KL Report
Jammu
The government has asked the Drug and Food Control Organization (DFCO) to ensure that no drug sub outlets are operative on proxy basis anywhere in the state and ordered that drug shops should only run by license holders.
The direction in this regard was given by the Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan during his meeting with the Officers of Drug and Food Control Organization held in Jammu on Sunday.
The Health Minister said that drug shops should be only operated by licensed holders issued only by the competent authority of the Organization. “It is matter of health care and we have to ensure that drugs only sold by trained pharmacy persons having requisite certificates and license from the Organization”, he instructed.
He directed field functionaries to keep close vigil on spurious drugs in the markets especially in rural drug shops where such practices are more common. “Spurious drugs and proxy drug outlets should be seized and guilty holders booked under the law”, he directed.
The Health Minister also stressed on lifting samples of variety edibles in the markets for testing to ensure that no adulteration is made in them which harms the health of the people. He directed that such manufacturers and shopkeepers should be fined and booked under the law and their units be sealed and licenses canceled.
The Health Minister said that DFCO was an important Organization related with the health of the people and government would bring more transparency and accountability in the functioning of the Organization. “It’s working would be reviewed on monthly basis, besides new initiatives would be taken to strengthen the Organization”, he said and directed that refresher courses be organized for the officials where drug and food experts acquaint themselves with latest trends of their working.
The Minister said proposals like constitution of service in terms of FSS ACT 2006, Food Safety appellate Tribunal, Food testing Laboratory Lakhanpur, Strengthen of Drug testing laboratories, enforcement of education regulations, enhancing the technical expertise of regulators and NABL accreditation of drug testing laboratories are under active consideration of the government.
The Health Minister assured the officials of the organization that all their genuine demands would be mitigated well in time. He instructed Controller drug and Food Control to ensure that no attachment of the staff was made any level which affects the working of the area.
Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, M K Dwivedi, Controller Drug and Food Control Organization, Dr Satish Gupta and other senior officers attended the meeting.
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