Several booked for selling expired medicines

No arrests were made, however; cases will be filed against licence holders

PESHAWAR: Health department officials accompanied by the district administration sealed some 20 shops after expired medicines were recovered right outside Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) on Monday.

According to details, the health department officials received a tipoff that expired drugs were being sold in the open market following which a team comprising district administration officials and drug inspectors raided the market.

The team comprising  Drug Inspector Safiullah, Assistant commissioners Tillat Fahad and Reena Soharwardi raided the shops and recovered expired medicines from drug stores.

Spokesperson for district administration Sajid Khan stated that several items with expiry dates clearly mentioned were recovered from stores and cases were registered against Drug Act.

He also informed that no one could be arrested under the Drug Act however stated that cases will be proceeded against license holders at the drug courts adding the district administration with assistance from the health department was repeatedly making raids.

Khan informed the Deputy Commissioner Saqib Raza Aslam has issued clear directions to book all violators under relevant sections of law.

AC Fahad stated that the raid was conducted following complaints from several people saying many drug stores were being run without legal authority since many lacked licenses adding that a meeting was held with health department officials and the raid planned.

“Medicine is something which saves lives and we will carry on our activities,” she told The Express Tribune adding many drug store owners were warned and others booked under Drug Act 1976. She also informed the administration planned same raids on drug stores at the city main areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2017.