Gujarat FDCA — Partnering progress

When the discussion is about state-wise development, Gujarat cannot go unmentioned. Its progress has been due to the result of the growth achieved by its key sectors. The pharmaceutical sector has been the key contributor and Gujarat FDCA has played a significant role in making it attractive and lucrative. It has earned and set a benchmark for other FDA offices in India in terms of complying with regulations. One of its key developments, which has been followed by other states, mainly Karnataka and Maharashtra, is e-governance. These states have successfully implemented e-governance and Gujarat FDCA is also considering to enhance it further and share it with other FDA offices.

Since 1960

Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Gujarat came into existence on May 1, 1960 after separation of Gujarat State from Greater Bombay State with BV Patel as the first director. DCA, Gujarat was entrusted with the implementation of Drugs and Cosmetics Act – 1940 & Rules 1945 and Drugs Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act – 1954. Patel played a vital role in establishing the well defined administrative structure, policies and procedures of DCA, Gujarat. He seeded the present culture of this department – industry friendly, prompt and strict action against law breakers. He also took the initiative to establish a state-of-the-art drug laboratory equipped with latest equipment at Vadodara. BV Patel Pharmaceutical Education and Research Centre was inaugurated in Ahmedabad in October 1990 in his memory. He is the only government officer whose name has been associated with such an institute.

SC Shah, MR Sharshtri, BM Patel and Dr MA Patel as the directors of DCA, Gujarat. During the tenure of MA Patel, Director of DCA, Gujarat, considering the performance of DCA, Gujarat, the Government of Gujarat shouldered one more responsibility by implementing “Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954” (PFA). The department was renamed as “Food & Drugs Control Administration” (FDCA) in December 5, 1979.

MA Patel became the first Director of FDCA, Gujarat. A separate wing of food inspectors and senior food inspectors was formed at all circle offices and head offices for the implementation of PFA. Later on, the post of director of FDCA was upgraded to commissioner of FDCA and MA Patel became the first commissioner of FDCA with effect from December 20, 1985. Dr MA Patel was followed by AG Shah, GR Bhagat, Dr SP Adeshara, Mona Khandhar, (IAS), S Murlikrishna, (IAS) and Dr Hemant G Koshia as Commissioners of FDCA, Gujarat.

Since January 22, 2009, Hemant G Koshia is the Commissioner, FDCA, Gujarat.

Testing laboratories

Gujarat has its Food and Drug Laboratory (FDL) located in Vadodara, which is the first National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited Government laboratory in the country. In addition to FDL, Vadodara, FDCA has two other food laboratories for testing food samples, one at Rajkot and the other at Bhuj. FDCA is also setting up one more state-of-the-art Food and Drug Laboratory at Dethli, in Patan district of north Gujarat. This new FDL laboratory has been planned with the latest designs as per good laboratory practice (GLP) norms and has the latest equipment and instruments. Constant upgradation of facilities and equipment in laboratories have been on the priority list of FDCA, Gujarat.

e-Governance

FDCA, Gujarat makes optimum use of information technology for achieving excellence in performance. It is the first state to initiate online software for sales and manufacturing licenses.

Awareness programmes

Apart from its routine activities, the state FDCA has moved one step ahead and formulated various programmes.

• Commissioner FDCA and other senior level officers periodically give informative programmes, interviews / demonstration of testing kits on Doordarshan, other television channels and in All India Radio.
• An informative and educative presentation, Drug – ‘Dev’ or Devil, depends on how you consume, was prepared by the headoffice and has been sent to all circle offices for periodically arranging awareness programmes at various schools and colleges and to educate and sensitise youngsters regarding the misuse of drugs.
• Two exhibition vans and one sample testing van are equipped with necessary equipment, testing kits, exhibition materials and audio-visual displays etc.
• The details of sample declared as “Not of Standard Quality” (NSQ) is sent through SMS to all retailers, wholesalers, district health officers (DHO), PHC / CHC, CMSO and State Drugs Controllers of India. SMSs are sent by the Asst Commissioner (IB) from the head office.

Example of NSQ Alert message : FDCA-GJ Alert: LOPRO

TABLETS Batch:LP-03 Mfg:04-2011,Exp:03-2014 Mfg by: DANISH LABORATORIES declared SUBSTANDARD, STOP USE/ SALE/ DISTRIBUTION, RECALL URGENTLY

This is the first ever initiative taken by any Drugs Controller to ensure effective recall of such NSQ medicines.