The wholesalers from Mumbai may suspend the purchase of drugs manufactured by AstraZeneca soon, as they suspect the company is involved in selling physician samples of certain drugs directly to the patients. It was recently discovered that the company has been selling physician's samples of Onglyza 5 mg directly to the consumers in Andheri. Selling of medicines by companies directly to the consumer is illegal and punishable under Indian drug rules.

A source from the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association (PWA) informed that the company representatives have been caught red handed selling physicians' samples of Onglyza 5 mg to the patients in Andheri. Onglyza is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glycemic) control in adults for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Physicians samples are not supposed to be sold to patients without prescription. The Association is contemplating to file a complaint with the competent authority against the company and others involved in this case.

It is suspected that apart from the company, even a chemist and some doctors from this area are involved in such unethical practice. In this case, its the patients who are suffering the most. They are being fooled by the chemists who are giving them PS without a proper bill, the source said.

The only way in which a medicine can be bought is through a valid prescription from a doctor without which it is deemed to be illegally obtained. It is understood that under the rule once a drug gets an approval the company is supposed to send the medicines to the clearing and forwarding (CNF) agents then it comes to the stockist and from there they are supplied to the chemist and finally to patients.  

The main aim behind providing sample to physicians is to obtain a qualitative analysis of the performance of drug from the doctor after the completion of survey as its an important part of the clinical trial stage IV. Whereas the other important objective is to create awareness about the brand name among the  doctors.