DCA stops illegal sale of medicines in Falaknuma, shuts quack’s clinic in Jangaon

Hyderabad: The Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Telangana, raided a medical shop in Nagulbanda, Falaknuma, and seized 23 varieties of medicines illegally stocked for sale. The seized medicines included antibiotics, antihistamines, analgesics, antipyretics, etc.

Disclosing the details, DCA director VB Kamalasan Reddy on Wednesday said that the medical shop was being operated by Mohammed Ayub Pasha without a valid drug licence. The DCA officers lifted the samples for analysis. Upon further investigation action will be taken as per the law against all offenders, he said.

He urged wholesalers and traders to ensure they supply drugs in bulk only to individuals or medical shops with valid DCA drug licences issued under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Quack held and Rs 20,000 worth of drugs seized

In another incident, the DCA officials raided the clinic of a quack K Laxminarayana, at Konne Village, Bachannapet Mandal in Jangaon District, who was practising medicine without proper qualification.

During the raid, the DCA officials detected 34 varieties of medicines, including antibiotics, steroids etc., found stocked at the premises without a drug licence. The DCA officials seized the stock, worth Rs 20,000 from his possession.

During the raids, the DCA officials detected several higher-generation ‘antibiotics’ being used and distributed to patients. Indiscriminate sale of antibiotics by unqualified persons may have disastrous consequences on the health of the public, including the emergence of anti-microbial resistance.

Similarly, officials also found steroids at the alleged quack’s clinic. Misusing steroids can have serious health consequences, including immune system suppression, hormonal imbalances, muscle and bone weakness, cardiovascular problems and psychological effects. The indiscriminate use of steroids poses significant risks to public health, the DCA director said.

DCA seizes falsely manufactured drugs

During the raids carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, the DCA officials detected drugs that were being manufactured and sold under the guise of food products/nutraceuticals.

The DCA officials in Sirpur in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district found Pedi Zinc Syrup (Zinc Gluconate Syrup) being circulated in the market. The product was being manufactured by Micro Nutritions in Hyderabad as a food product/nutraceutical.

Similarly, the DCA officials in Bhupalpally also found the product Ferrorus-XT Tablets (Ferrous Ascorbate, Folic Acid & Zinc Tablets) circulating in the market. The product was being manufactured by Kencure Pharmaceuticals in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district and marketed by Syrus Pharma, Kavadiguda here as a food product/nutraceutical.

Kamalasan Reddy said that the products were being falsely manufactured under a food license (FSSAI license) and sold as food products/nutraceuticals. According to the product composition on the labels, they were classified as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Guidelines regarding the manufacture and sale of drugs

Medical products are only allowed to be manufactured under a drug license issued under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, adhering strictly to the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) outlined in Schedule M of the Drugs rules. Additionally, it must meet the quality standards prescribed in the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as mandated, the DCA director said.