Delhi Launches Unprecedented Crackdown: 235 Pharmacy Licenses Suspended in Record Year

In a resolute move to safeguard public health, the Delhi government has announced the suspension of an astonishing 235 pharmacy licenses over the past year, marking the highest number in the last three years. This aggressive crackdown, spanning from September 2022 to August 2023, underscores the authorities' unwavering commitment to ensuring that pharmaceutical services across the capital adhere to the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance.

The sheer volume of suspensions represents a significant escalation of enforcement activities.

To put this into perspective, the previous two years saw 198 suspensions (2021-22) and 171 (2020-21), demonstrating a clear increase in scrutiny and punitive action. This surge reflects a determined effort by the Delhi Pharmacy Council (DPC) and the Drugs Control Department to address long-standing issues within the city's vast network of over 44,000 registered pharmacists and countless pharmacies.

At the heart of these suspensions are critical violations of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.

A predominant issue identified during approximately 2,000 inspections conducted in the past year is the operation of pharmacies without a duly registered pharmacist overseeing drug dispensing. This alarming practice, often involving the "renting out" of licenses to unqualified individuals, poses a grave risk to patients, as it bypasses the essential professional oversight required for safe medication management and accurate record-keeping.

Other serious infractions include maintaining incorrect records, a lack of proper supervision, and overall non-compliance with the stringent guidelines designed to ensure quality and accountability in the distribution of medicines.

Such lapses can lead to dispensing errors, availability of spurious drugs, or improper advice, all of which directly compromise patient well-being.

The DPC, responsible for the registration, renewal, and disciplinary actions concerning pharmacists, plays a pivotal role in this enforcement drive.

Their proactive approach, alongside the Drugs Control Department, highlights a zero-tolerance policy towards establishments that prioritize profit over patient safety. While challenges persist, such as the shortage of pharmacy inspectors facing an ever-increasing workload, the commitment to upholding ethical and legal standards remains paramount.

This unprecedented wave of suspensions sends a clear message to all pharmaceutical establishments in Delhi: compliance is not optional.

It reassures the public that the authorities are actively working to purge malpractices and ensure that every prescription filled and every medicine dispensed is done so under the watchful eye of qualified professionals, ultimately protecting the health and trust of millions.