PANAJI
The Health Minister on Wednesday claimed that a lot of illegal ketamine is being sold in Goa, especially to children.
"Lot of young children have access to it and it is being circulated at rave parties. I am going to come down heavily on any pharmacy found to be selling this illegally. I will take strictest action against these. A lot of this is sold around the coastal belt. It is big business," he stated
While reposing full faith in the Director of Food and Drugs Administration, the health minister announced his intention to put together a team to survey the coastal belt on the availability of ketamine.
Ketamine is generally used as a veterinary anesthetic and the health minister expressed concern about easy availability of this scheduled drug.
"Ketamine is on my hit list. Pharmacies have to be careful about selling this. Any scheduled drug sale without prescription, I will directly take action. I have been told to give these pharmacies 30 days time and then I will crack the whip," the minister has warned.
Meanwhile, the minister has assured to give IPHB separate attention. He said, "Rs 30 crore has been received for Center of Excellence. You now require child counselors and psychologists. It is not a home, it is for mental healthcare. The number of child suicides are on the rise. We need to come up with specialized services in IPHB."
The Health Minister on Wednesday claimed that a lot of illegal ketamine is being sold in Goa, especially to children.
"Lot of young children have access to it and it is being circulated at rave parties. I am going to come down heavily on any pharmacy found to be selling this illegally. I will take strictest action against these. A lot of this is sold around the coastal belt. It is big business," he stated
While reposing full faith in the Director of Food and Drugs Administration, the health minister announced his intention to put together a team to survey the coastal belt on the availability of ketamine.
Ketamine is generally used as a veterinary anesthetic and the health minister expressed concern about easy availability of this scheduled drug.
"Ketamine is on my hit list. Pharmacies have to be careful about selling this. Any scheduled drug sale without prescription, I will directly take action. I have been told to give these pharmacies 30 days time and then I will crack the whip," the minister has warned.
Meanwhile, the minister has assured to give IPHB separate attention. He said, "Rs 30 crore has been received for Center of Excellence. You now require child counselors and psychologists. It is not a home, it is for mental healthcare. The number of child suicides are on the rise. We need to come up with specialized services in IPHB."
