Karnataka drugs control department has launched a major drive on the pharmacy trade in the state. Of the 1,911 inspections on sales premises carried out over the last 30 days, the enforcement officials suspended 137 trade licenses. The Department also cancelled 131 sales licenses besides issuing 342 show cause notices for various violations.

The inspectors were forced to take actions on account of non adherence of pharmacy trade rules. These included lapses like not providing receipts after the sale of drugs. Storage of drugs after expiry dates along with the non expired date drugs. In some cases where outlets operated without registration, owners were not able to provide the proof of certificate of a qualified pharmacist at the premises.

However, the Department also issued 273 fresh sales licenses during the period. In Karnataka, there are around 22,017 sales outlets. The pharmacies are expected to hand over the trade licenses or pharmacy certificates when the drug inspectors demand. If these basic rules are not adhered to, the inspection team has no other go but suspend the license until such time the certificate is produced.

In the area of drug production units, the State inspectorate carried out 24 inspections out of the 235 manufacturing plants in Karnataka. The drug testing laboratory received a total of 285 drug samples which were analysed. Out of these, 26 samples were declared not-of standard quality and investigations are being carried out.

During the month, six prosecution cases were filed in the court. In the same period, two cases were disposed. Totally 11 complaints were received from the public and they were investigated.

Of the total 170 blood banks located across Karnataka, the enforcement officers carried out 62 inspections of blood banks.

According to Dr BR Jagashetty, Karnataka drugs controller, the department has been making surprise inspection drives. This is the only way to gauge the quality standards adhered to by the pharmacy trade and manufacturing plants apart from the blood banks.

"Such action will ensure stringent adherence to ethical pharmacy trade practices and prevent the sale of spurious drugs. The drugs control department has now strengthened its inspectorate team to carry out constant and surprise checks at manufacturing units and pharmacy trade outlets," he added.