The Hindu Business Line : Chemists to restock psychotropic drugs after Govt assurance

CONSUMERS across the country will be able to access their stocks of epilepsy or anti-depressant drugs, with chemists completely calling off their decision to stop stocking psychotropic drugs.

The truce follows an assurance from the Centre to withdraw the contentious consignment note in Form 6, "which was a tedious and cumbersome procedure for the trade," a communication from the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) said here on Saturday.

All manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers have been exempted from Form 6 and the sale prescription would be accepted as the official document, AIOCD's Mr J. S. Shinde told Business Line.

The agitation by AIOCD was against the Form 6 provision under Rule 67 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The final draft amending the NDPS Act has been cleared by the relevant ministries, the AIOCD representative said. A notification is expected shortly, he added.

AIOCD is an umbrella for over five lakh chemists across the country and the association had stopped stocking pyschotropic drugs from February 1, fearing raids from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The stir threatened to intensify from February 10, but a series of meetings in the nick of time with the NCB and the Ministries of Home, Finance and Health saw the agitation being deferred to later this month.

With the NCB and Home Ministry officials' promises to chemists and druggists set to translate into an amendment in the NDPS Act, consumers needing these medicines can breathe easy.

According to the AIOCD note, the Government has agreed that a consignment note in Form 6 would not apply to cases where the sale of psychotropic substances is accompanied by a sale bill, invoice or cash memo, having the name, address and licence number of the consignor and consignee; the description, batch number and quantity; and mode and particulars of transportation.

However, the document would have to be preserved by the consignor and consignee for two years. Further, it has been agreed that in cases of supplies to research institutions, medical practitioners, hospitals or dispensaries, the consignee need not incorporate the licence number.

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