Licences of 2 pharma stores suspended for unethical trade practices
Jammu: In continuation to its efforts to curb the unlawful distribution and misuse of habit-forming drugs, Drugs & Food Control Organisation (D&FCO) J&K has suspended the licences of two pharma stores for unethical trade practices.
Surprise inspections of the Pharma establishments were conducted & during the inspections, two pharma establishments were found indulging in clandestine purchase & sale of habit-forming pharmaceutical preparations, mainly comprising of Tapentadol & Pregabalin from neighbouring states without maintaining mandatory sale/purchase records.
Accordingly, Drug sale licences of M/s Aatir Enterprises, Ganjiawra, Anantnag & M/s Pharma Plus Medicare, Kheora, Rajouri have been cancelled for indulging in unethical trade practices after issuing Show Cause Notices to them.
State Drugs Controller Lotika Khajuria has reiterated that the Government of Jammu & Kashmir is committed to regulate the sale of scheduled drugs and strict compliance by all retail and wholesale drug license holders shall be ensured. Surprise inspection, digital tracking of medicine inventories and inter-agency coordination are being intensified.
She further warned that strict penal action, including license cancellation and prosecution, would be taken against those who endanger lives for profit.
Earlier this month, the Medical Dialogues team reported that the Jammu and Kashmir Drugs Control Department had cancelled the licenses of four pharmaceutical firms for similar violations involving the clandestine sale of addictive medicines.
Read also: 4 Pharma Firms Lose Licenses Over Pregabalin, Tapentadol Misuse
The spotlight on such drugs has intensified nationwide. In February, acting on the reports regarding the export of unapproved combination drugs containing Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) imposed a ban on their production and export.
Tapentadol is an opioid medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant that works on the centre of the brain and spinal cord to relieve pain.
