As part of strengthening the infrastructure to fight the menace of spurious and substandard drugs, the authorities are planning to launch mobile drug testing labs in the country soon.

The Central Drugs and Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has already submitted a detailed proposal for introducing 20 mobile laboratories that would move around the places to help the drug inspectors collect the samples and carry out tests instantly, sources said.

Each mobile laboratory, as per the proposal, would cost Rs.5 crore and the CDSCO has requested for a total amount of Rs.100 crore for launching the ambitious programme. “The ideal number to begin with would be 50 such laboratories to make some impact across the country in the next five years time. We are looking for at least 20 to be sanctioned by the Planning Commission when they announce the final allocation for the next five year plan period,” sources said.

“Effective management of the issues on spurious drugs lies with the Drug Regulatory Agencies at the Centre and in the States. The menace of spurious drugs would be checked by providing mobile drug testing laboratories,” according to the proposal.

For one year, it would cost around Rs.1 crore per year for the van, equipments, reagents, chemicals and excluding the manpower. Thus the CDSCO has sought Rs.5 crore to run the mobile labs for a period of five year period.

The CDSCO also has approached the Planning Commission for Rs.320 crore to set up more central drug testing laboratories and upgrading the existing labs, with a view to doubling the quantum of samples tested every year.

The authorities are looking to set up eight new labs with a testing capacity of 10,000 drug samples every year by each of them. The CDSCO is looking for a financial support of Rs.320 crore to set up these labs and run for the next five years.