BHUBANESWAR:The State is staring at shortage of Ayurvedic drugs as hundreds of drug samples are lying untested at the State Drug Testing and Research Laboratory (SDTRL) which is suffering from technical staff crunch.
Of 11 posts, seven - three laboratory analysts and one scientific officer, two laboratory assistants and one attendant - are vacant. Head of the laboratory has not been posted for the last five months after Rabi Narayan Acharya retired in September 16 last year.
The SDTRL, which was established with financial assistance from Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), now functions with only one analyst, two scientific officers and one attendant.
The aim and objective of the laboratory is to carry out statutory testing and analysis of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) drugs under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules. Once the samples are tested and certificates issued, the drugs are allowed for human consumption.
This apart, the laboratory that functions under the administrative control of Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy, is also involved in conducting various research and development work on Ayurvedic drugs.
Drug producers, pharmacies and Ayurvedic hospitals across the State have started feeling the pinch as more than 500 samples of different drugs purchased through tenders are lying at the laboratory for tests besides around 60 samples of seized medicines and over 100 types of hospital medicines.
An official said more than 600 Ayurvedic dispensaries in the State would soon face shortage of medicines if the drug test reports are not released soon. ‘’Not a single test report has been released for the last five months due to unavailability of Government analyst to sign the report. The drugs cannot be prescribed unless the test report is released,’’ he said.
Sources said though two officers were recommended for the post of Government analyst after retirement of Acharya, the Directorate of AYUSH rejected the recommendation citing their ineligibility.
In-charge of the laboratory Dr SK Panda said though he is a scientific officer, he is not entrusted with the power to release drug test reports. ‘’Only Government analyst can issue the report. We have informed the department about the scenario and hope a decision will be taken soon,’’ he added.