The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), in its Meghalaya unit, cautioned that the Centre's plan to widen the list of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs may lead to severe public health consequences and upend the retail pharmaceutical value chain.

Key highlights

Risks of unsupervised drug use

• Meghalaya Healthcare Association brought to the fore that paracetamol and diclofenac, drugs most widely used, can become harmful in the event of misuse.

• "Overdose of paracetamol causes harm to the liver and kidneys," averred Association President David Kharsati.

• Potassium and sodium-based diclofenac needs to be prescribed with caution, especially for patients with high blood pressure.

Concerns over supply chain and consumer confusion
The organization cautioned that broadening access with wider OTC classification could confuse consumers, destabilize supply chains, and erode pharmacist roles in drug safety.Effect on local retailers and chemists
AIOCD, which speaks for more than 12.5 lakh chemists operating in India, pointed out that:
The growth of online pharmacy

• Government-backed initiatives such as Jan Aushadhi and Dava India

• Already narrowed margins for small retailers.

• A broader OTC list may further burden brick-and-mortar pharmacies, which are already struggling to remain solvent.

Policy background

• Proposals to add more drugs to the OTC list are being reviewed by the government in order to enhance accessibility.

• Stakeholders, however, caution that risks of self-medication and loss of professional monitoring will outweigh the benefits.

As the Centre evaluates increasing the list of over-the-counter drugs, AIOCD has asked that this be done cautiously, pointing to possible health hazards and financial hardship for domestic pharmacies. The organization believes in maintaining the presence of pharmacists as gatekeepers within India's healthcare system.