Gujarat FDCA Enhances Drug QC with 25 Advanced Spectrophotometers

In a significant initiative for drug safety and regulatory efficiency, the Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) will procure 25 state-of-the-art handheld spectrophotometers for the onsite testing of drugs.

The purpose of this project is to enhance the accuracy and speed of drug quality assessments by minimizing the need for laboratory testing while facilitating the quick identification of substandard or counterfeit drugs.

Gujarat FDCA Commissioner Dr H G Koshia said, "Tenders are likely to be floated soon through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for acquiring these devices. The use of portable spectrophotometers will significantly boost our ability to detect and eliminate spurious drugs from the market efficiently".

Dr. Koshia revealed that the government has allotted ?10 crore for it. Spectrophotometers will use absorption of light to enable in-field real-time analysis of drug composition, consolidating regulatory oversight and the protection of the consumers.

The entire procurement will take place in GeM, the online platform where complete transparency is accessible to all by e-bidding and reverse auctions. Gujarat has also set apart ?4 lakh for a new food and drug testing laboratory to be located either in Ahmedabad or in Gandhinagar. This facility will complement the state's already testing infrastructure, making pharmaceutical products conform to tough standards for quality and safety.

These new establishments serve to emphasize Gujarat's cause of regulatory excellence and public health safety. The spectrophotometric standards will sort methodology and improve them in drug inspections, thereby increasing consumer confidence in the security of medications. The cutting-edge technology adopted in testing along with furthering infrastructure will throw Gujarat into the frontline of pharmaceutical regulatory activity with stringent oversight and superior overall quality assurance.