In order to ensure consistent supply of quality drugs, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFDA) is planning to upgrade the drug testing infrastructure in the state besides strengthening the manpower.

A tender of Rs.30 crore has recently been floated for procuring lab testing equipment for upgradation of labs in the state. There are currently 5 testing labs located at Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Agra, Varanasi and Lucknow. The state testing lab at Lucknow is the only lab which currently analyses drug samples. An amount of Rs.1.75 crore for building expansion at Lucknow testing lab has also been allocated.

According to an official, "Though the state has made progress in analysing around 1500 to 2000 samples in a month from its Lucknow based testing lab from the earlier 1000 samples tested annually, upgradation of labs is required as we already have in place a team of well trained 60 analysts."

The need for upgrading infrastructure has been realised considering the fact that there are currently four testing labs at Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Agra and Varanasi where testing of food products is done. The state FDA is in the process of procuring lab testing equipment for analysing the quality of drugs. Only the lab based in Lucknow has drug testing infrastructure to a certain optimum level which also need further upgradation.

To enforce compliance with Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, out of around 104 posts sanctioned in the state, there are also plans to recruit 14 more drug inspectors. The state currently has 70 drug inspectors to inspect over one lakh drug retail stores in the state. This also includes inspections of 500 manufacturing units and 300 plus blood banks in the state. According to Hathi Committee, there is a need for one drug inspector to properly inspect 200 retail drug stores.

Based on the inspections conducted for the year 2013-14, a total of 33 FIRs and 51 arrests have been made and drugs worth over 29 lacs were seized by UPFDA for non -compliance to Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Drugs included physician sample drugs, narcotic drugs and habit forming drugs. The offenders were booked under sections 274, 275, 276, 419, 420 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 18 and 27 of Drugs & Cosmetics Act.

Narcotic and Psychotropic substances are covered under Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules thereunder, except the 15 covered under Schedule X. Schedule X comprises of 15 Drugs currently as compared to 17 earlier. Schedule H of the drug and cosmetics act contains a list of 536 drugs which are required to be dispensed on the prescriptions of a registered medical practitioner.