Directing all the Zonal Licensing Authorities and Drug Control Officers in the state of Punjab to ensure the availability of life-saving essential drugs and consumables to the consumers in the context of the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the state Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) commissioner KS Pannu said that in the wake of news reports being published about the identification of a few patients suspected with Coronavirus infection, there is an apprehension among the public that the infection may spread over to other places.
Due to such apprehension, certain drug formulations, and consumables such as sanitizers and masks are in great demand, said Pannu adding that with the rise in demand, there may be temporary or artificial shortage of some drug formulations and consumables. “Some of the chemists, by taking advantage of temporary or artificial shortages of the in-demand drugs and consumables, may charge exorbitantly or may hold the stocks,” he added.
To avoid such situations, he directed them to coordinate with the chemists associations of their areas and advise them not to indulge in such malpractices and further to ensure availability of life saving essential drugs and consumables in the chemists’ shops.
He said that action would be taken against the chemists under the provisions of Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013, who are found indulging in black marketing and hoarding of drugs.
