In a First, Rs 32 Crore Drug Testing Lab to Boost Quality Control in Baddi, Himachal
Baddi: Himachal Pradesh has opened its first drug testing laboratory in Baddi, bringing much-needed relief to the state's pharmaceutical sector. Built at a cost of Rs 32 crore, the lab will allow local manufacturers to test medicines and cosmetics in the state instead of relying on private labs or facilities in other states.
The facility, inaugurated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in March last year, can test between 8,000 and 10,000 samples annually. According to The News Himachal, the lab "provides much-needed relief to local drug manufacturers" and ensures stricter regulatory compliance.
Funds for the lab were initially allocated by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2017 under the 12th Five-Year Plan, with Rs 30 crore from the Centre and the remainder from the state government. Although delays stretched the project timeline to eight years, the lab is now operational.
To improve efficiency, the lab’s operations have been outsourced to ITC Labs, Panchkula, for Rs 6 crore annually. The facility employs 30–40 technicians and 10 administrative staff, overseen by two government analysts.
Also Read: Drug Alert: 50 Drug Samples including Macleods' THYROX75 Fail To Qualify CDSCO Test
State Drug Controller Manish Kapoor told The Tribune, “The drug inspectors have been directed to step up drug sampling for regular testing, which will also help maintain a check on the drug quality. The lab has a capacity to test 8,000–10,000 drug samples annually.”
The lab will primarily serve the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial belt, home to Asia’s largest pharmaceutical hub. Kapoor added that it would "reduce costs for drug companies and enhance quality assurance processes."
The absence of such a facility previously forced manufacturers to outsource expensive testing, particularly for stringent parameters like bio-equivalence and stability data. Speaking to the daily, a local manufacturer stated that, “The creation of a stability chamber and related facilities is a costly affair for small manufacturers.”
Preliminary testing has already started, with 70 samples tested using advanced equipment like HPLC machines. Efforts are also underway to establish another lab in Jhadmajri, Baddi, to further bolster the region’s pharmaceutical capabilities.
