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 In a major administrative development for the pharmaceutical sector in Telangana, the state government has elevated G. Ramdhan, joint director of the Drugs Control Administration (DCA), as the full-time director of the department.
The Drugs Control Department functions under the Telangana Standards Authority for Safe Food and Essential Drugs (TG-SAFE). Ramdhan, a postgraduate in Pharmaceutical Sciences who originally joined the cadre as a drug inspector before rising to joint director in 2024, becomes the first official to hold the re-created post of director following the reorganization of the state.
Confirming the development to Pharmabiz, Ramdhan stated that the designated post of Director for the Drugs Wing had remained unstaffed since the bifurcation of the composite state of Andhra Pradesh, and has now been officially re-created and filled by the government of Telangana. The appointment restores a permanent directorate structure to oversee drug regulatory administration, enforcement, and compliance across the state's expanding pharmaceutical ecosystem.
The elevation has been widely welcomed by key industry bodies and regulatory officers. Congratulating Ramdhan on his appointment, K.V. Rambabu, chairman of the Telangana state board of the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA), said, “We are delighted to congratulate G. Ramdhan on this well-deserved elevation. His experience, understanding of regulatory matters, and commitment to maintaining high standards in the pharmaceutical sector will be valuable in his new role. IDMA Telangana looks forward to working closely with him and the drug control department in further strengthening quality, compliance, patient safety, and a progressive regulatory environment for the pharmaceutical industry in the state.”
Extending support on behalf of bulk drug manufacturers, A P Rameswara Rao, national president of the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association of India (BDMAI), remarked, “I am delighted to learn that Ramdhan has been elevated as Director of the Telangana drug control wing under TG-SAFE. His sincerity, industry-friendly approach, and constant willingness to support the industry in resolving its issues have always been greatly appreciated. The bulk drug industry looks forward to his valuable guidance and support in the years ahead.”
Hailing the administrative milestone, G. Koteshwar Rao, national president of the Drug Control Officers India Welfare Association (DCOIWA), extended warm greetings on behalf of fellow officers, emphasizing that Ramdhan stands out as the youngest State Drugs Controller and the first full Director post-bifurcation. “This is a significant recognition of his dedicated service and contribution to drug regulation and public health. He is a fine administrator who maintains cordial relations with industry stakeholders and fellow officers alike, backed by a helpful approach,” Rao said.
During his tenure as joint director, Ramdhan demonstrated a zero-tolerance stance against regulatory non-compliance and illicit pharmaceutical trade. In a landmark enforcement operation under his supervision, DCA authorities dismantled an international multi-company racket where unauthorized drug batches, including antibiotics produced in Medchal-Malkajgiri and Maharashtra's Palghar district, were falsely labelled, packaged, and readied for export to Russia. Exercising strict legal oversight, the department invoked statutory provisions under Sections 18(c) and 17(B)(c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act while simultaneously maintaining rigorous quality drives across manufacturing units state-wide.
Further, under his administrative guidance, the department's anti-counterfeiting crackdowns successfully disrupted sophisticated interstate illicit supply channels. Intelligence-led DCA operations intercepted illegal consignments of misbranded prescription drugs entering from Uttar Pradesh under fraudulent labels of Himachal Pradesh manufacturers. Similar enforcement drives systematically dismantled networks dealing in spurious formulations of widely prescribed drugs like 'Montek-LC', seized unlicensed active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and brought major commercial distributors of counterfeit medicines to task.
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