Regulators & pharmacists demand revocation of Schedule K (5) to make registered pharmacists sole authority to keep & sell medicines
The working pharmacists and regulatory officers across the country are planning to bring a proposal before the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) of the Union health ministry to make the registered pharmacists the sole authority to keep and sell medicines in the country. Their demand comes in the wake of the ministry's decision to amend D&C Rules to replace 'chemists & druggists' with 'pharmacy' to give retail trade a better professional recognition. They want the government to revoke Schedule K (5) in the D&C Act which mandates doctors to stock and 'supply' medicines to their own patients visiting their clinics or hospitals. The term 'supply' should be removed and the word, 'dispensing' should be inserted in the clause by specifying pharmacist's right to handle medicines even in clinics or hospitals run by medical professionals. In the next DCC meeting, expected to be held in May, the Drugs Controller of Odisha, Ma...