Sri Vijaya Puram, June 23: Concerns over the unauthorized sale of medicines, misuse of prescription drugs and growing risks associated with substance abuse dominated a high-level awareness meeting convened by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed annually on June 26.
The meeting was held on June 18 at the conference hall of the Directorate of Health Services and brought together members of the Andaman and Nicobar Chemists and Druggists Association along with local retail and wholesale pharmacy owners. The discussion focused on measures aimed at preventing drug abuse and strengthening regulatory compliance to support efforts towards a drug-free Union Territory.
Dr. Sidda Raju, CMO (NFSG), Director of Health Services and State Drug Controller, chaired the meeting and outlined key concerns related to the sale and distribution of medicines. He stressed the importance of conducting surprise inspections of pharmacies by Drug Inspectors in South Andaman, North and Middle Andaman districts to ensure adherence to drug regulations and prevent the unauthorized sale of medicines.
He emphasized that anti-tuberculosis medicines, antibiotics and other regulated drugs should not be sold without valid prescriptions. He also directed pharmacy operators to ensure that medicines are not sold above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), noting that overcharging places an unnecessary financial burden on patients and violates regulatory provisions.
Addressing medication safety, Dr. Raju instructed pharmacies to maintain Look-Alike Sound-Alike (LASA) drugs separately and ensure they are clearly identified. The measure, he said, is necessary to reduce dispensing errors and enhance patient safety.
He further highlighted concerns regarding the indiscriminate use of medicines such as Aspirin and Disprin, stating that such drugs should not be dispensed without proper medical advice or prescription. The meeting also discussed the sale of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) pills, with officials warning that their sale through private shops without appropriate medical supervision could pose serious health risks to women.
During the meeting, Dr. Ganesh Samadder, Deputy Director (Medical), referred to findings from surprise inspections conducted by Drug Inspectors. He expressed concern over instances of medicines being sold by unauthorized persons, deficiencies in maintaining records related to Schedule H and H1 drugs, and irregularities involving prescription documentation. He also highlighted the sale of sedative drugs, including certain cough syrups, Alprazolam, Nitrazepam, Clonazepam and Diazepam, as well as the repeated dispensing of medicines based on a single prescription.
Ashok Biswas, Nodal Officer (Prohibition), Directorate of Social Welfare, urged stakeholders to report any suspicious activity or signs of substance abuse among children and adolescents to the department for timely intervention and support. He asked the public to share such information through the Social Welfare Department helpline at 9933283106.
Manoj Lall, Sub Inspector (CID) Anti-Narcotics, and Vivek Mishra, President of the Andaman and Nicobar Chemists and Druggists Association, also addressed the gathering.
The Health Department appealed to residents to report any incidents of drug abuse noticed in and around retail pharmacy establishments through its helpline number 9434266561, reinforcing efforts to strengthen community participation in combating substance abuse across the islands.
