Indian government has proposed mandatory CCTV surveillance across retail medical stores to prevent unauthorised sale of prescription drugs. The stated that the plan has been proposed by amending the Drugs Rules, 1945. The amendment aims to tighten
The proposed amendment focuses on tightening oversight of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs, preventing their sale without valid medical prescriptions.
Amid this, a new survey by LocalCircles, suggests that more than 50% of consumers have reported that chemists rarely ask for a doctor’s prescription before selling drugs.
Going by the findings of the same survey, only 15% say the chemist mostly or always insisted on prescriptions.
The survey, which was reportedly conducted nationwide, also pointed out that only 31% of consumers said they get assistance from a qualified pharmacist most of the time at medical stores.
However, 13% said that they were assisted by a non-qualified pharmacist at stores. The question asked, “In the last 12 months when you visited local chemists/pharmacies and needed assistance, how often did a qualified pharmacist assist you with medicine/disease related query?” Out of 19,409 responders, 26% said that a qualified pharmacist assisted them most of the time during their purchase. 5% said that they always received help. While another 22% said that they were assisted by a qualified pharmacist sometimes, 11% answered very rarely, and 16% said never. 13% said the person who did assist them was not qualified, while 7% could not comment.
The survey also asked, “How have you primarily purchased medicines in the last 12 months?” To this, reportedly 16,822 responded. In reply, 62% said they purchased medicine either by themselves or sent someone to their local chemist. Another 24% added that they get their order delivered at the doorstep from the local shops. Only 14% said they relied on ePharmacy apps. Altogether, 86% of consumers surveyed said that they opted for their neighbourhood chemist.
The survey also sought whether customers received their at the time of their purchase in the last 12 months.
Among 20,573 responses, 70% said they received a printed GST bill or invoice. 26% of people surveyed were not provided a GST bill. This included 3% who received a manually generated GST bill, 9% who received a handwritten slip, paper or medicine envelope with the total amount written on it and 2% who received a bill via , phone or at delivery with no GST bill. 15% didn’t get any bill at all.
Reportedly, 15% of those surveyed were sold medicines later found to be fake or counterfeit.
The survey received over 1,06,000 responses across 327 districts of India.
