Nearly 11,000 buprenorphine tablets, a controlled narcotic drug used in de-addiction, worth over Rs 7 lakh have been stolen from a store of the Moga Civil Hospital.

The theft came to light on Tuesday when the hospital staff found the lock of the main medicine store broken and discovered that a large quantity of buprenorphine tablets was missing.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Harinder Sood said 1.5 lakh buprenorphine tablets were stocked in the store, of which about 11,000 tablets (each costing around Rs 65) were found missing. He said the police were immediately informed.

An official said the theft was not only a financial setback, but posed a serious threat to public health as the stolen drugs may already have entered the illegal narcotics trade.

Buprenorphine is a key medicine used in ‘o

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