Karnataka drugs controller is aggressively working toward to increase the testing of number of drug samples by four times from the current 3,000 to 12,000. It has increased the number of posts in the enforcement teams and has now sent in a proposal to the state health and family welfare department to reorganise its enforcement wing in the wake of having created new additional posts.

There will be a total of 112 inspectors, 60 assistant drugs controllers and 13 deputy drugs controllers’ posts. Each inspector will be in-charge of about 300 to 350 licensees unlike the earlier 800 to 1,000 licenses. Similarly, in the case of assistant  drugs controllers (ADC) who function as delegated licensing authority (DLA) for sales establishments will have about 400 – 650 licensees and deputy drugs controllers (DDCs) will have a jurisdiction of about three to four circles (districts) compared to earlier six to eight circles (districts) to have better monitoring. “It will make the enforcement teams more focused and efficient. In this regard, we have requested the state health and family welfare department to look at reorganizing the entire enforcement wing of the department,” Dr BR Jagashetty, drugs controller, Government of Karnataka told Pharmabiz.

“As part of our efforts to increase the number of test samples which would help us to ensure quality drugs are marketed in the state, we have three drug test labs in Place. In addition, one biological lab and few mobile drugs testing labs are expected to be established during this year. Presently, all three drug test labs are  staffed with 113 junior chemists, 19 scientific officers and four chief scientific officers posts and it is being planned to take up the testing of drugs/cosmetics samples from other states also which is under active consideration by State government. Since the labs have been adequately infused with the qualified personnel, there is a pressing need to increase the inspectorate teams who are in-charge of picking of the drug samples from about 28,500 pharmacy outlets across the state. Therefore, a reorganization of the enforcement wing is mandated,” said Dr Jagashetty.

There are also likely promotions of officers from the inspector cadre and this will create vacancies which would also be filled up shortly, he added.

Further Dr Jagashetty informed that the department has started the short message service (SMS) with the help of State National Informatics Centre (NIC) to all stakeholders including all sales establishments about substandard quality of drugs/cosmetics declared by the three DTLs of State. It is also providing information on any important developments in the drugs control department including the ban of  drugs by government of India which will help the stakeholders and consumers to be aware of the such situations. The purpose is to transparency and accountability in the functioning of department.