Re: Over the counter Medicines

[Guest guest]

Dear O.P. Singh Sir,

I am thankful to you for providing important update to this discussion.

As per your post we can say that the current drug laws specify prohibitions -

drugs which must not be given without a valid prescription. What is not

prohibited is permitted. Thus, all the drugs which are not specified in the list

of 'prescription drugs' must be considered as non-prescription drugs (or the OTC

drugs).

Regards,

Dr. Mangesh Bankar

Nagpur

From: om singh <opsingh.india@...>

Subject: Re:New Discussion-Over the counter Medicines

netrum

Date: Monday, 31 January, 2011, 9:58 AM

Dear Members,

That's a great initiative.

 

‘OTC Drugs’ means drugs legally allowed to be sold ‘Over the Counter’,

i.e. without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. In India,

though Prescription Drugs are those that fall under two schedules of the Drug

and Cosmetics Rules, 1945: Schedule H and Schedule X. The market for OTC

healthcare in India increased at a compound annual growth rate of 6.4% between

2004 and 2009. The vitamins and minerals category led the OTC healthcare market

in India, accounting for a share of 23.8%. Leading players in Indian OTC

healthcare market include Cipla Ltd, & and GlaxoKline Plc.

 

The OTC market in India has following possible benefits:

1. Better Accessibility

2. Lower healthcare costs

3. Educated consumers

 

Possible risks of OTC market may be as follows:

1. Inappropriate and Inaccurate diagnosis

2. Increased cost to patients

3. Use of wrong medications

4. Increased drug resistance

5. Adverse effects, drug reactions not reported

 

 

There is vital need to design interventions to modify the behavior of everyone

involved in the pharmaceutical supply chain from producer to consumers to combat

the inappropriate drug use and rationalize the OTC consumption. The OTC drug

offering is incomplete without empowering the public on its rational use through

well planed strategic marketing and educating retail pharmacist on the use of

OTC.

 

O.P.Singh

Consultant Health Research and Managment

194-B, 4 C Jamunapuri Colony,

Murlipura Scheme,

Jaipur 302013

Rajasthan India.

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Jayesh Sir,

Thank you for your important contribution to this discussion. The number of

drugs available for over the-counter purchase in any country is variable, being

greatly influenced by the healthcare system. OTC medicines are perceived by

people as being safe and effective in contrast to belief that if a drug needs to

be prescribed then it must have inherent adverse effects. Thats why certain

segments of the population particularly geriatric are at a heightened risk of

significant drug interactions between prescription and OTC drugs.

Regards,

Dr. Mangesh Bankar

Nagpur

From: Jayesh Pandit <jayesh@...>

Subject: Re: Re:New Discussion-Over the counter Medicines

netrum

Date: Monday, 31 January, 2011, 3:07 PM

 

 

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this important

discussion.

In my little experience, I have noted that most people, including health care

workers, regularly confuse issues around this important topic-  " SCHEDULING OF

MEDICINES " ... 

 

If I am not mistaken, in most countries, we have three (3) broad schedules:

1. Prescription Only Medicine (POM)

2. Pharmacy Medicine (P- medicine)

3. Over The Counter (OTC).

 

We are, in most cases, very comfortable with the clarification between " POM " and

" P only medicines " - where the first one will only be dispensed by a Pharmacist

with a valid prescription by a medical practitioner and in the latter, that the

pharmacist can dispense himself / herself, without a prescription. The

pharmacist, being a professional too, has the authority to dispense these

WIthout a prescription from a medical practitioner ( " doctor).  They are

kept behind in the area which is accessible by the pharmacist and not the

public.

 

The confusion arises with OTC.

 

OTC to my understanding is Over The Counter in a Pharmacy... That means they are

kept within a pharmacy and the patient can actually pick them up and bring to

the cashier for purchase. A prescription is again not necessarily required. They

can also be kept behind the pharmacist in a secured area away from direct

public handling. However, the point remains that it is exchanged over the

counter in a pharmacy.

 

Where we get confused and often forget is that there is another schedule, the

4th, termed:

4. General Sales List (GSL)... GSL medicines are also available in public

retail outlets such as supermarkets and kiosks. These are not OTC medicines.

 

We often see GSLs and OTCs, over a period of time, have been merged with each

other... Which is very wrong.

 

The principal reason for these categorization is based on what we know

pertaining to the safety of the medicine in question. Most medicines, such as

innovator molecules, when they are " new " and very little is known about their

safety in the broader population use (i.e. Only data derived from clinical

trials is available), are termed Prescription Only Medicines (POMs).

 

Over a period of time, as we gather the Phase IV (post-market surveillance

data), these medicines may move toward P-medicine, OTC etc- as we understand

the molecule better and find it safer.

 

 These are my thought and how we are trying to address the situation in Kenya

where I practice... I am sure India will have similar thoughts.

 

Thank you for this opportunity again and happy to be on NETRUM!

 

Jayesh

Report all Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions to:

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

----- 

        Jayesh M. Pandit

      Head- Department of Pharmacovigilance

Pharmacy and Poisons Board

      Lenana Road

      Ministry of Medical Services

 

P.O. Box: 27663-00506

        Nairobi, KENYA

www.pharmacyboardkenya.org

(+254-20-) 3562107

       (+254-0-) 733884411 / 720608811 

(+254-20-) 2713431 / 2713409

(254-0-) 721348503

 

P Think about our environment!!!

Please do not print this e-mail unless you really need to.

-- Re:New Discussion-Over the counter Medicines

  

Dear Members,

That's a great initiative.

 

‘OTC Drugs’ means drugs legally allowed to be sold ‘Over the Counter’,

i.e. without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. In India,

though Prescription Drugs are those that fall under two schedules of the Drug

and Cosmetics Rules, 1945: Schedule H and Schedule X. The market for OTC

healthcare in India increased at a compound annual growth rate of 6.4% between

2004 and 2009. The vitamins and minerals category led the OTC healthcare market

in India, accounting for a share of 23.8%. Leading players in Indian OTC

healthcare market include Cipla Ltd, & and GlaxoKline Plc.

 

The OTC market in India has following possible benefits:

1. Better Accessibility

2. Lower healthcare costs

3. Educated consumers

 

Possible risks of OTC market may be as follows:

1. Inappropriate and Inaccurate diagnosis

2. Increased cost to patients

3. Use of wrong medications

4. Increased drug resistance

5. Adverse effects, drug reactions not reported

 

 

There is vital need to design interventions to modify the behavior of everyone

involved in the pharmaceutical supply chain from producer to consumers to combat

the inappropriate drug use and rationalize the OTC consumption. The OTC drug

offering is incomplete without empowering the public on its rational use through

well planed strategic marketing and educating retail pharmacist on the use of

OTC.

 

O.P.Singh

Consultant Health Research and Managment

194-B, 4 C Jamunapuri Colony,

Murlipura Scheme,

Jaipur 302013

Rajasthan India.