Pharmacies in Nizamabad Violate DCA Norms

Nizamabad: Several pharmacies in Nizamabad district are openly flouting norms, operating without providing receipts for medicine purchases. Despite experiencing minimal business over the past few months, these shops continue to thrive, often citing that customers are unwilling to wait for receipts.

There are approximately 1,450 medical shops in Nizamabad, generating substantial revenue. However, only corporate outlets are consistently issuing purchase receipts. Many smaller shops, especially those affiliated with private nursing homes and clinics, are reluctant to provide receipts, even for purchases ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000.

Anand Rao, a senior citizen from Nizamabad, expressed concerns about the lack of receipts. He noted that previously, receipts included essential details like the medicine name, price, and batch number, which are crucial for customer safety in case of side effects. He emphasized that issuing receipts would also help curb illegal practices in the industry.

A retailer on Armoor Road, speaking anonymously, explained that smaller shops often struggle with the costs associated with computers and billing software. "We want to issue printed bills, but some customers prefer not to wait for them," he said, adding that public awareness about medications has improved compared to the past.

Meanwhile, the Drug Control Administration (DCA) is working to enforce receipt issuance among medical shops. However, some shops continue to violate regulations, allegedly due to political pressure or corruption. Additionally, there are concerns that some shops are selling substandard medicines to maximise profits at the expense of patient safety.