Odisha govts cadre rule for drug controller annoys senior regulatory officers

Bhuwaneshwar, March 14, 2022:

The cadre rule created by the government of Odisha for the post of Drug Controller becomes a bottleneck for the senior regulatory officers who are now feeling hassled and annoyed as they find it is onerous to reach upto the topmost post, it is learnt.

Senior officers feel that this cadre rule is redundant and unwanted as one officer becomes the drug controller after a minimum period of 30 or 32 years in service. With this experience, he becomes efficient and capable in managing and directing the department. The cadre rule is created not as per provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act although the government has the discretionary power to frame rules time and again.

This new cadre rule, implemented in 2021, envisages greater efficiency in the administrative mechanism with creation of many posts of senior level officers in the drugs control department. The government has created a post of ‘drug controller’ in the rank of selection grade officer whose status is equal to directors of DHS, DPH and DPW (director of family welfare).
 
As per the qualification requirements, a candidate for selection of DC must have one year experience in working as joint drug controller (JDC) in addition to a post graduate degree in pharmaceutical sciences. Some of the senior officers are having post graduation and above, but majority of the regulatory officers are graduates. Those who aspire to reach the highest level have now started to pursue PG programmes in some universities. But, again they have to work as JDC for one year to become the DC or director of the drugs control administration.

While speaking to Pharmabiz, a senior officer said in anonymity that this cadre rule is not actually required to appoint a DC in the rank of a director as everyone will have more than 30 years experience at the time they become a JDC. He said even the post of JDC was also recently created and now the department has 3 JDCs, out of which two are in deputation.
 
Currently, the post of drug controller is occupied by Subodh Kumar Nayak who is only a joint drug controller and he has to continue in the same rank six months more to complete the prescribed term to become eligible for drug controller. Till last year he was working as a deputy drug controller at the headquarters office. Foreseeing the post of DC, he completed his post graduation a few years ago. He said until he becomes the regular DC with full charge of the department, he will not speak to the media or divulge any news related to the department.
 
According to information received from the DCA, Annda Krishna Das was the last drug controller before implementing the cadre rule. While Das was in power, he made a proposal to the government with creation of the post of drug controller which was accorded by the government in December 2020 and introduced the rule in 2021.
 
As per provisions of the drugs and cosmetics act, there can be a controlling authority and a licensing authority in the department of drugs control administration. The act does not mention the word, drug controller with any specific power. It is the decision of a government to create the post of director or commissioner or drug controller in the rank of director, comment retired DCOs. Pharmabiz