Chemists told to avoid hoarding of medicines
Chandigarh, March 4
In the wake of Covid-19 outbreak and supply disruption from China, the UT Health Department is taking steps to ensure an adequate supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and formulations available at affordable price in Chandigarh so as to prevent black marketing, illegal hoarding or creating artificial shortages.
Also read:
- Edit: Containing Covid
- Coronavirus: All you need to know
- Coronavirus scare: Here’s what you can do to avoid infections
- Delayed restriction spurts virus cases
- Screening at land ports, borders
- Delhi forms task force to combat Covid-19
- 88 linked to infected man to be screened
MHRD advisory to schools
- Schools are advised to avoid any large gathering of students during the course of the day in the school
- Any student/staff with travel history to any COVID-19 affected country or in contact with such persons in the past 28 days should be monitored and home quarantined for 14 days
- Class teachers should be alert to any child with signs and symptoms and should immediately ask the parents to get the child tested
- Ask parents not to send child back to school till advised so by the doctor
- Teachers, school staff and students should be advised about simple public health measures of hand and respiratory hygiene.
- Ensure availability of soap and water in restrooms at all times.
- Foot-operated pedal bins lined with plastic bags should be provided in each classroom and rest room.
- In hostels, health status of students and other ancillary staff should be monitored on a regular basis. In case there are suspected cases, the authorised local medical authority should be called for examination.
- Anybody with symptoms should call state/UT helpline number or Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s helpline at 011-23978046 or visit public health facility with a mask.
Today, Dr G Dewan, Drugs Controller-cum-Licensing Authority-cum-Director, Health Services (DHS), cautioned the Chandigarh Chemist Associations to bear in mind the ceiling prices and permissible increase in prices of formulations so as to monitor the availability of APIs and drugs in the city.
A letter from the DHS was issued to Lumax Pharmaceuticals Laboratory Private Limited, Industrial Area, BM Pharmaceuticals Limited, Industrial Area, Harison Pharmaceuticals Limited, Winmac Laboratories Limited.
The letter DHS read, “It is widely known that India is heavily dependent on China for import of key active pharmaceuticals ingredients (APIs)/key starting materials (KSM). There is an apprehension that in wake of COVID-19, the supplies of APIs and KSMs from China might be disrupted resulting in shortage of medicines in the country.”
The chemist associations have been told to ensure that there is no violation of provisions of the Drug Price Control Order, 2013.
The Key Drug Industry Associations have assured the government that there is enough stock of APIs/formulations in the country. “In Chandigarh, there is an adequate stock of six months. There is a need to pull up the associations so that the public isn’t harassed,” said the DHS. — TNS
Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium
Take your experience further with Premium access.
Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Already a Member? Sign In Now
