• Huge lobby in medical colleges

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prescription drugs for mental patients are widely smuggled from government medical college hospitals through middlemen. A medicine worth Rs 40 is sold as a narcotic for Rs 400. Students are the main victims. It is reported that the lobby involving doctors is behind this.

A Schedule H-1 drug can only be given for a maximum of two weeks. But the prescription is written together for six months and given under the doctor's seal. Medicines are bought and smuggled together by making fake doctor's seals. This lobby also has middlemen in pharmacies so that drugs can be obtained freely.

In the wake of the police arresting two people who stole the doctor's seal of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and bought sedatives, it was reported during the inspection conducted at the medical colleges that large quantities of drugs were being leaked. A detailed investigation by the Director of Medical Education is needed to clarify who is involved.

Drugs are widely smuggled from Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode medical colleges. The rule is that the name of the doctor prescribing such medicines, the name of the patient, and the quantity of the prescribed medication should be recorded in the pharmacy register. It is also alleged that this is not being followed in many places.

Writing own prescription

• Those who need medicine should go to the hospital, get a new OP ticket, see the doctor, write the medicine, and get it sealed by him. The medicine should be given based on this prescription.
• But the doctors will write the medicine on the patient's old OP ticket on the following days as well. Some people take advantage of this and buy medicine by adding it to the old ticket.

Fakers are also rampant

• OP ticket will be taken from the hospital. A fake seal will be affixed on the ticket after adding the medicine name.
• They also get medicine as per their wish from the pharmacies of the medical colleges.

These drugs are used for mental illness. There is a strict requirement to administer such dangerous drugs. If it is not followed, it is a threat to society.'

- Dr. Ravikumar

Former Head, Clinical Pharmacology,

Thiruvananthapuram