Show cause notices issued to 196 medical shops after Statewide inspection drive uncovers violations

The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has issued show cause notices to 196 retail medical shops across the State after a special inspection drive conducted on Monday (November 17, 2025) uncovered a range of violations in the sale and dispensing of medicines.

The inspections were carried out to identify irregularities in retail pharmacy practices, particularly concerning the sale of Schedule H1 medicines such as higher-generation antibiotics and habit-forming drugs. Officials said the drive aimed to ensure that these high-risk medicines are sold strictly against valid prescriptions issued by registered medical practitioners.

As part of the checks, DCA teams examined whether pharmacies were maintaining mandatory records, including Schedule H1 registers, purchase invoices and sales bills. Inspectors also verified if prescription medicines were being dispensed under the supervision of registered pharmacists, as required, and whether retail outlets were complying with revised GST slabs for various categories of medicines.

According to the DCA, many of the 196 medical shops were found dispensing Schedule H1 medicines without prescriptions, selling drugs in the absence of qualified pharmacists, or failing to maintain statutory registers and bills. Several outlets were also unable to produce purchase and sales records for medicines stocked on their premises.

“Show-cause notices have been served to all the erring medical shops and further action will be taken in accordance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the rules framed under it,” said a release.