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 The Department of Drug Control Administration (DCA) in Tamil Nadu has once again come under the direct leadership of an IAS officer, R Lalvena, following the recent arrest of its former director, P U Karthikeyan, on corruption charges just ten days ago.
This marks a significant shift from the department's practice of promoting regulatory officers with a pharmacy background to the top post. Lalvena, who previously held the directorship for a brief period in May 2023 as Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, returns to the helm directly because of the scandal involving Karthikeyan, who had only taken charge two months prior to his arrest, highlighting a renewed focus on administrative oversight and accountability within the crucial public health regulatory body.
In a swift move to restore normalcy and maintain essential functions, the Tamil Nadu government has appointed Lalvena as the new director-in-charge of the department.
Talking to Pharmabiz, Lalvena said, the deputy drug controller Gurubharati has been tasked to oversee the crucial licensing and controlling authority for allopathic and homeopathy medicines and medical devices. Another deputy DC, Nandakumar, who was recently promoted, has been given the charge of licensing authority for blood banks and blood storage centres.
The new director, Lalvena, who officially took charge of the department on August 1, stated that his immediate priority is to "streamline operations and resolve the pending issues within the department."
The arrest, which occurred approximately ten days ago, stemmed from a bribery sting operation conducted by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). Director-in-charge Karthikeyan was reportedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe for processing license applications. This incident has brought the department under intense scrutiny and raised concerns about potential systemic issues.
While the appointment of an experienced IAS officer like Lalvena at the helm is seen as a move to stabilize the department, sources within the department and industry stakeholders have voiced reservations regarding the relatively limited experience of the newly appointed deputy directors in their expanded roles. Both Gurubharati and Nandakumar, while holding the rank of deputy drug controller, are said to lack extensive experience in independently heading such critical divisions.
Gurubharati now shoulders the immense responsibility of regulating the vast sector of allopathic and Homoeopathy medicines and medical devices, a role that demands a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, industry practices, and public health implications. Similarly, Nandakumar's new charge of blood banks and blood storage centres requires stringent oversight to ensure the safety and quality of blood products, a highly sensitive area of public health.
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