Department of Health & Family Welfare (DoHFW) has cancelled the drugs licenses of 24 retail pharmacies in Dimapur and Chümoukedima districts due to non-compliance with Rule-65 of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945.
According to DIPR, the move follows repeated notices and extended deadlines for employing registered pharmacists, which were not complied by the pharmacies.
In this regard, the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) warned that supplying medicines to these illegal firms would violate the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, warranting strict legal action against defaulting suppliers and wholesalers. The department reaffirmed its commitment to continuing this enforcement in a phased manner across all districts.
List of pharmacies with cancelled licenses: R.S. Pharma, Lengrijan Dimapur; Life Guard Medical Lengrijan, Dimapur; Rita Medical Rangapahar, Dimapur; Vito Medical Hall Signal Bazar, Dimapur; New Sky Medical Signal Bazar, Dimapur; Shifa Medical Super Market, Dimapur; Naz Medical Super Market, Dimapur; Aristo Medical Burma Camp, Dimapur; Nioti Medical Burma Camp, Dimapur; Jonoprioy Medical Burma Camp, Dimapur; Royal Medicos Zeliangrong Village, Dimapur; Tanushree Medical Zeliangrong Village, Dimapur; Saswata Medical Kuda Village C, Dimapur; Nirmala Medical Burma Camp, Dimapur; N.H. Pharmacy Burma Camp, Dimapur; Medi Point Super Market, Dimapur.
Sujata Medical Store Notun Bosti, Dimapur; M.N. Medical Purana Bazar, Dimapur; Bethesda Medical Zeliangrong Village, Dimapur. Maa Pharmacy Chümoukedima (A) Village; Paul Pharmacy 1st Gate, Chümoukedima; Town Pharmacy Chümoukedima Town; Sarkar Medical Ward-10, Chümoukedima and Ura Pharmacy Tenyiphe, Chümoukedima.
The department also warned that pharmacies failing to renew their licenses within six months of expiry would have their licenses deemed cancelled/invalid as per Rule-63 and thus amount to violation of under Section 18(C) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 punishable under Section 27(b)(ii). It said that violators will face imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and may extend to five years with fine not less than Rs. 1 lakh or three times the confiscated drug value.
Furthermore, the department has directed all licensed retailers and wholesalers to register with the Online National Drugs Licensing System (ONDLS) portal. The State Drugs Control Administration expressed appreciation for the district administrations of Chümoukedima and Dimapur, as well as the Commissioner of Police, for their support in enforcing these actions.