Fulfilling the promise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make available safe drugs for consumption, the Union Health Ministry has initiated a special drive for revamping drug testing laboratories in states.
According to ministry officials, the Centre will spend Rs 900 crore as per their <g data-gr-id="33" data-style="color: #3b3b3b; font-size: 11px;">requirements,</g> while Rs 850 crore will lie with states. Besides, states located in plains will spend 25 <g data-gr-id="29" data-style="color: #3b3b3b; font-size: 11px;">per cent</g> and those in hilly areas will spend 10 <g data-gr-id="30" data-style="color: #3b3b3b; font-size: 11px;">per cent</g> from their budget allocation to revamp the drug testing labs.
According to sources in the ministry, several states have sent their proposals asking for funds to set up labs. The ministry will focus more on UP, Bihar, MP, Chhattisgarh and Odisha as public health facilities in these states is poor.
“UP has sent the proposal asking just Rs 14 <g data-gr-id="38">crore,</g> while Andhra Pradesh has demanded Rs 184 crore to strengthen their labs. Telangana has also sent its proposal for strengthening lab system. With Model Code of Conduct in place in Bihar, its proposal has been sent to the Election Commission for further direction,” a senior Health Ministry official said.
“Given the fact that strengthening of labs has never been a core issue for several years, it is a great opportunity for states to utilise the budget allocated particularly for strengthening drug-testing facilities,” the official said, adding that Centre is extending all support to states.
The ministry has proposed signing MoUs with states for setting up new labs as well overhauling the existing ones. There are at least 10 states, which don’t have a testing lab of their own. Delhi, which has witnessed <g data-gr-id="36">outbreak</g> of several life-threatening diseases, has neither its own testing lab nor a state drug controller.