Under the proposed arrangement, retail chemists across the state will return their existing stocks of these medicines to wholesalers. The wholesalers, in turn, will return the medicines to the pharmaceutical companies from which they were obtained.
The move comes amid opposition from chemists to police raids at medical stores. The association’s representatives discussed the issue and the proposed withdrawal of the medicines from retail outlets.
Pregabalin is a prescription medicine used for certain conditions, including nerve pain and some seizure disorders. It can also carry risks of misuse and dependence, making appropriate prescribing and dispensing important. The report describes the decision as covering pregabalin and other habit-forming medicines, but does not provide a complete list of the drugs included.
The announcement could affect the availability of these medicines through pharmacies across Punjab if the planned returns proceed. Patients who have valid prescriptions should consult their treating doctors or pharmacists before making any changes to their treatment and should not stop prescribed medication without medical advice.
The report did not specify when the stock-return process would begin, whether the decision applies uniformly to every chemist in Punjab, or how authorities have responded to the association’s position.
