The Karnataka State Registered Pharmacists’ Association and Federation of Chemists’ and Druggists’ of Karnataka have opposed the proposed move to allow sale of OTC drugs through various channels to boost its sales.
The decision would curtail the employment opportunities for pharmacists and disastrously affect public health due to lack of knowledge among consumers. In a letter addressed to the Central Government, DCGI, state drug controllers and various industry related government organizations, Ashokswamy Heroor, president of the Karnataka State Pharmacists Association and vice president of Federation of Chemists and Druggists of Karnataka, pointed out there is no clear cut definition for the word ‘Prescriber’ in the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, 45.
“‘Prescriber’ commonly means a ‘pharmacist’ in western countries, but in India, it is a doctor. Hence, the consumer patient has to purchase the medicines as per the prescriptions of the doctor. The consumer patient has no medical and pharmaceutical knowledge to purchase drugs of his own. So OTC does not suit to the Indian condition, and if it is allowed in India, that could have disastrous effects on public health,” he says.
He also noted at the time of framing the D&C Act in 1945 there were no diploma/degree/PG courses in pharmacy in India. In such situation, the trained persons were used to recognize as registered pharmacists. The present situation is different and numerous professionals are available. Pharmacy education has also gone up to the doctoral level. In Karnataka alone, 36,000 registered pharmacists and 10,000 unregistered pharmacists are available as the state pharmacy council. Among them, so far only 8000 medical shops have been issued licenses to run the business. About 38000 pharmacists in the state remain unemployed, which shows there is potential to issue more licenses to qualified professionals.
He also noted as per the present rules, the wholesalers need not be qualified persons in pharmacy practices. It is necessary to amend the rules to restrict wholesale licenses are issued only to qualified pharmacists to generate more employment opportunities for registered pharmacists. In this scenario, the move to allow sale of OTC drugs through various outlets have to be opposed, feels Ashokswamy Heroor.