Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 25: In continuation to its efforts to ensure availability of quality, safe and efficacious drugs to the general public, District Drug Control Office Jammu today conducted a special drive in the Jammu City.
The teams of Drugs Control Officers under the overall supervision of Mohammad Iqbal Palla, Deputy Drugs Controller, Jammu & Archana Mujoo, ADC (HQ) Jammu were deputed to different areas of Jammu City to lift statutory drug samples of fast moving brands particularly Antitussive, Antipyretic Pediatric Syrups, Cough Syrups, Antibiotics etc.
During the drive, Statutory Drug samples of nearly hundred pharmaceutical preparations were lifted from supply chain (Retailers as well as Wholesalers) for determination of strength and purity. These samples were referred to Drug Testing Laboratories for framing legal opinion to ascertain their quality parameters.
Moreover, procurement records of pharmaceutical preparations were put on scrutiny to ensure that drug formulations are being purchased from regulated channels only. The pharma trade fraternity was impressed upon to ensure that the drugs shall only be procured from the authorized stockist through regulated channels, to ensure that spurious /not of standard quality drugs don’t find entry in the market through unscrupulous /clandestine channels.
During the drive, operations of eight drug sale establishments were disallowed under Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 for violation of conditions of the licenses. The licenses were warned of severe action in case the deficiencies are not removed within a stipulated period of time.
Moreover, acting swiftly on the inputs that a Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra being run inside a prominent Public Institution in Jammu City is selling some pharmaceutical preparations other than that of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), immediate action was taken and operations of the Kendra were disallowed to give a loud and clear message to all Jan Aushdhi Kendras , that they would not be allowed to defeat the noble cause of this pro public and pro patent initiative of providing Jan Aushadhi medicines at affordable prices to the general public.
Operations of a Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra have also been disallowed as the said Kendra was found to be indulged in sale of drug formulations other than the permitted ones.
Lotika Khajuria, State Drug Controller has once again impressed upon the trade fraternity to procure drug formulations from regulated channels only and sell the pharmaceutical preparations against the prescription of RMPs only and as per advisories issued from time to time , failing which strict action as contemplated under rules shall be initiated against the defaulters.