: Patients across Punjab are facing serious difficulties in obtaining essential medicines after chemists in the state stopped selling psychotropic drugs nearly two weeks ago. The suspension has particularly affected people suffering from diabetic neuropathy, chronic pain, anxiety and gastrointestinal disorders who depend on prescription medicines for treatment.
 

The Punjab Chemists Association had announced the decision in protest against alleged harassment by investigation agencies following the Jhota killing case and restrictions imposed on the sale of certain medicines. However, the move has created difficulties for patients who rely on these medicines under medical supervision.
 

Mukesh Kumar, a patient suffering from diabetic neuropathy, told The Tribune that he had been struggling to find pregabalin, a medicine prescribed by his doctor. He said he visited several chemist shops with a valid prescription but could not find the medicine anywhere. Eventually, he had to travel to a town in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh to purchase it.
 

Expressing concern over the situation, Kumar said ordinary patients should not be made to suffer because of disagreements between the government and the chemist community.
 

Pregabalin is commonly prescribed for nerve pain, particularly nerve damage caused by diabetes. Similarly, tramadol and tapentadol are used to manage severe pain, while clonazepam, etizolam and alprazolam are prescribed for anxiety and seizure-related conditions. Dicyclomine is used to provide relief from abdominal cramps and pain.
 

The Punjab Chemists Association maintains that these medicines are clinically important for patients and should not be indiscriminately labelled as narcotic substances because of their potential for misuse.
 

Sudarshan Chaudhary, state vice-president of the Punjab Chemists Association, said chemists and wholesale medicine dealers across Punjab had stopped both the sale and stocking of all medicines falling under the psychotropic category in accordance with the association's decision.
 

He alleged that the government had made no effort to initiate discussions or resolve the chemists' concerns since the protest began. He made it clear that sales would not resume until the administration stopped what the association describes as harassment of chemists.
 

The association has also demanded that investigation agencies focus on illegal manufacturing units, large suppliers and the entire smuggling network instead of targeting retail chemists alone.
 

Local chemist Karan Chaudhary said the conditions imposed on medicine sales had created confusion among doctors, patients and pharmacists. He pointed out that doctors were prescribing pregabalin doses of up to 900 mg daily to some patients, while chemists faced restrictions on selling quantities exceeding 75 mg.
 

According to him, chemists have been caught between investigation agencies, doctors and patients, making immediate government intervention necessary. He urged the authorities to clarify the rules governing the sale of these medicines.
 

As the dispute moves into its third week, the difficulties faced by patients are increasing. Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh could not be reached for comment despite attempts to contact him by phone and WhatsApp.