The central government is planning an amendment to the Schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Act and Rules to allow sale of medicines categorized as household remedies in any shop across the country. The open sale of such medicines without any trade license is currently restricted to villages having a population of not more than 1,000 persons and where there is no licensed dealer under the D&C Act. The amendment has been approved by the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the draft notification is expected any day, it is learnt.

The medicines that come under the 'household remedy' category are Aspirin tablets, Paracetamol tablets, Analgesic Balms, Antacid Preparations, Gripe Water for use of infants, Inhalers (containing drugs for treatment of cold and nasal congestion), Syrups, lozenges, pills and tablets for cough, Liniments for external use, Skin ointments and ointments for burns, Absorbent cotton wool, bandages absorbent gauze and adhesive plaster, Castor Oil, liquid Paraffin and Epsom Salt, Eucalyptus Oil, Tincture Iodine, Tincture Benzoin Co and Mercurochrome (in containers not exceeding 100 ml), tablets of Quinine Sulphate I.P. and tablets of Iodochlorohydroxy quinoline - 250 mg.

However, these drugs should not contain any substance specified in Schedules G, H or X of D&C Act and Rules. The shopkeepers are also to ensure that the drugs are sold in the original unopened containers of the licensed manufacturers.

The decision to allow the sales of these drugs may invite strong opposition from the organized drug trade sector as it amounts to a good share of their sales. The pharmaceutical companies will be benefited out of the decision as they will have infinite sale outlets for these drugs. It should be noted that the DTAB had rejected the proposal to increase the number of drugs that come under this category.