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Telangana DCA initiates action against indiscriminate antibiotic sales, issues advisory to public
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
June 17 , 2025
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In the wake of indiscriminate sale of antibiotics in medical shops across the state, the Drugs Control Administration in Telangana has conducted a special drive inspection to curb anti-microbial resistance (AMR).
The officers in the department said indiscriminate sale of antibiotics is a significant contributing factor to the emergence of AMR.
In the special raids conducted by the DCA, officers identified numerous violations related to the indiscriminate sale of antibiotics across 193 medical shops. The detected infractions primarily involved the sale of antibiotics without a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner, the absence of sale bills, the lack of a registered pharmacist during sales, and the failure to maintain mandatory Schedule H1 Drug Registers and Prescription Registers specific to antibiotics. Show-cause notices have since been issued to these 193 medical shops, with further action to be pursued in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its rules.
In an advisory issued to the public by the department, it is said that antimicrobial resistance stands as a profound global healthcare crisis, prominently identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) among the top ten public health threats humanity faces. The gravity of this issue is underscored by staggering statistics, in 2019 alone, bacterial AMR was directly responsible for an estimated 12.7 lakh deaths worldwide. India, in particular, is grappling with an alarming situation, reporting one of the highest rates of AMR globally.
The term ‘antimicrobials’ encompasses a broad spectrum of agents, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. While the evolution of drug resistance in microorganisms, especially ‘Antibiotic resistance’ in bacteria, is an inherent biological phenomenon, various human actions significantly accelerate its emergence and widespread proliferation. Antibiotics, when used judiciously, are life-saving medications. However, their improper use empowers bacteria to develop resistance, rendering these vital drugs ineffective and making infections increasingly difficult to treat. These resistant bacterial strains, often referred to as ‘superbugs’ possess the dangerous ability to spread from person to person. This means that common infections, once easily treatable, can become untreatable, as the life-saving efficacy of antibiotics is compromised, posing a severe and escalating threat to global public health.
Addressing and preventing AMR necessitates a comprehensive, multifaceted approach involving a wide array of stakeholders, medical professionals, healthcare providers, regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical industries, and the general public. Several key factors are identified as primary drivers accelerating the rise of AMR. These include the over-prescription of antibiotics, often in scenarios where they are not clinically necessary or appropriate, contrary to WHO guidelines.
The advisory says that in recognition of the severity of AMR, strict regulatory measures are in place concerning the sale and distribution of antibiotics. These medications are classified as prescription drugs and are specifically listed under Schedule-H and Schedule-H1 of the Drugs Rules. This classification mandates that antibiotics cannot be sold by medical shops or pharmacies without a valid prescription issued by a qualified doctor, also known as a registered medical practitioner.
Dr Shahnawaz Quasim, director general of the DCA, said the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of antibiotics to patients by medical shops or pharmacies is a punishable offense under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Consequently, stringent legal action will be initiated against any medical shop or pharmacy found violating these critical regulations. He said the public's active participation is unequivocally crucial in the collective effort to combat antimicrobial resistance.
It is paramount to understand that the misuse and overuse of antibiotics are highly detrimental. Antibiotics are exclusively designed for treating bacterial infections, whereas antivirals are specifically for viral infections. Therefore, taking antibiotics for viral illnesses like the common cold or upper respiratory infections is not only ineffective but directly contributes to the development of AMR, says the advisory issued by the DCA.
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