Telangana DCA conducts raids at clinics of quacks, seizes drugs

One of the key raids took place on 30th August, 2024 at the premises of a quack K. Bal Narsimhulu, at Door No. 1-2/8, Surampalle Village, Doultabad Mandal, Siddipet District., who was claiming himself as a ‘Rural Medical Practitioner’ and practicing medicine without proper qualification at his clinic. DCA officials found a large stock of 15 varieties of medicines, including antibiotics, analgesics, and IV fluids, worth Rs. 50,000. The medicines were seized, and samples were taken for further analysis. Smt. S. Vinay Sushmi, Drugs Inspector, Siddipet, and Smt. P. Chandrakala, Drugs Inspector, Medak, are among the officers who carried out the raid.

The indiscriminate sale of antibiotics by unqualified individuals poses serious risks to public health, including the potential emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global concern.

Further raids were carried out on 29th and 30th August, targeting other quacks and unauthorized practitioners who were practicing medicine without proper qualifications at their clinics. During the raids at the premises, substantial quantities of medicines stocked for sale without a drug license were found. 

DCA officials detected several higher generation ‘antibiotics’ at the clinics during the raids. 

One raid at D. No. 2-69, Goundla Ramavaram Village, Laxmidevipally Mandal, Bhadradri-Kothagudem District, led to the discovery of 54 varieties of medicines, including 34 varieties of physician's samples. Another raid at Ayesha Clinic in Jahanuma, Hyderabad, uncovered 13 varieties of medicines.

In total, the DCA seized stocks worth Rs. 1.25 lakhs during these operations. The raids were carried out by officials including Sri. Ch. Samapath Kumar, Drugs Inspector, Bhadradri-Kothagudem, and Smt. B. Lakshmi, Drugs Inspector, Charminar.

Wholesalers/Dealers who supply medicines to such unqualified persons/unlicensed entities, who are stocking and selling drugs without a drug license, are also punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and stringent action shall be taken against such Wholesalers/Dealers. Wholesalers/Dealers shall mandatorily ensure that the recipient entities hold a valid drug license before supplying medicines to them

In another incident on 27th August, the DCA raided the premises of a quack Devaji Vilas Patil, at H. No. 37-038, Jagathgiri Nagar, Jagathgiri Gutta, Quthbullapur Village, Medchal-Malkajgiri District, who was claiming himself as a ‘Rural Medical Practitioner’ and practicing medicine without proper qualification at his clinic ‘Santosh Clinic’. During the raid, DCA officials detected 32 varieties of medicines, including antibiotics, steroids, anti-ulcer drugs etc., found stocked at the premises without any drug license. DCA officials seized the stock, worth a total of Rs. 15,000/-. The indiscriminate use of steroids, which were also found during the raid, poses serious health risks, including immune system suppression and cardiovascular problems. Sri. E. Thirupathi, Drugs Inspector, Quthbullapur, Sri. T. Shiva Teja, Drugs Inspector, Kapra, Sri. K. Murali Krishna, Drugs Inspector, Malkajgiri and Sri. E. Naresh Reddy, Drugs Inspector, Balanagar are among the officers who carried out the raid.

The DCA has intensified surprise checks on unqualified persons engaged in stocking and selling drugs without drug license. The DCA has warned that stringent action will be taken against all violators.