Chemists wary of syringe sale ban

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 6

A day after a number of Deputy Commissioners ordered a ban on the sale of syringes without prescription to check drug addiction, the state Health Department has endorsed the move, saying the unauthorised sale of the syringes had to stop.

A number of associations of chemists and druggists have welcomed the move but urged for protection against harassment by the police.

The state Health Department held a meeting with a delegation of chemists and druggists to discuss the consequences of the ban on syringes. Additional Chief Secretary Satish Chandra said the modalities of the ban on the sale of syringes without prescription were being worked out and a detailed order and guidelines might be issued on Monday.

He said, “The unauthorised sale of syringes or any medical product had to stop. However, the chemists have certain worries over the issue and we need to address these. We may issue a detailed note on this on Monday,” he told The Tribune.

Aman Ahuja, president of the Ludhiana Chemists and Druggists Association, claimed the association members were not selling anything without prescription. “Still, we have issued fresh instructions and notices are being pasted on shops declaring a ban on the unauthorised sale of syringes,” he said.

He, however, said chemists feared implication in false cases by the police.

Surinder Duggal, general secretary of Punjab Chemists Association, said, “The ban may not serve much purpose as syringes are freely available everywhere. The worst thing is that syringes, medicines and medical products are available online without any prescription. It may lead to the use of one syringe by many addicts. We have sent a memorandum to the government airing our concerns on the issue.”