In the wake of increasing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) happening in India and globally, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appealed to the pharmacists to dispense medicines with correct bill and prescriptions and cautioned patients about incorrect use of medicines.

Says Maharashtra State FDA Commissioner Mahesh Zagade, “India lacks a mechanism to report and monitor Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) as is followed globally. Prevention of incorrect use of medicines and awareness amongst the patients and pharmacist community is the need of the hour.”

Around 30 lakh people in India are impacted by ADR and over four crore globally. Solution to the problem lies in avoiding self medication and strict implementation of the law by the regulatory agency as ADR is the fourth largest killer in the world.

Maharashtra FDA is planning to implement the billing inspections stringently in the interest of patient safety. This will help in bringing down the rampant sale of counterfeit drugs and products.

As per the records, Maharashtra FDA has done 5083 inspections and found 1566 pharmacists absent during these inspections. Cancellation of licenses is done in five per cent of retail establishments across the State.