Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan has said that ‘New Drug Policy’ would be enforced in the State from April this year. He said that New Drug Policy has been already approved by the State Cabinet and passed by the Assembly during last session, adding that its enforcement will prove helpful to check growth of spurious drug combinations and adulteration of highly chosen brands.
The Health Minister disclosed this while reviewing the functioning of Drug and Food Control Organization at a meeting of the officers held here on Saturday.
Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, M K Dewidi, Controller Drug and Food Organization, Dr. Satash Gupta, Deputy Controllers, Assistant Controllers, designated food officers, besides other senior officers of the Organization attended the meeting.
The Minister expressed that single most vital component of health care is drugs as they account for substantial household expenditure on health. He said that the market for drugs has been growing rapidly in terms of production, trade, investment, employment and consumption and highly priced branded drugs wastes lot of patient’s money in purchase of drugs.
He instructed the concerned that after a detailed Drug policy, the law enforcement agencies should start the process to identify the pharma companies and illegal drug stores, which are violating the norms and are using the State as their dumping ground for products.
“Irrational use of drugs leads to serious problems through adverse drug reactions, drug resistance, increased morbidity and high cost”, he said.
The Health Minister said the monitoring and valuation is an essential component of the State Drug Policy, with provision that checking should take place at regular intervals and complete external evaluation of the drugs supplied will be conducted after every 2 years.
Controller, Drug and Food Organization, Dr. Satash Gupta presented a power point presentation on the physical and financial achievement registered by the organization in the implementation of the Drug and Food Safety Acts in the State so far during current financial year.
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