Sale Of ‘Fake’ BP Medicines: After Cuttack, Raids On Bhubaneswar Shops

Bhubaneswar: A day after multiple raids were conducted in Odisha’s Cuttack city over alleged sale of duplicate medicines, several teams from the state Drug Control Administration carried out raids at various medicine stores in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

According to sources, the samples of high blood pressure medicine Telma-40 and Telma-AM tablets, especially of a specific batch 18211055 that was shipped to the twin cities in the last two months, were collected and sent for laboratory tests.

The drugs were supplied to the twin cities by manufacturing units in Bengaluru and Bihar.

“We received a complaint from a customer about the ineffectiveness of the medicines. Based on the complaint, we directed that medicines of a specific batch be withdrawn by wholesalers and retailers on Thursday. All of them have been withdrawn now,” Assistant Drugs Controller Prabesh Kumar Lenka told mediapersons.

“We are trying to trace the source of all the medicines of this batch especially in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. We are waiting for the test reports of the tablets and a written report from the manufacturer. We may go to the manufacturing unit if we receive an official order,” he added.

The manufacturer has been asked to mention the components of both medicines.

Not only in Bhubaneswar, raids are under way in various parts of the state, said sources.

Officials conducted raids at 12 places, including Manikaghosh Bazaar, Badambadi, Banka Bazaar and Mangalabag on Thursday.