Drugs Control Organization hosts awareness event at Banihal

RAMBAN: The Drugs Control Organization, Ramban, in collaboration with the Banihal Chemist Association, hosted an impactful anti-drug awareness program aimed at preventing drug abuse and ensuring the safe and lawful supply of medicines. The initiative focused on enhancing the role of the Pharma trade fraternity in maintaining a society free from drug misuse by promoting the legal and ethical sale of medicinal products.

The program saw participation from prominent citizens, members of the Pharma community, and senior officials, including Assistant Drugs Controller Udhampur Sanjeev Gupta, Drugs Control Officer Ramban Imtiyaz Ahmad, and Drugs Control Officer Udhampur, Rakesh Salathia.

In his address, Assistant Drugs Controller emphasized the importance of procuring medicines only from authorized sources and urged the Pharma community to adhere strictly to licensing conditions. He highlighted the government’s proactive steps, such as establishing District-Level Monitoring Committees under NOCORD, to combat drug abuse and support youth rehabilitation.

The Assistant Drugs Controller also encouraged chemists to adopt computerized billing systems and CCTV monitoring in line with government guidelines, emphasizing that records for Schedule-H1 and addiction-prone drugs must be meticulously maintained. Drug Control Officer Imtiyaz Ahmed reinforced the need for prescription-based sales of regulated medicines, advising chemists to maintain thorough records of transactions involving such drugs.

Members of the Banihal Chemist Association reaffirmed their commitment to combating drug abuse, pledging to uphold legal standards in drug dispensing to protect public health. Following the program, officials conducted inspections of medical shops in Banihal, with particular focus on record maintenance for habit-forming drugs. Notable progress was observed in the digitization of billing and record-keeping practices among medical establishments.

This collaborative event marks a significant step towards fostering a community-driven approach to drug abuse prevention and reinforcing the role of the Pharma sector in safeguarding public health.