Two quack clinics raided, steroids & antibiotics seized

Hyderabad: As many as 58 types of medicines, including high-grade steroid injections and antibiotics like dexamethasone and prednisolone injections (both used to treat inflammation), worth Rs 55,000 were seized during recent raids by the Drugs Control Administration (DCA). The raids were conducted on quacks in Wanaparthy and Narayanpet on Monday and Tuesday.
The high-end antibiotics seized during the raids include amikacin, cefpodoxime proxetil, cefixime, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin (used to treat meningitis, gonorrhoea and bacterial bronchitis), said DCA Telangana director general VB Kamalasan Reddy.He added that these higher generation antibiotics pose a serious threat to public health if sold indiscriminately.
"Indiscriminate sale of antibiotics by unqualified persons can have disastrous consequences for the health of the rural population, including the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. These, as well as steroids, were found in the clinics of two quacks. The misuse of steroids can have serious health consequences, including suppression of the immune system, hormonal imbalances, muscle and bone weakness, cardiovascular problems and psychological effects," he said.
Of the two clinics in question, one was run by Nawaj Miya at Pangal village in Wanaparthy district, where 28 types of drugs were found. The other was run by Batti Srinivas Goud at Nidugurthy village in Narayanpet district, where 30 varieties were found. "These quacks were practicing medicine without qualifications and substantial quantities of medicines stored for sale without a drug licence," the official added.