‘Why regulate only pharmacists? Govt should check online sale of drugs too’
| Date :23-Jan-2023 |
Staff Reporter
“On one hand, Government or even International bodies of pharmacists promote online sale of drugs. On the other, they expect pharmacists to do a lot of administrative work before selling medicines. This should be stopped. We have told authorities several times to have a check on online sale of drugs but the practice has continued. We have raised
some other issues also where common pharamacists are suffering a lot. It is time to take some aggressive steps, So, we will be launching our agitation programme ‘Hallabol Galli Te Delhi’ from February 15, 2023,” declared President of All Indian Organisation of Chemists and Druggists Association, Jagannath Shinde, and General Secretary of Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association, Anil Navander.
While talking to ‘The Hitavada’ Shinde and Navander pointed out, “Forget about our interest, the online sale of drugs is dangerous for patients’ health. When one goes to any pharmacy shop to purchase drugs, one can have proper discussion, on the basis of which one can get proper medicine. Online sale is a one-way trade where the consumers have to accept whatever they receive. If they receive wrong medicine, they could face serious problem.”
“There is a regulatory framework for pharmacists, but no rules for online sale of drugs, or for doctors who refer medicines through shops within hospital premises. People have started opting for online purchase of medicine for convenience and discount. This should be regulated,” demanded Vice-President of State Association Mukund Dube.
“Pharmacists account for a large volume of healthcare system, but they are given step-motherly treatment. Long ago no pharmacy was functioning due to which doctors used to keep some medicines with them to be given to patients as per the need. Now lot of pharmacy shops are functioning everywhere so there is no need for doctors to have stock of medicines. Now hospitals have started running their own medical shops inside their premises and they insist people to buy drugs from those shops. Our demand is, the hospitals should not insist patients to buy medicines from their shops only,” explained Navandar.
“We have urged the Union Health Ministry to amend Schedule K of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. In its present form the doctors can stock and dispense medicines without obtaining license. Why only we are brought under regulations and asked to procure license why not doctors too?” questioned Navander.
“The contradictions, biases in the policies ultimately make patients to suffer along with pharmacists. People buy electronic item or book or any utensils online. Fault in those items can be repaired but fault in drug would lead to death of patient. Government must think on this issue seriously, else it would reach at a point where it would become irreparable,” warned Navander.