Adulterated drugs: 22 shops shut in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Drug inspectors seized expired medicines being sold by four medical shops in Nakkal Road and Gunadala in the city on Thursday. Showcause notices were also served to the owners of the medical shops. The vigilance, revenue and health department teams raided medical shops in Vijayawada, in the wake of allegations of adulterated medicines being sold to the people.

A total of 22 medical shops in Nakkal Road, Eluru Road, Poranki and other areas have been inspected. Vigilance DSP Vijay Paul and other officials along with three drug inspectors have inspected the medical shops on three roads simultaneously. All the 22 shops do not maintain any registers nor do they give receipts on sale of medicines. Over 11 shops do not having pharmacist physically in the shop; the shops are being run  just  by showing the certificate.

In January, 2018, a scam regarding adulterated medicines prompted the raids by police and vigilance teams. The police arrested the main accused in a northern state and seized all the machinery used for making duplicate medicines. Then the police came to know that many shops in Vijayawada and Guntur also sell fake medicines. Keeping this in view, now the drive has been taken up by the officials. It may continue till all the medical shops in and around the city are inspected thoroughly.