Pay 1,500, undergo six drug tests to get arms licence

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 20

Finally, confusion is over on the types of drug tests one must undergo to get an arms licence renewed or to apply for a fresh one.

An order issued by Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, said the dope test included medical examination and basic lab test. “The dope test for arms licence shall include screening for Morphine, Codeine, D Propoxyphene, Benzodiazepines, 9-Tetra Hydro Cannabinol (THC), Barbiturates, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Buprenorphine and Tramadol,” reads the order dated April 17. With the new charges coming into effect, the process to conduct dope test at the Civil Hospital here has come to a halt as the authorities are now waiting for new test kits to arrive.

The state government has almost doubled the user charges for dope test for applicants of arms licences in government hospitals under the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) from the existing Rs 800 to Rs 1,500. Along with it, the government has also increased the number of intoxicants for which applicants will be screened from the existing five to 10.

Jalandhar Police Commissioner Praveen Sinha said that the dope test would soon be conducted at the civil hospitals. “We have a pendency of around 35 to 40 applicants who wanted to get their licences renewed and also apply for a fresh one. We are expecting to clear this by the end of this month,” said Sinha.