Guwahati: Unlicensed vendors are openly selling pharmaceutical products at makeshift roadside stalls throughout Assam's Nagaon district. In locations such as Udmari Baligutia, these stalls operate alongside grocery and vegetable vendors, causing significant alarm among local residents regarding patient safety and the lack of regulatory oversight.
The issue extends well beyond Baligutia, with similar operations reported in Dhing, Moirabari, Dumdumia, Juria, Kampur, Kachua, and Rupahi. Locals report that some individuals at these stalls present themselves as doctors, providing treatments and drugs despite lacking the necessary medical qualifications or legal authorization to practice.
Kamal Hassan, a pharmacist counsellor for the Nagaon district, stated that these vendors lack the required documentation to handle medicine sales. He said, "The vendors do not possess valid licences to sell medicines." Hassan is now calling on local authorities to initiate a dedicated enforcement campaign to shutter these illegal pharmacies.
Critics of the current situation argue that accessing medication through unregulated channels is dangerous. Without proper prescriptions or medical diagnoses, residents risk severe health complications. Consequently, the community is demanding that officials implement stricter enforcement measures to curb unlicensed medical practices and ensure the safety of healthcare in the region.
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