Health ministry directs state govts and UTs to provide security cover to DC officers during raids and checking
To infuse confidence in the regulatory officers of drugs control (DC) departments in the country following the murder of a licencing authority allegedly by a chemist in Punjab, the Union health ministry has directed all state governments and Union territories to put in place a mechanism to provide security cover to drug control officers (DCOs) in their respective states and union territories. In a letter issued to all state governments and union territories, Union Health secretary Preeti Sudan has directed them to evolve a mechanism to provide security to the DC officers in their offices in general and while they are on field duties in connection with inspection or raids for enforcement purposes in particular. This decision of the union government follows a similar decision by the Food & Drugs Administration of Punjab to introduce police protection to regulators during raids and checking at premises. Government of India has decided to take such a decision on...