The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has recently filed a first information report (FIR) and issued show cause notices against 15 chemist shops across Mumbai for selling Rexcof cough syrup, a manufactured product of Cipla without doctor's prescription.
Rexcof cough syrup is a strictly prescription drug which cannot be sold without a doctor's prescription. This cough syrup is indicated for separation of the cough, but many people misused this drug as a means of drug addiction which is harmful to the health of the person.
Sources in the FDA said, “We have issued notices to 15 chemist shops across Mumbai as they have been found selling Rexcof cough syrup without prescription. We have started procedure to cancel their licenses for selling this cough syrup without doctor's prescription as it is harmful to one who is addicted on having it frequently, as the drug has a lot of impact on health.”
FDA also noticed that these shops had supplied the entire stocks of syrup without issuing sale bills and thus failed to produce records of purchase and thus violating the D&C Act 1940. Under Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, prescription drugs can be sold only on the prescription of a registered pharmacist or a doctor.
For some time, the Maharashtra FDA has been on an inspection drive against chemist shops across Mumbai against selling syrups or drugs without doctors prescription. FDA has also started filing FIRs against such shops who are not only selling drugs or syrups without doctors prescriptions but also not following the D& C Act. FDA officials said that our drug inspectors are on the investigation drive and soon going to crack rackets in selling drugs without prescription.