Discrepancies found at 137 medical shops in Telangana drug enforcement drive

Hyderabad: Authorities have detected discrepancies at 137 medical shops across Telangana during a special enforcement drive against the unauthorised sale and diversion of habit-forming medicines. Officials issued show-cause notices to the establishments where violations were found, and their drug licences may be suspended or cancelled depending on the outcome of the proceedings.

The Drugs Wing of the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE), along with Enforcement Wing police personnel, carried out the inspections on Thursday. They covered vulnerable areas of the CURE region and several other districts across the state. The teams focused on retail medical shops to verify compliance with regulations governing the sale and distribution of habit-forming medicines.

In the CURE region, inspections were conducted in the Saroornagar, Balapur, Hayathnagar, Musheerabad, Secunderabad, Begumpet and Amberpet zones. Similar inspections were also carried out in several districts across Telangana.

Medicines covered during the inspections

The medicines covered during the inspections included Nitrazepam, Alprazolam, Tramadol, Tapentadol, Pregabalin-containing formulations, Zolpidem and codeine-containing cough syrups. Although these medicines have legitimate medical uses, their unauthorised sale and use without appropriate medical supervision can pose serious health risks.

TG SAFE stated that the show-cause notices mark the beginning of further departmental proceedings against the establishments where discrepancies were identified. The drive is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to curb the illegal sale and diversion of medicines that can be misused due to their habit-forming properties.