In absence of law, publicity of certain diseases, their drugs rampant in J&K

TNN Bureau. Updated: 11/14/2018 11:11:28 AM Front Page

Junaid Sidiq



SRINAGAR: The practice of advertising certain diseases and their therapeutic drugs is still rampant in Jammu & Kashmir as the incumbent Government led by Governor Satya Pal Malik is yet to enforce the Drugs & Magic Remedies Act even after it was passed two months back by his predecessor, N. N. Vohra.

The Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 2018, was enacted by former J&K Governor, N. N. Vohra two months before but there has been no further development to strengthen the law.

Sources in the Health Department told The News Now that Government has not notified the enforcement agency to implement the Act.

The Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties, and makes doing so a cognizable offence.

In the absence of any regulation, many medical practitioners in the State are illegally putting names of diseases and their remedies on advertisement boards outside their clinics to lure the patients.

In the year 1954, the Government of India passed Drugs & Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. The Act extends to whole of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

However, on July 4, 2018, the State Administrative Council (SAC) under the Chairmanship of former J&K Governor, N. N. Vohra gave nod to the enactment of the Bill to put a check on misleading advertisements, which directly or indirectly give a false impression regarding the true character of the drug or is otherwise false or misleading in any manner.

Due to delay in enforcement of the Act, health experts in Kashmir have voiced their concern over the violation of norms.

Talking to The News Now, a senior doctor, who is currently practising in JLNM Hospital, said that many of his colleagues, who are running private clinics, are openly violating the rules by naming diseases and the drugs for their treatment.

According to the Act, it prohibits advertisement referring to any drug and remedies for inducing miscarriage in women or preventing conception in women, correction of menstrual disorder in women, maintenance or improvements of the capacity of human beings for sexual pleasure and curing, diagnosing or preventing chronic diseases.

The penalty carries a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment or without fine, which may extend to Rs. 10,000 on first conviction while in case of any subsequent conviction, the term may be upto a year or with fine, which may extend to Rs. 25,000 or can be both, the Act states.


Comment on this Story