Gandhinagar: The state Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) has launched a statewide crackdown against the unauthorised sale, storage and misuse of codeine-based medicines, with stock worth over Rs 83 lakh prohibited from further sale and use. An official statement was issued on Tuesday, stating that show-cause notices have been sent to seven firms, and the drug licence of one company has been revoked.The special drive, conducted on Sep 1, involved inspections of wholesale and retail drug dealers, and scrutiny of purchase, sale, storage and distribution records of medicines containing codeine.The biggest action was reported at Balaji Pharma, where officials found 37,762 bottles of Rexton-T syrup, containing codeine, in stock. With an MRP of Rs 220 per bottle, the stock was valued at Rs 83 lakh. Authorities prohibited its further sale or use and collected samples for analysis.The statement said that Kalol-based Health Point Pharma’s explanation to an earlier show-cause notice was found unsatisfactory, prompting authorities to cancel its drug sale licence.Show-cause notices were also issued to Pharmalin Lifesciences in Changodar, Rain Remedies in Santej, Capital Pharma in Visnagar, and HRDM Global Solutions and Jai Ambe Distributors in Ahmedabad.At Jai Ambe Distributors, officials found 57 bottles of R Tuss TD Syrup, valued at Rs 9,006, which were prohibited from further sale or use. An inspection was under way at Krishna Pharma, Kathwada, with the process of issuing a show-cause notice in progress, the statement added.Health minister Praful Pansheriya said govt was adopting a “zero-tolerance” approach towards illegal storage, unauthorised sale and misuse of codeine-based medicines. He said further action would be taken under applicable laws and regulations against firms found violating norms.
