Statewide campaign intensified to ensure availability of medicines to patients at reasonable prices
90 drug samples collected to check the quality of medicines
In the first phase of the campaign, teams of 50 drug inspectors conduct intensive inspections in nine districts
Surprise inspections conducted at pharmacies of 15 government and private medical colleges, including four government and 11 private medical colleges
During inspections, purchase prices of medicines and prices being charged from patients examined
Quality, storage, billing and cold-chain arrangements for medicines also inspected
Lucknow, September 2026 : To ensure the availability of quality medicines to the general public at reasonable prices, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) Department has launched a statewide special campaign. In the first phase of the campaign, teams of 50 drug inspectors conducted surprise inspections at the pharmacies of 15 government and private medical colleges located in nine districts. These included four government and 11 private medical colleges. During the inspections, the purchase prices of medicines and the prices being charged from patients were examined, along with the quality, storage, billing and cold-chain arrangements of medicines.
According to the department, the special campaign, which began on September 24, 2026, is aimed at ensuring the availability of life-saving and essential medicines to patients at reasonable prices in the pharmacies of medical colleges and hospitals. The inspection teams checked the presence of pharmacists at pharmacies, billing records of life-saving medicines, stock registers, cold-chain maintenance, storage arrangements for medicines, and the quality of medicines. The teams also compared the prices at which medicines were purchased by medical colleges with the prices at which they were being sold to patients.
Significant difference found between purchase price and MRP
During the inspections, a significant difference was primarily found in some private medical colleges between the purchase price and MRP of certain frequently used and some life-saving medicines. According to the department, in several cases, hospitals had purchased medicines at prices considerably lower than the printed MRP, but the medicines were being provided to patients at the MRP mentioned on the label. The department has identified such medicines. A total of 90 drug samples have been collected to check their quality. Notices are also being issued to the concerned manufacturing firms, asking them to clarify the difference between the printed MRP of the medicines and the Price to Retailer (PTR) rate at which the medicines were supplied to the hospital's stockist. The department is also examining wholesalers supplying medicines to hospitals. This includes checking the difference between the supply price offered to the hospital and the general retail supply price.
DPCO violations found at two medical colleges
The inspection revealed information regarding violations of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013, involving four medicines at Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College, Moradabad, and three medicines at GS Medical College and Hospital, Hapur. Notices are being issued to the concerned manufacturing firms in this regard.
Cold-chain violations found at two medical colleges
The cold-chain arrangements for medicines at Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, and GS Medical College and Hospital, Hapur, were found not to be in accordance with prescribed standards. The department has directed the concerned hospitals to return the entire stock of such medicines to the respective manufacturing firms.
Sale of medicines worth Rs 4.86 crore halted at Santosh Medical College
Following discrepancies related to the supply chain at Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad, the department has halted the sale of medicines worth Rs 4.86 crore. In addition, some pharmacies were unable to produce purchase bills for medicines at the time of inspection. Notices are also being issued to all such establishments.
Cases involving MRP exceeding ceiling price found in 76 medicines
The department has not limited its action only to the ongoing inspections of medical colleges. Based on documentary evidence obtained during departmental inspections over the past one year, cases have emerged involving 76 medicines being sold in the market at MRPs exceeding the ceiling prices prescribed under DPCO, 2013.
Directions to provide documents
In these cases, notices have been issued to 49 C&F agents, key distributors and stockists associated with 15 drug manufacturing units. The concerned establishments have been asked to provide documents if they have obtained any specific statutory exemption or ethical relaxation from the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). Otherwise, directions have been issued to ensure the recall from the market of the entire stock supplied to stockists at prices exceeding the prescribed rates.
Action to be taken under DPCO and the Essential Commodities Act
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has clarified that compliance with the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 is mandatory and binding under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The department has directed drug inspectors in the respective districts to initiate action in the concerned cases under the provisions of the DPCO and the Essential Commodities Act.
Medical colleges where inspections were conducted
In the first phase, inspections were conducted at the pharmacies of 15 medical colleges located in nine districts. These include SN Medical College, Agra; Government Medical College, Ayodhya; Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki; Dr. KNS Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences/Mayo Institute, Barabanki; Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly; Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad; GS Medical College and Hospital, Hapur; GSVM Medical College, Kanpur; Dr. BS Kushwah Medical College, Kanpur; Narayan Medical College and Research Centre, Kanpur; Rama Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kanpur; Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College, Moradabad; Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar; Heritage Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi; and Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi.
