TN DCA launches WhatsApp helpline number to register complaints
Chennai, March 25, 2023 :
The drug control department in Tamil Nadu has launched a WhatsApp Helpline Number to receive complaints from all stakeholders in pharma and medical field.
This facility is as part of the Online Grievance Redressal System of the government and it will be available 24 hours.
WhatsApp is connected to the monitor of a computer in the office and a senior official at the headquarters office has been specially assigned to check the messages every one minute. So far, 25,000 messages of complaints/grievances were received on the number which is 9445865400.
“From now on anybody can post their complaints on the WhatsApp number which will be checked at the headquarters. No need for sending emails, even for licence problems. As soon as the message arrives on WhatsApp it will be forwarded to the concerned office under the department for speedy action. Requests for renewal of licence can also be shared with the WhatsApp”, said M Vijayalakshmi, director of the drugs control administration.
The director said her office had earlier made a proposal to the government to start a WhatsApp Complaint Cell to receive complaints/suggestions from the public and it has been approved by the government.
It was in 2011 the department launched an online facility to provide better and quick services to the people and to the industry when M Bhaskaran was the director of the department. Later in 2011, with a view to make the administration more people-friendly, the then director Dr G Selvaraju initiated the process of complete computerization in the department with online communication facilities in all the ADCs and drug inspectors’ offices in the state. His efforts had helped to establish transparency and speed in the functioning of the offices.
However, the overall development of the drug control department happened when M Sivabalan became the director in July 2017. He was instrumental in bringing up the department more efficiently with the creation of 10 more zonal offices in 2021. Currently, the TN DCA has 24 zonal offices. Simultaneously, the government had approved his proposal for increasing the number of ADCs and drug inspectors.
Now the WhatsApp facility has been introduced by the current director PV Vijayalakshmi who became the director in July this year. She is trying her level best to strengthen the department and one of her reforms is the WhatsApp complaint cell. But she is retiring on March 31 this year, sources from the department informed. Pharmabiz