States

Tamil Nadu: The Restructuring of (DCA) Drugs Control Administration

Tamil Nadu houses 96 government-controlled blood banks, 240 private sector units, and an additional 10 operated by central government institutions.

The Health Master

February 28, 2024

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Last Updated on October 17, 2024 by The Health Master

Tamil Nadu

In a significant development, the Tamil Nadu state government has undertaken a major reshuffle in the drugs control administration (DCA), restructuring the powers of the State Licensing Authority (SLA) between two key officers.

This decision aims to streamline the licensing processes and address concerns raised by industry associations. Let’s delve into the details of this impactful move and its implications.

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The Need for Restructuring

Overloaded SLA Office

For the past eight months, the SLA office, led by ADC Habeeb Mohammad, faced challenges due to a surge in workload.

Applicants experienced prolonged waiting times for essential services, leading to dissatisfaction within the industry.

Industry Grievances

Industry associations, including TN IDMA and TN PMA, highlighted their concerns about delays in obtaining licenses, renewals, and certificates from the SLA office.

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Division of Powers

To address these issues, the government decided to divide the powers of the SLA between two officers:

Joint Director PU Karthikeyan,
ADC Habeeb Mohammad.

Karthikeyan’s New Role

PU Karthikeyan, recently promoted to Joint Drug Controller (JDC), has been assigned as the Licensing Authority for medical devices, blood centres (banks), and cosmetic manufacturing units.

This strategic move aims to enhance efficiency and reduce the burden on the SLA office.

Mohammad’s Responsibilities

ADC Habeeb Mohammad, previously handling both allopathic and homeopathic drugs, medical devices, and cosmetic industries, will now focus on licensing the manufacturing of allopathic and homeopathic drugs exclusively.

Licensing Landscape in Tamil Nadu

Blood Cantres (Banks) and Storage Centres

Tamil Nadu houses 96 government-controlled blood centres (banks), 240 private sector units, and an additional 10 operated by central government institutions.

The state also boasts 400 government-controlled blood storage centres and 165 private sector centres, with licenses jointly issued by central and state authorities.

Medical Devices and Cosmetics

Karthikeyan notes that there are 150 licensed medical devices industries and 270 cosmetic manufacturers in the state.

Acknowledging pending applications, he assures that all issues will be addressed promptly.

Industry and Regulatory Responses

While the government’s decision to bifurcate SLA powers has been welcomed by the controlling authority of the department, MN Sreedhar, some industry leaders express dissatisfaction.

They cite technical problems and the need for a technical head within the department to effectively communicate industry concerns to higher authorities.

Disclaimer: This article contains information derived from the source mentioned below. Our team utilized an AI language model to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.