The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Monday raided a sports goods shop in Borivli and seized several several insulin injections. The unusual sale point is part of a thriving racket in the city, said the officials.
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Monday raided a sports goods shop in Borivli and seized several several insulin injections. The unusual sale point is part of a thriving racket in the city, said the officials.
What is the issue?
According to FDA officials, a nexus between doctors and medical representatives (MR) is selling large quantities of medicines to patients without prescriptions. Under the arrangement, MRs procure the medicines from wholesalers and sell them to patients at a discounted rate. The problem with this type of sale is that there is absolutely no record keeping.
Who tipped FDA officials?
Acting on a complaint, members Retail and Dispensing Chemist Association (RDCA) and a team FDA officials swooped down on the sports shop in Borivli (west) immediately after an MR delivered several packets of insulin, which were to be picked up by a diabetes patient.
RP Chaudhari, assistant commissioner of Zone VI Mumbai, FDA, said, "We found that 30 cartridges of insulin (each of 3 ml) were sold to a person without prescription. What is even more shocking is that the bill was made in the name of a doctor and not the actual consumer."
What do chemists say?
Prasad Danave, president of RDCA, said they had received complaints about illegal sale of medicines by MRs. "We have been told that many doctors are giving the number of MRs to their patients, telling them that they can get medicines at a cheaper rate. It may appear as a noble thought, but actually it's not."
What will FDA do next?
Chaudhari, who headed the raid team on Monday, said they have summoned the MR and the wholesaler, who had supplied the insulin injections, to the FDA office on Wednesday for further inquiry. "The MR can't be selling prescription drugs to patients directly. He is not qualified enough to ascertain how much medicine a patient requires and for how long. Also, the challan was not in the patient's name. Once the probe is completed, we will take a call on whether to cancel the licence of the wholesaler."
Are patient's lives at stake?
Yes, said Danave, stressing the need for immediate and strict action to put an end to the booming illegal business. "FDA has made it compulsory to ask for prescription while selling certain drugs. We maintain the records for the safety of patients. Also, insulin needs to be maintained at a particular temperature. This is not done with the medicines sold by the MRs. The nexus is putting people's lives at risk."
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