The FDA, Maharashtra is a premier organisation of consumer protection, with dedicated professionals working to protect, promote and enhance the health of people.
It is a trusted agency to enforce the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act fairly, upholding safety standards and protecting consumers.
FDA does not have enough food and drug inspectors to conduct regular inspections of drug stores, drug companies, etc. in the state, and there is a shortage of staff, state-of-the-art laboratories and technicians.
Given this, a thorough plan to improve the FDA has been proposed, with the goal of filling up to 10,468 positions.
In addition to joint commissioners, additional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and food and drug inspectors, it suggests establishing offices at the taluka level.
Because there is no coordination between the state’s expanding establishments, pharmaceutical businesses, the quantity of pharmacies, and the FDA’s workforce, the department has been unable to take effective action.
Even though the state began implementing the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 on August 5, 2011, there is not enough manpower to carry out the execution of the act effectively.
According to department authorities, this is the reason why contaminated food products are created and marketed in huge quantities.
A food safety officer should be assigned to every block and, in Urban areas, to every 1,000 food professionals, per the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s report.
Similarly, to confirm drug control in the nation, the central government established a committee chaired by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar.
Following its tour of the nation’s states, the Dr. Mashelkar Committee released its report and suggested a number of things, including the need for one drug inspector for every 25 manufacturing facilities and one for every 100 retail locations.
After reviewing the many suggestions and flaws pointed out, FDA Commissioner Abhimanyu Kale drafted and submitted a thorough plan for strengthening the agency to the government.
Commissioner Abhimanyu Kale submitted a proposal to the government stating that, in accordance with the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s recommendations, food and drug inspectors must be appointed for each taluka.
Comparably, Abhimanyu Kale has suggested 10,468 positions to improve current labs, add positions there, establish new food labs, and improve FDA operations.
These consist of the following: 175 posts, 250 posts of medicines, 670 drug inspector and 900 food safety officers, 111 clerk, 297 senior clerk, 6180 posts for technical assistant medicines and food, 689 posts of clerical typewriters, 226 peons, etc.
Additionally, there are Joint Commissioner Administration, Food and Medicines, Additional Commissioner Food and Drugs, District-wise Deputy Commissioner, Joint Director Laboratory Food and Medicines, Assistant Director, Assistant Commissioner Medicines, etc.
A proposal to create 468 positions has been made.
Commissioner Abhimanyu Kale expressed confidence that if taluka-wise approval is granted for the positions of food and drug inspectors, the Food and Drug Administration will be able to operate extremely effectively.
Date : Sunday, 28 July 2024
Time : 10 am to 05 pm
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