From dummy licences to special surveillance: Yogi govt tightens grip on adulterated medicines

Lucknow, Aug 24 (IANS) Yogi Adityanath-led UP government has intensified the crackdown on the illegal trade of counterfeit and adulterated medicines in the state and has put in place strict monitoring of licences and supply chains.

The entire supply chain and billing practices have been put under tight scrutiny, while issuance of drug licences for storage of medicines is under watch to ensure that patients receive safe and quality medicines.

The state government has also issued detailed guidelines for effective action against illegal businesses operating under the cover of drug sale licences, licences obtained in the names of dummy individuals, fake billing, stock manipulation and networks dealing in counterfeit medicines.

In such offences, action will not remain limited to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, but FIRs will also be registered under provisions of the BNS and NDPS Acts.

The SOP, issued by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), has defined the responsibilities of Drug Inspectors and Licensing Authorities.

Under the new system, special monitoring will be carried out for codeine syrups, painkillers, fast-moving and high-value medicines, as well as medicines falling under the NDPS category. In cases involving suspected medicines, backtracking will be conducted not only of the entire purchase and sale chain but also of bank transactions and digital records.

A thorough verification of the applicant and the firm’s background will be conducted before issuing new wholesale drug licences. Individuals previously involved in illegal drug trade will be prevented from obtaining fresh licences in the names of their spouses, siblings, parents, other close relatives or dummy persons. Serious violators will be debarred from obtaining licences. The role of their business partners and associates will also be examined.

Inspections will also be carried out to verify whether the establishment is being operated by the actual licence holder or whether another individual is conducting business in the licence holder’s name.

If it is established that medicines supplied under government programmes, ESI, defence supply, physician samples or expired medicines have been relabelled and sold in the market, the concerned stock will be taken into custody and an FIR will be registered.

“If counterfeit or spurious medicines are confirmed or serious irregularities are detected, the sale and distribution of the concerned medicines will be stopped immediately,” said a press statement.

Special surveillance will also be maintained on the illegal purchase and sale of codeine syrups, painkillers and medicines falling under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) category.

Meanwhile, the FSDA has directed all Drug Inspectors to strictly comply with every provision of the SOP and avoid unnecessary delays in investigations so that evidence is preserved and effective legal action can be ensured against those involved in the trade of counterfeit, substandard, adulterated and illegal medicines.

–IANS

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