MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): District Health Officer (DHO) Muzaffarabad Abdul Mateen has said that medicines sold by Al-Shifa Medical will be destroyed from all medical stores after inspection.
Addressing the media, DHO said that the Secretary Public Health has imposed a lifetime ban on two medical store owners in Azad Kashmir for trying to sell expired medicines after changing their dates. The stores were sealed, and their licenses were canceled.
The Secretary Public Health has taken strict action against the owners, imposing a lifetime ban on them from doing business throughout Azad Kashmir. The case has been handed over to the drug court for further action.
The seized medicines will be destroyed based on the decision taken after the trial of the case, he added. The health official added that the seized medicines were about 20 cottons containing glucose drips worth Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000, which were being sold after changing the label.
Furthermore, the health officer announced a drive to inspect all registered medical stores in the capital and its vicinity. He said that at present, we have 280 registered medical stores.
He added that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been issued for the transportation of medicines from outside Azad Kashmir. “Strict action will be taken against medical stores that do not implement the SOPs.”
Dr. Mateen has requested the media to cooperate with the department and highlight positive aspects. “The doors of his office are open to everyone, and he is committed to taking strict action against any employee found violating the rules,” he stated.
