Chemists urge govt not to ‘harass’ them

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 27

The Punjab Chemists Association today urged the Punjab Government to not harass chemists and medical store owners under the garb of their “anti-drug” abuse campaign launched all over the state.

In a statement issued here today, it said the association has already advised the chemists to not procure or sell medicines, which can be misused for drug abuse.

Surinder Duggal, general secretary of the association, alleged that in the name of the anti-drug campaign, the Punjab Police was harassing the chemists and he had written to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Health Minister Brahm Mohindra in this connection. He said a meeting of all district presidents have been called next week to decide the further course of action.

Quoting a survey report published by the Central Social Justice and Empowerment Department, New Delhi, in association with the Health Department of Punjab, he pointed out that the maximum number of drug abusers used heroin and other opiod substances are widely used by addicts while the percentage of synthetic drug abusers was very less. The survey was conducted in 10 districts of Punjab.