Selling medicines without doctor's prescription is illegal (file photo)
Rohit Jadial, Jammu. It is legally wrong to sell drugs that promote drug addiction as well as antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. Action is taken against many shopkeepers, but despite this the sale of medicines continues. One reason for this is the shortage of doctors and lack of strictness in selling medicines.
According to the data of Drug Control Organization, licenses of 35 shopkeepers have been canceled in one year for ignoring the instructions. Some of these licenses are for selling medicines without prescription. Drug Controller Jammu and Kashmir Rajesh Kumar says that it is our endeavor that no shopkeeper in Jammu and Kashmir sells any medicine without a doctor's prescription.
These also include antibiotics. Our teams conduct continuous inspections and also conduct surprise raids. In this, licenses of many shopkeepers are cancelled. This action is continuing continuously. However, he admits that in some places shopkeepers still sell medicines without prescription.
CCTV in 99 percent shops
More than 99 percent of the shops in Jammu and Kashmir have CCTV installed. Apart from banning addictive drugs, its objective is also to ban over-the-counter medicines. It has been made mandatory for all shopkeepers to give computerized bills for selling medicines. Drug department officials say that the installation of CCTV has been very beneficial.
Many of these shopkeepers have themselves banned selling medicines without prescription. He says that self-selling of antibiotics by shopkeepers is a serious issue and it is our constant effort to make everyone aware on this issue. For this, meetings are also held with members of the Drug and Chemist Association.
Ajay Gupta, General Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Chemists and Druggists Association, Jammu Province and President Jammu Chemists and Distributors Association said that health is the most valuable asset of life and its protection is a collective responsibility.
He appreciated the continuous dedication, hard work and dedication of all the members associated with the pharmaceutical sector, who are playing an important role in ensuring uninterrupted availability of medicines and strengthening public health services.
Ajay Gupta has appealed to the general public to be health conscious, consult qualified doctors on time and use medicines responsibly. He emphasized that correct and judicious use of medicines and adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential to improve the quality of life. He further said that the common objective of all stakeholders is to create a healthy, aware and empowered society.
Lack of doctors is a major reason
The Drug Control Department still does not take much strict action on selling drugs in remote areas. There is strictness on drugs that promote addiction but there is not much strictness on the sale of other drugs. One reason for this is the shortage of doctors in these areas.
An official said that if we take strict action in remote areas, the patients will get upset and they will not get the medicine. There is a shortage of doctors here and only shopkeepers provide such medicines to the patients in these areas.
Shopkeepers themselves are making themselves aware
There are many shopkeepers in Jammu who do not give medicines themselves without a doctor's prescription. Many have also put up boards outside their shops stating that medicines will not be given without a doctor's prescription. Drug and Chemist Association says that they are continuously making all the shopkeepers aware.
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