The Gujarat FDCA has embarked on a massive vigilance drive across the state to crack down on incidents of malpractices among the strong 17000 plus retail outlets and over 40,000 plus pharmacists. The regulators informed that the main aim behind this drive is to ensure and check whether the retailers and pharmacists are adhering to the provisions of the drugs and cosmetics Act and rules especially relating to the clause that stresses on presence of pharmacists in the retail outlets.

The drive that was initiated last month has already covered around 5000 retail outlets across the state, from which over 400 retailers have been issued show cause notices, while license of over 25 plus chemist shops have been canceled so far for flouting the D&C Act. It is understood that these retail outlets were dispensing drugs without the presence of pharmacists in their shops, while displaying rented pharmacy certificates.

While the FDCA has already initiated steps against the retailers and chemist shops, they have also seized the licenses of pharmacists who had rented their licenses to shops and have referred their cases to the Gujarat pharmacy council with strong recommendation to cancel their registration licence with the state PCI. This was done in the wake of the ongoing investigation that showed many pharmacists actively renting their certificates to retail outlets for easy money, while they where found to be working as medical representatives or in corporates.

Dr H G Koshia, commissioner, Food & Drugs Control Administration, said, “This attitude among the pharmacists is really hurting the interest and the good will of this profession, thus all efforts will be taken to duly apprehend the wrongdoers and stop the from further maligning the reputation of pharmacy. In the light of recent discovery, we are going to further strengthen our vigilance by aggressively pursuing the wrongdoers from continuing the same as it is not just the violation law but also the life of the patients at risk.”

He further informed that apart from ensuring a drive across the state, state FDCA has also directed the assistant commissioners to cross check and verify all the reports submitted by their drug inspectors over the time, to verify and find out whether there have been any lapse on their part in reporting while doing their duty. He further warned that strict action will be proceeded against those drug inspectors if they are found to be involved in any malpractices in association with the culprits.