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 Swetha Savindra Desai, the newly appointed director of food and drugs administration in Goa has informed Pharmabiz that there is no need of risk-based inspections in Goa as all the companies are major players, and they are US FDA and MHRA approved. They are all complying with the norms of the Revised Schedule M.
The Government of Goa elevated the deputy director, Swetha S Desai, to the post of director-in-charge of the FDA on August 1, 2024. Swetha was working in the capacity of deputy director of the drug control administration till now.
On the lines of the industry, all the medical shops in the state are also fully compliant with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and the department has verified the presence of registered pharmacists in each medical shop during inspections, she added.
In a telephonic interview with Pharmabiz, the new drug controller, after assuming charge of her new assignment, said since there is no small or micro or any MSME unit operating in Goa, the risk-based inspections started by the CDSCO have no scope in the state. All the companies are fully complied with the provisions as per the new GMP and maintaining regulatory standards to ensure the pharmaceutical quality. The FDA can assure that the manufacturing processes of the companies meet the quality requirements, she said.
When asked about the industry details in Goa, the director said, including Ayush there are 70 pharma companies in the state, and the FDA controls the Ayush department also. The allopathic drug inspectors have been notified to inspect the Ayush facilities. Ninety percent of the companies are fully complying with the quality requirements, and there is not a single case of spurious or substandard drug.
As regards the pharma trade industry, she said there are 980 retail pharmacies and 380 wholesalers who are working in proper way by appointing registered pharmacists to dispense the drugs.
About the drug control administration, Swetha said the department has one director, two deputy directors, three assistant directors and ten drug inspectors.
Regarding her future plan, Swetha Desai said the department will ensure that whatever drugs are being supplied to the public will be efficacious. Swetha is a postgraduate in pharmacology from Goa College of Pharmacy.
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