Even though three years have elapsed, the State Government is yet to implement the Justice AS Naidu Commission’s recommendations for increasing drug sample tests and restricting sale of certain homoeopathic medicines.
The commission set up after 2012 hooch-drug tragedy in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar had recommended the Government to conduct at least 10,000 drug sample tests at the State-run drug test laboratory. It had also suggested that homeopathic store should not be allowed to sell vials containing more than 30 milligram liquid medications. For this, drug inspectors were required to inspect each homeopathic medicine storoe twice a month as per the report. However, no step has been taken as yet, sources said.
Currently, about 3,500 drug sample tests are being conducted per year in the State.
A total of 18,000 medicine stores are now operating across the State and they are transacting business worth around Rs2,000 crore every year. About 3,000 varieties of medicines manufactured by various companies are being sold in the State now, sources added.
For the last time, the capacity of the drug test laboratory had been increased to 3,500 from 1,500 in the year 2010. However, no further step has been taken since 2010 to raise its capacity to test the drug samples, sources said. Only 41 drug inspectors have been appointed to conduct the test.
As per the official record, out of 10,131 drug samples tested, 141 were not-of-standard quality (NSQ) drugs. The Government had served notice to 15 drug firms for supplying sub-standard medicines and asked three companies to refund Rs23.21 lakh.
Notably, the then state Excise Minister AU Singhdeo had resigned from his post following the hooch tragedy in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar that left 30 dead in the year 2012. The Government had removed the then Drug Controller for the incident.