Zunheboto: 10 of 17 pharmacies checked had no valid licence

Ten of the 17 pharmacies inspected in Zunheboto town were found operating without valid pharmacy licences, prompting the district administration to order verification and the closure of any shop found running illegally.

The finding came up at a meeting of the District Level Committee of the Narcotics Coordination Centre (NCORD) on November 9, chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Shaying Sheu at his office in Zunheboto, according to the Nagaland Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). The committee was briefed on a joint inspection of town pharmacies by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer and the Drug Inspector. No seizure was made during that inspection.

Closure ordered, regular checks demanded

The ADC directed the Drug Inspector to immediately verify the status of the shops and act against those without valid licences, including closing them. He said inspections must be carried out regularly and properly documented, rather than waiting for instructions from higher authorities or for something to go wrong, and that the licensing authority must deal with violators according to law.

He also noted that several pharmacies had continued to operate without licences despite earlier inspection drives. Pharmacists were told to make sure prescriptions carry the names of the prescribing doctors and that all regulatory requirements are followed.

Concern over opioid substitution medicines

The meeting discussed the alleged misuse and diversion of Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) medicines. Chief Medical Officer Dr G. Viholi Sema said inspections had raised concerns that some registered beneficiaries were selling their prescribed medicines, but nobody had been caught in the act and the allegations remain unverified.

The CMO pointed to practical difficulties for beneficiaries who travel from remote areas for daily doses, and said the Akuluto centre gives medicine on a daily-dose basis rather than in bulk. Zunheboto district has 1,150 registered OST beneficiaries, 893 of them in Zunheboto town. The ADC asked the Health Department to find ways to prevent diversion and tighten monitoring.

One rehab centre for the district

The committee was told that the district has only one rehabilitation centre, underlining the need for more treatment and support services for people affected by substance use.

SDPO K. Phyolumo Lotha said police seized 580 Spasmo capsules and arrested two people in drug-related cases in October.

Awareness beyond social media

The ADC asked the School Education Department to run wider awareness campaigns among students and the community, saying such programmes should go beyond posting photographs on social media. He urged all departments to work together on enforcement, regular inspections, monitoring and public awareness to tackle drug abuse in the district.