MUZAFFARABAD: Health authorities here on Friday decided to enforce stricter regulatory controls over the supply and sale of medicines, including restricting certain sensitive drugs to licensed outlets, banning the sale of near-expiry medicines, and ensuring compliance with storage, transport and record-keeping standards.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of distributors and wholesalers of medicines and allied materials, organised by Deputy Drug Controller Raja Liaquat Ali Khan and presided over by District Health Officer (DHO) Muzaffarabad Dr Noman Manzoor Butt.

The meeting decided that medicines such as Misoprostol, Pregabalin tablets and narcotics-related drugs would only be supplied to medical stores holding Drug Sales Licence No 11 with mandatory maintenance of complete sales records.

The participants held detailed discussions on ensuring the uninterrupted availability of quality medicines, implementation of the Drug Act and relevant rules, and strengthening supply chain management. Emphasis was laid on maintaining proper storage conditions, including temperature control and cleanliness, as well as ensuring cold chain management during transportation, particularly for vaccines.

It was decided that the sale of medicines with less than six months to expiry would be prohibited, while expired medicines would be promptly removed and disposed of.

The participants also agreed to ensure fair distribution of medicines in short supply and to immediately report any shortages to the district health office.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Butt stressed that all government regulations must be strictly enforced to ensure the availability of safe and quality medicines to the public.

He warned that a zero-tolerance policy would be adopted against substandard, unregistered and expired medicines, with violations attracting strict legal action, including fines and suspension or cancellation of licences.

He directed distributors and wholesalers to maintain complete and accurate records of stock and transactions and to present them to drug inspectors when required, besides extending full cooperation during inspections. Medicines declared substandard by the Drug Testing Laboratory, he said, must be immediately withdrawn from the market.

The meeting also made it mandatory for supply vehicles to have functional air-conditioning systems and stressed strict adherence to cold chain requirements, particularly for vaccines.

Dr Butt cautioned against artificial shortages and hoarding, reiterating that profiteering would not be tolerated under any circumstances, and added that the availability of life-saving medicines would be ensured at all costs.

On their part, the distributors and wholesalers reaffirmed their commitment to making the medicine supply system in Muzaffarabad more effective, transparent and compliant with the law to ensure improved healthcare delivery.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2026