Last Updated on January 26, 2024 by The Health Master
All India Drugs Control Officers’ Confederation (AIDCOC) has made a representation to J&K Govt requesting to notify Drugs Inspector as Gazetted Officers and to address the Disparity in their pay structure of Drugs Inspector in the state of J&K.
Dr. Jayanta Kr. Chaudhury, AIDCOC President has told that they have pointed out the following points regarding the qualification and working of drugs Inspectors while representing to the Govt of J&K requesting to notify Drugs Inspector as Gazetted Officers and to address the Disparity in their pay structure of Drugs Inspector in the state of J&K:
The Drug Inspectors have been appointed and have reasonable powers clearly defined to implement the Provisions and Rules under Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 1995 issued by the government under the Essential Commodities Act (EC Act), Drugs and Magic Remedies Act (DMROA) 1954 & Rules and Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 (NDPS), equally extended to the Union of India, including the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Drug Inspectors (both Central and State) are empowered by the law to audit various Manufacturing & Testing facilities of Allopathic drugs, Vaccine & Sera, Medical Devices, Medical Oxygen, Cosmetics, Blood Banks & CROs and inspections of more than 8 Lakh retail and wholesale pharmacies across the country. Thereby the Drug Inspectors in the country are constantly thriving to ensure safety, efficacy and quality of medical products manufactured, imported & distributed in the country to ensure the safety, rights, and wellbeing of the patients.
Also read:
AIDCOC sets up training centre in Hyderabad
AIDCOC Intervention: Sikkim cancels Ad. for drug inspectors
The Qualifications of Inspectors as per Drugs & Cosmetics Act (U/Rule 49) is Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences or Medicine with specialization in Clinical Pharmacology or Microbiology” From this, it may be noticed that the degree in Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences is treated on par with specialization obtained after Medical degree in general (in other words MBBS).
The Drugs Inspectors are entry level officers in the Directorate of Drugs Control like Assistant surgeons who are the entry level officers in other health departments like Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Department of Medical and Rural Health Services and Directorate of Family Welfare.
However, there is a disparity in the recognition of Drugs Inspector in the Union Territory of J&K with respect to their cadre and pay structure and they have not been treated on par with that sanctioned / fixed to a medical graduate in other words MBBS.
There was a serious discrepancy even between the Drugs Inspectors and Food Inspectors in J&K, both are working under same department and controlled by same administrative head, though the eligibility criteria for Drugs Inspectors is a professional course (B.Pharmacy) unlike a non-technical course for Food inspectors i.e. graduation in science stream with a certificate course in food technology.
Drugs Inspectors of the J&K are NOT notified as Gazetted officers and hence they are unable to implement Drug Price Control order & the provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act 1955 in the U.T.
It may kindly be noted that only Gazetted officers are authorized to implement the provisions of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) 1995 and Drugs and Magic Remedies Act 1954. At present any legal action in respect of any violation with regard to Drugs Price Control Order 2013 (DPCO) is ineffective and dismal due to the reason that the Drug Inspectors working on the ground at cutting edge levels, for the reason of Non-Gazetted cadre. That the relevant Act & Order is not being implemented in the J&K in totality because of above cited reason thereby the benefit does not reach to the common people.
To read representation of AIDCOC, click here
For informative videos by The Health Master, click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on Medical Store / Pharmacy, click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on the news regarding Pharma / Medical Devices / Cosmetics / Homoeopathy etc., click on the below YouTube icon:
For informative videos on consumer awareness, click on the below YouTube icon:
