Kerala’s third regional drug testing laboratory is likely to open at Thrissur later this month. The Drugs Control Department hopes it will fast-track the testing of samples and their transportation in the region.
Right now, of the 2.5 lakh batches of medicines available in the Kerala market a year, just over 9,000 are tested because of shortage of drug inspectors and lack of government laboratories in all regions. This could lead to the sale of substandard expensive drugs for life-threatening diseases and availability of banned medicines. The drug market in the State is worth around ₹10,000 crore. The other two labs are located at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.
Official function
The lab at Thrissur was proposed to start functioning earlier this year but was delayed owing to the declaration of the Lok Sabha election and the enforcement of the model code of conduct. The official function is likely to be held either just before May 23 or a few days after that. The facility will be located adjacent to the Government Medical College campus.
Ravi S. Menon, State Drugs Controller, told The Hindu on Tuesday that over a period of time, the lab would have the capacity to test 5,000 drug samples a year.
“Between 9,500 and 10,000 drug samples are now being tested at the labs at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi a year. By the time the facilities at the Thrissur lab are fully functional, it could be raised to 15,000 samples,” he said.
It would have 23 temporary staff on the rolls. Initially, the lab would be used to test the samples from Thrissur and Palakkad districts, Mr. Menon added. At a later stage, the Drugs Control Department is planning to have facilities to test Ayurvedic medicines too at the lab. As most of the Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers are located in Thrissur and Palakkad, this could help the sector, claim officials.
More labs
Meanwhile, the government is reportedly rethinking its earlier plan to set up drug testing labs in Pathanamthitta and Kozhikode districts. Sources said the department was yet to zero in on land that could meet the requirements. If not in Pathanamthitta, it could come up in some other southern districts. In north Kerala, Kannur could be a choice, the sources added.
