Bolangir: Coming close on the heels of a massive haul of fake medicines from various places in Rourkela and Cuttack, a team of officials from the office of the drug inspector in Bolangir district raided Sunday medicine distributor ‘Modi Pharmaceuticals’ in this town. The team also raided some other shops and godowns belonging to pharma outlets in this town.
The team raided the godown of ‘Modi Pharmaceuticals’ at Sudapara locality in this town. It seized 40 cartons of ‘fake’ medicines used in the treatment of cough and cold from the unit. It is suspected that these medicines may have come from Cuttack.
Reports said that with the vulnerability of people at an all time high amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, others gullible are trying to take advantage of the situation. They are trying to make huge profits at the cost of the common man.
Some portions of the seized medicines will be sent to laboratory for examination and the authenticity regarding them can be ascertained only after the report arrives, said drugs inspector Babulal Tudu. Further action will be taken after availability of the report, he added.
The wholesaler has been asked not to sell the suspected brand to the retailers or customers. However, prior to the order, the distributor had already sold substantial quantities of the ‘fake medicine’ to various chemists in the district
The official informed that the authorities of the pharma unit failed to produce satisfactory documentation regarding the production or procurement of the seized medicines.
A few days ago, a drugs control squad had seized huge quantities of fake anti-covid drugs ‘Favipiravir’ in Cuttack.
Earlier Saturday, the state Health department had directed the drugs controller and police to launch a joint investigation into the transaction of spurious medicines and submit a report as quickly as possible.
Sources said, over 170 cartons of the fake drugs were seized from a chemist unit at Kanika Chhak in the silver city. Similarly, three drugs stores in Rourkela were raided by a team leading to seizure of more than 300 strips of fake medicines.
PNN