NOIDA: Taking cognisance of complaints from the chemists’ association, the drug licencing authority (DLA) of Meerut division has warned doctors operating out of private clinics/nursing homes in the six districts under its jurisdiction against selling medicines under the garb of ‘dispensing medicines.’
The order issued on October 16 directs the drug inspectors of all the six districts under the commissionerate—Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Hapur, Bulandshahr and Meerut—to warn such doctors running the clinics with the help of Indian Medical Association (IMA) to ensure that in case they were selling medicines, they should duly take a licence from the drug department for retail sale of medicines.
However, such a licence cannot be taken in Noida as the rules of Noida Authority do not permit sale of medicines from residential areas and a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the same is given only to a proper medical store.
The chemists’ association had complained that under the garb of ‘dispensing medicines,’ doctors running their private clinics and nursing homes had been selling medicines to patients, with some doing so even without a bill.
The order further directs that in case the required licence is not taken by such clinics, a suitable action under the drugs act be initiated against the clinic/nursing homes in question.
The chemists’ association of Gautam Budh Nagar had written to the DLA on October 11 complaining that a number of quacks and doctors operating in the district were “selling medicines” under the garb of ‘dispensing medicines’ to patients.
Under Schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, ‘dispensing medicines’ to one’s patient is allowed. The rule says that a doctor can “dispense” the medicine that he prescribes to his patient for free.
Anoop Khanna, president, district chemists association told TOI that many doctors running clinics in Noida have been selling medicines under the garb of ‘dispensing’ them.
“Many such doctors do not issue a bill for the medicines being sold in this manner. Legally, they should take a proper drug licence from the licencing authority in case they want to indulge in retail sale. In case, authorities raid their clinic, they immediately take the alibi of ‘dispensing’ medicines,” he said.
Khanna added that they have been compiling the list of such doctors and the same will be shared with the district drug inspector A K Jain for action.
Jain told TOI that doctors have to maintain a record of all the medicines being dispensed to patients including the patient’s name, medicine’s names, batch number, etc.
The Indian Medical Association’s Noida chapter admitted that some people had been buying medicines online too.
Arvind Garg, president, IMA, Noida chapter told TOI that most people had been buying medicines online directly which was again not correct.
“According to government rules, a consulting doctor can only dispense medicines which he prescribes. But there have been some who start selling them. We have circulated the message to all the doctors so that any such act is avoided,” he said.
