The drugs control department of Karnataka has recently imposed a decree instructing pharmacists to stop selling contraceptives or antidepressants to individuals below the age of 18.
Story so far: This radical decision was taken after condoms were found inside the school bags of 10th-grade students.
- During a routine inspection by representatives of a local school in Bengaluru, they confiscated various contraceptives and cigarettes from bags of various 10th-standard students.
- This incident led to various petitions for the drug control department to take action. Many schools welcomed the move as they felt that it was impossible for schools to check students’ bags and monitor them properly.
Efficacy of the decree: After the circular was released, various parties questioned the implementation of the programme, as over-the-counter drugs are still sold across pharmacies. Many Pharmacists also argue that the decree would be hard to follow as condoms do not require a prescription, and it is hard for them to figure out which individuals buying condoms are students.