The Delhi government’s Department of Drugs Control has directed all chemical associations in the city to stop selling medications like aspirin and ibuprofen without a prescription in light of the surge in vector-borne infections.
Additionally, the agency has encouraged pharmacist store proprietors to preserve a record of these painkiller medications. The government stated in its statement published on July 19 that the rainy season is when vector-borne illnesses like dengue and chikungunya are most prevalent.
The Ibuprofen and Diclofenac group of medications, which further promote platelet breakdown in human blood, “may be restricted to be sold on a prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only” during the dengue season, it was said.
Retail pharmacists are thus recommended, with immediate effect and pending additional instructions, to refrain from engaging in the over-the-counter sale of NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and the diclofenac group of medications.
Additionally, they are encouraged to maintain track of their inventories of painkiller medications that fall into this group, it stated.
The department threatened individuals “found flouting the advice” with harsh punishment.
Doctors have issued warnings that unchecked usage of such medications may be lethal for people suffering from vector-borne illnesses.
These medications have been discovered to destroy platelets in human blood, despite being often used to alleviate pain and inflammation, according to Dr. Anurag Saxena, head of the internal medicine department at Primus Super Speciality Hospital.
Because dengue and other diseases like chikungunya also produce body aches and fever, controlled usage of these medications is necessary.
Therefore, it is better to avoid using these medicines; nevertheless, if absolutely required, they should only be used in line with the dosages recommended by a licensed physician, the doctor stated.
Dr. Saxena said, “Platelets are essential for blood coagulation and their loss can result in serious bleeding and problems, especially in patients with vector-borne illnesses.
In the national capital, there have been over 160 dengue cases registered as of mid-July this year, the most for this time period since 2018, according to a municipal report issued on Monday.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) report also said that 54 instances of malaria were reported over the same time period.
Earlier on Sunday, the national capital’s vector-borne illness preparation was the topic of a high-level meeting presided over by the health minister, Saurabh Bharadwaj.
There is concern that occurrences of vector-borne illnesses including dengue, chikungunya, and malaria would increase following floods.
However, such a tendency is not now evident. During his visit to a Delhi government hospital, he informed reporters that cases of conjunctivitis and skin allergies are typically reported from relief camps. As of July 15 this year, 163 instances have been documented in the national capital, according to the MCD report. 41 cases were recorded in the first half of July, compared to 40 in June and 23 in May.
For the same time frame (January 1-July 15), Delhi recorded 158 dengue cases in 2022, 40 in 2021, 28 in 2020, 32 in 2019, and 43 in 2018.
In order to avoid vector-borne diseases, the MCD said in a statement on Monday that it had fogged and sprayed pesticides in flood relief camps.
Additionally, the current hotline, 1031, which was utilized to aid during the COVID-19 epidemic, will now be used to help with dengue treatment. The Delhi health department stated on Sunday that this extension of services will guarantee complete support to anybody in need of medical help.
