Tamil Nadu Pharmaceutical Traders Association (TN PTA) strongly appealed to Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) not to permit the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) medications in non-pharmacy outlets like supermarkets and general stores, owing to grave hazards to public health.

Key Highlights:

Fears Of Unchecked Sales

• TN PTA underscored that general stores and supermarkets do not have trained pharmacists to monitor drug dispensing.

• Ready access to OTC medicines without professional advice can result in abuse, addiction, hazardous self-medication, and higher public health hazards.

Call for Strict Regulation
The association asserts that all OTC medicines—scheduled or non-scheduled—should be available only through licensed pharmacies under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Risk of Counterfeit and Spurious Medicines
TN PTA cautioned that granting the right to sell medicines by general stores might prove to be an entry point for spurious and substandard medicines, bringing ruinous outcomes to consumers.

Certain Examples Cited
Even general medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, if misused without consulting advice, might pose serious side effects and pose danger to one's health.

Safety Tips Advised
TN PTA advised stringent enforcement of forbidden dosage rates, proper packing, and adequate duration of treatment recommendations to contain misuse of drugs.

Quotations from Authorities or Leaders
Mannargudi Ramachandran, Patron, TN PTA:
"Unlike trained pharmacists, staff working in general stores and supermarkets might not be qualified to advise consumers regarding appropriate dosage, contraindications, and possible side effects. Dispensing OTC medicines without professional guidance will highly jeopardize patient safety."As India contemplates widening the availability of OTC medicines to non-pharmacy retail outlets, interested parties such as TN PTA are sounding urgent warnings regarding public health dangers. The DTAB's future decision will go a long way in deciding how India weighs increased access to drugs against the imperative of responsible, regulated healthcare practices.