New Delhi: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs of the Central Government is working on a plan. According to this, a medicine strip with holes will be prepared. The date of manufacture and expiry will be written on each part of it. This will give you exactly as many tablets as you need. Apart from this, another option is being searched. The QR code will be marked on the medicine strips. Significantly, amid complaints of chemists insisting on customers buy an entire strip of tablets or capsules, the Center is trying to find a solution to protect consumer interests and is holding consultations with the pharma industry.
Sources said the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), run by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, has seen a rise in complaints about insisting on buying the entire bar. After this talks were started with the companies. It can be finalized in the coming time.
New technology will be adopted for packing medicines
The Ministry recently discussed the matter with the stalwarts of the pharma industry. Top officials of the Drug Controller General of India also participated in the meeting. Officials said that the issue was discussed and the ministry suggested that new technologies should be explored for the packaging of medicines. Forcibly purchasing an entire strip of medicine not only leads to medical wastage but also puts an unnecessary financial burden on the customers.
Will buy medicine as needed
The department has received several consumer complaints about how chemists are insisting on selling an entire strip of ten tablets or capsules and refusing to sell them for less. There are also cases where the prescription is only for a day or two and the consumer is forced to buy the entire strip. In some cases, consumers buy medicines in small quantities because they cannot buy medicines for the whole week.
According to chemists, no one wants to take them due to a lack of information about manufacturing, and the expiry of cut medicine. With fast-moving drugs, he has no problem in cutting strips and selling the required quantity to the customers. In the case of slow-acting drugs/drugs, they insist consumers buy the entire strip as distributors or pharmaceutical companies refuse to take back unsold drugs if the strip is cut.
