Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) has decided to abolish its quality control wing, with the responsibility of ensuring the quality of medicines procured by the corporation being transferred to the drugs control department.The decision comes against the backdrop of several instances in which medicines procured and distributed through KMSCL were found to be of substandard quality. Medicines worth crores of rupees were reportedly detected as failing quality standards in recent years.Complaints had also been raised over the existing system under which KMSCL’s own quality control wing tested the medicines procured by the corporation. Questions were raised about the possibility of conflicts of interest and malpractices when the same agency involved in procurement was responsible for quality testing.Health minister K Muraleedharan said strengthening the existing quality assurance mechanism was necessary to ensure that medicines supplied through KMSCL met the required standards. The drugs control department has the statutory authority, technical expertise and regulatory responsibility to undertake quality checks on medicines, he said.However, the department currently faces a shortage of personnel. To ensure that quality testing is carried out efficiently and within a stipulated timeframe, govt has given approval for appointing additional personnel on a temporary contract basis, the minister said.Under the revised system, all medicines procured through KMSCL will be examined by the drugs control department before being distributed to govt hospitals and other govt institutions. The medicines will undergo the necessary quality tests before being cleared for distribution.The move is aimed at making the quality-testing process more transparent and strengthening regulatory oversight of medicines supplied to govt institutions, Muraleedharan said.The minister has also written to the principal secretary of the health department outlining the proposed changes and directing necessary follow-up action.
