The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) has issued show-cause notices to 158 medical shops following a special enforcement drive against the illegal sale of habit-forming medicines across the State on Wednesday.  

The drive focused on the unauthorised sale of medicines such as Tramadol, Pregabalin-containing formulations, Nitrazepam, Alprazolam, Tapentadol, Codeine-containing cough syrups and Zolpidem. The violations included sale of prescription medicines without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

Other violations included failure to issue bills, non-maintenance or production of sales and purchase bills, failure to maintain prescription and Schedule H1 registers, and dispensing prescription medicines in the absence of a registered pharmacist.

Members of the public can report suspected illegal activities involving medicines, including narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, to the TG SAFE drugs wing toll-free number 1800 599 6969, which is operational from 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all working days.