Print
Hits: 5973
Times of India
26 March 2011
By Dipti.Barve

Mirror does a test drive of 10 chemist shops to check the availability of banned drugs in the city. Five shops were found selling the medicines openly while the rest were well-informed
Banned in India but Sold in Pune
The Union health ministry recently banned eight drugs like Nimesulide and Cisapride on the recommendations of the expert committee constituted by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), as they pose a serious health risk.

The Indian Drug Manufacturers Association has obtained a stay from the Madras High Court till March 28, 2011 seeking a review of the side effects and case studies of the banned drugs. However, these drugs are still being prescribed by doctors and sold by chemists due to lack of awareness in the city.

Pune Mirror conducted a test drive to check whether the banned medicines are available with chemists. Our reporter visited 10 chemists’ shops and asked for the banned drugs. All these medicines fall under the Schedule H drug category, which indicates that they can be sold on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner only. To our surprise, of the 10 chemists, five sold these drugs over the counter and did not even bother to ask for a prescription. They were unaware of the banned list of medicines published by the health ministry last week. However, the remaining five chemists were well-informed and refused to sell the medicines.

Dev’s Medicals on Tilak Road (above) refused to sell the banned tablet Phenylpropanolamine. (R) Some of the banned drugs sold by other shops to our reporters, along with the receipts Dev’s Medicals on Tilak Road (above) refused to sell the banned tablet Phenylpropanolamine. (R) Some of the banned drugs sold by other shops to our reporters, along with the receipts
The reporter first went to a chemist shop in Kothrud to buy Nimesulide tablets and got them easily. The next stop was Manav Chemist Shop on Bhandarkar Road where she asked for Sibutramine formulated tablets. Here too, the chemist did not ask for a prescription or the name of the doctor.

Similar was the scene at Sassoon General Hospital’s 24/7 medical store where she got the Gatifloxacin tablets without any trouble. The pharmacist was totally unaware of the banned drug. Chemist shops on Jangli Maharaj Road and in Boat Club area too were found to be unaware of the banned medicines.

However, in Rasta Peth and on Tilak Road, the chemists refused to sell the tablets. Navbharat Chemist in Rasta Peth asked for a prescription and refused to sell the medicine saying that the stock has been kept aside as per the instructions of the Chemist Association.

Dev’s Medicals on Tilak Road too refused to give the banned tablet Phenylpropanolamine and suggested that the reporter tell the doctor the drug has been banned.

A medical shop in Kothrud sold our reporter Nimesulide tablets (R) without bothering to ask for a prescription. The chemists seemed to have no knowledge about the ban at all  A medical shop in Kothrud sold our reporter Nimesulide tablets (R) without bothering to ask for a prescription. The chemists seemed to have no knowledge about the ban at all
Similarly, chemist shops on Fergusson College Road and Jehangir Hospital pharma also refused to give Tegaserod and Cisapride saying they have been banned by the government.

Dr Dilip Sarda, former chief of Indian Medical Association (IMA) told Pune Mirror, "It is surprising that the Madras High Court has given a stay order on the banned medicines, which have adverse effects on patients. The government should immediately remove the stock of such medicines."

Mahendra Pitaliya, coordinator of Chemist Association told Mirror, "At present, we are following the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines while selling these drugs. The high court had given a stay order for 15 days. We are waiting for its next order and have already informed chemists through circulars and SMSes. However, the level of awareness is still low."

Banned Drugs Available in:
Kothrud, Bhandarkar Road, Sassoon Hospital, Jangli Maharaj Road, Boat Club Road

Well-Informed Chemists in:
Rasta Peth, Tilak Road, Fergusson College Road, Jehangir Hospital, NDA Road

Banned Drugs & Side Effects
Disclaimer: The news story on this page is the copyright of the cited publication. This has been reproduced here for visitors to review, comment on and discuss. This is in keeping with the principle of ‘Fair dealing’ or ‘Fair use’. Visitors may click on the publication name, in the news story, to visit the original article as it appears on the publication’s website.