Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, 9th August: Punjab’s Drug and Food Administration officials conducted joint raids on Saturdayin the Sangrur zone. Acting on the internal leads, 2 separate teams of drug regulatory officers were dispatched to the areas of Dirba and Lehragaga.
This was informed here today by Sh Hussan Lal, Commissioner, Drug and Food Administration. He told that M/s Garg Medical Agencies, Lehragaga was found stocking and indulging in sale and distribution of large quantity of drugs in three unlicensed godowns near his licensed premises. The raiding team seized many types of allopathic drugs from these godowns worth Rs 85 lakhs approximately of potential drugs such as Flucloxacillin, Injection Oxytocin, Ceftriaxone injection, Pantaprazole etc. and 9 samples of drugs suspected to be of doubtful quality were drawn for test and analysis. The proprietor Sh. Gian Chand was found not having licenses of these three godowns for authorized stocking of drugs. Further investigation in this case is under progress to initiate legal action against the violator. Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945, mandates that everyplace for storage of drugs should be licensed equipped with arrangements for proper storage of drugs. It is pertinent to mention that the punishment for such offences has been enhanced under the amended Drugs & Cosmetics Act, there is provision of not less than 3 year of rigorous imprisonment with fine Rs 1 lakh or 3 times the value of drugs seized whichever is higher.
On the basis of another lead, the second team raided the premises of M/s Singla Medical Store at Dirba and found the firm allegedly involved in the unethical trade of habit forming drugs. The team recovered potential habit forming drugs such as tablets of Alprazolam, Tramadol, Esctilopram and Clonazepam etc worth Rs 408000 approximately, in possession of the proprietor without valid purchase and sales record. This case is under consideration of the department to suspend or cancel his licenses. The drugs purchased without bill or from unapproved sources and stored under improper conditions can be of doubtful or poor quality. Sh Hussan Lal appealed the public to purchase drugs from approved sources and must get bills from the chemist to ensure that the drug purchased is of standard quality. He stated that Punjab’s Health Minister, Sh Surjit Kumar Jyani has already given instructions to the department officers to deal sternly with violators. As per the instructions of Health Minister the department has launched a campaign of streamlining the activities of the chemists and to ensure proper sale and storage of drugs as per mandatory conditions.
