Raids intensified on medical shops

As Punjab Government’s anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh” completes one month, the Health Department has intensified raids on chemists to check illegal sale of habit-forming drugs.

The department has deputed medical officers and pharmacists to inspect medical stores while taking the police teams along. It all started after Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney held a meeting with Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur on March 19.

The Deputy Commissioner also deputed Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars to inspect chemist shops in urban areas.

“Over 30 teams have been formed for surprise inspection of chemists. Earlier, only the Drug Department used to conduct raids but now senior medical and also administration officials have been tasked to check chemists. The stores located in private hospitals also come under their ambit,” said Kulwinder Singh, zonal licensing authority.

Since March 19, the Drug Department has carried out raids at 48 chemist shops,

he added.

During the raids, a number of shops were found flouting norms by not keeping sale and purchase records while several chemists were found indulging in illegal sale of banned and Schedule ‘H’ drugs, including pregabalin.

Sawhney had categorically asked the chemist associations not to sell drugs without prescription of doctors. She also directed them to maintain proper record of sale and purchase of medicines.