What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Amid growing concerns over the rampant use of narcotics in Kashmir, senior authorities on Tuesday issued an advisory for the sale of certain drugs in the Valley.
In the advisory, the Kashmir divisional administration issued a set of dos and don’ts for the sale of drugs categorised by the Pharmacy Council of India under categories X, H and H1
The initiative is a part of the government’s ambitious Nasha Mukht Bharat campaign.
The advisory makes it mandatory for pharmacists to mention on the prescription the date of sale of the drugs, the number of tablets dispensed along with the stamp of the chemist for such drugs.
The instructions state that all records and registers should be maintained, which should be available for inspection by the commissioner of the Food & Drugs Control Administration or any other authorised officer.
Similarly, chemists dispensing scheduled drugs must ensure safety control measures such as video cameras and the prescription should be dispensed only if it is presented within 7 days of its issue, the advisory said.
For each Schedule H1 and X medicine dispensed, the pharmacist must record the name, address, patient’s date of birth, name and quantity of medicines supplied, prescription date and dispensing date along with the name and address of the prescriber.
When storing or archiving records and data, pharmacies should ensure they are able to locate and retrieve individual documents or information when needed, it stated.
The advisory directs not to dispense medications if the prescription is incomplete, or has alteration (s) without any countersign by the doctor; also not to dispense tramadol, buprenorphine, tapentadol, codeine, methylphenidate for any online prescriptions.
It also advises pharmacists not to dispense psychotropics to minors not accompanied by guardians. A pharmacist should not sell drugs when they have reasonable cause to believe that the prescription has been forged or obtained fraudulently, the advisory said, adding that the pharmacist should retain the prescription and send it to the authorities if it is forged.
In charge of the Divisional Control Room, Tahir Magray said that this is part of initiatives taken under the Nasha Mukth Bharat by the government.
Besides, the government is ensuring strict adherence to standing acts and laws related to Schedule X, H & H1 drugs so that any diversion of such drugs into unsafe hands and antisocial elements is averted, he said.
