The Gujarat State Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) recently
selected 32 drug inspectors from the state to fill up the increasing
demand for drug officers. The latest recruitment was for position of
class II level drug inspectors who have cleared the Gujarat Public
Service Examination (PSE) that was held recently in the state.
With
this the total number of drug inspectors in the state of Gujarat has
risen to almost 100. According to Dr H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat
FDCA, “We have always made it a point to ensure that we are adequately
staffed with qualified officials to handle the increasing workload. This
has helped us to achieve the status of being one of the best state
drug authorities in the country.”
As of now there are almost 100
drug inspectors in the state apart from the 50 senior drug inspectors.
Dr Koshia informed that Gujarat is the only state in the country to have
the post of senior drug inspectors. Giving statistics he explained that
the state of Gujarat has 27 assistant commissioners out of which two
sits with him in his office at Gandhinagar, 26 district commissioners, 6
deputy commissioners, and five joint commissioners who help him in
conducting various drug related activities in the state.
He said,
“For us the most important priority is to ensure that all our offices
are equipped with the best services available which includes adequate
competent staff. This is because it will help us in restoring efficient
enforcement of regulatory works like inspections in manufacturing sites
and pharmacies etc in a more organised and effective manner.”
The
recruitment of the new drug inspectors comes at the right time as the
state will soon require assistance of additional officers to fill up the
demands coming out of the slew of activities being witnessed in the
state.
Most of the state drugs authorities in the country are
understaffed because of the shortage of qualified and trained manpower
in the country. Gujarat FDCA is one of the few food and drug control
administrations in the country to have taken steps to address this issue
