Chemists urge govt to reconsider OTC drug rules

Ahmedabad: Two major chemist groups, the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) and the Federation of Gujarat State Chemists and Druggists Association (FGSCDA), have asked the central govt to consult them before finalising the list of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that can be sold without a prescription.In a letter to the Union health ministry, the two bodies demanded the withdrawal of a rule introduced during Covid-19 — GSR 220 (E) — which allowed home delivery of medicines. "This law is being misused by online channels and companies. Prescriptions and retail pharmacists are being bypassed, due to which medicines are being sold indiscriminately through online portals," the memorandum states.They warn the move could lead to "inappropriate, unnecessary and uncontrolled use of drugs," the spread of "fake and substandard medicines," and a rise in antibiotic misuse with "long-term threats to public health."The groups, representing over 13 lakh chemists across India, welcomed the govt's decision to refer the issue to the digital technical advisory board (DTAB) but stressed the need to include retail chemists in any discussion, as they are key players in the country's medicine supply chain.