Medical stores in Haryana found selling banned medication, intoxicants

Despite adopting a multi-pronged strategy to curb the drug menace in the state, the drug network seems to have flourished in Haryana over the last few years. There has been a massive increase in the cases of drug consumption in the state, especially in the districts adjacent to the neighbouring states of Punjab and Rajasthan. The situation has worsened so much that after young men, women are also falling prey to illegal substances and are getting involved in smuggling.
Recently it came to light that certain banned substances were being sold at medical stores across the state as well. There are some medicines that are being sold even without prescriptions at these stores. Medical stores have been found selling either intoxicants or banned medicines without permission. Several such cases were reported in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts. Thirteen narcotics have been seized. Several actions have been taken by the department. It was told that in 46 cases, non-court proceedings were initiated.
Apart from this, some cases have been processed in court. The process for action has been initiated in a total of 48 cases in the court. In 42 of these, action was taken against the accused and they were sentenced. Besides, raids and inspections are conducted from time to time by the Drug Control Authority to take action on medical stores breaching norms. According to statistics, between March 2022 and March 2023, the department carried out inspections in different districts. A total of about 10,000 inspections were done and about 2,400 samples were also procured from the medical store. However, the figures for the last quarter have not yet come. In this regard, on average 200 samples are being filled every month.
Drug control officers are to be appointed in all districts to conduct inspections and stop the sale of illegal drugs. There are 46 sanctioned posts in Haryana but only 11 of these officers are available. Seventy-five percent of the total sanctioned posts are vacant. Meanwhile, the licenses of 126 medical operators who indulged in irregularities have been cancelled for negligence and breaking the rules.