SRINAGAR– In an effort to ensure public safety and combat the misuse of medications, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a strong enforcement drive targeting pharmacies and drug stores across the region. Officials are checking for compliance with all legal and regulatory standards.
Pharmacies Shut Down for Violations
During the recent crackdown, officers from the Drug & Food Control Organization (DFCO) conducted surprise inspections in various districts of Jammu and Kashmir. As a result of these inspections, the licenses of eight pharmacies were cancelled. The reasons for cancellation included not keeping proper sales records for habit-forming drugs and not using computerized billing systems to track sales. The names of these pharmacies are M/s Aatir Enterprises Ganjiwara Anantnag, M/s Al-Mehdi Medicate, M/s Shehjar Pharmacy Budgam, M/s Medicity Pharmacy, Chadoora, M/s New Bhat Medicate Chadoora, M/s Dar Medicate Qazipora, Chadoora, Budgam, M/s Pharma Plus Medicare Near Zara Diagnostic Lab Kheora Rajouri, and M/s Happy Saini Medical Hall, Haria Chak, Marheen.
Wider Action Against Retailers
The enforcement drive also took action against a large number of retail sale establishments. Seventy-five such businesses were immediately shut down for not maintaining proper sales records, for impersonation (someone pretending to be someone else), and for having unsuitable storage conditions for medicines. These closures happened across different districts, including nine each in Jammu, Rajouri, and Anantnag; six each in Kupwara and Budgam; five each in Udhampur and Kulgam; four in Pulwama; three each in Kathua, Samba, Ramban, Doda, Baramulla, and Shopian; two in Poonch; and one each in Kathua, Ramban, Reasi, Kishtwar, Srinagar, and Ganderbal.
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Drug Samples Tested and Illegal Stocks Seized
As part of the initiative, drug officials also collected over 500 samples of various medicines randomly. These samples will be sent to drug testing laboratories within Jammu and Kashmir to check their quality and purity. Furthermore, stocks of drugs worth ₹8,40,348 were seized because they violated the rules of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. These drugs were confiscated from the supply chain by the Regulatory Officers.
Official Urges Compliance
Lotika Khajuria, the State Drugs Controller of Jammu and Kashmir, has strongly urged all businesses involved in the sale of drugs to strictly follow the rules and regulations.