Haryana Health Minister orders crackdown on medical shops selling banned drugs

Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao has directed the Food and Drug Administration Department to conduct regular inspections of medical stores and closely monitor the sale of Schedule H and X drugs. She emphasised strict action against those selling banned substances, including immediate sealing of such shops and cancellation of their licenses.

While reviewing the state’s “Nasha Mukti” (Drug-Free) programme, the minister urged officials to simplify access to free de-addiction treatment at government centres while ensuring patient confidentiality. To protect young students from falling into addiction, she called on schools and colleges to raise awareness about drug abuse. Additionally, she encouraged parents to monitor their children’s habits closely.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, Sudhir Rajpal, reaffirmed the Haryana Government’s commitment to making the state drug-free, stressing the need for collective efforts involving society and law enforcement. “Last year, licences of 33 de-addiction centres were revoked due to regulatory violations. Now, 17 new centres are being established under a scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India,” he stated.

Highlighting law enforcement efforts, Rajpal shared that the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau had registered 4,505 FIRs against drug offenders, identifying 7,523 individuals involved in substance abuse. “The list of these individuals has been shared with district authorities to facilitate their treatment and rehabilitation,” he added.

Director Health Services Dr Brahmadeep provided key statistics on addiction cases. “During the 2024-25 financial year, 34,684 patients with minor addictions received treatment in OPDs, while 2,651 patients with severe addictions were admitted to treatment centres. Sirsa district reported the highest number of addiction cases,” he noted. He instructed district authorities to ensure the availability of qualified personnel at de-addiction centres.

During a review meeting with district nodal officers, officials discussed standard treatment guidelines for de-addiction services. To enhance early detection of drug abuse, all district civil hospitals have been equipped with urine drug test kits capable of identifying opioids, cocaine, cannabis, benzodiazepines, amphetamines and barbiturates in urine samples.