Srinagar, Sept 10 : The Jammu and Kashmir Medical Council has issued a public notice in view of the reported misuse of privately owned de-addiction clinics and centres across the Union Territory. The move comes amid growing concern over unregulated practices in the treatment of drug addiction and the prescription of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
According to the notification, the Council has taken cognizance of irregularities in the functioning of certain clinics and has stressed the need to strictly regulate the prescription and dispensation of drugs such as Buprenorphine-Naloxone and other controlled substances in the interest of public health and safety.
The notice states that henceforth, any medical practitioner desirous of obtaining permanent registration with the J&K Medical Council for the purpose of providing de-addiction treatment or prescribing the said substances will be mandatorily required to furnish an affidavit. The affidavit, duly sworn before a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, must follow the prescribed format annexed to the notification.
“This step has been taken to ensure accountability and to curb the misuse of narcotic and psychotropic substances in private de-addiction facilities. The regulation will safeguard both patients and the larger public health system,” an official of the Council told KNS.
The notification further mentions that the direction has been issued with the approval of the competent authority, underscoring the seriousness with which the administration is addressing the issue of drug abuse and unregulated de-addiction practices in Jammu and Kashmir.
