The Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs (DSPRUD) has called for strengthening legal provisions to effectively prevent the over the counter sale of antibiotics across the country. The society suggested that all antibiotics should be brought under a separate sub-group of the Schedule H list of drugs to include special provisions for antibiotics that is more stringent in terms of punishment.

Taking note of the negligence on the part of chemists to deny dispensation of antibiotics without prescription, DSPRUD wanted legal provisions to be made sufficiently stringent for the chemists to adhere to the law in terms of sale of antibiotics without prescription.

Enforcing sale of antibiotics strictly through issuing a bill (cash memo) and incorporating new provisions in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for cancellation of licence of the offending chemist were some of the suggestions made by the society. It also wanted the photograph of the chemist to be displayed on the shop to ensure the presence of a qualified pharmacist.

The DSPRUD recommendations were the outcome of a high power meeting organized by them to try and see how sale of antibiotics over the counter could be prevented in the state of Delhi.

The DSPRUD wanted private pharmacies / chemist shops to be compulsorily manned by a qualified pharmacist. "The legislation should be made more stringent and the regulatory infrastructure made more stronger to be able to make stricter checks and controls and punish the offenders," it said.

The committee highlighted the importance of creating awareness among the chemists and druggists about the adverse consequences of self-medication of antibiotics. "Chemists / pharmacists have a very crucial role to play and their active participation is essential in preventing the sale of antibiotics without a prescription. Most of the chemists in our country are not qualified and educated to understand the implication of OTC sale of antibiotics. Therefore, it is felt that educating the chemists and druggists and creating awareness will effectively solve the problem of OTC sale of antibiotics."

Importance of organizing workshops targeting focus groups like chemists / druggists, media, consumer organizations, school children etc have also been highlighted by the society. "Media should be educated on the harmful effects of self medication of antibiotics to the society - Lack of essential and life saving antibiotics available for treatment of several serious disorders due to development of resistance besides adverse complications to antibiotics. This will enable them to understand the magnitude of the situation and seek their involvement in creating news on the subject."

The society's suggestion towards creating awareness among the consumers about the adverse consequences of self-medication of antibiotics was to ensure wide dissemination of a simple consumer friendly message "do not buy antibiotics without prescription" through the mass media. "Besides, the message can be given in the form of posters / leaflets in hospital pharmacies. pharmacist's shop private clinics, hospitals and schools and collages. Debate on the subject should also be held in schools and colleges."