NGO moves HC for control over sale of prescription drugs

MUMBAI :A public interest litigation (PIL), seeking stringent control over sale of antibiotics from category H and H1 as over-thecounter (OTC) drugs, has been filed in the Bombay high court (HC). The petition is scheduled to be heard on October 25.

As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, schedule H and H1 are lists of drugs that cannot be sold without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

The PIL cites a survey by Saki Naka-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Venkateshwar Seva Sansthan (VSS), which showed evidence of substance abuse, addiction and antibiotic resistance among patients with infectious diseases.

“We approached the court as local pharmacies and regulators are failing to control the irresponsible sale of these medicines. Through our survey, we found that a number of pharmacies around Andheri, Kurla, Santacruz and surrounding areas are selling high-potency drugs without prescription to antisocial elements that purchase these drugs for substance abuse,” said Bharat Sarge from VSS.

“Chemists are notified to maintain a register of patients who buy drugs in these categories. The register is supposed to be audited every three years but there is a complete lack of implementation,” said Bharat Kothari, the advocate who filed the PIL.