KARGIL: The Ladakh Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (LPMRU), in collaboration with the Drug Regulatory Department, UT Ladakh, on Thursday organised an awareness-cum-workshop at Government Degree College (GDC), Kargil, to sensitise students about medicine price monitoring, the rational use of medicines, drug safety and the prevention of substance abuse.
The programme brought together faculty members, lecturers and a large number of students, with State Drug Controller Nasreen Bano attending as the Chief Guest and Assistant Drug Controller Mumtaz Ahmad as the Guest of Honour.
Addressing the participants, resource persons underlined the importance of responsible medicine use and highlighted the role of medicine price monitoring in promoting transparency and ensuring greater public awareness about pharmaceutical costs. The sessions also focused on the safe and rational use of medicines, while cautioning participants against the health and social consequences of drug abuse.
Speakers emphasised that students and educational institutions can play an important role in encouraging responsible healthcare practices and spreading awareness about the risks associated with substance abuse. They urged participants to act as community ambassadors by disseminating information on safe medicine use and preventive measures against addiction.
During the interaction, students welcomed the initiative and expressed appreciation to the UT Ladakh Administration for organising the awareness programme. They also appealed for similar workshops to be conducted at the block level to extend awareness campaigns to remote and rural areas of the Union Territory.
The organisers said sustained public awareness, community participation and educational outreach remain essential for promoting the rational use of medicines, strengthening medicine price awareness and preventing drug abuse among young people.