The government of Pondicherry has appointed a new Controlling Authority for the territory's drugs control administration (DCA). The department of health has notified P Rajkumar's appointment as controlling authority last week, it is learnt.

According to sources, this is the first time the territory's government has appointed an official from the pharmacy field as the head of the department. Till 1989, doctors from medical services were handling the post. After 1989, the post was lying vacant. Now after 21 years, the department has got a drug controller.

In Pondicherry, controlling authority is the designation given to drugs controller. In certain states, the designation is changed to commissioner.

For more than one year, Rajkumar was acting as the state licensing authority. Now, as the Union territory's drugs controller, he got the statutory powers for controlling the entire department. But he has to report the official matters to the director of medical services instead of the health secretary as he holds additional charge of licensing authority too.

After the amendment of Drugs and Cosmetics Act in 1989, the post of a controlling authority was not notified in the Union territory, but the duty was fulfilled by either the commissioner or the additional commissioners.

Earlier, the Director of Medical Services had sent proposal to the government to fill up the vacancy of controlling authority. Now, since the department has got a head, government will have to appoint a separate licensing authority, it is learnt.

Before assuming charge as licensing authority, Rajkumar was working as a chemist in the government owned drug manufacturing company in Pondicherry. When it was ceased to operate, he joined the public health laboratory.

According to sources, the government is now thinking of bifurcating the Food and Drugs Control Administration to form a separate drugs control department and the scheme is in the pipeline. From 1964, the food and drug control administration has been working under one Director with separate staffs and facilities using same offices in four regions of the Union territory.

The DCA still needs more drug inspectors and ministerial staff for a smooth functioning. It is hoped that with the establishment of separate drug control department, more posts would be created and the functioning would be strengthened. Like the post of a Controlling Authority, separate administration for drug control is also a long standing demand of the officials in the department.