Licence not renewed, yet centre sells drug

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 16

A drug de-addiction centre in Bathinda has been allegedly selling buprenorphine and other medicines, which only authorised centres can sell, to addicts without a required licence from the Health Department.

As per the records of the department, the licence of the centre, situated near Ganesha Basti, had expired on September 4. However, it continued to operate even after that.

A Health Department official said the owner of the centre had applied for the renewal of the licence, but it was not approved. However, it continued to sell buprenorphine for over a week.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu said, “We have completed required formalities from our end and sent it for the approval to the head office. The centre cannot prescribe buprenorphine tablets. As soon as the matter was brought to my notice, we directed the centre to stop operation till the renewal was granted.”