The department of drugs control administration in Tamil Nadu (TNDCA) has put a mega project proposal at the drugs consultative committee (DCC) meeting held in New Delhi last week.

The proposals include one analytical laboratory in Madurai, three assistant drug controller (ADC) office buildings and recruitment of 64 drug inspectors to strengthen the state enforcement agency.

On returning from New Delhi, M. Abdul Khader, the director of the DCA, said the central government wants to bolster the total drug regulatory systems in the country, for which Rs. 1700 crore have been allotted. Out of this, Rs. 950 crore will be spent for the development of the central agency, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Rs. 750 crore will be disbursed to states for strengthening the DC departments in each state.

The major proposal Khader has given to the central government is for constructing one drug testing laboratory in Madurai. He has submitted a project of Rs. 43 crore including the lab estimate. He said the government has orally agreed to sanction the amount and the Madurai Lab will be constructed in the 12th five year plan itself.

Besides, the DC has suggested for constructing three office buildings for ADCs, one each in Madurai, Salem and Trichy. Currently, the ADC offices in these places are functioning in rented buildings.

Another burning issue raised for immediate solution is recruitment of additional drug inspector posts. The department has at present 146 drug inspectors. Besides the workload, there are complaints from certain quarters that with limited number of regulatory staff, the regulatory body is struggling to conduct inspections at retail stores, wholesale premises and manufacturing companies. Abdul Khader said sanction is required from DCGI to recruit additional staff under the project sanctioned by the central government. After five years, state government will take over the responsibility.

Similarly, at the DCC meeting, the state regulator has sought the sanction of the DCGI for issuing sale licence through online. Khader said online issuance of licensing will be introduced in the state soon.

While talking to Pharmabiz, B. Hariprasad, the drugs controller in Kerala, said that he has put a project of Rs. 33 crore at the DCC meeting including the proposal for three analytical labs, one in Kozhikodu, one in Thrissur and another one in Pathanamthitta. He said there was no additional proposal from Kerala as there is no deficiency of any infrastructure facility at present in the DC department of the state.