Licenses of 200 chemist shops suspended in last two months
TNN | Mar 27, 2019, 11:29 IST
Representative imageCHANDIGARH: Continuing with its drive against chemists indulging in malpractices, the Punjab government has suspended licenses of nearly 200 shops in the past two months.
In the past one year, the government has tightened noose around chemists by suspending licenses of nearly 1,200 shops for violating laid down norms. There are around 16,000 retail and 8,000 wholesale chemist shops across the state.
A large number of medical shops have come up in the recent years, especially in the rural areas, which indulge in illegal activities, including sale of habit-forming drugs, officials said.
From January to February, the authorities conducted a total of 1,586 inspections and initiated action against violators under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940/Rules 1945. Out of the total, 144 licenses have been suspended and 10 cancelled for selling habit-forming drugs.
Officials said the remaining licenses have been suspended due to general violation, including non-availability of a pharmacist.
As per the drugs and cosmetic rules, each medical shop must have a pharmacist. However, a large number of medical shops operate without a pharmacist. During raids, several medical shops were found to be operating without maintaining proper records.
During the period, the health department managed to recover habit-forming drugs worth Rs 16.41 lakh.
In the past one year, the government has tightened noose around chemists by suspending licenses of nearly 1,200 shops for violating laid down norms. There are around 16,000 retail and 8,000 wholesale chemist shops across the state.
A large number of medical shops have come up in the recent years, especially in the rural areas, which indulge in illegal activities, including sale of habit-forming drugs, officials said.
From January to February, the authorities conducted a total of 1,586 inspections and initiated action against violators under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940/Rules 1945. Out of the total, 144 licenses have been suspended and 10 cancelled for selling habit-forming drugs.
Officials said the remaining licenses have been suspended due to general violation, including non-availability of a pharmacist.
As per the drugs and cosmetic rules, each medical shop must have a pharmacist. However, a large number of medical shops operate without a pharmacist. During raids, several medical shops were found to be operating without maintaining proper records.
During the period, the health department managed to recover habit-forming drugs worth Rs 16.41 lakh.
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