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In a significant move to elevate standards in the retail pharmaceutical sector, Tripura's Drug Control Department has launched an orientation training programme (OTP) for pharmacists and retail chemists.
This initiative is meticulously designed to equip pharmacists and other qualified personnel with crucial knowledge in regulatory compliance, safe medicine handling, and ethical dispensing. This includes ensuring strict adherence to existing drug regulations and promoting best practices for the storage, management, and distribution of pharmaceutical products, said Kanchan Sinha, state drug controller.
The DC emphasized that the programme will bolster the professionalism and competence of those handling medicines in retail, thereby enhancing public safety and health.
Under Sinha's leadership, the department has proactively embraced digital tools to enhance drug act enforcement, aligning with global trends. A key development is the publication of "Sampling of Drugs - Handbook for Drug Regulators," a comprehensive guide providing clear guidelines for drug sampling, ensuring accurate interpretation and application of the law. Furthermore, a tablet-based inspection system has been implemented, empowering inspecting officers to conduct real-time, data-driven inspections and instantly document findings, which significantly improves efficiency and transparency.
To actively combat the misuse of narcotic drugs, the department has implemented rigorous measures, specifically targeting substances like codeine-based cough syrups, tapentadol tablets, and BD syringes. This includes specialized inspections of restricted license premises to curb antibiotic misuse. Beyond inspections, stringent actions, including license cancellations for violations of drug laws and regulations, have been imposed. These concerted efforts have been highly effective, leading to a significant reduction in the number of restricted licensed premises to a two-digit figure.
Complementing these enforcement efforts, the State Drugs Testing Laboratory (SDTL) in Agartala has undergone substantial modernization to bolster its drug testing capabilities. The upgrade includes the installation of advanced testing instruments and the establishment of a dedicated Microbiology Section, considerably broadening the scope of testing. As a testament to these improvements, the laboratory successfully tested an impressive 2809 drug samples in 2024, significantly exceeding its initial target of 1,000 samples per year. A new 4,000 sq. ft. building for the SDTL is also under construction to accommodate growing operational demands and future expansion, Sinha told Pharmabiz.
As regards availability and prices of drugs, she said, the Tripura Pharmaceutical Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU), operating under the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, plays a crucial role in monitoring the prices and availability of pharmaceutical products to ensure public accessibility. Notably, the Tripura PMRU has been recognized as the best-performing PMRU in its category for two consecutive financial years, 2022–23 and 2023–24. This prestigious acknowledgment underscores the department's unwavering commitment to transparency and its highly efficient implementation of pricing policies.
According to stakeholders of the pharmaceutical sector, Kanchana Sinha has been a pivotal force in driving groundbreaking improvements within Tripura's Drugs Control Administration, making lasting contributions to the state's regulatory landscape by modernizing the administration and fostering public health initiatives. Beyond her official capacity, Sinha has demonstrated her commitment to a safe and respectful work environment by serving as the Chairperson of the Internal Complaints Committee on sexual harassment within the Department of Health and Family Welfare for the last 15 years. She serves as the President of the Tripura Drug Control Officers Association, championing the welfare and professional development of drug control officers statewide, and is the vice-president of the Drug Control Officers (DCO India) Welfare Association.
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