KOZHIKODE: If a behemoth like Patanjali run by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev can be brought to book on charges of misleading advertisements by a modest city court in Haridwar, then reining in small fries in the state seemed within bounds. So they thought, save a small hitch. The agencies here are grossly understaffed.
Data with the Ayurveda division of the Drugs Control Department shows there are only six drug inspectors to monitor cases pertaining to 786 Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani manufacturers in the state.
It goes downhill from there. Of the six drug inspectors, four have been appointed on a temporary basis. As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, one drug inspector is needed for every 10-30 companies. The primary work of a drug inspector is to put a lid on drug piracy and misleading advertisements.
The department data shows 146 cases have been lodged under Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act from 2011 to 2016. The Act prohibits claims related to the cure, treatment, or prevention of a set of 56 diseases, including diabetes, cancer, asthma and obesity, among others. Implausible as it may seem, all the cases registered under the Act are still pending in courts.
The Act prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties, and makes it a cognisable offence.
“The actual figure would be far greater than this,” said N Vimala, Deputy Drugs Controller.
“We have sent a proposal to the state government seeking the appointment of one inspector per 30 units. We hope they consider the demand seriously,” Vimala said.
With staff crunch crippling the Drugs Department, the drug manufacturing companies are brazenly flouting licence norms and advertisement standards, putting ‘gullible’ customers at a high health risk.
Taking serious note of the high incidents of misleading advertisements for alternative medicines, the Ministry of Ayush in January had asked the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) to strictly monitor such advertisements and take action against erring companies.