Apart from selling date-expired drugs, these stores have also been found selling substandard medicines without imported from India.
To make matters worse, these stores are run by untrained men, who readily sell prescription drugs without the recommendation by a doctor. Many of such medical stores are running in Dhangadhi.
“Medical shops are openly selling unauthorized drugs. They are also selling substandard medicines imported from India,” said a health worker.
Though the medical shops have taken to illegal activities, the Office of Drug Administration in Nepalgunj turned a blind eye to the illegal activity. [break]
“We had monitored the medical stores in Dashain last year. But since, we have not monitored the medical shops,” said chief of the drug administration office in Nepalgunj Pushpa Rana Chhetri.
As per the existing laws, people involved in selling illegal drugs face a jail sentence of one year and a fine of up to Rs 5,000. Chairman of the National Consumer Rights Forum Kailali, Hari Regmi blamed the authorities for the situation.
“The office of drug administration should conduct regular monitoring of medical stores,” said Regmi.
Meanwhile, Chhetri said that they are unable to monitor the situation properly due to lack of adequate workforce. “We don´t have the manpower to monitor these stores regularly,” he said.
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