FDA shuts six medical stores in Haryana due to irregularities

Chandigarh: Under its special search operation, the Haryana Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) sealed six shops in different areas of the state for committing various irregularities.

Besides, two persons were arrested for carrying 6,420 tablets of alprazolam and 44 bottles of codeine phosphate syrup.

Stating this here, State Drug Controller Narendra Ahuja said that the operation was being carried out in the state as per the directions of Health Minister Anil Vij.

Under this operation, action is being taken against unauthorised medical stores in the state, medicines being sold without prescription, shops operating in the absence of pharmacist, sale of MTP kits and against those who violate rules. Besides, samples of milk, curd and ghee were also collected from different dairies in district Fatehabad. These have been sent to laboratory for testing, he added.

He said that Mohd Rizwan, resident of district Sangrur, Punjab and Pankaj Nagpal, resident of Ludhiana, Punjab, were caught carrying large amounts of alprazolam tablets and codeine phosphate syrup at a check post laid by FDA and Police in Kurukshetra. A case was registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. As alprazolam tablets and codeine phosphate syrup are used for intoxication, these could not be sold without prescription, he added.

Mr Ahuja said that six medical stores in districts Jind, Narnaul, Yamunanagar and Fatehabad were sealed and legal action was initiated against them for selling medicines without prescription of doctor and in the absence of pharmacist.