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New Delhi: In a Times Now Exclusive, startling details have emerged showing that almost half the sanctioned Drug Inspector positions at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) remain vacant, even as India faces global criticism over cough syrup-linked child deaths. Documents accessed by Times Now reveal that out of 504 sanctioned posts, 250 are vacant. This includes 187 regulatory and 63 medical device inspector positions, leaving the country’s top drug regulator functioning with barely half its approved strength. The shortage comes at a time when India’s pharmaceutical exports are under scrutiny, following multiple reports of contaminated cough syrups causing deaths in several countries. Experts say such a manpower crunch makes it difficult for CDSCO to effectively monitor manufacturing units and ensure quality control. A CDSCO source said the recruitment process is already underway. “All posts are in the process of being filled. UPSC has already advertised for several of them, and the rest are at different recruitment stages,” an official who requested anonymity told Times Now. RTI activist Dr Aman Kaushik called the vacancies unacceptable during a public health crisis. “These vacancies are alarming given the scale of recent health emergencies. The government must fill these posts at the earliest,” he said. The revelation once again highlights serious gaps in India’s drug regulation system and raises questions about how a regulator functioning with half its staff can ensure the safety of medicines being consumed and exported from the country. For all the latest news and india news, visit Times Now to get live updates and breaking news around the world.
