Anoop Khinchi, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mereninla Senlem, Director and Head of Department and others during the inauguration.
In-house drug testing to expedite action against substandard medicines
KOHIMA, APRIL 30 (MExN): In a major step towards strengthening public health infrastructure, the Government of Nagaland on April 29 inaugurated the Nagaland State Drugs Testing Laboratory (NSDTL) in Kohima. The laboratory, a long-felt necessity in the state, aims to curb the circulation of substandard medicines and enhance drug regulation efficiency.
The facility was formally launched by Anoop Khinchi, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, in the presence of Dr Mereninla Senlem, Director and Head of Department, along with senior officials from the Directorate and various districts.
National President of the Drugs Control Officer (India) Welfare Association (DCOIWA), G Koteshwar Rao, Prof Narender Ahooja, former Drugs Controller of Haryana, and Rajender Harna, former Deputy Drugs Controller, Haryana, were also present at the inaugural ceremony.
Funded under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme "Strengthening of State Drugs Testing Laboratory (SSDRS)," the NSDTL was established at a cost of Rs 12.94 crore. The funding covered the construction of the Drugs Control Administration Office-cum-Laboratory building and the procurement of essential testing equipment.
The laboratory, equipped with high-end instruments, can currently test up to 1,000 drug samples annually, including modern (Allopathy) drugs in both solid and liquid oral formulations. Located on the ground and third floors with a combined plinth area of 540 sq m, plans are in place to add a microbiology lab on the second floor and seek NABL accreditation, eventually increasing testing capacity to 2,500 samples per year.
Previously, drug samples had to be sent to approved laboratories outside the state, often causing delays of three to four months in receiving test results. With the establishment of NSDTL, timely and accurate quality analysis reports will now be possible within the state, significantly improving regulatory enforcement and investigation timelines.
The department also affirmed its commitment to strict regulatory measures, stating that any drug sample found Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) will prompt immediate legal action against the responsible manufacturers or local medicine dealers.
