Operation of several medical establishments suspended across J&K for violation of rules

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The enforcement staff of Drug & Food Control Organization on Friday carried out surprise checks in the market to secure due diligence with Government instructions (installation of CCTV Cameras & adoption of Computerised billing system) in the Retail Pharmacies existing / operating across the U.T of J&K.
During the drive a number of medical establishments were inspected and several Retail outlets were found guilty of committing breaches / dis-obedience of the standing instructions.
The action has been taken against M/s .Bhagwati Chemists chowk Chabutara Jammu, M/s Janvi Medical Store, Upper Bazaar, Jammu, M/s PMJAK, upper Bazar Jammu, M/s Dhar Medicate, Subhash Nagar, M/s Cure Fast Pharmacy, Karan Nagar Srinagar, M/s Medicare Chemist, Karan Nagar Srinagar, M/s Milineum Pharmacy, Karan Nagar, Srinagar and M/s Royal Chemist, Gole Market, Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
The Inspector of Drugs concerned in exercise of powers conferred under Section 22(d) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 disallowed the operation of the erring Pharmacies. Further as an abundant precaution, the pharmacies were sealed on the spot. The simultaneous checks were conducted in Jammu / Srinagar under the direct supervision of Dy. Drugs Controller, Kashmir, Nighat Jabeen and Dy. Drugs Controller, Jammu namely Mohammad Iqbal Pala.
The Organisation has impressed upon the Pharma fraternity to adhere to the Government instructions issued from time to time, particularly not selling drugs containing intoxicating ingredients (habit forming) without a valid prescription issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP).
The Pharma fraternity has been asked to not to dispense the prescription more than once unless the prescriber has stated for more than once. If the prescription contains a direction that it may be dispensed a stated number of times or at stated intervals, it must not be dispensed otherwise than in accordance with the direction.
At the time of dispensing there must be noted on the prescription above the signature of the prescriber the name and address of the seller and the date on which prescription is dispensed.
Meanwhile a team of Officers under the supervision of Rajesh Angurana, Deputy Controller (Intelligence cum Legal Cell) and Shri Pankaj Malhotra, Assistant Controller (Intelligence cum Legal Cell) conducted a surprise inspection in Udhampur district at M/s Inder Medical Agency ,Gole Market , Udhampur and M/s Ambica Medical Hall, Mukherjee Bazar, Udhampur . The raid was conducted on specific inputs and upon inspection, it was found that both the firms were dispensing Schedule H1 drugs in violation to legal provisions. The operation of both the establishments was disallowed on the spot.
Further investigation and mandatory legal procedures in all the above exercises shall follow in due course.