Karnataka drugs control department staff will undergo an intensive training programme at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Educational and Research (NIPER), Chandigarh. A part of a World Bank project, NIPER has been asked to impart training to drugs control department's staff across the country. The training is expected to commence in January 2004 and it is for the first time that NIPER is organising the programme at the behest of World Bank.

"It will be an intensive training for period of two months and we are not aware of the budget allocated by World Bank for the training except for the fact that our state drugs control department is assigned for the programme which we definitely want to take advantage", Dr. Suresh Kunhi Muhammed, drugs controller, government of Karnataka told Pharmabiz.com.

With an aim to become the country's first NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories), the drugs controller has also finalised a training programme for its drugs testing lab staff to be conducted in the premises of the pharma-biotech companies like AstraZeneca India and Biocon India Group to comprehend the importance of good laboratory practises and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) adhered strictly by these companies' labs. "The training will be on a small scale as we will identify only two people and send them to the companies' labs to see how quality practises are maintained. It will focus on quality, maintenance and use of equipment to help increase the efficiency of the lab technician during drugs tests procedures, informed Dr. Suresh Muhammed.

Plans are underway to initiate a dialogue for training with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Institute of Quality for the entire drugs control department.

Meanwhile, the department's newly formed consultative committee for the drugs testing lab under the aegis of the State drugs control department which is chaired by RS Iyer, former head of quality control for companies like the erstwhile Parke Davis, Glaxo Pharmaceuticals with Dr. Suresh Kunhi Muhammed as vice chairman had its second meeting to ensure that the set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) laid down by the Committee is being followed by the laboratory technicians.

"When there is an SOP, quality automatically follows," said Dr. Suresh Muhammed who is confident that the Committee will do wonders and instil quality practises at every level to help the drug testing lab achieve the NABL accreditation.