[india-drug] RE: Sale of household remedies (11)

["Sampada Patvardhan" <dicmspc@yahoo.co.in>]

Sale of household remedies (11)
********** 
   
  Since we are training routinely the drug store pharmacists, at council, I know that qualified pharmacists also called as chemists, need to be upgraded with intensive training. Attitude change in them is also very essential. However, if OTC medicines are sold across grocery stores, it is indirectly de-recognizing pharmacists manning these drug stores would be escalating self-medication among our people. In fact, it neutralizes our efforts in training chemists to minimize self medication carried out by patients by direct purchase of several medicines without prescriptions at drug stores. Common man needs to be sensitized to dangers of over-medication, antibiotic resistance and adverse drug reactions, by experts in this field. Instead, if medicines become available everywhere, how can the control of consumption be achieved? We need to first acknowledge the pharmacy profession as para-medico having better understanding of medicines and then help us in upgrading the poor status of these practicing pharmacists so we have a capable community pharmacists to help patients as well as doctor as link to achieve Rational Use of drugs.
   
  International agencies like WHO, FIP can support financially various state pharmacy councils in running required Continuous Education Programs (CEP) for all registered pharmacists across India who will cover all rural parts to dispense medicines to needy.
   
Thanks

Dr. (Mrs.) Sampada Patvardhan (Ph.D.Tech. Pharmacology)                                         
Director, Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council?s Drug Information Centre  E.S.I.S. Hospital Compound, L.B.S. Marg, Mulund (W), Mumbai-400 080   Phone: 25930607  Telefax: 25684291/25684418  
e-mail: dicmspc@yahoo.co.in  OR dicmspc@hathway.com