The absence of a state licensing authority (SLA) in the drug control department of Pondicherry for the last two and a half months has put the pharma manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers of pharma products in a serious dilemma.

Since no fresh licence is issued, and the existing licences are not renewed on expiry, the total operation of the pharma industry has come to a standstill. The most worried lot is the exporters who are unable to get their papers cleared including product clearances. The situation has seriously affected the exports of pharma products from the union territory to other countries, sources in the industry said.

According to information received, the SLA, who was also in charge of the controlling authority (CA), was suspended in April this year following a CBI case. But even after two months, the government has not appointed an officer in that place, it is learnt.

While speaking to Pharmabiz, an industry source said that the SLA’s absence withdraws the manufacturers from attending tender procedures for marketing medicines to other states and also within the territory. They are not getting approvals for additional product endorsement. Even though the situation is very critical and several requests have been made to the government by the industry associations, no positive step has been taken by the authorities so far to appoint an SLA, the source added.

“The post of SLA is very important and the absence of SLA is a serious issue as far as the industry is concerned. We have met the chief minister who holds the health portfolio also and represented our grievances. Representations were also given to the health secretary and apprised him of the crucial situation we are facing. Though we were informed that a new officer would be appointed soon, till date no step was taken by the government,” said a manufacturer. In the traders’ side, no new medical shop is opened in the state as no licences are being issued.

Even though the problems in the industry are very critical, the associations of manufacturers and traders are afraid of revealing their issues to the media for fear of government officials. Since the members of the pharma associations are small in number, no serious organisational activity or follow up action is held among them.