Pharmacies selling scheduled drugs directed to install CCTV cameras

Chamba District Magistrate Mukesh Repaswal, invoking the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita-2023, has issued an order directing all pharmacies and chemists in the district selling Schedule H, H1, and X category drugs to immediately install CCTV cameras on their premises.

This directive has been issued to prevent the sale of Schedule H, H1, and X category drugs to minors without medical consultation. The order aims to ensure that the sale of such medications is closely monitored.

The order also specifies that the CCTV cameras must be fully functional and operational at all times. Additionally, the camera footage should be made available to regulatory authorities, such as drug and police officials, for inspection as required.

The order clarifies that in case of any violation, strict action would be taken under Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and Rule 56 of the Juvenile Justice Model Rules, 2016.

The order is effective immediately and would remain in force until further notice.

Notably, in a recent crackdown on pharmacy shops failing to maintain proper sales records of narcotic drugs, the State Drug Controller (SDC) had suspended licences of over half a dozen chemists and sealed their stores for varying periods.

Two chemists have been permanently barred from selling narcotic drugs.

The Drug Controller had also issued show-cause notices to over 40 pharmacy shops, seeking to know the reason for their alleged failure in maintaining permanent record.

As per rules, the pharmacies are required to maintain the record of narcotic substances, a mandatory condition before selling such items.

However, during surprise inspection by the department’s team, discrepancies were found in the pharmacies’ records. All chemists, thereafter, were instructed not to sell any controlled medicines or narcotic drugs without a doctor’s prescription.