Anantnag Drug control officers check availability of Critical Care Covid Management Drugs in Pharma outlets

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag,26 May : To ensure equitable access & availability of all Lifesaving and critical care Covid management drugs and availability of masks, sanitizers during these ” tough & challenging times”, the Officers of Drug Control, Revenue, and legal metrology departments under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner Anantnag conducted a special drive wherein, surprise & supervisory checks of Retail Pharmacies/Wholesale Outlets mostly situated near Covid Designated Hospitals here in Anantnag District were carried out.

During these supervisory checks, the team made an emphasis that surgical masks and sanitizers are available at a genuine price and to prevent black marketing, hoarding, and profiteering of surgical masks, face shields, protective goggles, surgical gloves, high flow masks etc.

More than 40 shops were checked and sufficient stocks were found available in hand with these outlets.

The licensees were warned of severe action in case they were found indulging in hoarding /unfair trade practices, black marketing/overpricing of these surgical items and medical devices so that the general public doesn’t suffer in this context.

The main thrust of the drive was to curb stockpiling of medicines that may lead to a shortage in the supply chain and to ensure that there is no shortage of essential and critical drugs pertaining to Covid-19 and to ensure that the formulations/medical devices are available at an affordable price in the market also to prevent black marketing, hoarding profiteering, of drugs.

All the chemists were ordered to display rate lists of these covid management surgical items and devices at a  prominent place accessible to the public.