. Suresh Kunhi Muhammed, drugs controller, government of Karnataka.

The main purpose of the Committee will be to receive accreditation from the National Accreditation Body for laboratories. "We hope to be a national certified laboratory within the next six months," he added.

The first meeting was held today. Details of the discussion were not disclosed. The Committee will congregate every month and systematically review the functioning of the laboratory. The initial thrust areas would be documentation, standard operating procedures, validation and training, informed Dr. Muhammed.

The primary task of the Committee is to enhance its efficiency standards. During its monthly meeting it would supervise the testing procedures of the drugs that come to its lab for assessing its stability and purity standards. The Committee will also advise the laboratory on how to improve the drugs testing standards.

The Committee is headed by R S Iyer, former head of quality control for companies like the erstwhile Parke Davis, Glaxo Pharmaceuticals. The vice chairman is Dr. Suresh Kunhi Muhammed.

While the Member secretary is Ms. M Indira Dinesh, superintendent (Lab) drugs testing laboratory, Karnataka drugs control department, there are 11 members representing leading pharmaceutical companies in the country and a lone representative from a Industrial research institute on the Committee panel.

The members are Dr. Tara Jayaram, head, quality department, Biocon India Group, Dr. KRP Shenoy, head, quality assurance & technical services, AstraZeneca Pharma India, Dr. Raj Bammi, director Sami Labs, Dr. Suresh Venkataram, vice president, pharma operations, Zydus Recon Healthcare Ltd., Dr. A Radhakrishna, joint director, Sriram Institute for Industrial Research, Dr. Praful R Naik, president, Bilcare, DK Muniramaiah Shetty, superintendent, (Lab), drugs testing laboratory, Karnataka drugs control department Parvathi Anand Goudar, pharmacologist, drugs testing laboratory, Karnataka drugs control department, Ms. Sudha Swamy, senior chemist, drugs testing lab, SN Shivashankar, pharmacologist, drugs testing lab and Shivalingaiah Mohan, senior chemist, drugs testing laboratory.

The Consultative committee would help the drug testing lab to improve its standards. Dr. Suresh Kunhi Muhammed's intention has been to see that the drug test lab which forms the backbone of the drugs approvals in the State is represented by the cream of pharma and research industry. "The members are on the same wave length and are in complete agreement with the views put-forth by the chairman and vice chairman. There will be no problems to carry out the proposals from time to time, informed RS Iyer, chairman, Consultative Committee for the drugs testing lab, government of Karnataka.