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KSRPO urges govt to merge Central & state drug enforcement agencies to bring in efficiency & workforce optimisation
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Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru
July 22 , 2021
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The Karnataka State Registered Pharmacists Organisation (KSRPO) has recommended to the Union government to merge all the state drugs control departments with a single department coming under the purview of the Central government. This, according to KSRPO, will prevent duplication of work and also optimize the workforce in the departments.
In a communication to the Union government, Ashokswamy Heroor, president, KSRPO noted that the laws are jointly enforced by the Central and the state governments which have resulted in a chaos. Justice is not done by either department with responsibilities not clearly defined, he added.
While the Central Drugs and Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is implementing the standards according to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act & Rules, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is enforcing the price control. The need of the hour is to centralize all enforcement of drug rules and entrust them to one department under the purview of the Central government, said Heroor.
Investigation of interstate offences like spurious and substandard drug manufacturing is also affected. Here, the KSRPO is of the opinion that States do not have the jurisdiction beyond the taluk or district of their placement. They cannot take action beyond their jurisdiction. Knowing this lacunae fully well, the spurious drug manufacturers sell their products in other states to avoid prosecution, he noted.
If such matters are referred to the respective state drugs control departments for further investigation and necessary legal measures, no action is taken. Some States openly support such offenders operating in their jurisdiction. They do not cooperate with the other state drug inspectors in collecting criminal evidence. The situation with some departments of the central government is no better. Without getting evidence from the manufacturing states, offence under DPCO (Drugs Price Control Order) cannot be made out, he said.
While an irrational combination fails to get a license in one state, it may succeed in a neighbouring state. Further, among the States too, there is no uniform yardstick to take action against offenders. Due to these shortcomings in the existing set-up, the enforcement of the drug rules have become difficult. The only remedy is to centralize all enforcement of drug rules and entrust it to one department under the purview of the Central government, stated the KSRPO president.
Further, it will reduce the duplication of staff and work and thereby save crores of rupees to the central exchequer. Besides, there will be effective and meaningful implementation of all rules and protects the public health. Various high powered committees have agreed to these proposals, stated Heroor.
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