-Misuse of life-saving medicines for drug abuse will not be allowed, says Health Minister
-Health Minister reviews ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign with Patiala administration and police
-35 drug hotspots identified in the district; chemist shops are also being monitored: Health Minister
Patiala, October 21:
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, was following a zero-tolerance policy against drugs. The Health Minister today held an important meeting with Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, SSP Harmandeep Hans, Civil Surgeon Dr. Shelly Jaitley, Zonal Drug Licensing Authority Navjot Kaur and other officials to review the ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign.
Dr. Balbir Singh categorically stated that the misuse of essential, life-saving medicines for drug abuse would not be tolerated under any circumstances. However, he said that all the approximately 32,000 wholesale and retail chemist shops operating in the state could not be viewed with suspicion. He added that chemist shops, along with 35 areas identified as drug hotspots in Patiala district, were being monitored to curb the illegal drug trade and take action against those involved in the illicit business.
The Health Minister said that ‘chitta’ and other synthetic drugs were not manufactured in Punjab but were smuggled into the state from Pakistan or other states. He added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Punjab Government had repeatedly raised this issue with the Central Government and the concerned agencies to curb the supply of these drugs. He directed the district administration to conduct special checking drives around schools, colleges and other educational institutions to ensure that drugs were not sold in these areas.
Dr. Balbir Singh directed the Zonal Drug Licensing Authority to ensure inspections with the assistance of the police so that no medicine dealer operated without a valid licence or sold life-saving medicines without a doctor’s prescription. He said that although medicine retailers generally worked with a spirit of service, strict action would be taken against anyone found involved in such illegal activities.
The Cabinet Minister also appealed to the people of Punjab to report any information about drug peddling by a medicine dealer or any other person to the police, Drug Licensing Authority, Civil Surgeon’s office or the Safe Punjab Anti-Drug WhatsApp chatbot at 97791-00200. He cautioned people against taking the law into their own hands or attempting to act on their own. He assured them that the name and address of the informant would be kept confidential.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal and SSP Harmandeep Hans, along with other officials, assured the Health Minister that the ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign would be implemented effectively in the district in accordance with the Punjab Government’s instructions and the Health Minister’s directions. ADCs Damanjit Singh Mann and Anuprita Johal, SP City Mohit Aggarwal, Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Drug Inspectors and other officials were also present at the meeting.
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