Licence of 54 pharmacies suspended in J-K

The Jammu and Kashmir government has suspended the licences of 54 pharmacies for violating various provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules.
The licences of these shops were suspended by the Drugs and Food Control Organization, an official said.
The organisation over a week has carried out systematic inspections across the Jammu division to ensure compliance of rules, he said.
It has conducted 278 inspections, taken 104 samples of different medicines and issued show cause notice to 59 establishments and traders, the official said.
The samples of the medicines and other allied products have been sent to drug testing laboratories, he said.

"Two unlicenced shops at Salalpur and Changram areas of Kathua district were closed down on the spot," the official said, adding the matter is being investigated and legal action will be taken.
"The chemists have also been told to obtain copies of prescription from buyers, particularly those purchasing schedule H and H1 drugs," he said.
The authorities also sought the cooperation of the traders to check the menace of drug abuse by restricting the sale of such products.