The Kerala State Drugs Control Enforcement Officers Association (KSDCEOA) has urged the state government to urgently restructure the department of drugs control to check the menace of unethical practices occurring in the fields of production and distribution of drugs in the state.

The association, in its state meeting, stressed the necessity of strengthening the enforcement wing as it has felt that the regulatory mechanism in Kerala is currently not strong enough to control the drug distribution system and to implement the drugs and cosmetics act in its true spirit. The officers further urged the government to form a treatment protocol with priority on drug safety and wanted it to consider formation of a state drug policy.

The state meeting was convened mainly to observe the Drugs Safety Day (October 11) which was announced last year by KSDCEOA. Only Kerala is celebrating a day for drugs safety, and that too started recently. The state branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also joined the enforcement officers to celebrate the day this year.

While participating in the panel discussion, Dr K Krishnakumar, general secretary of Kerala Pharmaceutical Graduates  Association (KPGA) highlighted the need for strengthening the community pharmacy and patient counseling in a more professional way by giving importance to pharmacy practice.

Concerned about the quality side of the drugs marketed in Kerala, S.S.Venkita Krishnan, former drugs controller and advisor to WHO, said stringent measures are needed to ascertain the quality of the drugs marketed and the expansion of drugs control department is a need of the hour.

Dr.KG Revikumar, director of  Kerala Institute of Drugs Studies (KIDS) emphasized the need for a registry of drugs marketed in the state. He said a professional management of community pharmacies with the  involvement of registered pharmacists has to be emerged.

Later while speaking to Pharmabiz, he said a proposal for the expansion of the drugs control department submitted by the association in 2009 is still with the government without any action on it. He reiterated the demand of the association that Pharma Parks should be started in the undeveloped districts of Wynadu and Idukki for manufacturing a minimum of 10% of the drugs required for the state.

According to him government should take steps to appoint  Pharm D personnel in major government hospitals as clinical pharmacists to ensure drug safety. A proposal in this regard would be submitted to the authorities soon. Professionals from industry, research centres, trade wings and academicians from pharmacy colleges were also present in the meeting.