Pronouncing death sentence with nonchalance

LUCKNOW : Is the state government a facilitator or a saboteur of Industries. Even if it claims to be one (facilitator), the indications are otherwise. Now when there are just two days left before the lethargy of the government machinery sounds death knell for the ailing small scale pharma sector of the state, there is just one department which seems to be agile enough.The Drug control department of the state which is going to be responsible for hammering the final nail in the coffin, is getting ready for the dreaded act.
Speaking to ToI about post-July 1 scenario, when the revised schedule M of Goods Manufacturing Practices (GMP) norms would be implemented, state drug controller Sadguru Prasad said that the department will do what it is directed to do. "I have already issued instructions to my groundwork force to start inspecting the manufacturing premises of the SSI pharmaceutical entities in the state and to check the level of implementation of revised schedule M. On Tuesday once again I am going to pass on fresh instructions as the deadline ( July 1) is fast approaching. Those units which are found with the implementation level of revised schedule M below 50 per cent, will not get their manufacturing licences renewed and will have to shut shop," he admitted.
But, is it not the responsibility of his department to be a facilitator to the home-grown industry and ensure better quality of drug supply in the state? Prasad takes this teaser with a tinge of nonchalance: "Look we have been providing the technical knowledge of installation of air-handling units (AHUs) and other gadgets to those units which wanted to conform to the revised schedule M standard. We can't go beyond a point."
When apprised of the fact that the investment required for confirmation to revised schedule M is going to be in tens of lakhs, whereas the average turnover of the 440 pharma units in UP is a meagre 40 lakhs only, Prasad retorted saying that those units which wanted to stay alive and functional post July 1, have already taken financial loans and have gone ahead with the implementation.
"Those who have not done it certainly are having other plans," he commented.
Is the drug controller acting as a mere tool while implementing revised schedule M, when, according to experts, the GMP charter clearly states in its preamble that he has the authority to check the implementation as per the conditions prevailing in the state. To this, Prasad said, " Yes I am acting as per the directions received by my office from the Central government."
If the drug control department is showing such urgency and dedication towards the deadline set by the Central government, why was it that the Nityanand Committee report, which had been commissioned by the state government way back in 1994 to ensure strengthening and better functioning of the rusty state drug control mechanism never implemented, even though it received funding from World Bank? To this Prasad's only comment was : "It is failure on the front of successive state governments."
Meanwhile, even as the pharma SSIs of UP are battling for life here, a writ petition has reportedly been filed in the Calcutta High Court against implementation of revised schedule M from July 1. The case will come up for hearing on Wednesday.