JAIPUR: More than 6,000 samples of medicines are pending for quality test as only one drug-testing laboratory is functional in the state.The laboratory is functional in the state, which was set up in 1962. Since then no new drug-testing laboratory has become functional in past 57 years.In the state, where 115 drug controller officers, who are responsible for drawing samples of medicines from shops, only one laboratory is functional which is unable for test of drug samples which are collected by drug controllers.Some of the samples which were collected one year ago are still pending for quality test.The existing laboratory is capable of testing 2300 to 2500 samples per year. Since more than 6,000 drug samples are pending for test, the health department has directed 115 drug controllers to reduce the number of drug samples they draw from the market for test. Earlier, each drug controller was collecting six samples every month. Drawing six samples every month by each of 115 drug controllers would have increased the number of pending drugs for testing. Now, health depaertment revised the target for them to collect only one sample every month.However, health department claimed that three new drug-testing laboratories are coming up in Udaipur, Bikaner and Jodhpur, which will reduce the burden of existing drug-testing laboratory in Jaipur.Additional chief secretary (health) Rohit Kumar Singh said they will increase the target of drug controller after three laboratories which are coming up in Rajasthan would become functional. The target will be increased to 10 samples.Singh has issued directions to the officials to make the three laboratories functional within three months.Ajay Phatak, drug controller, Rajasthan said, “The recruitment of staff for new drug testing laboratories will be done through Rajasthan University of Medical Sciences, which equipment for the new laboratories will be procured by Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation.”The health department is expecting that the laboratories will come up soon and it will help in strengthening its monitoring to keep a check on sale of sub-standard and counterfeit medicines.

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