Bhubaneswar: In a move to safeguard public health, the Health & Family Welfare Department has intensified its statewide crackdown on the illegal sale of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits, misuse of abortion pills and unsafe self-medication practices.
The Drugs Control Directorate has been directed to follow a zero-tolerance approach and take strict action against unregulated and unsafe abortion-related activities.
Coordinated enforcement operations involving Assistant Controllers of Drugs, Drug Inspectors, police and district-level administration are underway across the state.
Raids are being carried out on unauthorised sale of MTP kits, shops operating without qualified pharmacists, lack of prescription records, illegal stocking of abortion pills and other violations under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules.
The department has clearly directed authorities to prevent illegal activities by unscrupulous shop owners and agents.
So far, more than 400 raids have been carried out across various districts, uncovering 234 violations.
Fifty-five shop owners have been served showcause notices as a precursor to prosecution, while two medical stores operating without proper licenses and selling MTP kits have been seized, with prosecution processes initiated, an official informed.
“The state government has reiterated that stringent action will continue against distributors, wholesalers and retailers involved in illegal sales,” he said.
In addition, strict surveillance has also been heightened on habit-forming drugs, codeine-containing cough syrups and spurious drug networks as part of the broader enforcement initiative, the official added.
