In order to control the mushrooming Ayurvedic centres, illegal medicine shops including unregistered nursing homes in and around the capital city, the Health and Family Welfare department has started their raids against illegal sale medicines and forged practices.

Official sources said that based on secret information, the Drug Inspecting authorities of West Tripura district on Friday raided an herbal treatment centre at Bardowali area of Agartala city and found many illegal practices including sale of Codeine Phosphate syrup, which are banned in the country.

Giving details of the surprise raids, Drug Inspecting officer, Dr Mrinal Kanti Sarkar said that as per their secret information, the team of the Health department found many discrepancies and illegal practices.

He said that one ayurvedic treatment centre under name of “Desh Herbal” at Bardowali area provides treatment with fake assurances to the patients of the state. During the raid, the team recovered syrups of banned Codeine Phosphate and many ayurvedic medicines without brand name and company levels.

Dr Sarkar said that they registered legal action against two persons identified as Abdul Latif and Mr Koushik of Kolkata, who were running the ‘Desh Herbal’ treatment centre. He also said the centre has been sealed and the department has taken measures for legal prosecution against these persons.

Meanwhile, drug inspectors of the Health department on Friday have also conducted raids in medicine shops and in a few nursing homes.

As per the directives of Director of Health, Dr Supriya Mallik, the team during the raid had cancelled the drug license of ‘Eastern Medical Hall’; located at Akhaura road has been cancelled due to their illegal practices.

On Friday, four drug inspectors at a time raided at a specific location in Pratapgarh area, but did not notice  any illegal activities and the team also raided at ‘Pharmacy of Unity Gastro and Live Unit’ in Krishnagar area of the city.

The Health department sources said that they will continue their raids against illegal medicine sales and illegal medical practices across the state.