Despite the completion of modern drug-testing laboratories in Indore and Jabalpur six years ago, the Madhya Pradesh Government continues to send all medicine samples to Bhopal for testing.
This ongoing issue has come to the forefront again following the recent deaths of several children in the state, allegedly due to contaminated cough syrup. The situation has sparked concerns about the effectiveness of the state’s drug quality control system, especially in light of the delay in making the new labs fully operational.
The construction of the two drug-testing laboratories in Indore and Jabalpur was initiated in 2019, with the objective of strengthening the state’s capacity to test medicines locally and expedite the drug approval process.
The labs were designed to decentralise drug testing, thereby reducing the burden on the Bhopal-based State Drug Testing Laboratory and ensuring quicker responses, especially in urgent cases.
However, despite the buildings being completed and some equipment being installed, neither of the labs has become fully functional.
Consequently, all medicine testing continues to be routed through the Bhopal laboratory, resulting in delayed results and increased workload for the already overburdened facility.
According to sources in the health department, the lack of operational status for the Indore and Jabalpur labs is due to several factors, including incomplete technical approvals, inadequate staffing, and delays in equipment calibration.
These unresolved issues have prevented the labs from becoming operational, thus forcing the state to rely on Bhopal for all drug testing needs.
This not only puts additional strain on the Bhopal laboratory but also leads to significant delays in testing, particularly for cases involving suspected adulteration or toxicity, which require urgent attention.
State officials admit that the situation has exposed gaps in the drug quality control system, especially when public safety is at stake.
“The labs are structurally ready, but they are not operational due to pending approvals and staffing shortages,” said a senior health official. While the infrastructure is in place, the absence of qualified technical staff and required clearances has stalled the progress of these labs.
Official sources said that the Government has directed all medicines entering Madhya Pradesh from other states to undergo thorough monitoring.
Stringent surveillance measures are being put in place to prevent the circulation of substandard or counterfeit drugs. The Government has also emphasised that it is working to ensure the labs in Indore and Jabalpur become fully functional as soon as possible.
In-charge Controller of Madhya Pradesh Food and Drugs Dinesh Shrivastava was not available for comment.
