After conducting raids on nutritionist Anjali Mukherjee's 'Health Total' health clinics in Mumbai, the Maharashtra FDA is contemplating raiding similar proprietary outlets in the city and across the state. Although no names of clinics were disclosed, it confirmed that there would be immediate raids on more such units in Mumbai and Maharashtra, very soon.
While raiding Mukherjee's clinic, FDA collected samples of ayurvedic drugs used for weight loss programmes. These drugs were mainly laxatives. 'Health Total' officials gave the names of these drugs as Triphala Gugul, Medohar Gugul, Shankwati pills, Krumikutar pills, Ampachakwati pills, Husk powder, Arkaliv tablets, and Chandraprabha vati, said a highly placed Maharashtra FDA official.
"The raid was conducted for the simple reason that the clinic was using unlabelled drugs. We are yet to ascertain whether they have undergone proper clinical trials. We have collected samples of the drugs for examination, only after which we can ascertain their genuineness. However genuine they are, selling unlabelled and untested compounds is criminal," he said.
The raid took place following a complaint by former Mumbai municipal commissioner K Nalinakshan, who was undergoing a weight loss programme at Mukherjee's Colaba outlet in south Mumbai. Nalinakshan is currently being treated at the Bombay Hospital after he complained of illness during his weight lose programme.
"We are yet to confirm whether Nalinakshan's current condition was caused by the pills. And if so, then which pills caused it," said the FDA official.