Gandhinagar, Sep 8 — Gujarat’s Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has launched a statewide special drive against the unauthorised sale, storage and misuse of medicines containing codeine, with officials prohibiting codeine-based syrup worth more than Rs 83 lakh at a firm in the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar area and taking action against several other pharmaceutical traders.
The drive was conducted last week, following directions issued by the Health Minister Praful Pansheriya.
During inspections of wholesale and retail medicine traders in Ahmedabad Rural, Ahmedabad City and Mehsana, officials checked purchase and sale records, bills, stock and other documents relating to codeine-containing medicines.
At Balaji Pharma in Ahmedabad Rural-Gandhinagar, officials found 37,762 bottles of Rexton-T Syrup, each carrying an MRP of Rs 220. The stock was valued at Rs 83,07,640 and has been prohibited from further sale or use.
A sample of the syrup was also collected for analysis according to the prescribed procedure.
The department said an examination of Balaji Pharma’s purchase and sale records indicated that the firm was primarily dealing in medicines containing codeine.
A show-cause notice has been issued to the firm seeking an explanation for deficiencies detected during the inspection.
At Health Point Pharma in Kalol of Gandhinagar, a show-cause notice was issued after an inspection on August 31. The firm’s response was found unsatisfactory and its drug sale licence was subsequently cancelled.
Officials also issued show-cause notice to Pharmaline Lifesciences in Changodar of Ahmedabad Rural, over deficiencies relating to medicine purchase and sale bills and other records.
At Rain Remedies in Santej ofAhmedabad Rural-Gandhinagar, officials examined bills and other records concerning codeine-containing medicines and issued a notice over deficiencies found during the inspection.
At Capital Pharma in Visnagar of Mehsana, officials found that the firm was primarily engaged in the trade of codeine-containing medicines. A show-cause notice was issued over deficiencies in purchase and sale bills and other records.
HRDM Global Solutions in Ahmedabad was also issued a notice over irregularities identified during the inspection.
At Jai Ambe Distributors in Ahmedabad, officials found 57 bottles of R Tuss TD Syrup containing codeine, with an MRP of Rs 158 per bottle.
The stock, valued at Rs 9,006, was prohibited from further sale or use. Examination of the firm's purchase and sale details indicated that it primarily dealt in codeine-containing medicines, following which a show-cause notice was issued.
At Krishna Pharma in Kathwada of Ahmedabad, the process of issuing a show-cause notice over deficiencies found during the inspection is under way.
Overall, seven firms have been issued show-cause notices, while the licence of one firm has been cancelled. The department said further scrutiny of purchase and sale records, bills and other documents relating to codeine-containing medicines was continuing.
Pansheriya said the authorities were following a zero-tolerance policy towards the illegal storage, unauthorised sale and misuse of codeine-containing medicines. “Strict action will be taken against firms violating the rules as per the applicable laws and regulations,” he said.
He added, "Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, inspections and monitoring would continue across Gujarat to ensure that such medicines were used only against valid medical prescriptions and through legal channels."
The action comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of codeine-based cough syrups in Gujarat.