New Goa FDA office

On February 18, 2014, Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister, Goa, inaugurated Goa FDA’s new building in Bambolim. The ground floor caters to the food industry while the first floor is exclusively used by the drug industry. This facility has a provision for specific storage of confiscated and seized drugs as well as food. Drug inspectors draw samples from various places. As per the law, these samples need to be stored in a proper way till the test reports come. Controlled conditions have been ensured for the storage of these samples. These are some of the regulatory features of the new FDA building.

The building has key public-friendly features where one need not visit individual sections of FDA. All public-related services would be catered from main entrance lobby which has a cash counter, help desk, manned by senior food safety officer who will address all the issues. After the money is paid, the visitor will get an opportunity to deposit money at the counter itself. The receipt of all the delivery services in terms of licenses issued/renewed can be collected from there. This arrangement ensures the minimal disposal time.

Built over 3500 sq mts, the newly commissioned Goa FDA building is a blend of traditional Portuguese architecture with modern corporate facilities

There is a provision of waiting area. In order to maintain the facility in a better way adequate storage for files and file inventory system is organised in such a manner that files can be retrieved within five minutes. In the older facility space was an issue. The new building has been constructed keeping in mind the requirements for the next 25 years. This again helps in addressing public-related services. Also, there is a dedicated canteen facility.

Currently, Goa FDA has around 120-130 employees. The added advantage of the new building is that the testing laboratory is right opposite to the FDA facility. Samples drawn can be delivered to the laboratory within minutes. Goa FDA is looking at upgrading and strengthening the laboratory structure also. There are efforts to upgrade the microbiology section. Some improvements can be done in food testing as well.

A conference room has been set up which can accommodate around 85 people where awareness programmes can be held for both the pharma and the food industry. DCGI workshop was held on medical devices regulation on March 3-6, 2014. Around 60 drug inspectors from seven states participated where discussions were held to understand the medical requirements of medical devices.