Routine inspections of retail pharmacies and wholesale establishments in Andhra Pradesh has come to a standstill especially in certain districts due to lack of adequate staff strength of drug inspectors, it is learnt.

The trade sources there said that as there are no proper inspections, anti-social elements could get into this business which may ultimately malign the dignity of the trading community as happened in Tamil Nadu some months ago.

Despite genuine efforts on the part of the drug control directorate to strengthen the drug control administration, the lethargic attitude of the state government is pushing the pharmaceutical trade and the public into dilemma. The drug control department is unable to conduct routine inspection of the pharmaceutical trade and blood bank units of the state because of the staff shortage..

While hailing the positive steps taken by the director general of DCA, the office-bearers of Andhra Pradesh Drug Traders Association said they will approach the Chief Minister and the state health ministry for an immediate solution to this burning issue. K P Renga Rao, Guntur district president of Andhra Pradesh Drug Traders Association said the lack of timely inspection in the retail shops is adversely affecting the trade which is causing hardships to the public.

The sources said that the drug control department has sent one proposal to the government raising the number of drug inspectors from the existing number of 24 to 130 and the proposal has been accepted by the government. The government also directed the state public service commission to go ahead with the selection process. Officials in the DCA said that before the end of this year all the vacancies will be filled up.

But the members of the trading community are of opinion that it is unlikely to complete the process of recruitment of drug inspectors within next three months as the PSC is yet to start the process of selection.

In certain districts, the duties of drug inspectors are carried out by ADCs who are the district heads of the drug control administration. Apart from issuance of licenses, they have to do the inspection work also. There are some districts which have only one ADC to look after the duties of both ADCs and drug inspectors. Only a few districts have one ADC and one or two inspectors. In Guntur district, where about 3000 retail pharmacies are working, there is only one drug inspector in Thenali area. The ADC of Guntur, L A Govindam, who is the district in charge of drug administration said there are two vacancies of drug inspectors in his district, in Guntur city and in Narasaraopet.

The number of revenue districts in Andhra Pradesh is 23. In three districts, three ADCs are working with additional charges of drug inspectors due to staff shortage.

Earlier in an interview with Pharmabiz, the director general of drugs control administration, R P Meena, said that he had increased the number of drug inspectors and ADCs for the smooth running of the department. Even though, he recommended for more drug inspectors and other staff, the government has not sanctioned the posts, according to a reliable source. If his proposal is implemented, the department will get sufficient number of drug inspectors.

There are 50,000 medical shops, 2200 manufacturing companies, 233 blood banks and an equal number of blood storage centres in the state. Besides, a host of cosmetic manufacturing companies are also operating in various parts of Andhra. As per the recommendations of the Mashelkar Committee report, the state will require a minimum of 500 drug inspectors to look after half a lakh retail pharmacies alone. The committee report also stated that there should be one drug inspector for one hundred medical shops and one inspector for 25 manufacturing units.