Karnataka drugs control department has convicted seven pharmacy outlets in the state for violating the Drugs & Cosmetics Act. The outlets were found to stock expired drugs and not maintaining the records of the source of drugs.

The pharmacy outlets are Mardudhar Pharma and Sree Ganesh Medicals in Bangalore, Deepthi Medicals in Mandya, Vimal Surgicals, Roopa Medicals, Mandya, Siddarameshwara Medical Stores in Dharwad and City Medical in Shimoga.

The Special Court of Economic Offences, Bangalore convicted the owners of the chemist outlets. In the case of Mardudhar Pharma, the outlet was found to stock D-Kool and Duolinrota capsules without having purchase invoices. The outlet also did not maintain the records of the procurement and further failed to disclose the source of acquisition of these drugs found stocked. The outlet has paid fine of Rs 2,000 and its owner underwent a simple imprisonment.

In the case of Sree Ganesh Medicals at Bangalore, the Special Court of Economic Offences charged the owner with a fine of Rs 6,000 for stocking free government of Karnataka drugs sales which were banned for private pharmacy sales.

Deepthi Medicals was convicted for selling Schedule H drugs without prescription by a registered medical practitioner. The accused had to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 and undergo imprisonment.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in the District Court Complex in Gulbarga convicted the proprietor and approved manufacturing chemist and analytical chemist of Vimal Surgicals for manufacturing not-of-standard quality drugs. This act is a serious offence according to the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and Essential Commodities Act. The convicted had to pay up a fine of Rs 5,000 and face imprisonment.

At Hubli, the Judicial Magistrate First Class District Court convicted the owner of Shri Siddarameshvara Medical and General Stores for selling Schedule H drugs without the prescription. The outlet did not have a registered pharmacist and had issued bills without mentioning the patient name and details of the medical practitioner who has prescribed the drug. Further, the outlet had not maintained a record of drugs sourced. For this the owner of the outlet had to pay up Rs 14,500.

The proprietor of City Medicals was found guilty for stocking physical sample products that are not-for-sale and imprisoned for a year with a fine of Rs 500.

According to the Dr BR Jagashetty, Karnataka drugs controller, such convictions are required to maintain the standard of drugs not only in terms of quality but also in its sale practices. The surprise and regular inspections by the enforcement officers at the drugs control department can only bring in the some fear among the pharmacy outlet owners and manufacturers to refrain from such practices.