Kerala State Drugs Control dept. seeks curbs on inter-State drug procurement to ensure traceability
The department has sought the restriction for a period of six months, during which the firms would be required to procure medicines through authorised medical depots within Keralam
The Kerala State Drugs Control department has requested a temporary restriction on pharmaceutical companies directly purchasing medicines from other states, aiming to improve the traceability of medications sold within the State. This request is set to last for a six-month period, during which the firms will be required to procure medicines through authorized medical depots within Kerala.
According to an official, one of the challenges faced by the department is the increased diversion of medicines meant for institutional supply into the general market, where their packaging may be altered and they are sold at regular market prices. The implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) has made it difficult to trace the sources of medicines and their manufacturers, as anyone can now purchase medicines from any state, making it challenging to cross-check with suppliers in other states.
The official noted that while direct procurement has been allowed since the implementation of GST, there could be some legal issues to overcome. The All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA) president acknowledged that the ability to procure medicines from outside Kerala has increased the risk of spurious and substandard medicines entering the market, often facilitated by middlemen operating through clandestine methods.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
