Four pharmacies in Hyderabad face show-cause notices for selling addictive drugs

Enforcement officers at MED24 Pharmacy and General Store in Mallepally.

Four health facilities in Hyderabad have been issued show-cause notices after joint inspections by EAGLE Force and TG SAFE found irregularities in records relating to the purchase and sale of addictive drugs.

The inspections, carried out on the basis of suggestions by the Central Intelligence Agency, involved pharmacies in Masab Tank, Mallepally and Tolichowki. Officials checked compliance with requirements for the purchase, storage and sale of regulated drugs, including drugs on Schedule H and H1.

At Al-Hamra Medical & General Store in Masab Tank, officials found that prescribed registers were not maintained and sales accounts relating to certain addictive drugs, including Tapentadol, Alprazolam and others, were either not maintained or produced for verification.

At MM Medical and General Store in Mallepally, operating as a MED24 pharmacy and general store, officials found deficiencies in prescribed registers and non-production of sales receipts relating to Pregalyv 75. Schedule H1 drug register and sales account book were also not created.

Based on information about the indiscriminate sale and distribution of addictive drugs, a surprise inspection was conducted at the First Step Drug Mart in Tolichowki. Officers found several such drugs at the establishment, with the pharmacist not present during the inspection. An inventory of H1 drugs was also not created, and discrepancies were found in the records of the purchase and sale of drugs.

At Hayat Pharmacy in Tolichowki, the prescribed Schedule H1 records and the register of prescriptions for habit-forming drugs were not created. Officials also found deficiencies in the management and issuing of sales invoices for some drugs.

Subsequently, show cause notices were issued to all four establishments and other regulatory measures were taken in accordance with the applicable provisions and standards of the Medicines Control Authority.

Published – 7 Oct 2026 20:50 IST