Illegal: Five medical stores sealed for operating without valid drug licences
Notices also issued to 90 food outlets in August for failing to comply with sanitation rules.
Five medical stores were sealed for operating without valid drug licenses. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad Capital Territory administration’s Health Department conducted raids on 59 medical stores in August, according to a district health officer.
During a meeting chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Jawad Paul, District Health Officer (DHO) Sardar Shabbir Ahmed spoke about the ongoing campaign against food adulteration and spurious drugs in the capital.
Of the 59 medical stores that were inspected, five — Bolan, Khattak, Hussain, Zaki and Qadir medical stores — were sealed for running outlets without valid drug licences. Ahmed said large quantities of expired drugs, some of them narcotics, were seized. He added that 94 drug samples were sent to the laboratory for testing.
Ahmed informed the meeting’s participants that inspections of 314 bakeries and hotels were also carried out in August, during which 90 food outlets were issued notices for failing to comply with sanitation rules.
He added that food samples from 33 hotels and bakeries were sent to the laboratory for testing. Sub-standard food items including ketchup, mineral water and cooking oil were seized.
Paul directed health officials to ensure that workers at food outlets are vaccinated regularly and to maintain proper hygiene. He added that the Drug Act, 1976, should be followed in letter and spirit.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.
The Islamabad Capital Territory administration’s Health Department conducted raids on 59 medical stores in August, according to a district health officer.
During a meeting chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Jawad Paul, District Health Officer (DHO) Sardar Shabbir Ahmed spoke about the ongoing campaign against food adulteration and spurious drugs in the capital.
Of the 59 medical stores that were inspected, five — Bolan, Khattak, Hussain, Zaki and Qadir medical stores — were sealed for running outlets without valid drug licences. Ahmed said large quantities of expired drugs, some of them narcotics, were seized. He added that 94 drug samples were sent to the laboratory for testing.
Ahmed informed the meeting’s participants that inspections of 314 bakeries and hotels were also carried out in August, during which 90 food outlets were issued notices for failing to comply with sanitation rules.
He added that food samples from 33 hotels and bakeries were sent to the laboratory for testing. Sub-standard food items including ketchup, mineral water and cooking oil were seized.
Paul directed health officials to ensure that workers at food outlets are vaccinated regularly and to maintain proper hygiene. He added that the Drug Act, 1976, should be followed in letter and spirit.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.