The Andhra Pradesh Drug Control Administration (APDCA) has cracked whip on medical stores which are found violating the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts in the state.

In its second drive carried out in a week’s time, the DCA authorities have inspected about 300 medical shops in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts and seized licenses of 10 medical shops in Abids and surrounding areas for selling habit forming and addicting drugs without having prescriptions from the doctors. Majority of these shops are found violating the DPCO order by selling essential drugs at a very high price and most of them are not even maintaining proper records of their sales.

Out of 300 medical shops inspected, the authorities have issued notices to at least 200 medical shops in the state. As many as 5 shops have been sealed for gross violations in the city. More than 100 medical shops both in Rangareddy and Hyderabad were found not maintaining proper records.

According to sources from APDCA, majority of the pharmacy stores are found not following the new Schedule H1. As per this, the antibiotic medicines and other habit-forming drugs must not be sold without a prescription. P. Nagabhushanm the director of the Drug Control Department said, “We are following the orders of the Drug Control Authority and checking on sale of drugs without prescription. Selling abortion pills without proper prescription is also an offence. Action is being taken against all such violators."

On the other hand, the chemists’ version is that, the DCA department is not giving them enough time to comply with the new rules. Dr. Jain, president of the chemists' Association in Hyderabad, said, "We have been requesting the department to carry out training on maintaining records. Many of the chemists are unaware of standard procedure of record maintaining. If the department helps in educating, creating awareness and also assists the pharmacists, then there will be a lot of improvement."

Thanks to regular vigilant inspections by the APDCA, unlike in the earlier days, most of the pharmacies are coming to terms. Except a few small and medium defaulters, all the big pharmacies are taking necessary steps and precautions in accordance to the rules and regulations of Drugs and Cosmetic Act, opined a pharmacy owner at Charminar.