Anesthetic drug Ketamine will no longer be available 'over the counter' in India and can be obtained only with a prescription in duplicate. Chemists will have to reta1in the duplicate prescription for two years.

In a drug consultative committee meeting last week, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) shifted Ketamine from Schedule H to Schedule X, for which special control measures will have to be taken.

The decision was taken following complaints of its misuse.

"India has become a major Ketamine source for South East Asian countries. The shifting of Ketamine from H to X will help bring this down," said Dr Surinder Singh, DCGI.

Shifting Ketamine would mean an extensive documentation for chemists, including two sets of prescription. Chemists would need a licence from the State Food and Drug Administration to sell it or face punishment.