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To ensure quality of drugs, the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) is in the process of recruiting 147 drug inspectors which will enhance inspections of manufacturing units in line with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is likely to submit the list of selected candidates to the Union health ministry to initiate the process for the appointments soon, says a senior CDSCO official.
CDSCO had in the past started deputing drug inspectors as observers to carry out joint inspections on an event of inspection from an international regulator. The exercise done in coordination with state drug regulators was meant to monitor manufacturing plants on GMPs and equip drug inspectors on enforcing its compliance across the country. Following which, around 80 drug inspectors have been recruited at the CDSCO in 2014.
Talking about the increasing global requirement for evolving regulatory compliance in regulated and unregulated markets, an official stressed on the need for uniformity of GMP inspections for supplying quality drugs globally.
Countries globally are concerned about safety and efficacy of medicines to be supplied for the sake of patient safety The practice of deputing drug inspectors as observers through joint inspections has been able to help draw suggestions from our global regulatory counterparts on continuing good manufacturing practices. It will help manufacturers in adopting global practices followed in other countries where our medicines are consumed. Similar kinds of inspections have also been carried from India to other importing countries for the sake of ensuring quality and consistency.
CDSCO expects to double the manpower and enhance the lab infrastructure both at the Centre and states by the end of 2017.
A total of additional 1195 posts were sanctioned for the upgradation of manpower and labs under the 12th five year plan.
Central government has also allocated Rs. 900 crore for enhancing manpower and capacities of minilabs at port offices and mobile labs at CDSCO level.
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