ITANAGAR : The Directorate of Health Services’ Drugs Control Administration has ordered a statewide inspection of pharmacy establishments to ensure compliance with legal, professional and quality standards governing the sale of medicines.

In an order issued on Thursday, Assistant Drugs Controller-cum-Controlling Authority Gebomb Tayeng directed all Zonal Licensing Authorities (ZLAs) and District Drug Control Officers (DCOs) to inspect retail pharmacy outlets within their respective jurisdictions.

The inspections will verify ownership records, statutory documents, appointment of registered pharmacists, adequacy of infrastructure and storage facilities, and compliance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and relevant state rules.

Officials have also been instructed to examine the validity of drug licences, medicine storage conditions, including cold-chain requirements, stock registers, invoices and purchase records.

The exercise will further check for the presence of expired, counterfeit or unapproved medicines, verify the qualifications and registration of pharmacists, and ensure that registered pharmacists are present during operating hours wherever mandated.

The Drugs Control Administration has directed all concerned officers to submit their inspection reports by August 14.

According to the order, the inspection drive aims to ensure that medicines sold across Arunachal Pradesh are safe, effective and of prescribed quality, while strengthening compliance with statutory pharmacy regulations to safeguard public health.

The directive comes amid recent concerns over pharmacy operations and enforcement of drug regulations in parts of the state. (With inputs from Hornbill News)