Telangana: DCA raids two illegal pharmacies; seizes stocks of over 60 types of drugs

Hyderabad: Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) busted two pharmacies operating without drug licenses.

In the first incident, DCA conducted a raid on Sri Sai Super Speciality Dental Hospital in Wanaparthy which was operating a pharmacy without a drug license, and seized a significant quantity of drugs worth Rs. 80,000 intended for sale.

M Venkata Suresh, a dentist, has been operating the pharmacy in the hospital without a drug license. During the raid, officers detected an unauthorized stocking of medicines intended for sale. 24 varieties of medicines, including antibiotics, painkiller drugs, and other dental medications, were found stocked at the premises. DCA officials seized the entire stock, worth Rs. 80,000, during the raid.

DCA officers lifted samples for analysis. Further investigation will be conducted, and appropriate action will be taken by the law against offenders.

In a separate incident, DCA raided a medical shop at Noor Khan Bazar, Charminar, Hyderabad, which was being operated without a drug license. During the raid, authorities seized 36 types of medicines, including antibiotics, habit-forming drugs such as Alprazolam tablets and Codeine syrups.

Mir Hussain Hyder Razvi was found illegally operating `NAJM Pharmacy’ at the premises without a valid drug license.

DCA officers discovered the unauthorized stocks of medicines. Thirty-six types of medicines including habit-forming drugs, antibiotics, anti-ulcer drugs, cough syrups, and others, were found stocked for sale at the premises. Habit-forming drugs such as Alprazolam Tablets and Codeine Syrups, were also found at the unlicensed premises.

In another incident, Drugs Control Administration officials seized ‘Tenebetic-20 tablets’ (Teneligliptin tablets IP 20 mg) at Kothapet Village, Uppal Mandal.

Teneligliptin tablets 20 mg sold under the brand name 'Tenebetic-20 tablets’ are under price control as per the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. The price of the product shall be fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Government of India.

The product ‘Tenebetic-20 tablets’ (Teneligliptin tablets IP 20 mg) of Batch No. IS23068, Mfg. date: 04-2023, Exp. Date: 03-2025, Manufactured by: Ind-Swift Limited, Industrial Growth Centre, Phase-1, Samba-184121, Jammu and Kashmir, Marketed by: Elder Project Limited, 302, 3rd Floor, Plot no. 174, Kunthu Commerce Centre, Near Ayappa Temple, Bangur Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai-400104, bears MRP as Rs. 151.25 per 10 Tablets on the label of the product which is a violation of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.

The Ceiling price fixed by the Central Government including Wholesale Price Index for the product “Teneligliptin Tablets 20 mg” is Rs 11.08 per tablet i.e. Rs. 110.8 per 10 tablets (Ceiling Price).

Hence Maximum Retail Price (MRP) i.e. including GST 12 % should not be more than Rs. 124.1 per strip of 10 tablets (MRP=Ceiling Price+GST) The firm overpriced the product. The firm charged an excess of Rs. 27.20/- per strip of 10 tablets, which is a violation of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.

Advisory:

Wholesalers/Dealers who supply medicines to such unlicensed entities, who are stocking and selling drugs without a drug license, are also punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and stringent action shall be taken against such Wholesalers/Dealers. Wholesalers/Dealers shall mandatorily ensure that the recipient entities hold a valid drug license before supplying medicines to them.

The Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, issues drug licenses for the stocking and selling of medicines by the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Stocking drugs for sale without a drug license is punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, with imprisonment for up to five years.

Licensed medical shops typically ‘display their drug licenses’ issued by the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, conspicuously in a prominent place that is easily visible to the public. Selling medicines without a license is considered an offence, and medicines purchased from unlicensed premises are likely to be counterfeit products.