The Hindu Business Line : Ministry to relax rules for movement of psychotropic drugs

THE Finance Ministry has finally come to the rescue of millions of patients who were affected by the shortage of psychotropic drugs. The Ministry is planning to come up with a notification amending the narcotics rules making it easier for both the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the trade to keep track of the movement of these drugs.

According to Government sources, wholesalers or retailers would be spared of filling the consignment note in Form 6, under Rule 67 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 in cases where the sale of psychotropic drugs is accompanied by a sale bill or invoice or cash memo duly signed by the consigner.

But, information about the consignment must include name, address, licence number, details about the drugs and the transportation details.

A formal notification in this regard is expected shortly.

Industry sources said that if the Finance Ministry notifies this change, pharmacists would be able to conduct their day-to-day business smoothly.

"Also, the NCB would be able to easily track the movement of consignments carrying psychotropic drugs," they said.

The initiative comes after the Health Ministry shot off a letter to the Finance Ministry asking it to go slow on raiding pharmacists stocking these life-saving medicines. "The Finance Ministry did not realise the importance of these drugs to psychiatric and cancer patients, many of whom are dependent on them. We have made them aware of the problems that could be caused if there is any short-supply of these medicines," said sources in the Health Ministry.

Also, meetings were held between the representatives of pharmaceutical companies, trade, and officials of the NCB to sort out the issue. It was feared that if the pharma retailers and wholesalers intensified their strike, drugs such as alprax, sobrium and calmpose were expected to become unavailable.

The NCB had decided to intensify raids on pharma wholesalers and retailers after it was found that huge volumes of psychotrophic drugs were illegally diverted to countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, Dubai and Nigeria.

The trade was also asked to submit detailed information on the consignment separately, which they felt led to additional paperwork. This had led to dissent among the distributors with the trade threatening to stop stocking these drugs.

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