The Hindu Business Line : New Drug Controller, but temporary appointment

Without much ado, the drug regulatory authority of the country has witnessed a change at the top, only to be replaced by another temporary appointment.

Mr M. Venkateswarlu has taken charge as the new Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), replacing Mr Ashwini Kumar who retired as acting DCGI on August 31.

Confirming the development, the Union Health Secretary, Mr Prasanna Hota, told Business Line that Mr Venkateswarlu has been given charge pending appointment by the UPSC. He was, however, not available for a clarification on why the Centre was making a temporary appointment, as Mr Venkateswarlu is tipped to retire by mid-2007.

Mr Venkateswarlu is the Deputy DCGI (West Zone) and is at present reported to hold dual charge, at the state and centre, a Ministry representative said.

`Lack of sincerity'

Significantly, the erstwhile DCGI, Mr Ashwini Kumar, was "acting" DCGI for about six years, points out a pharma industry official.

And this, he laments, is indicative of the lack of sincerity in handling the country's regulatory authority, the final gateway for medicines before they get consumed by people.

The Centre has mega plans for a centralised drug regulatory authority to keep pace with strides being made by the pharmaceutical industry in the new product-patent protected environment in the country.

The latest temporary appointment at the top has, however, slowed down the pace of business at the DCGI's office, alleges a drug-company official. There are also unconfirmed reports of administrative confusion, as Dr A.B.Ram Teke, Deputy DCGI, was among the names tipped for the top job as the DCGI. Dr Teke is believed to have about five years of service, according to a health-ministry source.

Even as pharma industry associations are sent circulars from the Centre on the new appointment at the DCGI, the Union Health Ministry's Web site still lists erstwhile Mr Ashwini Kumar as the DCGI. The new temporary appointment notwithstanding!

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