By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Acting on the instructions of the Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, and keeping in view the growing concerns over misuse of abortion pills and unsafe self-medication practices, the Drugs Control Administration has launched an intensified statewide enforcement drive to curb the illegal sale of MTP Kits. The Department has adopted a strict zero-tolerance approach towards unsafe and unregulated abortion practices, ensuring that such products are prescribed and dispensed only in full compliance with the law.
Coordinated raids are being conducted across all districts of Odisha by Assistant Drugs Controllers and Drugs Inspectors, who have been placed on heightened alert. The enforcement teams are checking unauthorized sale of MTP Kits, absence of pharmacists, non-maintenance of prescription records, illegal stocking of Schedule drugs, and other violations under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
As part of this statewide crackdown, more than 150 medicine stores have been raided, and several shops have been temporarily closed for serious violations. Seizures have been made wherever illegal MTP Kits and unlicensed prescription medicines were detected. Show-cause notices will be issued to all violators, and licences shall be suspended or cancelled depending on the severity of offences.
The Health Department reiterates that protecting public health and preventing unsafe abortion practices remain top priorities. Further raids will continue across the State, and stringent action will be taken against any retailer, wholesaler, or distributor found violating statutory provisions.
Drugs Controller, Odisha, Smt. Mamina Patnaik has instructed all field officers to exercise full authority against any violations and intensify strict action across the State. She has emphasised that Odisha will observe absolute zero tolerance towards misuse of Schedule medicines without prescription and will maintain strict vigilance on habit-forming drugs, Codeine-containing cough syrups, and spurious drug rackets.
