Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary G. Eswaraiah has alleged that a powerful medical and drug mafia is running unchecked in the state, which is seriously affecting public health and depriving qualified pharmacists of employment opportunities.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, Mr. Eswaraiah alleged that thousands of medical shops are operating by renting the certificates of unemployed pharmacists. Unqualified persons allegedly used these certificates to sell medicines. He said the Pharmaceutical Council and Drug Control Department have failed to curb these illegal practices, resulting in widespread corruption.
According to the CPI leader, official records list pharmacists as employees in nearly 60,000 medical stores, but in reality, many stores are run without qualified professionals, posing a serious threat to public safety. He alleged that the drug-trafficking mafia was involved in corrupt extortion worth nearly ₹1,000 crore every year, with officials shielding illegal operations. Citing earlier cases, he said the CPI had filed complaints against officials allegedly supporting the mafia during the recent pharmacy board elections.
Mr. Eswaraiah warned against issuing appointment orders by the Pharmacy Board without proper investigation and demanded strict action against officials found in secret with vested interests. He said curbing the practice of leased certificates could immediately create 60,000 jobs for pharmacists and improve wages significantly, bringing them on par with states like Kerala and Maharashtra.
He announced that the CPI would continue a phased agitation involving student and youth organizations to seek job creation in both the government and private sectors.
Published – 25 Jan 2026 19:47 IST
