As part of implementing measures to strengthen enforcement and administration systems, the drugs control administration in Haryana has started online issuance of sale licenses to chemist shops across the state. Besides, the administration will soon start issuance of manufacturing licences also through online.

Presently, 70 per cent of new sale licences are issued through online system in the state. Shortly, issuance of manufacturing licences will also be forwarded through online and the total administration will be strengthened with the support of high tech facilities, said the director of drugs control, Dr Girdhari Lal Singhal.

For shifting into complete high tech system, the department has made a proposal to the state government for creation of additional posts of enforcement and technical staff at zonal as well as district levels.

“Recently eight new posts of drug inspectors have been filled up. The process for online licensing of manufacturing licences and other related matters like issuance of GMP/GLP/FSC/COPP/ manufacturing and marketing certificates etc. are under final stage and can be made effective at any time in this month. The pendency of renewal of sale licenses was reduced to almost zero by dedicated and sincere efforts of the department,” Singhal told Pharmabiz.

Further, the department has started training workshops for upgrading the inspection/ auditing skills of the regulators and the process is going on. With the combined efforts of the enforcement officials as well as of the head quarter officers, the incidence of prevalence of spurious drugs was reduced to almost negligible and the rate of substandard drugs is below one per cent now. In addition to this, the department conducted numerous raids on hookah bars and outlets which were found engaged in sale of medical intoxicants for illicit use.

“We could make the State free from the menace of Hookah bars and going to make it a medical intoxicant free state very soon,” the director expressed hope.

When asked about the lab facilities, Dr Singhal said, “We are planning to have our own FDA building at Panchkula with facilities for testing laboratories, conferences as well as training hall for which the state government has been requested to allot us one acre plot in the city.”

Currently the state has a total of 25 drug inspectors and five posts are lying unfilled for which the state public services commission will soon conduct the examination. Seven ADCs have been given charge of zonal offices.

To another query, he said there are 66 blood banks in Haryana including 21 in the public sector. The state has also facilities for manufacture of stem cells.  The blood banks located at Gurgaon and Faridabad have the latest equipments/facilities, he added.