Health ministry to amend Rule 65 of D&C to replace ‘Chemists & Druggists’ with ‘Pharmacy
In order to give retail trade a better professional recognition, the Union health ministry will soon amend Rule 65(15)(b) and Rule 65(15)(c) of Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Rules, to replace ‘Chemists & Druggists’ with ‘Pharmacy’. Once the amendment is done, all the medical shops in the country will be called as Pharmacy. This is also in concurrence with the international practice of calling a medical shop selling medicines by this name and also provide an identity and sense of value to the practicing pharmacists at the outlets. This matter was deliberated in the 55th Drug Consultative Committee (DCC) meeting held in February 2019 and it was recommended to replace the words ‘Chemists and Druggists’ with ‘Pharmacy’ in Rule 65(15)(b) of the D&C Rules, 1945. Accordingly, the proposal was placed before the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) for deliberation. DTAB deliberated the matter and agreed to amend Rule 65(15) of the D&C Rules, 1945...