Drug Control authority suspends operation of 18 erring medical stores

Jammu: The Drugs Control authority has disallowed Eighteen Retail Sale medical stores u/s 22 (d) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 during market checking.

As per the department, the action against the erring establishments was taken on the spot, which included Six in Jammu District , One in Samba, Six in Rajouri District ,Four in Udhampur and One in Poonch District .

Surprise Inspections of Retail Sale Outlets were carried out by the concerned Drugs Control Officers under the supervision of respective Assistant Drugs Controller in Jammu Province under the overall authority of Lotika Khajuria, State Drugs Controller to ensure availability of quality drugs to the end users.

The reasons for suspension ranged from Non maintenance of Sales records, Impersonation, Unhygienic/Insanitary Conditions, Improper storage conditions etc. The Licenses were warned of strict action in case the deficiencies are not removed within stipulated period of time.

Meanwhile, statutory drug samples of more than one hundred and eighty drug formulations viz Antibiotics, PPI, Steroid, NSAIDs etc were also lifted from private firms and government institutions for determination of strength and purity. These samples were referred to Drug Testing Laboratories located within the State for framing legal opinion to ascertain their quality parameters.

Moreover, Stocks of Drugs worth Rs 11,181 that were found to be contravening the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act have also been confiscated from the supply chain by the Regulatory Officers of the organization under the relevant provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act.

The members of trade fraternity were impressed upon to maintain sales records of Drugs falling under Schedule H and H1 strictly as per mandated legal provisions. The State Drug Controller has said that the Department shall initiate severe punitive actions against such pharmacies who indulge in any unfair/unethical trade practices.