FDA plans to rein in erring chemists

Have you ever faced a situation where the doctor has prescribed six tablets of a particular medicine but the chemist forces you to purchase the entire strip of 10 tablets? The state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will now crackdown on chemists who force people to purchase drugs more than the quantity prescribed by medicos. It will also suspend the licenses of establishments who refuse to follow this.  

“This is a wrong practice. The chemists must dispense medicine quantity according to the doctor’s prescription. I have received complaints in the past and have ordered action,” said Maharashtra FDA Minister Girish Bapat, adding that they would issue circulars in this regard soon. The FDA is also planning to put up display boards in all medical stores to make sure consumers are aware about the new rule. 

Bapat said they would lodge cases against errant chemists after checks by FDA officials. After the licenses are suspended, hearings are conducted by the department, and penalties may be imposed in case the shop owners are found to be at fault.

“This practice can be seen more in Mumbai and Thane than in other parts of the state,” said a senior FDA official. He added that the FDA sent decoy customers to verify if chemists were selling medicines in excess and also examined their bills and documents.