Himachal: Rs 30 Crore Baddi Drug Lab Fails Timelines, Raises Quality Oversight Concerns

The Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) at Baddi, constructed at a cost of around Rs 30 crore with Central government funding, was envisioned as a key facility to strengthen drug quality surveillance in Himachal Pradesh. However, despite the substantial public investment, the laboratory has reportedly failed to deliver timely test results, undermining its core objective of ensuring rapid and reliable drug quality checks.

Officials familiar with the matter said that inordinate delays in sample testing have adversely impacted the overall drug regulatory process. The slow turnaround time has affected both enforcement actions and routine regulatory work, prompting questions over the lab’s operational preparedness and monitoring mechanisms.

Industry stakeholders have expressed concern that the laboratory, which was meant to serve as a backbone of pharmaceutical quality assurance in the state, has repeatedly missed internal timelines. These delays have not only affected manufacturers but have also raised public health concerns, given the critical role of timely drug testing in ensuring patient safety.

Although the laboratory became operational after significant delays, its present performance is being viewed as far from the expectations set at the time of its approval and inauguration. Critics argue that the facility has failed to achieve the efficiency and speed that justified such a large financial outlay.

Also Read: Health Bulletin 29/December/2021

According to a recent media report published by The Tribune, the issue is particularly concerning as Himachal Pradesh is home to Asia’s largest pharmaceutical industrial hub, making a robust and efficient local drug testing mechanism essential for effective regulation and quality assurance.

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