A number of outlets selling drugs and healthcare-related products in the Kathmandu Valley have been found operating without licences.

These shops have been found charging exorbitant prices and selling contrabands to the people, said the Department of Supply Management, which carried an inspection on Thursday.

The department has sealed three outlets—Balaju Swasthya Clinic of Balaju, Aradhana Healthcare Centre of Dhapasi and Suvajit Pharmacy of Greenline-Tokha road.

Balaju Swasthya Clinic was found operating for the last one decade without acquiring a licence during the check. “The clinic once received a one-year temporary permit in 2006. Since then, it has been running its business without getting registered with the Department of Health,” said Shree Prasad Adhikari, a monitoring officer at the Department of Supply Management.

The clinic also charged high prices to its customers. Adhikari said the clinic charged Rs25 for a syringe, against the maximum retail price of Rs17.

Aradhana Healthcare Centre has not renewed its operating licence for the last three years, while Suvajit Pharmacy has been issuing “fake” bills. Adhikari said Suvajit was found using invoice of another firm named Run Pharmacy.

He said Suvajit also did not have a trained drugs seller. As per the government rule, drugs stores should sell medicinal products under the purview of proficient

drugs sellers. Suvajit was

also found selling narcotic drugs to its customers

without prescription.

Adhikari said they would write to the Department of Health for necessary action against the three outlets.

Madhav Prasad Timilsina, president of Consumers’ Right Investigation Forum, said poor government monitoring led to such anomalies in the health sector.

“The government should scrap licences of such outlets that are cheating customers and putting their health at a risk,” he said.