Month on, drug inspectors yet to be given charge

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 31

The state government’s move to appoint drug inspectors (DIs) in the industrial district of Sirmaur, housing nearly 120 drug units, has failed to bear results with the two new appointees failing to get charge despite being transferred there a month ago.

To enhance the field staff and ensure better regulation over drug firms, the state government had appointed six new drug inspectors on December 27. Given the quantum of work in industrial belts of Paonta Sahib and Nahan, two drug inspectors were transferred to these areas.

These officials were yet to be given any work and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Nahan, who was entrusted the task to relieve the earlier incumbent inspector, is yet to act upon the directions of the state government.

The state government had instituted a high-level inquiry against Nishant Sareen, Director, Health Safety, after complaints from the pharmaceutical industry. He had been attached with the office of the CMO with directions to hand over his charge to DI Suresh Kumar.

Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said since there were serious complaints against Sareen, he had been directed to personally inquire into the allegations and submit a report within a time-bound manner. Clear directions had also been issued to the CMO to give charge to a new DI and ensure that Sareen was merely attached to his office pending completion of the inquiry, he added.

Kaul Singh said it was surprising that the CMO had failed to hand over the charge to the new official. This aspect would also be inquired into and appropriate action would be taken against him if he had not complied with the directions, the minister said.

CMO Harmohinder Singh, when contacted, said he had sought clarification from the state government regarding delegation of powers to the new DIs and since the clarification was yet to be received, the two officials had not been entrusted any charge till now.

With several drug firms operating from Paonta Sahib already under scanner of various regulatory agencies for substandard drug manufacture and seizure of sedative drugs in the past, the delay in giving charge to the new appointees is tarnishing the image of the Health Department further.