After almost 15 years, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs and Administration (FDA) has appointed 63 drug inspectors across the state against a sanctioned strength of 161 new drug inspectors.

The state government had earlier sanctioned 161 posts of new drug inspectors across the state for better inspection of pharmacy outlets in the state and strict implementation of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act. But only 63 drug inspectors have been appointed so far, and 98 are still vacant. The posts had been lying vacant since 1997, which was the last time that recruitment of drug inspectors took place in the FDA.

Currently, there are 80 drug inspectors in the state which, sources said, is insufficient to man a big state like Maharashtra. Due to the lack of sufficient number of drug inspectors, there have been complaints of irregularities in the running of pharmacy outlets in the state.

Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, drug inspectors have to carry out routine checking of pharmacy outlets to prevent any irregularities being committed by them. They have to keep a check on pharmacy outlets that are being run by unqualified persons which will have serious consequences on the health of the patients as such unqualified pharmacists might give wrong drugs to the patients.

In Pune FDA office, three drug inspectors have been appointed against the 12 sanctioned posts of drug inspectors. For better vigilance and strict implementation of the Act, the Pune office needs more drug inspectors, sources said.

Of the 63 new inspectors, 12 have been appointed for overall Pune division comprising Pune, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts, but in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, the posts of drug inspectors are still vacant and these regions also are expecting appointments of drug inspectors in the near future.

With the appointment of new drug inspectors, who keep tabs on chemists shops, their licenses as well as looking into complaints of spurious or expired drugs being sold, the FDA which has begun a drive to identify chemists’ shops running without pharmacists’ licenses is expected to strengthen the drive considerably.