Pharmacies don't fleece people in Telangana State

Hyderabad: The coronavirus impact in China has not affected prices and availability of 58 most-commonly used medicines and drugs sold at pharmacies in Telangana, according to Drug Control Department authorities.

They made this observation after conducting inspections of pharmacy shops in various districts during the last two days.

It may be mentioned here that raw material for these medicines is procured in bulk quantities mostly by small pharma companies because of cost effective factors.

These pharma firms add their own formulations to the raw material imported from China to prepare the medicines. Molecular names of these noted medicines used by the people very regularly are Paracetamol, Diclofinac, Amoxicillin, Cefixime, Telmesartan etc.

Despite India's leading position in the generic drug business, it has to import 75 per cent of bulk drugs, the chemical ingredients with therapeutic effect that form the basis of any medicine, from China.

Hyderabad is considered as bulk drug capital of India with a presence of a large number of bulk drug units that make generic and cheaper drugs.

According to sources, many firms procure raw material sufficient for four to six months. Coronavirus effect started only in last week of December and impact will be seen on drugs production in India only if this scenario continues for another two to three months in China.

However, medicines of noted Indian and big pharma companies that do not depend on China and make their own raw material and formulations (of these 58 most common drugs) are available across all pharmacy shops across the state and are not being sold at high prices.

Under the Essential Commodities Act, a Drug Price Control is issued to ensure that the cost of essential medicines which are required in bulk amounts are fixed in such a way that they are affordable for everyone.

Irrespective of impact on production or availability of these 58 drugs, pharmacies have to adhere to DPC Act and cannot sell the drugs at high prices beyond the MRP, officials said.

Although some pharmacy shops in GHMC limits were found to be fleecing customers by selling safety masks at high prices, all the shops, however are adhering to rules as far as selling of the most common drugs to public is concerned, officials said.