Quoting the example of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has written a letter to the Prime Minister Modi requesting to instruct the concerned officials to make amendments in the telemedicine guidelines,as per D& C Act and Rules.
The association has expressed that there will be millions of cases of drug addiction and abuse the revised telemedicine guidelines will help.
In its representation to the PM, the association stated, “We wrote to you regarding the ‘Telemedicine Guidelines’, which was notified on May 12, 2020 by the Board of Governors in supersession of Medical Council of India (MCI) by amending the Indian Medical Council Regulation 2002. In the same letter, we wrote about Telemedicine Guideline’s various problems, which will be acting as a health hazard, encouraging drug abuse, in addition to being in contravention to the Drug & Cosmetics Rules. And how ‘Telemedicine Guidelines’ were improper in terms of issuing prescription and dispensation of medicines.”
The letter stated also mentioned how the irregularities were very dangerous to the health of our citizens if not corrected and sadly, that has come true in the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR).
The letter highlighting the case of SSR, stated that Dr.Tarun Kumar sent the prescription to him (SSR) on WhatsApp without a proper consultation and it seems that he (Dr Tarun Kumar) had prescribed the medicines, which are falling under the NDPS Act.
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AIOCD mentioned how improper and multi dispensation of drugs falling under NDPS can cause impairment of mental faculties. Further the association mentioned that in the last letter they pointed about the ‘Classification of Drugs’ under the guidelines were very vague, insufficient, ambiguous and inadequate and needed urgent attention. Besides this, the earlier letter has also mentioned that how ‘Telemedicine Guidelines’ do not address proper prescription guidelines and are in contravention to Rule 65(11) of the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules.
“Therefore, it seems to be so sad that despite our warning about the current system and guidelines of ‘Telemedicine’, nothing was changed or improved. Regretfully, it may have caused a casualty. It pains us to see the apathy from Niti Aayog and Medical Council of India towards the citizens of this country, and this will not stop here. There will be millions of cases of drug addiction and abuse if the ‘telemedicine’ guidelines are not revised according to the Drugs & Cosmetics Act and Rules. Also, various aspects of our country’s demography and geography have to be kept in mind. And we sincerely hope that you will instruct the concerned officials to make amendments in the ‘Telemedicine’ guidelines and save our citizens from possible extreme harm,” AIOCD letter added.
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