The Department of Drugs Administration (DoDA) has started to inspect the pharmacies in 16 districts of the eastern region.

The department has mobilised two teams to inspect the pharmacies in the region, said Shambu Sah, the officiating chief of the DoDA regional office in Biratnagar.

He added that the teams were currently on inspection rounds in Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Dhankuta, Ilam and Panchthar districts.

Already, the teams have taken action against several pharmacy operators. A common malpractice discovered by the DoDA teams, according to Sah, is unqualified people operating pharmacies.

The regulations require the presence of registered pharmacists in pharmacies, but that was not the case in many pharmacies operating in the eastern region.

Non-certified people were found owning and operating pharmacies, Sah said.

The teams have also sealed four pharmacies in Biratnagar that had not obtained permits from the DoDA.

There are 3,500 pharmacies registered in the eastern region.