Pune: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra has initiated a statewide inspection drive to curb illegal sale of medicines by general practitioners to patients of other doctors.
The move comes in response to concerns raised by the Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association. The association alleged that it had received several complaints from district bodies about doctors stockpiling and selling drugs in large quantities, potentially violating schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
S V Pratapwar, assistant commissioner, FDA (drug), said, “While general practitioners can legally dispense medicines to their own patients, it is against regulations to sell drugs to patients carrying prescriptions from other doctors.”
Under the drive, each drug inspector is required to visit at least 10 doctors. The exercise also seeks to identify unlicensed practitioners.
“We are verifying purchase bills of medications stocked by general practitioners for patient use,” Pratapwar said, adding no violations have been detected so far but the investigation is still in progress.
The FDA is also conducting random audits in cases where wholesalers have records of substantial drug sales to individual general practitioners, cross-referencing to prevent any unauthorised distribution channels.
Anil Belkar, secretary of the Pune District Chemists’ Association, said, “We have received complaints about general practitioners operating as de facto chemist shops. This issue of illegal storage and sale of drugs in large quantities by doctors has been discussed in detail at our executive meetings. It is a serious concern affecting the professional lives and future of many retailers. We have appealed to the FDA to take action, as this practice appears to be widespread throughout Maharashtra.”
