50 TN pharmacies temporarily shut down for selling sanitisers at higher prices, drugs without prescription

CHENNAI: The state drug control department has temporarily shut down 50 pharmacy stores in Tamil Nadu for selling hand sanitisers above maximum retail price (MRP) and drugs without valid prescriptions from doctors.
These pharmacies will be shut for two days to one week depending on the offence committed.
Soon after Covid-19 started to spread, demand for hand sanitisers, masks and certain drugs shot up in the state.All pharma traders were warned not to sell paracetamol and hydroxycholorquine tablets without doctors’ prescriptions as people started consuming them as a prophylactic (preventive) drug.
Helpline (104) was open for public to complain about shortage or any violations they noticed.
Based on that inspections were carried out, 50 pharmacy stores have been booked for violating the Essential Commodities and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, said K Sivabalan, director of the said department.
Many among them sold hand sanitisers at higher prices. The central government has fixed Rs 100 as the cost of 200 ml sanitiser till June end.