Drug inspectors protest
Telangana Drug Inspectors Association (TDIA) has said oral and confusing orders issued on WhatsApp by higher authorities have led to shortage of critical medicines for patients suffering from various diseases in the state.
A letter to director, Drugs Control Administration, signed by 24 of 57 drug inspectors in the state, says, "We are only following orders given on WhatsApp by the government, department, director of public health and director of medical education. This has led to confusion in functioning and resulted in patients running around for medicines.”
Explaining details, TDIA president M. Chandrashekar pointed out in early stages of the pandemic in 2020, instructions had been were issued on WhatsApp that all hydroxychloroquine tablets, used for Covid-19 therapy in the initial stages and available in the supply chain must be immediately brought to headquarters at Vengala Rao Nagar in Hyderabad. Thus hydroxychloroquine was not available in the market, leading to a hue and cry from patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus patients who require this medicine. Only then the medicine was made available in the retail chain, though through limited outlets.
Chandrashekar said similar instructions were issued in May 2021 to all inspectors to freeze supply of anti-fungal drugs Fluconazole and Voriconazole. These are not available in the market now. People suffering from fungal infections other than black fungus have no medicines for their treatment as a result.
Likewise, the TDIA president said oral directions had been issued to freeze stocks of Amphotericin B Liposomal, posaconazole and Remdesivir injections. Thus, patients of rheumatoid arthritis who require Remdesivir are still unable to get them over the counter. This has led to protests from patients, pharmacists and stockists as these medicines are not available to the needy. Similar was the situation with regard to oxygen. TDIA said these irrational orders have derailed the entire system of drug supply and the blame was being heaped on the 57 drug inspectors working in the state. The number of inspectors should have been 71 as per the sanctioned posts. Staff shortage has added to the burden of drug inspectors who have to give a daily account of oxygen supply, amphotericin B, posaconazole and other critical medicines to the government. They have to also monitor movement of drug batches from company to Telangana State Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMSIDC).
A senior member of the drug controller department said, "When all stocks of amphotericin B, posaconazole and Remdesivir are being monitored by TSMSIDC how is black marketing happening? None of the departments, apart from office of the director of public health and director of medical education, can approve drug usage in the state. They must check loopholes within their system.”
TDIA charged that instead blame is being shifted on to drug inspectors and one of them, B. Govind Singh working in Habsiguda depot, had been suspended on May 31 in an “unfair and irrational manner.” In their letter, the 24 inspectors demanded that he be immediately reinstated.
The TDIA president said those indulging in unscrupulous practices must be punished and not inspectors who are working at the ground level and only following orders from higher ups.