Telangana DCA Issues Notices to 43 Medical Shops Over Weight-Loss Drugs

The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has issued show-cause notices to 43 medical shops across the state for the illegal sale and misuse of weight-loss drugs. The action followed a special inspection drive conducted on Friday.

The regulatory drive focused on checking compliance with rules governing the sale of popular weight-loss and diabetes medications, including Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. Officials also aimed to detect and prevent the circulation of spurious and counterfeit drugs containing the active ingredients Tirzepatide and Semaglutide.

During the state-wide inspections, DCA officials uncovered multiple regulatory violations across the 43 establishments. Several medical shops were found dispensing these medicines without valid prescriptions from medical specialists.

Inspectors also discovered that outlets failed to issue proper bills to customers and did not maintain or produce mandatory sales and purchase records. Other infractions included the failure to maintain prescription-drug registers and the dispensing of prescription medicines in the absence of a registered pharmacist.

The DCA stated that strict action will be initiated against the non-compliant medical shops under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its associated rules.