Karnataka drugs control department had filed prosecutions in the district criminal Courts and secured convictions in 27 cases which included pharma companies and pharmacy trade outlets for violating the Drugs and Cosmetics Act under Section 18 A1. The inspections were carried out from April 1, 2014 to December end. The penalty meted out these companies is as per Section 27 and 28 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Out of the 27 cases 11 were pharma companies which were found to manufacture not of standard quality drugs. There was a serious gap in the adherence of the Schedule M or good manufacturing practices (GMP). With regards to the pharmacy outlets, the wholesalers and retailers were found to be non compliant and violating conditions of licenses, Raghurama Bhandary, drugs controller, government of Karnataka told Pharmabiz.

The companies have been levied a total fine ranging from Rs.5,000 to Rs.1.83 lakh and were imposed a simple imprisonment Cooper Pharma from New Delhi is convicted with a total fine of Rs.1.70 lakh.

Pavan Distributors at Mysore with four member team of the pharmacy outlet had to pay Rs.61,000 which amounted to Rs.1.83 lakh.

Sai Ganesh Medicals in Mangaluru had to pay a fine of Rs.40,000. Shri Mallikarjuna Medicals in Davengere had to pay a pay a total fine of Rs.6,000. Srikanteshwara Medical and General Stores was levied Rs.5,000 as penalty fee.

Siddhavinayaka Medicals in Bidar was forced to pay Rs.20,000, Someshwara Clinic in Hirekerur Taluk was fined Rs.9,500, Ashwini Clinic in Shivamoga had to pay a penalty of Rs.60,000. Herms Pharma Logistics at Whitefield in Bengaluru was asked to pay a penalty of Rs.5,000. Rachil Pharma penalty was fined Rs.20,000, Ethix Healthcare at Solan district in Himachal Pradesh had to pay a fine of Rs.1 lakh, Siddeshwara Associates in Dharwad was to pay a fine of Rs.40,000, Cyper Pharma in New Delhi had to pay a fine of Rs.50,000, Pacific Pharmaceuticals, Bengaluru had to pay a fine of Rs.10,000.

Other companies were Quaseer Labs, Sanchez Pharmaceuticals Asa Biotech, Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, Parameshwari Medicals in Honnavar, Pegasus Farmaco in Haridwar, Surien Pharmaceuticals in Kovar, Tamil Nadu, Nandini Health Care in Bengaluru and Mallada Nursing Home in Gadag. The total penalty by these companies was to the tune of Rs.3.75 lakh.