In major drug haul, a team of Karnataka drugs control inspectors have seized an antibiotic valued at Rs 2.5 lakh which is not of standard quality. The drug amoxicillin sold under the brand name of AmoxNova which is manufactured by GS Pharmaceuticals in Haridwar and marketed by Sun Lifesciences was seized in November end. The drug was found to be of poor quality and since it was marketed by the Sun Lifesciences, the company is now caught for violation.

Another effort by the State drugs control department in its fight against sub standard drug quality, it has swooped on a manufacturer of cosmetics. The Company Wonder Herbs which is located at the outskirts of Bangalore was engaged in the production of the cosmetics. The range of cosmetics which included creams, gels and shampoos, were manufactured at its facility which has no license.

On the pharmacy trade front, the drug inspectors have caught the owner of an outlet which did not renew its license but continued to sell drugs.

Between October 1 and October 31 this year, the drug inspectors carried out 1,961 inspections of pharmacy outlets, 26 blood banks and 27 manufacturing units. Around 348 show cause notices have been issued for violations, 95 sales licenses have been suspended and 67 sales licenses were cancelled. However, the department also went on to issue 285 fresh licenses for pharmacy outlets.

The violations at pharmacy outlets were attributed to the Rule 65 of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act where it was observed that the outlets made sale of drugs without bills, absence of pharmacist at the counter, Scheduled drugs sold without prescription, discrepancy in stocks and sales, no registry maintained on the details of the expiry drugs, Dr BR Jagashetty, Karnataka drugs controller.

In addition there have been five prosecution cases by the DPC cell, Bangalore Circle, Blood Bank Intelligence Wing at Hubli, Hassan and Chitradurga districts. The cases were related to substandard quality drug production.

In the drug test lab, a total of 316 samples were analyzed of which 27 were declared as of not of standard quality drugs and investigations are being carried out.