THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,9 DEC:Both dealers did not have a drug licence to set up shop and sell implants, which are classified under drugs, here and were functioning using the licence of their Kozhikode and Ernakulam outlets.
A team of enforcement officials from the Drugs Control Department had visited several shops in the Medical College area on Thursday, as part of a drive to check the quality of medical implants being sold through these shops.
"The relatives of patients or accident victims in Medical College hospital, who require orthopaedic implants or knee /hip replacement are sold sockets, caps, bolts, screws, and so on of various sizes as a kit for a price ranging anywhere from Rs.10,000 upwards. Not all items would be required for the patient. The unused items are returned to the shop, which are sterilised, re-packed and sold. The shops make a profit out of this business," a Drugs Control Department official said.
Those who bought the items were not issued proper bills but only a delivery challan and it was unlikely that they would be given any refunds because the consumers would have no idea about the number of items which were used from the original kit or if these would be re-sold, he added. The case would be submitted before the court on Friday. The offence could attract a punishment of three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs.1 lakh.
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