Utkal Chemists & Druggists Association (UCDA), the state branch of the All Indian Organization of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) in Odisha, has informed that their members have started the process of segregating generic versions of the pharmaceutical products into a separate area in the medical shops on special racks in compliance with the directions of the central and state drug regulators.

Initially, retail shops in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will introduce the new reform in this month itself,  and in another three to six months time all the shops in the entire state will set up separate shelves for generic medicines, said Prasanta Mohapatra, general secretary of the Cuttack district committee and former president of the UCDA.

Speaking to Pharmabiz over telephone, he said there are more than 17,000 medical stores in Odisha as members of their association with 30 district committees. As soon as the letter received by the association from the state drug control office, the office-bearers have informed all the district committees and given a period of time for separating the products from branded drugs. According to him a separate area will be reserved for generic medicines in all the licensed premises in the state.

Meanwhile, the state drugs controller, Hrushikesh Mohapatra has claimed that his department has already taken steps with the chemists association to provide separate space for generic drugs in the medical shops. He has written to the DCGI that he gave directions to the chemists and druggists in the state in March last year to maintain special racks for generic drugs in all the drug stores in the wake of central government’s commitment to provide quality generic medicines to the public at affordable prices. The DC has also attached a copy of his letter he had given to the chemists association with the reply he sent to the DCGI on June 13.

The Drugs Controller General of India on June 12 issued a circular to all the state DCs asking them to direct all the retail shops in the country to separate generic medicines from other categories of drugs and keep them in a special shelf. The purpose of this division of categories is mainly to promote generic medicines and the issue was discussed in the Drugs Consultative Committee and also in the meeting of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board. The separate shelf/rack for the generic version should be visible for the consumers, says the circular.

N Sivabalan, director of Tamil Nadu drugs control department said even before the circular of the DCGI was received, he gave directions to the chemists associations to separate generic medicines to a special rack. His office has sent circulars to all the ADC offices to monitor the separation process in all the medical shops.

T Selvakumar, president of Chennai Pharmacists Welfare Committee, an association working in place of TNCDA Chennai district committee, said the association has received circular from the DC office and preparations have started for separating areas. He said it requires a minimum of 30 days time to implement the reform in the entire state.

N Revi Menon, the drugs controller of Kerala said there are very few generic drugs available in Kerala, as most of the drugs are branded generics. However, he will inform the chemists association about the DCGI circular in the end of this Month. He said it is not an order, but only an advisory.

Meanwhile the president of All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA), AN Mohan has written a letter to the DCGI and to the union health ministry asking for amendment in drugs & cosmetics rules for permitting the chemists to substitute one drug for another in the same category provided there is absence of generic version or branded ones.

Dr. S Selvaraju, former director of TN DCA, said as per the existing law no retailer can substitute one category of drug for another unless the permission of the prescriber. He said the retailer can be punished as per Rule 65 of the D&C Rules if he substitutes one drug without prescription.