DFCO team checks availability of critical care Covid management drugs in Jammu market

Jammu: To ensure equitable access & availability of all Life saving and critical care Covid management drugs during these ” tough & challenging times”, the Officers of Drugs & Food Control Organization (DFCO), J&K under the direct supervision of Assistant Drugs Controller, Jammu conducted a special drive wherein surprise & supervisory checks of Retail Pharmacies/Wholesale Outlets mostly situated near Covid Designated Hospitals & other tertiary care institutes viz Bakshi Nagar, Shalamar, Gandhi Nagar , Channi, Talab Tillo, R.S Pura , Akhnoor were carried out
During the said drive, 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 to ensure that the formulations/medical devices are available at affordable process in the market and to prevent black marketing, hoarding profiteering, stock piling of drugs.
The Pharmacies were impressed upon to dispenses drugs in most ethical manner mainly Scheduled formulations and to prevent the misuse of Steroids so that they are procured by the needy patients strictly against the prescription of RMP’s.
It is pertinent to mention here that 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 on spot. The Licenses 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 have been sent to Drug Testing Laboratories located within the State for framing legal opinion to ascertain their quality parameters.
The State Drug Controller has informed that the administration & 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 in Remdesivir & Toclizumab in the Government supply Chain adequate supply of such drugs, as such there is no need to panic.
She further emphasized that an effective regulatory mechanism is in place to ensure quality, safe and effective medicines, vaccines and medical devices are provided to the general public.
Through the medium of this press release the general public is requested to inform any issue related to the availability /hoarding/black marketing/overcharging of Covid Management Drugs- 9796011065, 9906136659.