As many as expired and unlicensed Ayurvedic medicines worth ₹61 lakh were uncovered at Ayurvedic medical shops across Andhra Pradesh with a major crackdown by Vigilance and AYUSH officials, who conducted raids on Sunday across 26 districts. Directorate General (Vigilance and Enforcement) Harish Kumar Gupta has directed these operations.
Scale of Operation: 25 teams raided Ayurvedic stores in 26 districts.
Seized Products: A total of 2,599 types of expired and unlicensed drugs were seized.
Legal Actions: Three cases were registered under Section 3(d) of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, in Nandyal and Tirupati districts.Official Statements:
Director General (Vigilance and Enforcement) Harish Kumar Gupta said that expired drugs sale is a severe risk to public health and will take strict action against the violators.
The authorities stated that the raids are a part of an ongoing effort to ensure compliance and safeguard consumer health.
Implications for Pharmacists and Retailers
Ensure Licensing: All Ayurvedic medicines must have valid sale licenses by the retailers.
Monitoring Expiry Dates: Regular inventory checks are essential to ensure that expired drugs do not reach the consumers.
Compliance with Regulations: Compliance with AYUSH and drug regulations is necessary to avoid legal penalties and maintain customer trust.
The Vigilance and AYUSH departments reaffirmed their commitment to continuing such inspections to curb the sale of unsafe and unauthorized Ayurvedic medicines in the state.