Concerned over the delay in getting requisite funds released from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the 12th Five Year Plan for modernising the state regulatory office, the Gujarat FDCA has sent a reminder to the Centre asking them about the same. The state drug regulatory body feels that the Centre should come clean on whether they will be releasing the funds or not, so that they can approach the state government for the funds, to strengthen the drug regulatory mechanism in the state.
It is understood that the Gujarat FDCA is in a dilemma over whether to approach the state government for the funds in the light of the pending demand made to the Center last year. The Gujarat FDCA had sent a proposal to the CDSCO, asking for an allocation of Rs.100 crore, which if approved, would be used to strengthen the drug regulatory machinery in the state, albeit condition set by the Centre.
“We have always given top precedence to constantly upgrade and modernise the drug regulatory system as per the changing regulatory norms, so that we are able to meet the challenges and preserve the health of the patients. At present, we have no correspondence or updates from the Centre on whether the funds will be allocated to us as demanded or not, because of which we are not even able to send proposal to the state government for fund allocation. This log jam in creating a lot of hurdles to our ambitious dream of further financing new projects that focus on expanding and strengthening our labs, existing facilities, capacity building measures etc. Considering the delay, we feel it is high time for the Centre to inform us about its decision, so that we can reach out to the State government for funding,” informed Dr H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA.
Following a DCC meeting last year, Dr G N Singh, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), had asked all the state drug regulatory officials to submit their proposals for fund allocation under Centre's capacity building programme. However, sources inform us that there have been hardly any viable outcome or response from the Centre to support the State drug regulatory bodies, in spite of timely representation sent to the CDSCO.
Gujarat FDCA plans to sent in the representation to the state government for the allotment of Rs.50 crore for modernisation of the regulatory system in the state. Dr Koshia informed that it is two fold increase from two years allotment of Rs.39 crore in 2013 and Rs.19 crore in 2012.