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DCA Telangana launches toll-free number to report complaints & violations about drugs
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
September 25 , 2024
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The Drugs Control Administration (DCA) in Telangana has launched a toll free number 1800-599-6969 to register complaints about medicines and violations, and to report suspected manufacturing activity related to drugs including narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The public can dial the toll-free number and register their complaints or incidents about any violation of drugs and cosmetics act that happens to be in residential, commercial or industrial areas. Besides, the citizens can make complaints regarding illegal activities concerning medicines to the office of the director general of the DCA, a communique from the office of the director general VB Kamalasan Reddy says.
The service will be operational for 7 hours on all working days between 10 am and 5 pm. An officer of the DG office said the complaint cell receives more than 100 complaints from the public every day and it helps the department to detect the secret activities in various parts of Telangana.
The DG has introduced this complaint cell because of the increasing violations by certain unscrupulous drug traders and manufacturers in the state. Although the department is taking strict actions against all violations detected by the officials, the number of illegal activities is on the rise every day. Surprise inspections and raids are conducted by the sleuths of the department in various trade and manufacturing premises every week. However, there is no end to the violations, rather it is increasing. Finally, the department has given awareness to the public about the malpractices and introduced a complaint cell for them to register or report any kind of violation or illegal activity, said an official from the department.
The latest violation detected by the officials is an illegal sale of steroid drugs to gym-goers for body building in Hyderabad. The sale was conducted in an unlicensed premises operating under the name, ‘Rakesh Distributor’ at Esamiya Bazar in Koti in Hyderabad. Sources from the DCA said the premises were operating without a valid drug licence. In the raid the officials seized stocks of steroid medicines worth Rs. 2 lakhs. They said the medicines were being sold illegally to gym-goers for abuse in body building.
A senior officer said the DCA officers detected the unauthorized stock of large quantities of steroid medicines for sale. Twenty-two varieties of steroid medicines, including androgen and anabolic steroids were found stocked for sale at the premises, indicating the potential for abuse of steroid medicines. The abuse of androgen and anabolic steroids poses significant health risks. These drugs, often misused by bodybuilders to enhance muscle growth, can lead to a range of adverse effects, including cardiovascular issues, liver damage, mood swings, and hormonal imbalances. Moreover, long-term abuse can result in severe health complications such as infertility, kidney failure, and psychiatric disorders.
In the raid, the DCA officials seized a stock worth Rs. 2 lakhs from the premises of Rakesh Distributors. V. Ajay, drug inspector at Goshamahal, and P. Santosh, drug inspector at Mehdipatnam were among the officers who carried out the raid. The officials lifted samples of the drug for analysis and sent them to the laboratory for testing. Further investigation will be carried out and action will be taken as per the law against all the offenders, said the officer.
In another incident, the drug control department officials raided an unlicensed pharmacy attached to a hospital, Srikanth Neurocentre, located in Miyapur in Rangareddy district. In the raid the officials seized stocks of medicines worth Rs. one lakh from the premises.
A Shylaja Rani, drug inspector at Serilingampally and D. Swetha Bindu, drug inspector at Gandipet were among the officers who carried out the raid. The officers lifted the samples for analysis. Further investigation is going on.
The department has warned the wholesalers/dealers that supplying medicines to unlicensed traders is illegal and punishable under the drug act.
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