A team of Drugs and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) carried out surprise checks and raids at various Drugs Sale Establishments in and around the vicinity of SMHS Hospital in Karan Nagar, Jammu & Kashmir.

The drive was conducted, pursuant upon the sale and supply of Lopamidol Injection USP (K-Scan 370), a diagnostic agent used during the CT Scan procedures, bearing different particulars like the manufacturing licence number, batch number, manufacturing date and expiry dates as printed on label & QR Scan Code/Barcode, respectively.

The Department has already initiated investigation in the matter with regard to the said batch and the matter has been taken with the manufacturer of drug for clarification. The public in general and the stakeholders, in particular, are informed through the medium of this notice to discontinue usage / stop sale of the above Drug, a statement said here.

Further, all the stakeholders who are in possession of any stock of the said Drug, shall inform the local Drugs Control Authorities, along with procurement details to help the Department in effective Product Recall/Seizure. Furthermore, the Department shall initiate severe punitive actions against the violators, who indulge in any sort of unethical trade practices, it added.

A number of Drug Sale Establishments were also inspected regarding the availability of the above drug and to ensure that due diligence was secured to the provisions of the conditions of licences. The team took strong notice of violations by certain medical stores.
In this regard, the operation of M/s Co-Operative Medical store (I) & (II) SMHS Hospital were disallowed on spot for a period of one week for violating conditions of the licences viz improper storage of medicines, non-maintenance of records and dispensing of drugs without cash memo/invoice. The operation of M/s Al-Noor Medicate and M/s Darul-Shafa opposite OPD SMHS Hospital Srinagar were also disallowed on spot for one day, for conducting the sale in absence of qualified persons.