[india-drug] OTC sale of antibiotics

["Mrs. Banerji" <dsprud@satyam.net.in>]

OTC sale of antibiotics
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Dear Idrug participants,

The Delhi Society for Promotion of Rational Use of Drugs organized a
meeting to try and see how sale of antibiotics over the counter could
be prevented in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.  The
recommendations of the select group at the meeting are:


Recommendations by the expert group on Preventing the OTC sale of
antibiotics 

1. Create awareness among the consumers about the adverse consequences
of self-medication of antibiotics. 

It was felt that educating the consumers about the ill effects of self
medication of antibiotics like - serious complications associated with
self-medication and development of resistance in a simple consumer
friendly language would be an effective measure to curb self-medication
of antibiotics. The educated consumers will also serve as influencer's
for their dear and near one?s and associates.

In the present family structures/system the school children (10th- 12th
standard) and elderly individuals (above the age of 50 years) have an
influence over the family members and associates. To achieve this the
help of NGO?s, resident welfare associations, Helpage, Rotary clubs
should be taken to deliver the message by an expert to a large audience
during their meetings.

A simple consumer friendly message ? Do not buy antibiotics without
prescription? should be widely disseminated through the television and
print media. Besides the message can be given in the form of
posters/leaflets in Hospital pharmacies, Pharmacist?s shop, private
clinics, Hospitals and schools and colleges. Debate on the subject
should also be held in schools and colleges.

Educating the media - A media workshop should be held to educate the
media people on the harmful effects of self medication of antibiotics
to the society - lack of essential and life saving antibiotics
available for treatment of several serious disorders due to development
of resistance besides adverse complications to antibiotics. This will
enable them to understand the magnitude of the situation and seek their
involvement in creating news on the subject.


2.Create awareness among the Chemists and Druggists about the adverse
consequences of self- medication of antibiotics.

Chemists/Pharmacists have a very crucial role to play and their active
participation was essential in preventing the sale of antibiotics
without a prescription . Most of the chemists in our country are not
qualified and educated to understand the implication of OTC sale of
antibiotics. Therefore it was felt that educating the Chemists and
Druggists and creating awareness will effectively solve the problem of
OTC sale of antibiotics.

The education can be imparted by holding a talk by an expert in
Chemists and Druggists association meetings at a
territory/state/National level. Informative articles by experts and key
opinion leaders should be released in Chemist?s association journals.
These journals go to all the registered members of the association. The
help of Pharmacy colleges in the country can be sought for giving
special emphasis on the OTC sale of antibiotics and associated
complications. 


3. 	Strengthening the legislation

Private Pharmacies/Chemists shop should be manned by a qualified
pharmacist. The legislation should be made more stringent and the
regulatory infrastructure made more stronger to be able to make
stricter checks and controls and punish the offenders. To this effect
following specific recommendations were made :

Law should me made sufficiently stringent for the chemists to adhere to
the law in terms of sale of antibiotics without prescription.

Enforcing sale of antibiotics strictly through issuing a bill (cash
memo).

Additional powers may be provided in the Drugs and Cosmetics act for
cancellation of license of the offending chemist.

Photograph of the chemist to be displayed on the shop to ensure the
presence of a qualified Pharmacist.

Subgrouping of the schedule H to include special provisions for
antibiotics that is more stringent in terms of punishment.



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