DCA officials seized misleading ayurvedic medicine and overprice medicines
HYDERABAD, MARCH 29, 2024: Officials of Telangana Drugs Control Administration conducted raids on clinics operated by quacks and seized illegally stocked drugs worth Rs 3.18 lakhs from their possession.
The raids were conducted Polamapalli Village, Singareni Mandal, Khammam District, Terpole Village, Kondapur Mandal, Sangareddy District, Manchippa Village, Mogpal Mandal, Nizamabad District and Sugur Village, Pebbair Mandal, Wanaparthy District
In a separate incident, the officials seized ‘Orthojoint Oil,’ an Ayurvedic medicine, in Mancherial for making misleading advertisement that it treats ‘Paralysis’ and ‘Rheumatism’ (inflammation, stiffness, and pain in the joints or muscles). The DCA officials have also seized overpriced antibiotic ointment ‘Mupicare 5gm’ (Mupirocin Ointment IP 2% w/w) at Alair, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri District.
In an official release here on Friday, DCA Director-General VB Kamalasan Reddy said that based on credible information, officials raided the premises of quacks who were claiming themselves as ‘Rural Medical Practitioners’ and practicing medicine without proper qualifications at their clinics. The DCA officials detected several higher generation ‘antibiotics’ at the clinics during the raids. Indiscriminate sale of antibiotics, by unqualified persons may have disastrous consequences on the health of rural public, including emergence of ‘Antimicrobial Resistance’.
Officials found ‘steroids’ at the clinics of quacks. Misusing steroids can have serious health consequences, including immune system suppression, hormonal imbalances, muscle and bone weakness, cardiovascular problems, and psychological effects. The indiscriminate use of steroids poses significant risks to public health.
In another operation, the DCA officials detected an ayurvedic medicine ‘Orthojoint Oil’ moving in the market with misleading claim on its labels that it treats ‘Paralysis’ and ‘Rheumatism’ (inflammation, stiffness, and pain in the joints or muscles), which is a contravention of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. The said ayurvedic medicine was detected by DCA officials at a medical store in Mancherial. Stocks were seized during the raid.
Advertisement of a medicine for treatment of ‘Paralysis’ and ‘Rheumatism’ is prohibited under Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
Overpriced medicine
The officials also seized ‘Mupicare 5gm’ (Mupirocin Ointment IP 2% w/w) at Alair, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri District. The product Mupirocin Ointment IP 2% w/w sold under brand name ‘Mupicare 5gm’ is under price control as per Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 and the price of product shall be in accordance with the ‘Ceiling Price’ fixed by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), Government of India.
The product ‘Mupicare 5gm’ (Mupirocin Ointment IP 2% w/w bears MRP as Rs. 165/- for 5 gm pack on the label of the product which is a violation of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. The Ceiling price fixed by the Central Government including Wholesale Price Index for the product “Mupirocin Ointment IP 2% w/w” is Rs. 20.29 per 1 gm i.e. Rs. 101.45 per 5 gm (Ceiling Price). Hence Maximum Retail Price (MRP) i.e. including GST 12 % should not be more than Rs. 113.6 per 5 gm tube (MRP=Ceiling Price+GST). The firm overpriced the product. Firm charged excess of Rs. 51.38/- per 5 gm tube, which is a violation of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
