Lok Sabha Question No. 494 (STARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Misuse of Pregabalin Drug in Punjab
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 494 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH APRIL, 2025

## MISUSE OF PREGABALIN DRUG IN PUNJAB

## *494. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of increasing misuse and trafficking of pharma drug Pregabalin which is having a devastating impact on youth of Punjab and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that widespread misuse of the said drug due to higher dosage consumption is causing serious addiction issues in the country particularly in Punjab and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that Punjab Police and other law enforcement agencies have recently seized large quantities of Pregabalin and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether illegal trafficking of drugs is being carried out from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh through borders of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan indicating an organized drug supply chain and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government is likely to launch a uniform national policy to regulate prescription, sale of the said drug across all States to prevent misuse and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether imposing stricter controls on the dosage and addiction cases of Pregablin and establishing an inter-state task force to monitor its trafficking which have been neglected is likely to address the growing threat of addiction among the youth and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 494 FOR 4 TH APRIL, 2025

(a) to (d) As informed by Food and Drugs Administration (Drugs Wing, Punjab), the Government of Punjab is aware about increasing misuse and trafficking of pharmaceutical drug Pregabalin.

During the period from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024, the Food & Drugs Administration (Drugs Wing), Government of Punjab, seized drug formulations containing Pregabalin from 72 premises/firms, amounting to ₹5,97,09,785/-. Additionally, the licenses of 12 firms were cancelled, licenses of 46 firms had been suspended and 11 complaints have been filed in the Hon'ble courts.

The Food & Drugs Administration (Drugs Wing), Government of Punjab vide letter dated 28.02.2025 had issued instructions to the drugs manufacturer, Clearing and Forwarding agents (C&FAs), wholesale chemists &retail sale chemists of the State to mandatorily submit the information / report regarding the sale /purchase of Pregabalin & other 06 types of drugs over & above sale / purchase of fixed limit in a single invoice to the drugs control officers of concerned area.

Regulatory control over the sale and distribution of drugs is exercised through a system of licensing and inspection by State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) appointed by State Government. SLAs are empowered to take action in case of violation of regulatory provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 & Rules 1945.

Isolated complaints are received from time to time on the sale of prescription drugs without prescription and the same are forwarded to the State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) concerned for appropriate action.

(e) & (f) The Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) under Section 7 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 is the advisory committee to advise the Central Government, the State Government and the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) on any matter tending to secure uniformity throughout India in the administration of the said Act.

The DCC in its 65 th meeting held on 20.12.2024 deliberated the matter related to misuse of Pregabalin and its preparation and its inclusion in Schedule H1 of Drugs Rules, 1945 to monitor the sale of drugs only on the prescription of the Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP).

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