DGHS urges pharmacist associations to dispense antibiotics only on prescription from a qualified doctor

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has appealed to all the pharmacist associations in the country to dispense antibiotics only on the prescription of a qualified doctor.

In an urgent appeal to pharmacists across the country, Director General of Health Services, Professor Atul Goyal, said in a letter, “Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945, antibiotics have been included in the list of medicines specified under Schedule H, Which is necessary to have. Sold by retail only on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP).”

“It is an urgent appeal to all the pharmacists in the country to strictly enforce Schedule H and H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to prevent over-the-counter sale of antibiotics and sell them only on the prescription of a qualified doctor ” It said.

It said, “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health threats facing humanity. “It is estimated that the bacteria AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and 4.95 million deaths were linked to drug-resistant infections.”
It says AMR jeopardizes effective prevention and treatment of infections caused by resistant germs, resulting in prolonged illness and increased risk of death.

“Treatment failures that result in prolonged infectiousness and the extremely high cost of second-line drugs may result in failure to treat these diseases in many individuals,” it added.

Misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs is one of the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens. With few new antibiotics in the research and development pipeline, judicious antibiotic use is the only option to delay the development of resistance.

“Some high-end antibiotics have been included in the list of HI drugs. “This is an urgent appeal to all pharmacists in the country to strictly enforce Schedule H and H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to prevent over-the-counter sales.” Antibiotics and sell them only on the prescription of a qualified doctor,” it added.

All pharmacists associations in India look forward to your support in promoting judicious use of antimicrobials to reduce the emergence of AMR.