- DIMAPUR — Nearly three weeks after Dimapur
Police arrested Albert P Lotha for allegedly impersonating a medical doctor and
practising without qualifications, the state’s Drugs Control Administration has
shut down a well-known Dimapur pharmacy, Medical Hall, for facilitating his
illegal activities.
- The pharmacy, located at New Market, remained closed for two
days following a May 20 order from the Controlling and Licensing Authority of
the Health and Family Welfare department. The case came to light following a
complaint lodged by the Nagaland Medical Council in January.
- In a suspension order issued on May 20, the state’s
Controlling and Licensing Authority noted that M/s Medical Hall was being used
as an unregistered OPD clinic, with medicines dispensed on prescriptions issued
by the accused fake doctor.
- Taking suo motu cognisance, the department initiated an
investigation and later cancelled the pharmacy’s Drugs License (DL/NL/05/06)
under Rule 66 of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945.
Related: Fake doctor case exposes serious lapses in Dimapur’s medical system
Lotha Doctors Forum slams Albert P Lotha for fraudulent medical practice
- A show-cause notice was issued to the pharmacy, but
officials concluded that the response had “no substantial cause.”
- The investigation also found that the pharmacy had violated
certain sections of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act by failing to maintain proper
records for the procurement and sale of Schedule III and restricted drugs.
- According to the department, the pharmacy’s defence was
self-contradictory. While it claimed not to have sold medicines without
prescriptions, it also admitted that the proprietor rarely visited the
premises—raising further questions about oversight and compliance.
