KINS Correspondent
Srinagar, June 13 (KINS): In violation of the rules, scores of medical shops are operating illegally in Anantnag and Kulgam districts.
There is mushroom growth of illegal medical shops in two districts of south Kashmir.
Sources told local agency Kashmir Indepth News Services that hundreds of medical shops are being run by unqualified people.
“Most of medical shops are in far-flung areas and are without registration,” they said.
In several areas of Anantnag, even the working government employees including teachers are running such chemist shops where they are regarded as self-styled doctors.
As per rules, a chemist should possess a diploma in pharmacy and can run a medical shop after getting a proper license.
“However, most of the medical shops running in the main town Anantnag and other rural areas here do not operate as per the norms,” an official of Drug and Food Control Organisation, said.
Every pharmacist must keep a record of medicines he sells against each prescription. Also a proper ledger and record needs to be maintained on the storage and sale of sedative drugs like codeine which is also being sold in black market by the peddlers, the official said.
“The unlicensed pharmacies have also been found in selling such sedative drugs openly on desired rates,” the official said.
Police recently also seized sedative drugs in parts of south Kashmir like in Bijbehara and Kulgam district.
The official said they have been conducting surprise raids and checks and have cancelled or seized dozens of shops who were found operating illegally or violating the norms.
The official said most medical shops are operating illegally in Shangus Kapran, Pahalgam, Dooru, Verinag, Qazigund, Gundjaffar, Qamar, Kreeri Watrusu, Bariaangan, and Brienty Deligam.
Deputy Drug Controller, Kashmir division, Irfana Ahmad said she will check whether any medical shops are operating illegally in south Kashmir.
“We have officials there and will ensure no medical shop operates against the norms. We also issue the licence as per the proper norms,” Irfana told KINS.
