DCA exposes Illegal drug manufacturing unit in Kukatpally
KUKATPALLY: Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) on Thursday uncovered an illegal manufacturing unit of medicines disguised as food products and nutraceuticals at SL Health Care in Prashantinagar, Kukatpally.
The illegal production includes medicines such as Glucosamine, Methyl Sulfonyl Methane, Diacerein Tablet, Pregabalin, and Methylcobalamin Capsules, which were falsely labeled under a food license and unlawfully distributed to medical shops.
DCA officials raided S.L. Health Care on January 24, 2024 and discovered unauthorized production and sale of these medicines under the disguise of a food license. Seized items include ORTHO-D (Glucosamine 750 mg, Methyl Sulfonyl Methane 250mg & Diacerin 50 mg Tablet) and Pregavit-M (Pregabalin 75 mg and Methylcobalamin 750 mcg Capsules).
Confiscated items also include sale invoices and printed aluminum foil related to the mentioned products. The drugs were illegally sold to Balaji Pharma and Unity Drugs, with a total worth of Rs. 2.90 lakhs, as per the seized sales invoices.
The implicated products are classified as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, approved by the Drugs Controller General (India) for specific medical conditions.
The DCA emphasized that such medicines should only be manufactured under a proper ‘drug license’ adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and meeting quality standards prescribed in Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). These substandard products can pose serious health risks to patients.
The team of officers who uncovered the secret drug-making were G. Sreenivas, Assistant Director from Medchal, N. Sahaja, Drugs Inspector in Prashantinagar, and M. Sreebindu, Drugs Inspector in Bachupally. Also, officers from the Vigilance Cell of Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, were part of the effort to uncover the illegal drug production at SL Health Care.
The manufacturing and sale of drugs without a valid drug license are punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, with imprisonment up to five years.
