Five Pharma Firms Under Regulatory Scanner Over Rs 8 Lakh Unbilled Medicines
Inspection
Agra: Medicines worth over Rs 8 lakh, sourced without valid invoices and allegedly circulated through unauthorised channels, were seized during a regulatory inspection in the city, prompting the Drugs Control Department to issue notices to five pharmaceutical companies seeking clarification on the authenticity and supply chain of the drugs.
The action followed a three-day inspection at Vardan Medical Agency in the Fawwara area, where officials detected 23 varieties of medicines stocked without proper purchase bills. The absence of mandatory invoices raised serious concerns about illegal procurement and possible violations of drug sale regulations.
Officials stated that the unbilled medicines included drugs used for treating diabetes, hypertension, anaemia and gastrointestinal disorders. These medicines were reportedly procured from multiple locations including Dehradun, Bhopal, Gwalior and Delhi, but no authorised documentation supporting their purchase or supply was produced during the inspection.
After seizing the medicines, officials documented batch numbers and product details and issued notices to the five concerned companies, seeking confirmation on whether the products were genuinely manufactured by them and supplied through authorised distributors. The responses will determine the next course of action.
Authorities cautioned that if any company denies manufacturing or supplying the medicines, strict action will be initiated against the agency owner under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for dealing in unauthorised or potentially spurious drugs.
During the inspection, officials also recovered over 1,300 antibiotic tablets that were reportedly meant for an ESI Hospital. The agency claimed that these medicines were purchased from a hawker in Gwalior. Samples of the seized medicines have been sent for laboratory testing as part of the ongoing probe.
According to a recent Amar Ujala report, the notices issued to the pharmaceutical companies seek confirmation of manufacturing details and authorised distribution channels, which will form the basis for further regulatory and legal action.
Officials reiterated that such inspections will continue to prevent illegal circulation of medicines and to ensure strict compliance with drug laws in the interest of public health.
