The Gujarat State Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) recently selected 32 drug inspectors from the state to fill up the increasing demand for drug officers. The latest recruitment was for position of class II level drug inspectors  who have cleared the Gujarat Public Service Examination (PSE) that was held recently in the state.

With this the total number of drug inspectors in the state of Gujarat has risen to almost 100. According to Dr H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA, “We have always made it a point to ensure that we are adequately staffed with qualified officials to handle the increasing workload. This has helped us to achieve    the status of being one of the best state drug authorities in the country.”

As of now there are almost 100 drug inspectors in the state apart from the 50 senior drug inspectors. Dr Koshia informed that Gujarat is the only state in the country to have the post of senior drug inspectors. Giving statistics he explained that the state of Gujarat has 27 assistant commissioners out of which two sits with him in his office at Gandhinagar, 26 district commissioners, 6 deputy commissioners, and five joint commissioners who help him in conducting various drug related activities in the state.

He said, “For us the most important priority is to ensure that all our offices are equipped with the best services available which includes adequate competent staff. This is because it will help us in restoring efficient enforcement of regulatory works like inspections in manufacturing sites and pharmacies etc in a more organised and effective manner.”

The recruitment of the new drug inspectors comes at the right time as the state will soon require assistance of additional officers to fill up the demands coming out of the slew of activities being witnessed in the state.

Most of the state drugs authorities in the country are understaffed because of the shortage of qualified and trained manpower in the country. Gujarat FDCA is one of the few food and drug control administrations in the country to have taken steps to address this issue.