In the wake of the unearthing of huge expired drug scam in Tamil Nadu, the Drug Control Department in Kerala has stepped up inspections in all the districts of the state to maintain circulation of good and quality drugs everywhere in the state. All the retail pharmacies and godowns of wholesalers will be inspected periodically, said M Geetha, the drugs controller-in- charge of Kerala.

Geetha has taken over as in-charge drugs controller on April 1 following the retirement of M P George on March 31, this year.

She said all the ADCs and drug inspectors have been alerted on the developments taking place in the neighbouring states and asked them to continue raids in all the pharmacies. If any minor or major incident of illicit trade similar to that of what is reportedly happening in Tamil Nadu is found in Kerala, the department will initiate strict action against the licensees. Notices have been issued to all inspectors in the department to be vigilant and check the purchase bills of the medicines kept in the stores of retail pharmacies.

In the meantime, the regulatory staffs in Palakkad and Idukki districts, which lie close to Tamil Nadu, have intensified operations in their areas. The department strongly feels that there are chances of expired drugs entering Kerala from Tamil Nadu because majority of drugs available in Kerala are coming from Tamil Nadu only.

Regarding inspections in government hospital pharmacies, the new drugs controller said the department has given strict instructions to the concerned drug inspectors to conduct inspections two times every month in all the government hospital pharmacies.

To a question about the recent verdict by the Kerala High Court making it mandatory that all the pharmacies attached to the private hospitals should also obtain drug licences, she said so far her office did not receive the copy of the judgement. When asked whether inspection would be conducted in private hospital pharmacies, she said it would be decided after receiving the court order. According to her, the private hospitals owning pharmacies, which have no drug licences now, have to remit Rs 3000 through chellan for applying for new licence.

Speaking to Pharmabiz, Geetha said raids and inspections will be strengthened in the state in another one week, but the department faces the shortage of drug inspectors. If the inspections extended to hospital pharmacies also, the situation would demand more inspectors.

Meanwhile, the Chennai CB CID, which is now inquiring into the drugs scam, raided another godown owned by the key accused Sanjay Kumar and seized huge quantity of expired and spurious drugs. The investigation team has arrested an associate of Sanjay Kumar. The CID team is continuing its crackdown on illicit drug traders across the state.