The Drugs Control Administration under the Health and Family Welfare department has intensified its crackdown on pharmacies operating without registered pharmacists, aiming to streamline pharmaceutical practices in the state.
Operating a pharmacy without a registered pharmacist not only poses a serious risk to public health but also violates the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and other applicable regulations.
Following an inspection led by Health minister P. Paiwang Konyak in November, the Drug Control Administration cancelled 24 drug licenses and shut down non-compliant pharmacies in Dimapur and Chümoukedima for operating without registered pharmacists.
During a review meeting on February 7 this year, the minister directed the administration to enforce compliance across the state, stating that the crackdown would also create job opportunities for qualified pharmacists. It was also learnt that the minister is set to embark on the second phase of a statewide inspection tour in March.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Nagaland Post, State Drug Controller Tiatoshi Amer provided insights into the recent enforcement measures and the challenges faced in safeguarding public health. He stated that the initiative spearheaded by Health minister seeks to enhance the existing healthcare delivery system in the state.
As part of the effort to shut down unregistered pharmacies and those operating without qualified pharmacists, six drug licenses have been revoked for selling restricted drugs in violation of regulations, and 24 licenses were cancelled for non-compliance. This follows the suspension of 49 licenses in 2022 due to similar violations.
According to Amer, the crackdown, which began in 2019, mandated that all pharmacies employ qualified pharmacists. However, despite repeated warnings and extensions, many pharmacies failed to comply, prompting stricter enforcement.
In Dimapur, including areas like Niuland and Chümoukedima, out of 556 pharmacies, only 121 were operated by registered pharmacists. Given the high concentration of pharmacies in Dimapur, the first phase of the crackdown focused on this district, resulting in 24 licenses being cancelled.
Amer said that in order to improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, launched the Online National Drugs Licensing System (ONDLS) portal across the country.
Nagaland joined the system in May 2024, making all licensing processes fully online. Since then, no offline applications have been accepted. The initiative ensures that no pharmacy operates without a registered pharmacist and that each qualified person is limited to a single pharmacy nationwide.
However, Amer noted several challenges in enforcing these regulations. Low Manpower: With only six drug control officers (one in the state headquarters and five in the field), conducting statewide inspections remains a significant challenge.
Lack of resources: Poor mobility support and inadequate funding hamper the Drug Control Authority’s ability to function efficiently. Time constraints: The process of collecting data, issuing notices, and conducting inspections is time-consuming.
Amer also addressed concerns regarding pharmacists without formal education who were granted registration decades ago due to a shortage of trained professionals. To tackle this issue, he said the State Paramedical Institute in Kohima was established to train 50-60 candidates per batch for employment in government healthcare centers. However, shortages persisted in the private sector.
To mitigate this, he said the state government formed a registration tribunal under Section 30(1) of the Pharmacy Act, allowing individuals with over five years of experience in hospitals or dispensaries to qualify as pharmacists under Section 31(d) of the Pharmacy Act. This provision became obsolete after the formation of the Nagaland State Pharmacy Council in 2008.
Amer emphasized the dangers posed by unqualified pharmacists, including the risk of dispensing incorrect medications. He urged all pharmacies to comply with regulations and employ registered pharmacists, noting that there are approximately 300 unemployed pharmacists in Nagaland who could fill these roles.
Further, Amer informed that drug licenses will stand invalid after the six-month grace period, expiring on June 30, 2025. After this deadline, the ONDLS portal will not accept retention applications, and pharmacies failing to renew their licenses must apply for a fresh license through ONDLS.
The Drugs Control Administration remains committed to enforcing pharmacy regulations in the interest of public health, ensuring that all pharmacies in Nagaland operate within legal and ethical guidelines.