PSRC urges govt to remove experience criteria in recruitment rules for assistant drug inspectors in central services

June 22, 2023

Following the draft notification issued by the Union health ministry for amendment of recruitment rules for Assistant Drug Inspectors (ADIs) in CDSCO offices, the Pharmacy Students Rights Committee (PSRC) centered in Aurangabad district in Maharashtra has called upon the Union government to remove the experience criteria mentioned in the draft as it will do away with the opportunities of fresh pharmacy graduates to grab positions in central services.

The PSRC chairman, Rushikesh Sapkal, in a letter to the Union health minister and to the secretary of health and family welfare, has stated that the experience part of the candidate is mandated under Rule 49 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and not in the D&C Act. Since it is a rule and not a provision of the Act, it can be amended for the benefit of fresh pharmacy graduates. He argues that the rule mandates the academic qualification and experience of an inspector to inspect Schedule C drugs, but it does not apply to assistant drug inspectors for medical devices.  
 
For amendment of the recruitment rules for ADIs in the central standard drug control organization, the health ministry issued the draft notification on June 8 this year. The ministry has also invited suggestions and comments from the public on the proposed amendment and 30 days have been given.
 
Further, Sapkal has argued in the letter that many states in the country have already removed experience criteria for various posts such as drug inspectors, pharmacy officers, etc. The states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Sikkim are on the path of amending the rules to abolish the experience criteria. However, he said, the criteria can be applied in the case of SC-ST candidates provided there is a shortage of qualified persons to fill up their quota.
 
Secondly, the PSRC demands the union health ministry increase the age limit of the candidates to 35 from the declared limit of 30 years. From the government's part, the health ministry should convey proposals to the union public services commission to amend the age limit criteria for the sake of the unemployed pharmacy graduates. He said a lot of B Pharm, M Pharm, and Pharm D graduates are remaining unemployed for years in India. He stressed that this phenomenon happens partly because of the age criteria also. Sapkal said he will meet a group of parliament members from Maharashtra to emphasize on his demand on behalf of the pharmacy graduates in India.

PSRC has forwarded a copy of the letter to the president of the Pharmacy Council of India seeking a favorable approach toward pharmacy graduates. According to him, the PCI can also advise the health ministry and the UPSC to address these issues.
 
While talking to Pharmabiz, the chairman of the pharmacy student’s rights committee alleged that in all the central services and most of the state services, fresh graduates are getting little chances, and most of the posts are snatched away by working professionals. In the name of experience, several influential people working in many sectors including the government sector are gaining new key positions by doing away with the chances of fresh graduates.

PHARMABIZ.com