Hyderabad: The Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Telangana, conducted a special statewide enforcement drive on Saturday, June 6, targeting online pharmacies and associated medical establishments to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the rules framed under it.
166 medical shops inspected
During the inspection drive, officials inspected a total of 166 medical shops across the state. Of these, 159 establishments were linked to online medicine delivery services, including licensed premises of online pharmacy operators and their network partner pharmacies.
Another seven shops were associated with online business-to-business (B2B) platforms, including entities operating through platforms such as IndiaMART.
Violations revealed
The inspections revealed several regulatory violations. According to the DCA, some establishments failed to maintain and produce sales bills for medicines, while others did not maintain prescription drug registers and records for Schedule H1 drugs.
Officials also found instances of missing purchase invoices and inadequate maintenance of sales and purchase documentation.
In several cases, prescription medicines were allegedly dispensed without valid prescriptions issued by Registered Medical Practitioners. Authorities also detected the sale of medicines without the supervision of Registered Pharmacists, a mandatory requirement under the law.
Notices issued to 41 medical shops
Following the inspection drive, the DCA issued Show Cause Notices to 41 medical shops linked to online pharmacy operations across Telangana. The department said further action would be initiated against the establishments found violating statutory provisions, in accordance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and applicable rules.
The Drugs Control Administration reiterated that strict adherence to regulatory requirements is mandatory for all medical shops, including those operating through online platforms.
It warned that any deviation from prescribed norms would invite stringent legal action under the existing regulatory framework.
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