Drugs worth over Rs 4L seized after hospital 'sells them without licence'

Dr Pallavi Darade, FDA commissioner

A doctor from Jogeshwari, who runs a maternity hospital, is in a soup after FDA seized drugs worth over Rs 4 lakh for selling them over the counter allegedly without a licence on his premises, in violation of FDA rules.

Illegality over the counter
On January 6, Aarti Kambli, drugs inspector, and A S Godse, drugs inspector (Investigative Bureau), raided Mothercare Maternity and Surgical Hospital in Jogeshwari West. It was found that Dr Jayesh Sheth, who owns the hospital, was selling medicines over the counter without a licence. After receiving a tip-off about this, officials planted a bogus customer and caught Dr Sheth.

"Doctors don't need a licence to sell medicines to admitted patients. But they can't sell medicines to outside patients without a licence. During our investigation, we found that nurses were selling medicines over the counter to outside patients. So, we seized drugs worth R4.11 lakh from the premises," said Dr Pallavi Darade, FDA commissioner. The case was presented in court on Tuesday. FDA will keep the drugs until the verdict. "After the hearing, the court will decide the punishment and fine," said an FDA official.

'Have a licence'
When contacted, Dr Sheth said, "We have all the required documents with licence to run the pharmacy; these allegations are baseless. We are a very well-known hospital and have one of the best IVF clinics. Three days back, people from a nearby pharmacy approached us, seeking to open it in our hospital, which we refused. Maybe, they informed FDA about this."

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