‘Govt flouted Drug Act to appoint State Drug Licencing Authority’

“According to the Drug Act (Rule 76 E),the qualifications for State Drug Licencing Authority for licensing of Ayurveda,Siddha and Unani drugs should be BAMS or GAMS and five years experience in manufacturing or testing of Ayurvedic,Siddha and Unani drugs,” said Satnam.

He added that the government’s error is serious since it is imperative that the drugs are approved by someone who has good knowledge of Ayurvedic drugs. “Instead,the government appointed IAS officer K B S Sidhu as the State Drug Licencing Authority,thus flouting the rule,” he added. K D S Sidhu retired from the post on December 31 last year.

He said the government not only flouted the rule of the Drug Act by appointing somebody who was not qualified to hold the post,but also risked the health of the people as the drugs need to be licensed by a qualified person.

He added,“Now that the post is lying vacant,therefore,we want the government appoint a competent person who fulfils the conditions of qualifications.”

The NGO had sought information asking about the qualification of the officer of the Licencing Authority. Speaking during the conference,the members of the NGO including Manjit Singh,vice-president,Iqbal Singh,general secretary and Dr Deepak Sabharwal,also questioned the reason behind giving 1.75 quintal of opium out of the overall quota of 2.5 quintal to only one ayurvedic drug manufacturer based in Amritsar.