Crack down on non-compliant pharmacies in Chamba district

Health authorities in Churah, Chamba, recently sealed 30 types of medicines at a chemist in Charada village during a surprise inspection, citing failure to present purchase and sale records. Notices were issued to the store operator, and a similar inspection took place at another medical store in Tissa Mod.

During the Charada inspection, officials found a medical store operating without a visible signboard, though the operator possessed a valid licence. Authorities instructed the store to put up an appropriate signboard. When the operator failed to produce purchase bills for 30 types of medicines, these items were sealed, and the operator was given seven days to present necessary records. Additionally, 11 samples of medicines were taken for further testing.

Health officials urged local panchayat members to report any unlicensed pharmacies in the area to protect public interest.

In Tissa, another licensed pharmacy also lacked a visible signboard. Despite holding a license, the store’s pharmacist couldn’t provide purchase records or issue sale receipts for various medications. Consequently, the team sealed all medicines sold without bills and collected two samples for testing, granting the store a seven-day compliance period.

Assistant State Drug Controller Nishant Sareen highlighted that these inspections revealed several licensed stores in the Churah area were not maintaining proper purchase and sale records. Chamba’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Vipin Thakur, affirmed the department’s commitment to enforcing compliance among pharmacy shops in the future.