A video message featuring the head of the Committee for Combating Drug Crimes, Dulat Mukhametrahimov, has been recorded by the agency. He discussed that in 2023, the psychoactive substance "Tramadol" (an opioid analgesic that inhibits the transmission of pain impulses — editor's note) was added to the list of narcotic substances to enhance control over its distribution.
“Before the introduction of control, about eight thousand pharmacies across the country were authorized to sell it. Currently, Tramadol can only be dispensed with a doctor's prescription and in pharmacies that have the appropriate license. Ongoing operational search activities are being conducted to identify individuals involved in the unauthorized dispensing,” added Mukhametrahimov.
According to him, since the beginning of 2025, three individuals have been imprisoned for the illegal possession of Tramadol, with over 2,500 tablets confiscated from them.
“In this regard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs warns pharmacy managers and pharmaceutical companies about the necessity of strict compliance with the requirements of current legislation. The unauthorized dispensing of Tramadol by medical personnel and pharmacists in commercial pharmacies will be classified under Article 297, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which provides for criminal liability in the form of imprisonment for 10 to 15 years,” concluded the chief.
Earlier, "Kursiv" reported that over 500 employees of pharmaceutical companies in Kazakhstan, including 226 medical workers, were held administratively liable for improper handling of narcotics. More details can be found here.