Centre, states gear up for checking abuse of narcotic drugs, may mandate bar-code on packaging
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The government may make it mandatory for packages containing narcotics to carry a barcode while it mulls building a portal to identify, track and monitor the illegal sale of narcotics. In view to recent cases of abuse of narcotics meant for medicinal use, the government is devising a mechanism to ensure the tracking and traceability of these drugs.
A QR code will allow the government to identify the manufacturer of these drugs, said two officials familiar aware of the matter. The government is also exploring ways to track inter-state movement of these drugs, and identify the sellers and distributors. This comes against the backdrop of the home ministry writing to the health ministry last month, asking it to take measures to control the abuse of narcotic drugs being used for non-medical purposes.
Also read | Why cancer patients can hope for affordable drugs in India Following this, Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava chaired a meeting with the states and UTs to review the matter and take remedial measures. “The government is focusing to control the misuse of narcotics drugs. Last month, home ministry wrote to the health secretary that it is a matter of serious concern as narcotics drugs are being diverted for other than medical purposes and being misused.
So, the ask was to take all measures to monitor the narcotics drugs within the supply chain and a system needs to be established for monitoring and tracing of the narcotics drugs," said the first official. “A meeting was held by the health secretary on 24 February with the state governments to sensitize them. State/UT governments shared their best practices, challenges and measures.
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