Agartala: April 01: During the seventh day of the budget session in the Legislative Assembly, Tripura’s Chief Minister and Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Professor Dr. Manik Saha, addressed concerns raised by Congress MLA Gopal Chandra Roy regarding counterfeit drugs and the recruitment of Drug Inspectors. Dr. Saha revealed that one Drug Inspector position in the state is currently vacant due to the retirement of an official on November 30, 2024. He assured the Assembly that the government is actively monitoring the issue and taking necessary measures.
MLA Roy highlighted alarming statistics from the Indian Medical Council’s report, which estimated that ₹20,000 crore worth of counterfeit branded drugs are circulating in the market, with Northeast India being significantly affected. He also questioned whether the government plans to establish drug testing laboratories across the state’s districts and subdivisions and increase the number of Drug Inspectors.
In response, Dr. Saha stated that 40 inspectors are conducting regular surveillance in the state, including 18 directly recruited and six promoted inspectors. He referred to the ongoing investigation into the Bardhaman Pharma case, which is under judicial review in the Special Court of West Tripura district. The next hearing for the case is scheduled for May 5, 2025.
The Chief Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to combating counterfeit drugs and urged MLA Roy to report any specific incidents for further action. He assured that stringent measures would be taken to address such cases and improve drug safety in the state.
