Installation of CCTVs, CBS nearing completion: ADC
Srinagar, May 23: The Drug Wing of the Drug and Food Control Organization, J&K, has suspended the operations of nearly 40 drug stores across various areas in Srinagar district since March this year for violations.
The action was taken during special drives carried out under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, focusing on ensuring the implementation of Computerized Billing Systems (CBS) and the installation of CCTV cameras by wholesale and retail pharma dealers across the district.
“Since March, as part of the intensified action and to ensure compliance, we have carried out 192 inspections across six zones of Srinagar district, during which the operations of 40 pharma stores have been suspended,” Reema Gizala, Assistant Drugs Controller (ADC), told Excelsior.
She said these drives are carried out along with the administration and the police, focusing on ensuring the CBS and CCTV cameras, as well as maintaining records of habit-forming drugs (NRx)-prime focus of the Department-by the medical shops and other dealers.
Officials noted that the violations are mostly due to the non-maintenance of records and the non-availability of CBS, stressing that there is maximum compliance in terms of CCTV installation across the district, inching toward 100 percent.
Some of the areas covered since March under the special drives include Qamarwari, Chotabazar, Kanikadal, Habakadal, Karanagar; areas outside CD Hospital, JVC Hospital, SKIMS Soura; Sanat Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Rawalpora, Wanabal, Rajbagh, Wazir Bagh, Iqbal Complex, Maharaja Bazar, Hazuri Bagh, and various Jan Aushadi Kendras and Amrit drug stores.
The ADC underlined that for the revocation of the suspensions, the pharma outlets must ensure compliance with the rules and regulations, and once that is done, they are allowed to resume operations normally.
“We also ensure on-the-spot awareness regarding the need for compliance, and we have seen its impact, as there was compliance in many cases within a few days. The special drives have been a significant step towards ensuring transparency and accountability,” she said.
During these drives, which are carried out in the second week of every month, the ADC informed that they also ensure the collection of samples, which are then sent for testing to ensure quality and efficacy.
“In case of quality issues, the CBS helps us track down the entire supply chain of that drug, which is one reason its compliance is necessary; we also look into the sale and purchase of prescribed drugs from lesser-known companies to ascertain the supply chain,” the ADC said.
Regarding compliance with the installation of CCTVs and the CBS, she informed that among retailers operating within the district, there has been around 83 percent compliance with CBS and 97 percent with CCTV installation.
Among wholesalers in the district, it was stated that 98 percent have installed CCTV cameras, while nearly 96 percent have ensured that CBS is in place to ensure transparency and accountability.
Nadeem Nadu (ندیم مختار) 