Drug Trade In Odisha Afflicted With Poor Regulation

Chennai, 6 March 2019: The field of pharmaceutical trade in the state of Odisha is afflicted with poor regulation, thanks to the state drug control administration's failure in scaling up enforcement activities even when chances for infiltration are there from five neighbouring states.

It is alleged that the major challenge the DC department now faces is its acute shortage of manpower which makes difficult for proper enforcement and regulatory activities in the entire state.

Lack of experienced and efficient controlling authorities and shortage of regulatory officers are alleged to be the reasons for the weak drug control administration mechanism in the state. The emerging pharmacist community is waiting for a capable monitoring system for the drug distribution system in Odisha. Pharmacy intellectuals too comment that the state drug control mechanism is incapable and inefficient.

"The enforcement wing in Odisha is an inadequately staffed department, of which the government has no interest to strengthen its activities. They consider it as a small department under the health department. Since there is no supervision from higher level officers, the drug inspectors often avoid inspections in the wholesale and retail premises. This leads to corruption, malpractices and illegal medicine sales. So, the pharma traders in the state are free to do their business," said an officer of the department in anonymity.

Briefing Pharmabiz about the weak administration of the DCA, he said the regulatory agency has no uniform system in the distribution of work to the drug inspectors. There are inspectors with 100 to 700 medical shops under their jurisdictions. Most often, many of the inspectors are unable to carry out the inspection work assigned to them. Odisha has 30 revenue districts, but enforcement of drug laws is done by 42 inspectors. Out of the total four ADCs, one is deputed to the state medical corporation and another one is working in the testing lab. The other two, Haramohan Mohanty and Sunil Kumar Nayak, are working in the headquarters office. No ADC has been posted in either of the four zones.

Despite several suggestions given to the DC-in-charge by the regulatory officials, the controlling authority is not showing any interest to submit a proposal to the government for the development of the department, said the officer.

The government's lackadaisical attitude in strengthening the state's drugs control administration is evident from the appointment of a junior level deputy drugs controller to the post of DC-in-charge when two senior officers are in the office. There is allegation that influence in government and in political parties can help junior staff to hold senior level posts in the DCA in Odisha, he added. Pharmabiz