In a decisive move to curb the illegal trade of sensitive medical products, the Punjab health department conducted a targeted inspection drive in Ludhiana on Thursday. The operation aimed to scrutinize the sale and purchase of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits across the district.
Special Drive Led by Top Officials
The surprise inspections were carried out on the direct orders of Punjab's Health Minister, Dr. Balbir Singh, and were executed under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain. The field operations were supervised by Dinesh Gupta, the Zonal Licensing Authority for Ludhiana.
Two dedicated teams, headed by Drug Control Officers Rupinder Kaur (Ludhiana-2) and Navdeep Sandhu (Ludhiana-3), fanned out across the district. They meticulously checked medical stores and pharmaceutical firms to ensure compliance with the law.
Violations Uncovered During Inspection
During the course of the drive, officials inspected a total of five firms. Alarmingly, three of them were found to be in clear violation of established regulations. These firms were stocking and selling MTP kits without maintaining valid purchase bills and without issuing any sale bills to customers.
This practice constitutes a serious breach of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and its associated rules, which govern the sale of sensitive pharmaceuticals to protect public health and prevent misuse.
Immediate Action and Stern Warnings
The health department has initiated immediate action against the defaulting firms. Show-cause notices will be issued to the violators, and further investigations are currently underway. The department has assured that strict legal action will follow as per the law.
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh reinforced the government's stance, stating that the Punjab government is firmly committed to preventing the misuse of MTP drugs and ensuring the health and safety of women. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain emphasized that the illegal sale of such sensitive medicines will not be tolerated, highlighting that continuous monitoring is essential in the public interest.
In the wake of the raid, the health department has issued a directive to all chemists and drug retailers in the region. They have been instructed to ensure that the sale and purchase of all medicines, especially controlled substances like MTP kits, are conducted strictly as per the prescribed rules. Officials confirmed that such inspection drives will continue in the future to ensure compliance and safeguard public health.
