(a) whether the narcotic Control Bureau has sought the help of Pharma firms to check abuse of pharma products and medicines that has acquired alarming level in the country;
(b) if so, the details of the products;
(c) the name of such companies and their response thereto;
(d) the action proposed to be taken against the pharma companies for their non-cooperation; and
(e) the steps being taken to check smuggling of these products to the neighbouring countries?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI S. REGUPATHY)
(a)&(b): Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had consulted certain pharmaceutical companies and associations for evolving steps to prevent abuse of certain psychotropic pharmaceuticals such as viz., Proxyvon, Phensydyl/Corex, Buprenorphine, Diazepam, Nitrazepam, lorazepam, Tidigesic, Dentroprophoxyphene.
(c)to(e): The names of companies and associations consulted by NCB are as under:
(i) Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India.
(ii) Indian Drug Manufacturers Association.
(iii) M/s Rusan Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.
(iv) M/s Neon Laboratories Ltd.
(v) M/s Ranbaxy Lab Ltd.
(vi) M/s Nicholas Piramal Ltd.
(i) Strict surveillance and enforcement at import and export points, land borders, airports, foreign post offices etc.
(ii) Intensive preventive and interdiction efforts along known drug routes;
(iii) Improved coordination between the various drug law enforcement agencies in order to impart greater cohesion to interdiction;
(iv) Strengthening of international liaison to improve the collection, analysis and dissemination of operational intelligence;
(v) Building of an electronic data base of offenders;
(vi) Passenger profiling for identification of members of trafficking groups;
(vii) Conducting training programmes for law enforcement officials for upgrading their skills to combat drug trafficking.