In order to deter pharmacists from selling their licenses to illegally run drug stores and taking up employment elsewhere, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has filed FIRs against 10 pharmacists in different cases of cheating and impersonation under different sections of CrPC of IPC across Maharashtra.

Three pharmacists from Mumbai, two from Nanded, one from Pinjar, two from Thane and two from Nashik have been booked under section 416 for impersonation, 420 for cheating and 199 for violating the affidavit of oath (false statement made in any declaration which is by law receivable as evidence).

The state FDA has also come across rampant violation of Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act as several chemist shops in the state despite their licenses being canceled were found to be operating and dispensing drugs without any qualified pharmacist. Around 2500 cancellations and 1400 suspensions have been made across Maharashtra over a period of seven months due to absence of pharmacists at drug counters.

Informs Sanjay Kale, joint vigilance commissioner, Maharashtra FDA, "We found that suspensions and cancellations have failed to make any impact as the drug store owners after getting penalised succeed in getting a stay on the matter from the appellate authority and continue with their illegal business.”

"This is the outcome of the fact that there is a rising trend of qualified pharmacists selling their licenses to chemist shops and taking up dual employment either as a Medical Representative in a pharma company or as a faculty in an educational institution," he explains.

Inspections done by the state FDA across Maharashtra over a period of seven months reported absence of pharmacists in 95 per cent of shops and in five per cent cases due to other reasons.

Chemist shops across Maharashtra has been facing a massive crackdown by the state drug regulator in the past several months over absence of pharmacists and not maintaining proper billing records.