Delhi Pharmaceutical Trust (DPT) has released the 2nd edition of 'Good Storage Practices' (GSP) booklets for pharmaceuticals. The GSP has been brought out with inputs from Indian Pharmaceutical Association's Community Pharmacy Division (IPA-CPD). GSP provides detailed guidelines to pharmacists related to storage of drugs in their premises. The Drugs & Cosmetics Act & Rules prescribe the maximum shelf life for drugs and formulations and manufacturers are required to provide information on how to store the drugs and their expiry dates. DPT had based on a survey of 100 chemists shops in Delhi prepared a GSP during 2002 and has updated the same. DPT in this study had found several improvements required to educate all concerned about proper storage of drugs. The survey had also brought out the fact that the labelling language and terminologies used on drugs packages were neither chemist friendly nor consumer friendly. DPT's recommendations to make them consumer friendly have been accepected by Indian Pharmacopoeia.

Releasing the GSP booklets in a simple function at his office, Dr M. Venkateswarulu, DCGI, said "Proper storage of drugs from the time of its manufacture till it is consumed by the patient is very much important for getting proper effect of the drugs. This booklet is a very useful tool in this aspect. Pharmacists have an important role to play in keeping medicines properly stored. There are lot of limitations for pharmacists in doing so. It is important that in spite of these limitations how they ensure good storage conditions as long as the medicines stay with them. It is also necessary that pharmacists educate the consumers properly on storage till they are used."

"The Trust has been doing a lot of work in the area of storage of drugs for more than 5 years and has brought out this 2nd edition, to spread awareness. GSP also gives the guidelines about documentation, training, maintaining of temperature and humidity in the outlets and record the same. We are happy the future edition of Indian Pharamcopoeia (IP) will specify the consumer friendly way of describing the storage for drugs on label of medicines. We hope to circulate the booklets to all concerned and will use them in our training programmes. DPT regularly conducts training programmes for chemists in Delhi, and so far has conducted more than 70 hours of such training" said Dr Narayana, Managing Trustee of the Trust. He also added that the Trust has prepared a 20-minute documentary film "store well to keep you well" to educate consumers about the same, and is looking for sponsors to spread the awareness on this important subject.