Pune: Five wholesalers feel side effects of peddling ‘for defence’ drugs

PUNE: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the licences of five drug wholesalers in the city for their involvement in the purchase and sale of medicines exclusively meant for the defence personnel.
The FDA officials have seized drug stocks, worth around Rs 5 lakh, since February. Most of the seized drugs are imported anti-diabetes and antihypertensive tablets.The search and seizure operations began in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai early in January, and continued in Pune in February. More premises will be searched in the next few days, the officials said.

“We had already filed the first information reports (FIRs) against the five drug wholesalers in Pune after raids and subsequent seizures indicated their involvement in the illegal sale of the drugs meant for defence personnel,” said S B Patil, joint commissioner (drugs), FDA, Pune
The first FIR in the city was filed on February 16, when the officials seized the stock from the four drug wholesalers in Erandwane and Wanowrie. The second FIR was filed against a wholesaler in Ghorpadigaon on February 19. On February 25, the FDA filed an FIR against a wholesaler and his chemist in Sadashiv Peth. Five of the whlesalers have lost their licences.
“The traders, who diverted the stock to the open market, had removed the marking ‘For Defence, Not for sale’ on the drug strips and boxes with some chemical. We are tracking the trader who managed to get the stock and divert it,” Patil said.
The association of drug wholesalers and retailers have boycotted these wholesalers. Sushil Shah, president of the Chemist Association of Pune District, said, “We have asked retailers to purchase medicines from authorized dealers only.”
“The diversion of ‘For Defence’ drugs is a serious issue. The government must order a probe to identify the kingpins,” said activist Sanjay Dabhade.