RAWALPINDI, June 30: The District Quality Control Board on Saturday sent cases against 16 owners of drug stores and clinics to the drug court for their alleged involvement in either selling of medicines without licenses or keeping illegal drugs.

The board also issued warnings to four other druggists.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the board attended by Executive District Officer (EDO) Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal, Secretary Board Abid Saeed Baig and other senior health officials.

The meeting discussed total 28 cases against the medical stores, clinics and hospitals involved in different violations of drug rules and heard the concerned parties. Some of them faced allegations of involvement in using expired syringes.

After deliberations, the board decided to prosecute 16 medical stores and clinics namely Bilal Laboratory, Sadiqabad; Asif Brothers traders, College Road; Bismillah Medical Store; Naseem Drug Traders, Afandi Colony; Javed Pharmacy, Bostan Khan Road Chaklala Scheme-III; Siraj Pharmacy, Commercial Market; Hassan Memorial Clinic, Dhoke Mustaqeem; Ghazi Brothers, Satellite Town; Ihtisham Clinic, Daultala; Ali Nursing Home, Mandra; Madni Chemist, Kahuta; Darul Shifa, Wah Cantonment; Hasan Medical Store, Dhoke Mustaqeem; Al-Kausar Medical Store, Kotli Sattian; Saad Clinic, Kahuta and Shinwari Chemist, Service Road.

The meeting was informed that the drug inspectors had also sealed a chemist shop – Rawal Chemist, Iqbal Road – and issued challan to Chaudhry Drug Traders. It was decided that the issue would be brought before the board in its meeting next month.

The board meeting also issued warnings to four chemists and clinics and asked the drug inspectors to check their record and drugs during surprise visits.

It also adjourned eight cases as the owners of the shops and clinics could not arrive in the meeting. According to the rules, the board had to give them a chance to clarify their position. It asked the health department to summon them otherwise the decision would be taken against them without hearing their point of view.