Telangana DCA finds violations in 193 medical shops over antibiotic sales

The Telangana Drug Control Administration found violations in 193 medical shops during inspections aimed at curbing antibiotic misuse and raising awareness on Antimicrobial Resistance. Show cause notices were issued for selling antibiotics without prescriptions and not maintaining regulatory records.

Hyderabad: To spread awareness on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and curtail the indiscriminate sale of antibiotics, the Telangana Drug Control Administration (DCA) conducted inspections across the State and detected violations in 193 medical shops. Show cause notices were issued under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

During the inspections, DCA teams found several violations, including the sale of antibiotics without a prescription from a Registered Medical Practitioner, sale without issuing a bill, sale in the absence of a registered pharmacist, non-maintenance of the Schedule H1 Drug Register, and non-maintenance of prescription registers for antibiotics, a press release stated.

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Director General of TSDCA, Shahnawaz Qasim, urged people to use antibiotics judiciously. “Antibiotics are only for treating bacterial infections, and antivirals are meant for viral infections. You can’t take antibiotics for a common cold or upper respiratory infection, which are most often viral. AMR happens when you take antibiotics you do not need. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics are harmful. Rational use of antibiotics is a must,” he said.

The DCA stated that stringent action would be taken against medical shops and pharmacies selling antibiotics without a prescription from a qualified doctor. Over-the-counter sale of antibiotics is punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.