Srinagar, Feb 07: The state-of-art Drug Testing Laboratory at Lakhanpur, Kathua is likely to operate its functioning from March 2023, officials informed on Tuesday.
Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department, Bhupinder Kumar, said the laboratory is likely to operate its functioning from March 2023.
“With the setting up of a Modern Drug Testing Laboratory at Lakhanpur being constructed with Central assistance to the tune of Rs 34 crores, the annual testing capacity in Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased by 5000 more samples annually,” he said.
The laboratory will be equipped with modern machinery and equipment required for identification, evaluation and estimation of drug molecules to the extent of micro quantities
The design of the drug laboratory has evolved to incorporate all the latest dimensions that are required to guarantee the sustainability of reporting during any legal adjudication.
Health officials informed that the new laboratory will have an effective pharmaceutical quality management system that will help to develop a culture of quality, support data integrity, keep suppliers under control and maintain overall compliance.
The official said checklist mandated to acquire National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation shall be taken care of during the construction.
Notably, the Administrative Secretary said in the two Drugs Testing Laboratories one each at Jammu and Srinagar, around 3300 to 3400 tests are conducted annually.
Kumar said the existing drug testing laboratories have tested around 3623 drug samples during the current financial year, out of which 61 were found not of standard quality and enforcement staff is taking appropriate action under the rules.
Over the years the government had come under strict criticism over reports that substandard drugs were being supplied to various government hospitals.
The Drug and Food Controller Organization carries out the testing of drug and food samples at its Dalgate laboratory and however has the capacity to test only 2000 samples annually.
