Eighty-five out of 134 medicine sale outlets inspected by the drug controller general of India (DCGI) in Delhi and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan last week were selling prohibited drugs, according to the health ministry.

The central drugs standard control organisation (CDSCO) conducted surprise inspection at chemist shops even inside hospitals and found that banned drugs like Rosiglitazone, used by diabetics, Gatifloxacin, an antibiotic, and Tegaserod, used to treat irritable bowel syndrome were available at the pharmacies.

Rosiglitazone in November 2010 and the other two drugs in March 2011 were prohibited from manufacturing, sale and distribution by the health ministry under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

“Orders for not to dispose of the stocks of prohibited drugs have been issued to the concerned licensees for the contravention of the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules. Further action will be taken against them after the investigations are over,” a release from the ministry said.

Thirteen teams comprising 56 officials conducted inspections in different areas of Delhi like Rohini, Pritampura, Tilak Nagar, Janak Puri, Dwarka in west Delhi; Green Park, Saket, Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi; Karol Bagh, Rajender Nagar, Moti Nagar, Kirti Nagar, Dariyaganj and Bhagirath Palace in central Delhi; Mayur Vihar, Patparganj, Laxmi Nagar, Shadhara and Seelampur in east Delhi.