Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Nov 11: With the increasing misuse of painkillers as narcotics among addicts, the state drug control department has intensified real-time monitoring of the purchase and sale of these medications. The department has shut down 10 pharmacies out of the 470 outlets they inspected.
The drug control department has been keeping a close watch on the sale of painkillers for the past month. Painkillers are now being dispensed only with a doctor's prescription. Although there was already a rule prohibiting the sale of medications without a prescription, many pharmacies were found violating this regulation. In response, the Karnataka drug control department has introduced a special link on its homepage, requiring pharmacy owners to update the sale and purchase records of painkillers daily.
The department conducts raids on pharmacies showing unusually high sales and inspects the outlets. So far, 470 pharmacies have been raided. While action has been taken against 73 of them, 10 have been shut down, and their permits have been revoked.
Dr Umesh S, drugs controller of the Karnataka Drug Control Department, stated, “We received several complaints from the police department and have strictly instructed all pharmacies not to sell painkiller tablets without a prescription. We are closely monitoring their purchase and sale.”
Ramesh, a retired officer from the drug control department, remarked, “Earlier, addicts preferred Tramadol tablets, followed by Diclofenac. Now, Tempetedol tablets are in high demand among addicts. When one tablet is controlled, they switch to similar tablets from other manufacturers. The Union government must implement stricter regulations.”
Ravish R, a drug control officer, noted, “A patient might have purchased 100 painkiller tablets within a month. When sales increase, the department monitors the situation. By tracking sales details, locations, and outlets, more than 50% of the unauthorized use of painkillers has been curbed.”
Karnataka has a total of 53,000 pharmacies, with a significant 25,600 located in Bengaluru.