Many medical shops operating with rented certificates in Andhra Pradesh, alleges CPI

The Communist Party of India(CPI) State secretary G. Eswaraiah has alleged that a powerful medical and drugs trade mafia is operating unchecked in the State, severely affecting public health and depriving qualified pharmacists of employment opportunities.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, Mr. Eswaraiah claimed that thousands of medical shops were functioning by renting the certificates of unemployed pharmacists. Unqualified persons were allegedly using these certificates to sell medicines. He said the Pharmacy Council and the Drugs Control Department had failed to curb these illegal practices, resulting in large-scale corruption.

According to the CPI leader, official records show pharmacists as employees in nearly 60,000 medical stores, but in reality many outlets are being run without qualified professionals, posing a serious threat to public safety. He alleged that the drugs trade mafia was involved in an annual corruption racket worth nearly ₹1,000 crore, with officials protecting illegal operations. Recalling earlier instances, he said the CPI had lodged complaints about officials allegedly supporting the mafia during recent Pharmacy Council elections.

Mr. Eswaraiah cautioned against issuing Pharmacy Council appointment orders without proper inquiry and demanded strict action against officials found colluding with vested interests. He said curbing the practice of rented certificates could immediately create 60,000 jobs for pharmacists and significantly improve wages, bringing them on par with States such as Kerala and Maharashtra.

He announced that the CPI would continue a phased agitation, involving student and youth organisations, to press for employment generation in both government and private sectors.