Telangana DCA cracks down on illegal drug sales and misleading ads

Telangana DCA crackdown on unlicensed practitioners, illegal drug sales, and misleading ads resulted in 13 seizures, highlighting widespread violations.

Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) conducted a special drive on February 28, targeting unlicenced medical practitioners, unauthorised drug sales, and misleading advertisements. The crackdown resulted in 13 seizures across Telangana highlighting widespread violations across clinics, medical stores, and blood centres.

During the operation, officials raided a quack’s clinic in Begumpet village of Siddipet district, where illegal drug stocking was uncovered. The clinic, run by K. Ramanjaneyulu under the name Maruthi First Aid Center, was found to possess 14 varieties of medicines, including antibiotics such as Linezolid and Amoxicillin, without a valid drug licence. The seized stock was valued at ₹30,000. The DCA warned that the unregulated sale of antibiotics could contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), posing severe public health risks.

In a separate case, authorities seized Dawafer-XT tablets (Ferrous Ascorbate, Folic Acid and Zinc) in Malakpet, falsely marketed as a nutraceutical product under a food licence. The tablets, manufactured by Vix Pharma International in Delhi, were classified as a drug under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, requiring strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Officials warned that the sale of pharmaceutical products under food licences undermines drug safety regulations and could jeopardise public health.

Additionally, the DCA cracked down on misleading advertisements promoting unverified medicinal claims. Officials confiscated 11 products that falsely claimed to cure ailments such as menstrual disorders, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and rheumatism. These products, including allopathic and ayurvedic medicines, were found violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, which prohibits misleading medical advertisements. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to six months, fines, or both.

“The DCA also conducted inspections at twenty-eight blood centres in February, focusing on the screening and storage of blood components for transmissible diseases like HIV and Hepatitis. Violations were detected at 14 centres, with legal actions initiated against four facilities,” said an official from the department.