125 Telangana shops face notices over habit-forming drug sales

Hyderabad: The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) detected violations in 125 medical shops across the CURE region and other districts of Telangana during a special enforcement drive against the illegal sale and diversion of habit-forming drugs on Wednesday, November 11.

The raids were conducted by the TG SAFE Drugs Wing, along with Enforcement Wing police personnel, in vulnerable areas, particularly in Medchal and Serilingampally zones of the CURE region. Similar inspections were carried out in several other districts as part of the statewide drive.

Officials focused on the indiscriminate sale of habit-forming medicines, including Tramadol, Alprazolam, Nitrazepam, Codeine-based cough syrups, Tapentadol, Pregabalin and Zolpidem. The enforcement teams also conducted decoy operations and test purchases to identify medical shops dispensing prescription medicines in violation of drug regulations.

The inspections revealed several irregularities, including the sale of prescription medicines without valid prescriptions from registered medical practitioners, failure to maintain prescription and Schedule H1 drug registers, and dispensing medicines in the absence of registered pharmacists.

Officials also found instances of medicines being sold without bills, failure to maintain or produce sales and purchase invoices, and irregularities in preserving mandatory records.

Show-cause notices have been issued to all 125 medical shops found violating the rules. TG SAFE said departmental action, including suspension or cancellation of drug licences, would be initiated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the rules framed under it.

The authority reiterated that Schedule H, H1 and X medicines must be sold strictly against valid prescriptions issued by registered medical practitioners. Any illegal sale, diversion or distribution of such drugs for non-medical or abusive purposes would invite stringent action, including prosecution.

Medical shop owners have been directed to maintain proper prescription records and ensure strict compliance with drug regulations to prevent the misuse of habit-forming medicines.

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