Karnataka drugs control department is in the process of ensuring that its cold storage facility will soon function as equipment repairs are being undertaken. The department called for tenders from the private labs to take on the testing of drugs. This apart the department has also started circulating the list of not-of-standard quality drugs to the wholesale and retail sector every Saturday to ensure the pharma trade can withdraw the drugs that are banned by the department.

There are several issues that need to be handled simultaneously. The cold storage repair will amount to Rs.7-8 lakh and we hope to see that there is no more delay on this front, Dr. Suresh Kunhi Muhammed, drugs controller, government of Karnataka told Pharmabiz.com in a telephonic interview.

We are also ensuing faster ways to detect spurious drugs by having the private drug labs to assist us in the process. On the store room facility which has expired drugs, the drugs control said that it was unlikely that there would be any more expired drugs but would look into it immediately.

Every effort is on to improve the department in all respects and make it a more friendlier and efficient office, informed Dr. Muhammed, who joined the department on June 16, 2003.

According to the drugs controller, fighting corruption and malpractices would be the most important agenda on his cards.

His daily inspections to all sections of the drugs control department will ensure effective administrations informed officials from the State government.

Dr. Muhammed is also working on ways to find out the entry of spurious drugs to the State and stated that while there were no instances of such drugs being manufactured in Karnataka he is keeping a vigil over the source of the spurious medicines that have found its way in here.

The pharmaceutical industry and the trade sector in the State are hopeful that the strict and no-nonsense temperament of the new drugs controller who is a qualified doctor and an IPS (Indian Police Service) officer will leave no stone unturned to ensure Karnataka drugs department restores its clean image.