Telangana DCA flags 196 medical stores for illegal sale of Schedule H1 medicines

Hyderabad: The Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Telangana, conducted a special inspection drive across the state on Monday to identify irregularities in retail medical shops.

The drive focused on monitoring the sale of Schedule H1 medicines, including higher-generation antibiotics and habit-forming drugs, which require mandatory prescriptions.

Focus on Schedule H1 compliance

According to the DCA, the primary aim of the drive was to verify whether medical shops were dispensing Schedule H1 drugs strictly against prescriptions issued by Registered Medical Practitioners.

A press note issued by the department stated, “The special drive was conducted with prime emphasis on verifying the sale of Schedule H1 drugs, including higher-generation antibiotics and habit-forming drugs, and ensuring that retail medical shops dispense them only against a valid prescription issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner.”

Inspections also assessed whether pharmacies were maintaining mandatory registers, billing records, and adhering to GST-related norms.

196 medical stores found violating norms

During the statewide operation, inspection teams detected multiple violations in 196 retail medical shops. The DCA listed the following discrepancies:

• Dispensing Schedule H1 drugs without a valid prescription

• Selling prescription medicines in the absence of a Registered Pharmacist

• Non-maintenance or failure to produce Schedule H1 registers

• Improper or missing sales and purchase bills

• Irregularities in maintaining copies of procurement and sales documents

The department confirmed that Show Cause Notices were issued to all 196 shops found in violation. Action will be taken as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the associated rules.

The press note added, “Show Cause Notices were issued to all the 196 retail medical shops for the violations reported, and action shall be taken as per the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Rules made thereunder.”

Public encouraged to report illegal drug activities

The DCA urged citizens to report any irregular activities related to medicines, including the illegal manufacture or handling of narcotic and psychotropic substances.

The department stated, “The public may report any complaints regarding illegal activities related to medicines, as well as any other suspected manufacturing activities concerning drugs… through the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana Toll-Free Number 1800-599-6969, operational from 10:30 am to 5 pm on all working days.”