Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 21: To ensure equitable access and availability of all life saving and critical care COVID management drugs, the officers of Drugs & Food Control Organization (DFCO) conducted a special drive wherein surprise and supervisory checks of Retail Pharmacies/Wholesale Outlets mostly situated near COVID Designated Hospitals and other tertiary care institutes viz. Bakshi Nagar, Shalamar, Gandhi Nagar, Channi, Talab Tillo, RS Pura and Akhnoor were carried out.
During the drive, which was conducted under the direct supervision of Assistant Drugs Controller, Jammu, inspections of outlets which deal in medical devices viz Infra Red Thermometers, Digital Thermometers, Pulse Oxymeters, Medical gas cylinder (Portable), Medical/ Surgical masks, Respirator masks (N95 & FFP2), Face shields (Single use), Protective goggles, Surgical Gloves, High Flow Masks, Nasal Canule (Pronges) were also carried out and it was observed that such products are abundantly available with select outlets to meet the specific demands of the end users.
The main thrust of the drive was to curb stockpiling of medicines that may lead to shortage in the supply chain and to ensure that there is no shortage of essential and critical drugs pertaining to COVID-19 and the formulations/medical devices are available at affordable prices in the market.
During the drive, operations of three Retail Sale establishments which were found violating the norms were disallowed on spot U/S 22 (d) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. The Licensees were warned of severe action in case the omissions are repeated and SOP’s are not followed in letter and spirit.
Moreover, Drug samples of more than hundred formulations were lifted from supply chain for determination of strength and purity. These samples were sent to Drug Testing Laboratories located within the UT for framing legal opinion to ascertain their quality parameters.
The State Drug Controller informed that the department has gone an extra mile to ensure the procurements of all life saving drugs by taking and resolving the issue of shortages directly with the concerned manufacturers, principal suppliers based outside J&K and also with NPPA to bring in sufficient quantities of injections Remdesivir & Toclizumab in the Government supply chain and there is no need to panic.
She requested the general public to inform any issue related to the availability/hoarding/black marketing/overcharging of COVID management drugs on phone numbers 9796011065 and 9906136659.
Follow our WhatsApp channel