Special teams formed to monitor drug firms in TN: Minister Subramanian
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu has formed special teams to continuously monitor drug manufacturers, with inspections conducted at nearly 50 of the total 397 pharmaceutical firms in the state, Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian said on Friday.
Speaking in the assembly, Subramanian said the government is inspecting all the pharmaceutical firms in the state following the deaths of about 25 infants in Madhya Pradesh linked to a cough syrup manufactured by a Tamil Nadu-based company.
"Of the 397 pharmaceutical companies, inspections have been carried out in 50 firms involved in manufacturing syrups, during the last one week. Steps are being taken to conduct similar inspections in 52 companies in the coming days. Special Teams have been formed to continuously monitor the drug manufacturers in future," he said.
The Minister was responding to a special calling attention moved by AIADMK Deputy Floor Leader R B Udhayakumar, Congress MLA Aassan Maulaana, among others in the Assembly.
Taking a dig at the Madhya Pradesh government, Subramanian said their drug department emailed the Tamil Nadu drug department on October 1, informing about the death of an infant linked to the cough syrup produced by a TN based firm, instead of communicating with his Ministry or the government.
"Nearly 25 days after the incident in Madhya Pradesh, they have sent an email on October 1. However, considering the gravity of the issue, steps were taken up," he said.
After conducting raids at the Sresan Pharmaceuticals in their factory at Sungavarchatiram near Chennai, he said the sale of the cough syrup Coldrif was banned immediately in Tamil Nadu and 'Stop Production' order was issued to the company.
Though it is the responsibility of the Madhya Pradesh government and the Union Health Ministry, the Tamil Nadu government alerted other States, including Odisha and Puducherry as the company had supplied the cough syrups to the two States.
Subsequently, Subramanian said, a notice was issued to Sresan Pharmaceuticals asking why its drug manufacturing license should not be cancelled.
"Within 48 hours of receiving the information from the Madhya Pradesh government (on October 1), these measures were taken up by the government. As the test of samples conducted by the State Drug department detected that the cough syrup contained 48.6 per cent of Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic substance, the manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceuticals has completely been revoked." he said.
A detailed report, including the 'Stop Production' order, was sent to the Drugs Controller General of India and the Deputy Drug Controller, South Zone, he said.
Subramanian further said the government initiated criminal proceedings against the pharmaceutical company and its top management team and on October 9, a Special Investigation Team along with the Tamil Nadu police arrested 75-year-old Ranganathan, the proprietor of the company.
He noted that the regular inspections were conducted by the drug department in 2021 and 2022 at Sresan Pharmaceuticals, but lack of an inspection in 2024 led to the suspension of the senior drug inspector of Kancheepuram zone.
The Minister highlighted that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (under the Ministry of Health) is required to undertake joint inspection with the state government every three years, but no such inspection has been carried out at Sresan Pharmaceuticals since 2011.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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