Pharmacies that sell prescription medicines are advised to install surveillance cameras

Chamba District Magistrate Mukesh Repaswal, citing the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita-2023, has issued an order directing all pharmacies and drug stores in the district selling H, H1 and X category medicines to immediately install CCTV cameras in to install in your premises.

This directive was issued to prevent the sale of category H, H1 and X medicines to minors without medical advice. The order is intended to ensure that the sale of such drugs is closely monitored.

The order also states that the CCTV cameras must be fully functional and operational at all times. In addition, the camera footage should be made available to regulatory authorities, such as drug and police officers, for inspection if necessary.

The order clarifies that in case of violation, strict action will be taken under Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and Rule 56 of the Juvenile Justice Model Rules, 2016.

The order takes effect immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.

Notably, in a recent crackdown on pharmacy shops that failed to maintain proper sales records of narcotics, the State Drug Controller (SDC) had canceled the licenses of over half a dozen pharmacists and sealed their shops for varying periods of time.

Two pharmacists were permanently banned from selling narcotics.

The drug controller had also sent show-cause notices to over 40 pharmacies to ascertain the reason behind their alleged failure to maintain permanent records.

According to the regulations, pharmacies are required to keep records of narcotics, a mandatory requirement for the sale of such items.

However, a surprise inspection by the department's team discovered discrepancies in the pharmacies' records. Afterwards, all pharmacists were ordered not to sell controlled drugs or narcotics without a doctor's prescription.