The letter, dated April 18, talks about the corruption in Rathod’s Food and Drug Administration department and how some officers have been demanding money. It pointed out how chemists across the state are suffering and are stressed due to corruption in Rathod’s office.
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The letter states that the Food and Drug Administration regularly inspects establishments of chemists and druggists across the state. Due to small errors committed unintentionally by the shopkeepers, the administration either temporarily suspends or permanently cancels their licences to sell medicines.
As per the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, if a chemist/pharmacist is served a notice, they have to file an appeal against the action taken against them before the Food and Drug Administration minister. An adjournment order or hearing can be expected on that appeal.
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The letter said that many times, even after the entire term of the sentence is over, no decision is given after contacting the minister’s office several times. In fact, demands for huge sums of money were being made by the minister’s personal secretary and other officers, the letter alleged.
The association said that even after meeting the chief minister, deputy chief minister and Rathod, corruption has not gone down, but has increased.
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Anil Nawandar, the secretary of Maharashtra State Chemist and Druggist Association, said, “Our association has about one lakh members. Chemists are served notices for multiple reasons. Sometimes, they are even ordered to keep their shops closed. We have to appeal in Mantralay against these orders. In many cases, when these appeals reached Mantralay, no action was taken. If there is no redresal, then we will have to take other measures.”
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Meanwhile, Sanjay Rathod has refuted the allegations. “There are 7,000 appeals pending with the Maharashtra government. We take action on merit and these allegations are pressure tactics. The association expects orders against chemists and druggists to be revoked, but that cannot be done. I will have a meeting with the association to address this issue.”
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