As part of a special drive, inspectors from the Drug Control Administration (DCA) initiated legal action against 45 pharmacies that were apparently selling habit-forming drugs, and six other shops selling antibiotics without a prescription.
During the course of the raids, taken up between Wednesday and Thursday, the DCA team also identified drug companies selling drugs more than the ceiling price fixed under the Central Government’s Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO). These include FDC Ltd, Goa (Zocon-50 DT 50mg – Fluconazole), Alkem Laboratories, Sikkim (Ondem 2 ml Injection – Ondansetron), Torrent Pharma, Sikkim (Betacard-100 – Atenolol), Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Sikkim (Dilzem-60 tab – Diltiazem) and Cipla, Solan (Azee-500 – Azithromycin) tablets.
“Action is being initiated against the erring medical shops and companies found violating the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1954. We will conduct similar raids in the future and severe action will be taken on drug stores violating rules,” warned DCA Director-General B. L. Meena.
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Dr. Meena said the department officials had in April conducted inspections on 98 stores attached to hospitals and nursing homes in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. Seventy of those shops were found not issuing bills after selling drugs, and 50 others were found selling medicines without the supervision of a registered pharmacist.