Morigaon, Assam regulator asks wholesalers to correct anomalies for not being punished under Rule 65

June 20, 2023

After intimating the state drug regulator and to the district police chief, the Morigaon district drug regulator in Assam has given strict warning to the pharma wholesalers against breach of licence conditions and wanted them to correct all anomalies in the business for not being punished under Rule 65 of the Drug Act.

In the letter written to the wholesale dealers district committee, marking copies to the higher authorities, Dr.Chandrajit Dohutia, the drug inspector in Morigaon has said that during his inspections in several premises he has noted many mistakes and anomalies in the records of the wholesalers. He said several of the wholesalers are not preparing the bills properly. Many bill books he checked did not contain the important details like the seller’s name, address and contact number. It was found that the wholesalers were selling medicines to parties who have no valid licences issued by the drug control department. Even some of the wholesalers are found running retail shops and selling medicines to patients directly which is attributed as a severe offence.

In the letter written to the state drug controller the drug inspector has pointed out that this action of the wholesalers is a breach of licence conditions and action as per the drugs and cosmetics act is urgently needed to restrain the illegal business.

Following the intimation of the drug inspector, the state drug controller has started strict actions against the norms violating wholesalers. The actions include suspension and cancellation of licences, and surprise raids in all the retail and wholesale premises, sources informed.
 
According to sources close to the headquarter office of the drug control administration, several drug inspectors have now written to the state DC to take legal action against the violators of pharmaceutical trade laws in other districts also.

Responding to the drug inspector’s letter, the state drug controller Biswajit Talukdar told Pharmabiz that he was getting a lot of complaints from several districts about supply of medicines to illegal pharmacies by wholesalers and not keeping proper bills. Similarly, there are complaints about unlicensed pharmacies and unqualified people dispensing medicines. He said the department has already started legal actions against the violators and the process will continue further. Several licences will be suspended or cancelled soon, the DC added.

Talking to Pharmabiz, the drug inspector Dr. Chandrajit Dohutia said he held inspections in several premises of the wholesalers and retailers and noted many violations. The aim of the letter to the wholesalers is to force them to correct their mistakes and do the business through proper channels. He said the government has appointed drug inspectors in all the districts, accordingly the enforcement has become stricter. “Now each district has got one drug inspector each. Everyone is getting complaints and they are all looked into. Inspections have been strengthened and warning is being given. Our objective is to clean the distribution channels and strengthen the enforcement activities”, he said.
 
Morigaon is a new district and the post of drug inspector was recently created. Dr. Chandrajit is the first drug inspector in the district. He said since the district is small, there are less than 1,500 medicine dealers including wholesalers and retailers. All drug inspectors are giving chances for the traders to rectify the anomalies found by the regulatory officers.
 
When Pharmabiz contacted the president of the Assam Drug Dealers Association (ADDA), Pramod Mour and the secretary Vikram Chaudhury, both of them said they did not see the letter sent to the district committee, however, they will look into the matter seriously.

PHARMABIZ.com