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Drug units suffer as controller post lies vacant

CUTTACK: The post of State Drugs Controller lying vacant for the last two months has put Orissa pharmaceutical manufacturers in some deep trouble. The Utkal Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (UPMA) has expressed concern over the fact saying that many drug units in the State are now on the verge of closure while many others have been idle for last two months without any work.

Speaking to newsmen here recently, the UPMA members pointed out that in absence of drug controller, who is the only licensing authority, the drug unit are unable to obtain fresh license or renew their existing license.

“Following the amendment of Drugs and Cosmetics Act-1948 in 2004 we had to go for the mandatory modernization of our units by pumping in huge investments. But now our units are idle as a result we are incurring a loss of some Rs 1.5 lakhs every month towards the interests of the credits availed,” said the UPMA general secretary Mihir Kanungo.

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister for immediate appointment of Drugs Controller, the UPMA apprehends that fake drugs would start pouring into the State while the State drug manufacturers sit idle.

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