Even as a huge gap exists between the sanctioned posts and filled up vacancies now, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has set an ambitious goal of creating an additional 1195 new posts during the period of 2013-20.

According to the roadmap prepared by the CDSCO for the period, strengthening of manpower is a key element “by strengthening of CDSCO manpower by creating additional 1195 new posts, including 64 experts and additional 4300 personnel for new laboratories, mobile drug testing labs, E-governance, training academy,” it said.

However, the goal looks too ambitious given the present strength and progress in the recent past. As in March this year, a total number of sanctioned posts are 327. But only 119 were filled up so far, leaving still a whopping number of vacant posts at 208. Among them are 104 drug inspectors and 26 Assistant Drug Controllers.

According to the roadmap and vision published by the CDSCO, e-governance will be another important area to increase transparency and credibility. “All offices of zonal/sub-zonal/port offices/laboratories of CDSCO and offices of State Drugs Controllers will be interlinked for fast communication, IT enabled services, preparation of National Registry, Video Conferencing, archiving of all files etc,” it said.

“Consumer awareness programmes to educate and sensitise consumers, medical care providers etc. on drug safety alerts, promotion of generic drugs, self medication issues, etc.; setup of eight new Central Drugs Testing Laboratories with a capacity to test around 8000 samples per annum by each laboratory; Upgradation of existing six Central Drugs Laboratories; Upgradation of existing CDSCO zonal/sub-zonal and port offices; set up five new Central Cosmetics Testing Labs, three new Central Diagnostic kit labs and five new Central Medical Devices Testing Laboratories; set up of 20 mini drug testing labs at port offices of CDSCO to monitor quality of imported and exported drugs; purchase of 20 mobile drug testing vans; set up of five new Central Cosmetics Testing Labs, three new Central Diagnostic Kit Labs and five new Central Medical Devices Testing Laboratories,” the vision document says.

Pharma research laboratory to carry out sophisticated analysis of drugs to detect foreign (contaminants) substances in drugs, setting up of National Drug Regulators Training Academy to impart continuous training to the drug regulators, setting up of India country offices in five countries, and effective implementation of pharmacovigilance programme are among the other proposals for the period.