Not just anyone can sell medicines, now the government has made these rules strict

India's drug regulator DCGI has written an important letter to the Drug Controller and Pharmacy Council of India of all states and union territories. In this, he has asked them to ensure that the pharmacist himself is present in the retail medical stores.

India's drug regulator DCGI has written an important letter to the Drug Controller and Pharmacy Council of India of all states and union territories. In this, he has asked them to ensure that the pharmacist himself is present in the retail medical stores and the sale of medicines is under his direct supervision. In a letter, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi has spoken about the implementation of Section 42 (a) of the Pharmacy Act, 1947 and Rule 65 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945 in the retail pharmacy.

What are the new instructions?

In a letter sent on March 9, DCGI said to ensure that pharmacists are physically present in retail pharmacy or medical stores and medicines are sold under their direct supervision. It has been said to ensure that no prescription medicine is sold from retail medical shops without a correct and valid prescription.

The drug regulator has cited a letter from Suresh Khanna, National General Secretary, IPA, Mumbai, in which he has highlighted issues related to the implementation of Section 42(a) of the Pharmacy Act, 1947 and Rule 65 of the Drugs Cosmetics Act, 1945.

Earlier last month, under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) released the first installment for pharmaceuticals. Explain that under this, the first installment of incentive amount of Rs 166 crore for pharmaceuticals was issued to four selected applicants. The effect of this step will be seen in the direction of self-reliance in the manufacture of high-end medical equipment parts in the country.

Under the Atmanirbhar initiative of the government, the Department of Pharmaceuticals launched the PLI scheme for pharmaceuticals in 2021. The financial outlay under this PLI scheme is Rs 15,000 crore over a period of six years. So far 55 applicants have been selected under the scheme, including 20 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). For the financial year 2022-2023 being the first year of production for the PLI scheme, the DoP has earmarked Rs 690 crore as the budget outlay.