Thieves strike at Pkl civil hospital, make away with restricted sleep medication

Panchkula: A startling theft was reported late last night at the civil hospital in Panchkula, where unidentified thieves broke into the general pharmacy located on the hospital's first floor and made away with a large quantity of restricted sleep medications, including Alprax and other prescription drugs.
According to reports, the culprits smashed the glass entrance of the pharmacy, forcibly broke open a cupboard, and stole multiple packets of psychotropic drugs. The incident occurred during late-night hours when the hospital premises were largely deserted and security arrangements were lax.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the hospital administration immediately informed the police. A police team visited the scene, began examining CCTV footage, and launched a probe. An FIR was filed against unidentified miscreants, and the investigation is currently underway.
The hospital has also initiated an internal inquiry and has vowed to tighten its security protocols. The incident has raised serious questions about the hospital's surveillance system and the safety of its pharmacy.
Chief medical officer Dr R S Chauhan confirmed the incident, stating, "The theft took place late at night. A complaint was filed with the police, and an investigation is ongoing. Going forward, we will further strengthen security to prevent such incidents."
Notably, drugs like Alprax are classified as controlled substances, typically prescribed for psychiatric or sleep-related conditions, but are also prone to misuse as addictive substances.
Police are not ruling out the possibility of the involvement of individuals linked to the illegal drug trade or insider involvement, suggesting that the thieves might have had prior knowledge about the location and value of the stolen drugs. All angles are currently being investigated.
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