For a permanent solution to the issue of recalling expired drugs from retailers and stockists, the drugs control department of Tamil Nadu has put forward a comprehensive suggestion to the government of India.

The new director of the department in Tamil Nadu, M Selvaraj, has drafted the proposal and submitted in the drugs consultative committee held in New Delhi in the second week of this month.  Taking note of his suggestion, the department of pharmaceuticals has formed a committee to study the proposal, the director told Pharmabiz.

According to his proposal, there should be a provision in the Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for recalling the expired drugs from retailers and wholesalers. Such a provision should be incorporated in the Act. So the Act has to be amended.

He suggested that the expired drugs should be recalled from the shops by the manufacturers and a time-frame proposing a period of maximum days to keep the drugs with the sellers, be fixed.  He said that as of now, there is no procedure for the recall of the expired drugs by the manufacturers.

His further suggestion includes that sampling procedure for the blood units and blood bank components may be evolved so as to enable the state drug inspectors to inspect the units and collect samples.

Regarding new initiatives in the department, Selvaraj said internet communication facility has been established in all the 13 zones in the state. From next month onwards, all the communications in the department will be carried out through online.