Shimla, August 30: The health department has taken an important step to root out TB in Himachal Pradesh. Under this, people buying cough syrup will have to provide their mobile numbers at the time of purchase. This directive issued to drug vendors across the state is a proactive step in the government’s ongoing efforts to tackle the disease.
Under the new guidelines, drug vendors will collect mobile numbers of customers buying cough syrup and give this information to the health department. After the purchase, a team from the department will contact the person and ask about the duration of his cough and collect other relevant health information. If required, the department will also arrange for the person’s sputum to be tested for TB.
The initiative extends to rural areas, ensuring that drug vendors will collect data from those buying cough syrup even in remote areas. Earlier, drug vendors would provide testing kits to suspected patients suffering from TB and instruct them on how to submit sputum samples for testing. The new protocol represents an additional layer of vigilance, with the health department now actively tracking potential TB cases in collaboration with drug vendors.
The state health authorities are committed to making Himachal Pradesh tuberculosis-free by the end of the year, a goal that has inspired widespread action down to the block level. The department is also taking the support of ASHA and Anganwadi workers in its outreach efforts, aiming to leave no stone unturned in the fight against TB.
Anyone who refuses to provide a mobile number while purchasing cough syrup will be denied sale by chemists. The mandatory collection of buyers’ phone numbers will also help prevent the misuse of cough syrup, which is often misused for recreational purposes. Abuse of cough syrup has become a growing concern, especially due to the presence of codeine or dextromethorphan, substances that can cause euphoric effects when consumed in large quantities. This has led to abuse of the syrup, especially among young people, resulting in serious health risks such as respiratory depression, addiction and even death. The easy availability of these syrups has further aggravated the problem, which has led to strict regulations and monitoring by the authorities to prevent their misuse and ensure that they are used only for their intended medicinal purposes.
This measure is expected to play a key role in identifying and treating TB cases early, as well as addressing the misuse of cough syrups, thereby contributing to the state’s goal of eliminating the disease within a year.
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