HYDERABAD: The Drugs Control Authority (DCA), which unearthed a cache of what it suspects to be spurious supply of `Maxinem' injection from some medical stores in the city, has decided to widen its investigation net.

The DCA on Friday froze the suspected spurious drug stocks worth Rs. 32 lakhs in the city and also alerted its teams in other cities to carry out raids on local medical stores and hospitals.

The crackdown began with raids on the medical stores at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and the samples have been sent to laboratory for analysis. `Maxinem', a beta-lactam antibiotic is used to treat life-threatening conditions and infections and is a widely prescribed drug priced around Rs. 1,900.

Bigger racket

The DCA suspect the fake supply to be part of a bigger racket with roots in other States. "We just picked the tail at NIMS and intend chasing it to nail the head," says the official.

Two teams of drug inspectors are being despatched for Mumbai and Chennai.

More inspections are likely to follow in the city and other parts of the State in the next few days.

Another raid

In another raid on a medical store at Nallakunta, the DCA team led by Assistant Commissioner T. Ravi Kumar seized Rs. 8 lakhs worth drugs after they were found to be improperly stored.

Some drugs need to be stored under controlled temperature and in this case they were not found in refrigerators, according to the officials.

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