DCA detects violations in 144 pharmacies across state

Hyderabad: The Drugs Control Administration (DCA) Telangana on Friday conducted a special statewide inspection drive targeting medical shops and detected multiple regulatory violations in 144 pharmacies across Telangana.

According to officials, the inspections were carried out to verify compliance with drug safety and pharmacy regulations. During the drive, officials found several irregularities, including the dispensing of prescription medicines in the absence of registered pharmacists, the sale of medicines without valid prescriptions issued by registered medical practitioners, and the failure to maintain mandatory prescription and Schedule H1 drug registers.

Officials also detected non-maintenance of sales and purchase bills, the inability to produce purchase invoices for stocked medicines, improper maintenance of records related to drug sales, and failure to store thermolabile medicines under prescribed temperature conditions. In some pharmacies, expired drugs were allegedly found stocked along with saleable medicines.

The DCA said show-cause notices had been issued to all 144 medical shops found violating norms and that further action will be taken under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and related rules.