The Gujarat government is nearing final approval for a state-of-the-art drug testing laboratory in Surat, marking a significant advancement in the state’s pharmaceutical quality assurance infrastructure. According to Dr. Hemant G. Koshia, Commissioner of the Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA), the facility will be situated on a 2,500 square meter plot in a prime area of Surat. Once approved, the Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Limited (GMSCL) will initiate the tendering process for the construction and procurement of sophisticated lab equipment, with funding allocated by the state government.
This upcoming laboratory is part of a broader expansion plan to enhance drug testing capabilities across Gujarat. The state currently boasts three major drug testing centers: the newly established laboratories in Surat and Rajkot, and an upgraded microbiological testing laboratory in Vadodara. The Rajkot lab is nearing completion, with construction and equipment procurement in the final stages under GMSCL’s supervision.
Further plans include establishing a comprehensive food and drug testing laboratory in Ahmedabad within the next three years, with ₹12.33 crore earmarked in the current fiscal year for its initial construction phase. This facility aims to enhance sample processing capacity and analytical accuracy, supporting intensified surveillance and enforcement operations as Gujarat continues to assert its dominance in the pharmaceutical sector.
These developments collectively signify a turning point for Gujarat’s healthcare and pharmaceutical testing infrastructure, positioning the state to ensure that pharmaceutical products meet rigorous quality and safety standards.
