After deaths, pharma firms adopt strict SOPS
An employee logs on to a newly developed app of his pharma company for tracing his recent contact. It is only after such tracing that the employee is able to enter his office using his identity card.
These and other norms are now part and parcel of this industry after some recent cases of coronavirus as well as deaths were reported in manufacturing plants of companies like Cadila Pharma.
Already known for their stringent good manufacturing practices (GMPS) and rigorous standard of procedures (SOPS), pharma companies are tightening rules at their factories and offices in the wake of the recent Covid deaths at plants.
After 21 employees were found to be infected with coronavirus, Ahmedabad-based Cadila had reported deaths of three employees at its Dholka manufacturing plant, including that of a general manager.
This led to fear and anxiety among employees in the industry, with many taking extra precautions on their own while demanding more stringent SOPS, said sources.
An emailed query to Cadila Pharma did not elicit any response.
“There are already SOPS, guidelines and GMPS that pharma companies have to follow to meet regulatory standards. But with the recent Covid-related deaths at manufacturing plants, companies are getting more serious about safety and hygiene. There is a fear psychosis among employees who are demanding that their employers take more stringent steps to avoid any infection,” said a senior official of a pharma company on condition of anonymity.
Lupin has developed an inhouse app which is tracking employees’ health regularly. One has to feed details about any coronavirus like symptoms about himself and his family members in the app (employee self health declaration app) and then the system processes if there are any red flags. If the person does not get a green tick in the app, he cannot come to work.
Apart from sanitization of buses and plants, Lupin and many other pharma companies have now started sanitising raw material that may be entering the plant.
“Any truck that enters the plant is sanitized and the person handling it has to wear protective gear. Also, the packages are sanitized,” said Chunotkar.
Plants had started thermal screening from the first week of March when the first cases were reported and quarantined employees with travel history.
As for employee buses, companies have started reducing occupancy levels during the lockdown. For instance, from 50 per cent occupancy, Lupin has brought it down to 40 per cent.
Companies are also asking people, who can work remotely, to stay at home.
Lupin is also doing mock drills to see how the entire set up reacts in case someone is sick.
Canteen management is a major area in manufacturing sites. The lunch timings have been extended at all sites.
Glenmark said that a team is coordinating the entire canteen rotation of employees. “If someone has breakfast at 8 am, he will be called for lunch at 12 pm while someone who went at 10:30 for breakfast would probably be called at 2:30 pm,” said a company spokesperson.
“Instead of once, temperatures are now being measured twice or thrice. Declarations are being taken daily from employees and paid leave being offered. Medical in-house facilities are being ramped up. Companies know that if one gets contacted, scores of employees will have to be put on quarantine. So, no one is taking chances,” said Viranchi Shah, chairman of the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) Gujarat.
Meanwhile, H G Koshia, commissioner, Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), Gujarat, said, “Guidelines by several regulatory bodies, industry bodies, the government and international organisations are already being followed. Pharma companies have become more and more cautious now after the deaths.”