Posers raised on mode of issuing retail drug licences
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 07 2019:
Many have started raising questions regarding failure by many of the pharmacies established in the State to fulfil the necessary criteria needed to obtain drug license, as well as the failure of the authorities concerned to look into the matter properly.
Nowadays, many cases have also sprung up where many individuals can be seen selling medicines near different hospitals without proper business establishments and just some cash memos.
During a routine survey conducted by the officials of Directorate of Health Services, under the supervision of Imphal East Chief Medical Officer/Drugs Inspector, at the pharmacies operating in and around JNIMS area, some of the pharmacists (who did not wished to be named) expressed disappointment at how some licenses have been issued for operating pharmacies.
They claimed that many of the pharmacies in and around JNIMS, do not meet the criteria which are necessary to obtain drug licenses.
The State Health Services has issued licenses for around 200 pharmacies near JNIMS.
However, if properly investigated, not more than 60-70 would be found fulfilling the criteria needed for holding the licenses.
As per rules, it is mandatory for a pharmacy to have an area of 10 square meters, the structure should be well built, dry, well lit and ventilated.
The pharmacists claimed that some of the pharmacies located near JNIMS just made short term arrangements to get the licenses from the State Health Services.
But after getting the licenses, many are now selling medicines inside JNIMS by just giving some cash memos as they don't have proper establishments, they claimed.
Alleging that some are operating 2-3 pharmacies with just one license, they said many of the owners of the said unethical/illegal pharmacies are State Government employees even though it is against the norms.
This has caused great inconvenience to the patient parties when they decide to return or exchange any medicine as they cannot find the pharmacy who gave them the medicine in the first place.
This has also made people doubtful about the credibility of the pharmacists who are operating legally in the area, they lamented, stressing on the need to maintain proper ethics and values when it comes to the profession.
They then demanded the authorities concerned to look into the matter at the earliest and introduce a proper mechanism to combat this menace.
The pharmacists further urged the authorities to ascertain how many pharmacies can be given license to operate in a certain location and also demanded the Government to to carry out regular drives against such malpractices rather than conducting a simple routine survey.