Maharashtra FDA Investigates Illegal Medicine Distribution by General Practitioners

Pune, 5th September 2024: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a comprehensive statewide inspection drive to address the illegal sale of medicines by general practitioners to patients with prescriptions from other doctors.

This initiative follows concerns from the Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association, which reported multiple complaints about doctors allegedly stockpiling and selling medications in large quantities, potentially breaching Schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

S.V. Pratapwar, Assistant Commissioner of the FDA (Drug), explained, “General practitioners are permitted to dispense medicines to their own patients. However, selling drugs to patients who have prescriptions from other doctors is a clear violation of regulations.”

The FDA’s drive involves each drug inspector visiting a minimum of 10 general practitioners to ensure compliance and to identify any unlicensed practitioners. “We are scrutinizing the purchase bills of medications stocked by these practitioners,” Pratapwar noted. “While we have not found any violations yet, our investigation is ongoing.”

In addition to inspecting individual practitioners, the FDA is conducting random audits of wholesalers who have records of significant drug sales to general practitioners. This measure aims to prevent unauthorized distribution channels and ensure that medications are being distributed legally.