Karnataka drugs control department which is still facing a shortage of drugs inspectors has shown its mettle in seizing a quack prescribing drugs without license in Bellary.

Following this, the department is now hoping that the state government would help to fill up the required vacancies of drug inspectors at the earliest.

There is need for more drug inspectors to strengthen the enforcement wing. Presently, the department has 49 inspectors whereas the sanctioned posts are 62. There is a shortfall of 13 inspectors in the sanctioned posts. Of course there is need for an additional 100 inspectors as the total capacity for the enforcement wing is 162, Raghurama Bhandary, Karnataka drugs controller told Pharmabiz.

“If the hiring of the drugs inspectors is complete it would be easier for us to organise faster checks-audits of pharmacy outlets, drug production units and to help generate faster test reports,” he added.

However, with the current available inspectorate force, the team in Bellary district recently nabbed a practising quack. “Our inspectors have seized drugs from an unqualified doctor and filed prosecution against the accused. Now the Court has convicted the accused. This offence comes under Section 18 c and 18 A of the D&C Act. The accused will now be imprisoned for one year a with penalty of Rs.5,000, said the Karnataka drugs controller.

“Medical practices without the required qualifications is a violation and a criminal offence. The presence of unregistered and unqualified medical practitioners pose a danger to the health of the people. Further, these unscrupulous and illegal medical practitioners have been the cause of many fatalities too,” pointed out drugs controller Bhandary.

It is also learnt that the Karnataka health and family welfare principal secretary Madan Gopal lauded the effort of the State drugs control officials as quackery is rampant in not just in the metros but is seen to be a thriving practice for many unqualified persons in the districts. “We need to curb the menace of quackery and end the pilferage of unregistered medical practitioners,” said Bhandary.

Moving away from the issue of offences, Karnataka drugs controller Bhandary said that the state is a key hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing valued at Rs.12,000 crore of which Rs.6,000 crore is exported. The state is home to production of all categories of drugs covering from simple anti-pyrectics to advanced biologicals, recombinant DNAs besides sophisticated sutures and medical devices like cardiac stents. Moreover, Karnataka is a key producer and supplier of the Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine in the veterinary sector.

Of the 240 units, 40 units like Biocon, Micro Labs, Medriech and Strides Arcolab are doing well. There is also the presence of multinational companies including AstraZeneca India, and Novo Nordisk. Although small scale pharmaceutical manufactures find it demanding to succeed in competitive national and global environment, one must appreciate that Karnataka pharma records the highest adherence to good manufacturing practices (GMP), noted drugs controller Bhandary.