A medical shop operating without a valid drug licence was raided in Musheerabad, Hyderabad on Friday, leading to the seizure of 32 varieties of medicines, including expired drugs that were being stocked for sale to unsuspecting customers.
The Drugs Wing of the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) conducted the raid at Mahaveer Medicals located in Bakaram, Musheerabad, after receiving information about the illegal sale of medicines at the establishment. During the inspection, officials discovered that the shop was being operated by Jayesh Arvind Jain without possessing a valid drug licence, which is mandatory for selling pharmaceutical products.
Authorities found a large quantity of medicines stocked for sale during the inspection. The seized stock included critical medications such as antibiotics, antihypertensives, antifungal medicines, analgesics, and other drugs. Alarmingly, expired medicines were also found among the stock, posing serious health risks to consumers who might have purchased them. Officials lifted samples from the seized stock for laboratory analysis to determine the quality and authenticity of the medicines.
TG SAFE officials have stated that further investigation is underway and legal action will be taken against those found responsible for operating the unlicensed medical shop. The authority has also issued a stern warning to wholesalers and dealers who supply medicines to unlicensed establishments, cautioning that they too could face action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Dealers have been specifically directed to verify that receiving establishments possess valid drug licences before making any supplies.
According to TG SAFE, stocking medicines for sale without a drug licence is a serious offence punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and can attract imprisonment of up to five years. The illegal sale of medicines, particularly expired drugs, poses significant health hazards to the public and undermines the safety standards established by regulatory authorities.
The public has been encouraged to report suspected illegal activities involving medicines to the TG SAFE Drugs Wing toll-free number 1800-599-6969, which operates from 10:30 am to 5 pm on working days. This helpline enables citizens to alert authorities about unlicensed medical shops or suspicious pharmaceutical activities in their neighborhoods.
