NCNPS reviews tasks, achievements

MUSCAT: The National Committee for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (NCNPS), which held its first meeting of the year, reviewed its course of action, terms of reference, and the available preventative and therapeutic programmes in the Sultanate of Oman.

Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saeedi, Minister of Health and Chairman of the Committee, presided over the meeting.

The meeting introduced the NCNPS and reviewed its tasks and most prominent achievements. Furthermore, current situation of drug issue and the available services were addressed and assessed.

Various topics on the committee’s affairs and specialisations were cited during the meeting.

It may be noted that the NCNPS was constituted by a Ministerial Decision No 78/2022 on March 27. The committee, chaired by the Minister of Health, has as its members: Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation’s Under-Secretary for Occupational Training, MoH’s Under-Secretary for Health Affairs, Ministry of Education’s Under-Secretary for Education, Under-Secretary of Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, in addition to the Under-Secretary of Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth’s Under-Secretary for Sports and Youth, as well the Under-Secretary of Ministry of Information, and the Brigadier General Director of Moral Guidance of Chief of Staff of the Sultan's Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence.

The committee is entrusted with several tasks, including proposing the general national policy in the field of narcotics and psychotropic substances control to be adopted later by the Council of Ministers.

Moreover, the committee entails the development of the prevention and treatment plans in the fight against the illegal use of narcotics and psychotropic substances and following up on their implementation. It further proposes draft laws, regulations and decisions related to drugs and psychotropic substances and coordinating cooperation between various governmental and non-governmental agencies in narcotics and psychotropic substances.

Moreover, the committee is conducting and supporting scientific and field studies and research in the field of narcotics and psychotropic substances, and exchanging regional and international experiences in the field.