The Drug Control Administration (DCA) have found a large number of medical shops in Hyderabad and elsewhere indulging in sale of abortion inducing drugs and emergency contraceptive pills without any prescription.
In a series of inspections carried out between June 11 and 12, the DCA authorities found that a whopping 337 shops out of 452 inspected were selling such drugs without any prescription.
According to authorities, the medical shops were procuring large quantities of abortifacients (Mifepristone, Misoprostal etc), the drugs that induce abortion and contraceptive pills (Levonorgestrel etc) and selling in bulk without prescription. The authorities conducted State-wide surprise inspections and show-cause notices were issued to the medical shops for selling the drugs without prescription.
“We will not hesitate to suspend licences of these medical shops selling drugs without prescription under the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945,” DCA officials said. The DCA authorities reiterated that it was mandatory to produce prescription from a qualified doctor while procuring emergency contraceptive pills and abortifacients from the medical shops.
Sale prohibited
Meanwhile, the DCA authorities have directed drug manufacturers, chemists, distributors, consumers and doctors not to manufacture, sell, distribute, consume and prescribe the drug Dextropropoxyphene and formulations containing Dextropropoxyphene for human use with immediate effect.
On May 23, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, had suspended the manufacture, sale and distribution of Dextropropoxyphene and formulations containing Dextropropoxyphene for human use vide G.S.R. 332(E) dated 23-5-2013, a press release from DCA on Thursday said.
The DCA authorities have warned that serious action, according to the provisions of law, will be taken on anybody who is manufacturing, selling, distributing Dextropropoxyphene and its formulations, for instance Spamo-Proxyvon, Proxyvon, Corbutyl, Dexovon, Ibruvon Forte, Orthodex Forte, Orthodex Plus, Darvocet, Lupivon, Walafesic, Wygesic etc.
The DCA authorities have requested the Chemists and Druggists Associations, Bulk Drug Manufacturing Association, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to bring this information to the notice of their members and sensitise them for immediate compliance.
