Opioid Availability Workshop for Union Territory of Delhi
Pallium India, with the cooperation of Mr. K.R. Chawla, Delhi’s Deputy Drug Controller, organized a virtual workshop on opioid availability for the Union Territory of Delhi on December 22, 2023.
Ms. Shalini AJ, National Head Facilitation of Pallium India, coordinated the program; Syed Askari, Regional Facilitator of Pallium India, welcomed each of the participants and Dr. M.R. Rajagopal, Chairman Emeritus of Pallium India, led the session. Mr. K.R. Chawla, the State Deputy Drug Controller, Dr. Ravinder Mohan from CanSupport, Mr. Amit Jain from Dharamshila Rahat Centre, Dr.Bimla Sharma from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Mr. K.V. Hamza from DNip Care, were among the twenty-seven people who attended the event.
Dr. Rajagopal shared the need of Essential Narcotic Drugs for relieving the pain of patients suffering from various diseases and the ones who need palliative care. He explained that government hospitals are deemed RMI and do not require certification from the SDC (State Drug Controller). However, he also stated that even with this exemption, government hospitals are required to maintain all of their documentation updated in accordance with the NDPS 2014 amendment. According to Dr. Rajagopal, the State Drug Controller is the ONLY authority to grant a certificate to operate as a Recognized Medical Institution (RMI) and stock Essential Narcotic Drugs (Total of 6 drugs, of which morphine, methadone, and fentanyl are available in India as manufactured medicines).
(Report prepared by Syed Askari, Regional Facilitator, Pallium India.)
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