DCA seizes drugs and stamps used to alter expiry dates in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: The Drugs Control Administration authorities seized Rs 4 lakh worth of drugs and 22 stamps used for altering expiry dates on drugs, a half-used bottle of SHEENLAC D13X NC Thinner allegedly used to erase original label details, and a paper containing multiple stamp impressions of altered batch and expiry particulars during raids conducted at Dicon Health Care, Vijayawada, on Friday and Saturday.Acting on the instructions of the Drugs & Copyrights and DCA Director General, the DCA teams, led by Drug Inspectors Zone II and Zone IV KV Bhupesh and Veeraiah Banothu, along with Visakhapatnam CDSCO sub-zone Drug Inspector V Vijaya Kumar, conducted joint inspections across NTR district.During the raid at Dicon Health Care, the DCA authorities found that the licensee altered the expiry dates of 9 varieties of drugs using fabricated rubber stamps. In this regard, the DCA booked a case under Section 23(5)(b) of the Act. The violations attracted provisions under Section 18(vi) read with Rule 104-A, punishable under Section 27(d) of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.Further, the DCA authorities, under the supervision of the NTR district DCA assistant director, conducted special drives against unlicensed medical practice in Jaggaiahpet and Penuganchiprolu areas and seized drugs worth Rs 4 lakh from 3 unlicensed premises operated by RMPs. The DCA booked cases against the 3 RMPs under relevant sections of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and produced the seized property before the judicial first class magistrate.On the occasion, the DCA cautioned the public against seeking treatment from unqualified practitioners (Quack RMPs/PMPs) and advised them to purchase medicines only from duly licensed medical shops. It further advised them to verify the batch number, manufacturing date, and expiry date before purchasing medicines, and to report any suspicious drug products to DCA.