From Our Correspondent
TURA: A recent surprise inspection by health officials on a number of medical pharmacies in the heart of Tura town revealed large-scale violation of government regulation by those practicsing medicine and running medical stores in the the town.
Interestingly, it was the major medical stores which were violating the norms with the government appointed Drug Inspector turning a blind eye to the activities for which he has been asked to give an explanation.
The West Garo Hills district administration undertook the a surprise inspection by a team of magistrate and senior medical and health officials on as many as 12 major pharmacies that sell over the counter drugs (OTC) to customers.
The inspection revealed that some of the wholesalers, chemists and druggists, restricted premises license holders in the district were not adhering to the provisions of the Pharmacy Act and to the government circulars given from time to time.
A number of them did not display the license issued to them and were exhibiting and selling administered parental products and even allowing physicians to practise within the premises without the standard requirements. The copies of the Government of India (GOI) certificates of manufacturer and medicines were not found on some of the products either, it was reported.
Four major pharmacies- G M Medical at Tura bazar, M/s Abisa Medicos, opposite Tura Civil Hospital, Dermile, M/s Life Care Pharmacy, opposite Tura Civil Hospital, Dermile and M/s Health Care Medicos, Reserve Gittim/Dermile, were found to be defaulters and a show cause notice has been issued to them for the violations.
The Drug Inspector has also been hauled up for turning a blind eye to the violations. It is mandatory for drug inspectors to routinely inspect pharmacies for any violation. Sadly, this is not the case in most places of Meghalaya.
This is perhaps the first such checks to have taken in the Garo Hills in recent times, a region that is plagued by chronic malaria.