Chennai: Share drugs including psychotropic, antibiotics, and steroids without recipes landing more than 250 drug stores in trouble.
It numbered almost 50% violations and cases submitted by the drug control directorate at 2020-21.
Some of these drugs are sold at the time when there is no pharmacist in the store, show case show.
Medicines listed in H, H1, and X schedules under drugs and cosmetic actions and drugs and cosmetic rules can be sold only by recipe for registered doctors.
In addition, some drugs such as antiallergy drugs are under the G schedule, which carry the label stating will be dangerous to bring them except under medical supervision.
Between April 2020 and March 2021, of the 500 cases submitted by drug inspectors throughout the country, 252 opposed drug stores that violated this rule.
In April and June this year, 42 cases were submitted for sale without a prescription.
“This is one of the most frightening rules and one of the largest public health hazards.
The irrational use of these drugs can cause some problems including drug resistance and addiction,” said the drug controller K Sivabalan.
“Drug inspectors who visit shops for inspection check the drug register to verify this.
The bill carries the doctor’s name along with the patient’s details.
Our inspector calls or visits patients to ensure they are not fake.
Sometimes they send feedback to check whether the shops sell without recipes, “he said.
Mandatory for pharmacists to be present in stores during working hours.
However, at 2020-21, 132 cases were submitted for violations of this rule.
Other violations include sales / stocking drugs under standard and spurious and expired drugs.
At least 92 cases are submitted to manufacturing for drugs below standard and six more for false drugs.