Amid Growing Drug Abuse Concerns, Health Secretary Stresses Need for Prescription-Based Medicine Sales
In an effort to combat drug abuse and ensure the sale of quality medicines, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava has emphasized the necessity of selling medicines strictly with a doctor’s prescription. Addressing state drug regulators in a recent meeting, she highlighted the need to strengthen regulatory measures to maintain stringent control over the distribution and sale of pharmaceuticals in the country.
Strengthening Drug Regulations to Curb Illegal Use
On Monday, the Health Secretary chaired a crucial meeting with state drug regulators to explore strategies for tackling illegal drug use and bolstering the regulatory frameworks of states and union territories under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan initiative. She reiterated the importance of ensuring that only high-quality and effective medicines are available in the market, urging authorities to enforce stricter monitoring mechanisms.
Prescription-Based Sales to Prevent Drug Misuse
During the meeting, Srivastava underscored the necessity of selling medicines strictly through valid prescriptions to curb drug smuggling and illicit narcotics trade. She urged state regulators to enhance their oversight to prevent the unauthorized distribution of controlled substances, ensuring that pharmaceutical products are used for their intended medical purposes.
Ban Imposed on the Export of Certain Drugs
Acknowledging the efforts of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and state drug regulators, the Health Secretary praised the successful completion of risk-based inspections covering 905 pharmaceutical manufacturing and testing firms. These inspections have resulted in 694 regulatory actions against non-compliant entities. The meeting was particularly significant in light of the Drugs Controller General of India’s (DCGI) recent ban on the production and export of two pain-relief drugs—tapentadol and carisoprodol.
Exported Drugs Linked to Crisis in West Africa
Reports indicate that Mumbai-based pharma company Aveo Pharmaceuticals had been exporting these drugs to several West African nations, leading to severe concerns regarding their misuse. Tapentadol, a potent pain reliever, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant, have the potential for abuse as narcotic substances, raising alarms over their role in addiction-related issues. The ban aims to prevent such drugs from being exploited for non-medical purposes and to safeguard public health globally.
With these strengthened regulations and prescription-based sales enforcement, the government seeks to ensure responsible medicine distribution while tackling the growing menace of drug abuse effectively.
