Telangana is considering integrating its Food Safety and Drugs Control Administration (DCA) departments to strengthen enforcement against adulterated food and counterfeit medicines, with Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha on Wednesday (July 15) directing officials to prepare an action plan after examining the proposal.

During a review meeting in Hyderabad, senior officials briefed the Minister on the functioning of both the departments, outlining operational challenges and hurdles in safeguarding public health. They said that although both departments share a common objective, their separate functioning limits coordination. They highlighted staff shortages, difficulties in conducting inspections, the need to strengthen laboratory capacity, and delays in investigations and legal proceedings.

The Minister was informed that integrating the two departments would enable faster and more efficient inspections, sample collection, laboratory testing, intelligence gathering, enforcement and legal action. “The proposed integration would facilitate stricter action against the manufacture, storage and sale of adulterated food, as well as substandard and counterfeit medicines,” they said.

The Minister directed Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu to examine the proposals submitted by officials and prepare an action plan suitable for Telangana. He instructed officials to study the administrative, legal and technical aspects of the proposal and formulate comprehensive recommendations.

The Minister also directed officials to prepare proposals to strengthen human resources and recruit experts in line with public requirements. He called for the modernisation of food testing laboratories and asked officials to examine the need for establishing regional laboratories wherever necessary. He also directed that modern testing equipment and technology be introduced to enhance testing capabilities.