Telangana DCA raids medical shops for illegal sale of habit-forming drugs; 166 shops issued notices

Hyderabad: The Drug Control Administration (DCA), Telangana, as part of a special drive to curb the illegal sale of habit-forming drugs, conducted raids at medical shops across the State on February 21.

Discrepancies were detected in 166 medical shops during the raids and show cause notices were issued for initiating departmental action, including suspension/cancellation of drug licenses.

‘Illegal sale of habit-forming drugs’

The raids were conducted at retail medical shops across the state, focusing on detecting the illegal sale of habit-forming drugs, including Codeine-containing cough syrups, Nitrazepam tablets, Alprazolam tablets, Tramadol tablets, Zolpidem tablets, Tapentadol tablets, etc.

The officers of the Telangana DCA are coordinating closely with the Police Department to curb the misuse of prescription medicines, particularly habit-forming drugs.

During the raids, special emphasis was laid on checking the indiscriminate sale of habit-forming drugs, primarily classified under Schedule H1 and Schedule X of the Drugs Rules.

The officers detected several violations related to the indiscriminate sale of habit-forming drugs, including:

– Sale of such drugs without a prescription from a Registered Medical Practitioner

– Sale of drugs without issuing bills

– Non-maintenance of and failure to produce sales bills

– Failure to maintain prescription drug registers and Schedule H1 drug registers

– Dispensing of prescription drugs in the absence of a Registered Pharmacist

– Failure to produce purchase bills

– Irregularities in maintaining copies of sales and purchase bills

Public advisory

Prescription medicines, including Schedule H, Schedule H1 and Schedule X drugs, shall mandatorily be sold only against a valid prescription issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner.

Any illegal sale, diversion, or distribution of such prescription medicines for non-therapeutic or abusive purposes constitutes a serious violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Rules thereunder, and shall be dealt with strictly.

The Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, shall initiate stringent action against violators, including cancellation of drug licences and prosecution under the relevant provisions of the Act.

All medical shops are therefore advised to exercise utmost vigilance while dispensing prescription medicines and to maintain proper prescription records as mandatorily required under the Rules.

Strict compliance by all stakeholders is mandatorily required to ensure that prescription medicines are not diverted for misuse and that public health and safety are effectively safeguarded.

The public may report any complaints regarding illegal activities related to medicines, as well as any other suspected manufacturing activities concerning drugs, including narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, inresidential, commercial, or industrial areas through the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana Toll-Free Number 1800-599-6969, operational from 10:30 am to 5 pm on all working days.