Himachal lacking in drug inspectors

While the number of pharmaceutical companies in the process of setting up manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh is increasing day by day, experts say the regulatory infrastructure is grossly inadequate.

The state lacks regulatory requirements to check spurious drugs. According to sources, Himachal Pradesh has just 10 drug inspectors, much less than what regulatory requirements ask for.

In June 1982, the Centre appointed a task force, which suggested one drug inspector for 25 manufacturing units and one for 100 sales spots. Also, in August 2003, the ministry of health & family welfare, in its interim report, highlighted the issue.

The Mashelkar committee in 2005, after a "comprehensive examination of drug regulatory issues", projected the state as the pharma manufacturing hotspot, but said the state had skeleton staff.

Even in the Mashelkar committee report it was highlighted that the number of drug inspectors in the drugs control department of Himachal Pradesh was just 12.

Interestingly, Sher Singh, drugs controller, Himachal Pradesh, was unaware of the number of units operating in the state and asked for a week's time to give the data. He did not give any figures on the strength of his drug regulatory team in the state.

Sources say compared to this, states like Maharashtra had very stringent rules to check the manufacture of spurious drugs and the number of drug inspectors is about 170.

Since the announcement of the industrial package by the Centre in 2003 for Himachal Pradesh, the pace of industrialisation has increased to a great extent.