| DFCO conducts special drive to check retail pharmacies, wholesale outlets | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 21: To ensure equitable access and availability of all life saving and critical care Covid management drugs during these “tough & challenging times”, the Drugs & Food Control Organization (DFCO), J&K conducted a special drive to check retail pharmacies and wholesale outlets.
The drive was conducted under the direct supervision of Assistant Drugs Controller, Jammu wherein surprise and supervisory checks of retail pharmacies and wholesale outlets mostly situated near Covid Designated Hospitals and other tertiary care institutes viz Bakshi Nagar, Shalamar, Gandhi Nagar, Channi, Talab Tillo, RS Pura and Akhnoor were carried out
During the drive, inspections of outlets which deal in Medical Devices viz Infra Red Thermometers, Digital Thermometers, Pulse Oxymeters, Medical gas cylinder (Portable), Medical / Surgical masks, Respirator masks( N95 & FFP2), Face shields (Single use), Protective goggles, Surgical Gloves, High Flow Masks, Nasal Canule (Pronges) were also carried out and it was observed that such products are abundantly available with select outlets to meet the specific demands of the end users.
The main thrust of the drive was to curb stockpiling of medicines that may lead to shortage in the supply chain and to ensure that there is no shortage of essential and critical drugs pertaining to Covid-19 and to ensure that the formulations/medical devices are available at affordable process in the market and to prevent black marketing, hoarding profiteering, stock piling of drugs.
The Pharmacies were impressed upon to dispenses drugs in most ethical manner mainly Scheduled formulations and to prevent the misuse of Steroids so that they are procured by the needy patients strictly against the prescription of RMP’s.
It is pertinent to mention here that during the drive, operations of three Retail Sale Establishments which were found violating the norms were disallowed on spot u/s 22 (d) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 on spot. The Licenses were warned of severe action in case the omissions are repeated and SOPs are not followed in letter and spirit.
Moreover, Drug samples of more than hundred formulations were lifted from supply chain for determination of strength and purity. These samples have been sent to Drug Testing Laboratories located within the State for framing legal opinion to ascertain their quality parameters. |
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