Improvements in drug policy of the Indian state of J&K through persistent advocacy and logical interventions by Civil Society Forum

FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POLICY PROVISIONS WERE INCORPORATED BY GOVERNMENT OF THE INDIAN STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR IN ITS MAIDEN DRAFT DRUG POLICY AS A RESULT OF PERSISTENT ADVOCACY, PERSUASIVE PRESSURE AND LOGICAL INTERVENTIONS MADE BY CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM OF KASHMIR:

1.    Updation of the essential drug list shall be carried out every two years for the public sector.

2.    Qualified pharmacists shall also be included in the State Drug Committee meant for preparing and updating the essential drugs list.

3.    Effects of local diseases, food habits on drug effectiveness (e.g., malnutrition, liver diseases etc.), local differences in sensitivity and resistance of micro-organisms and differences in climate, topography and other environmental factors shall be duly considered while selecting drugs for preparing essential drugs list.

4.    Proper re-call and disposal procedures shall be followed as per standard guidelines.

5.    Approved private sector laboratories under overall supervision of the State Government shall also be involved to ensure the quality of drugs in the State.

6.    Annual testing load and average testing time of existing Drug Testing Laboratories shall be fixed for proper accountability.

7.    Efforts will be made for accrediting the drug Testing Laboratories as per national standards.

8.    Efforts shall be made to strictly enforce the provisions of the J&K Pharmacy Act, Samvat 2011 and the rules framed thereunder.

9.    Regulatory laws related to quality control of AYUSH drugs shall be examined. Suitable amendments in the said regulations shall be made, wherever necessary.

10.The rules relating to cosmetics shall be enforced and laboratories notified for testing purposes.

11.Sale, Storage, use of drugs and record keeping specified under Schedule X of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 shall be supervised and monitored effectively by the inspectorate working under Drug and Food Control Organization, J&K.

12.Special checking squads under the leadership of Deputy Controllers will be constituted to undertake periodic inspections in this regard.

13.Schedule-H drugs shall be strictly dispensed on the prescription of Registered Medical Practitioners.

14.An Intelligence-cum-Legal Cell shall be established in the office Drug and Food Control Organization, J&K to facilitate busting of spurious drug rackets and their prompt prosecution.

15.Efforts shall be made to provide incentives to informers giving information about spurious drugs.

16.Efforts shall be made to rationalize number of Drug licenses.

17.Clinical pharmacy services shall be introduced in all major Hospitals for the benefits of the patients.

18.Best practices will be followed in Blood Banking and Transfusion of Blood.

19.Efforts shall be made to strengthen the provisions of J&K Pharmacy Act Samvat 2011 and also enforce education regulations thereof.