Expired Drugs Fake Drugs Galore !!!!

Our Tamil Nadu Government deserves our whole hearted appreciation for the way in which they rushed to arrest the distribution of expired and fake drugs in the market. Day-in and day-out, news is pouring on the steps taken by Drug controlling Authority of the State which is equally encouraging.


The present Act is exhaustive and complete. What is required only is total and dedicated adherence to the provisions of the Act and effective monitoring by officials appointed for the purpose. The Government has also said more drug inspectors are now being appointed and employed for this purpose.

Issues related are: ( and these are not unknown to the authorities.)

1. Almost all drugs (including the ones to be sold on the prescription by a medical examiner only) are sold over the counter.
2. No receipt (detailing the batch and expiry of drugs sold) is issued to the buyer, unless insisted upon by a majority of retailers.
3. Retailers buy drugs from sub stockists to replenish stocks or to get the products very urgently.
4. The marketing adopt apparently unethical means to boost their sales in the market. ( The Medical Council recently issued again orders prohibiting perks, concessions to medical professions for preferring a particular brand over others.)
5. A complete and comprehensive list of manufacturing companies located in various states is not available. Recently I perused the quarterly journal of IDB which lists all such companies, only to find out that the list is not exhaustive.
6. The rate of Commissions/discount by the Manufacturers to distributors, from distributors to the Stockists, by the Stockists to sub stockists, from sub stockists to retailers are not known.It appears to be a cut throat competition at all levels.
7. Last but not the least, there is no exhaustive information available to the Public at large as to what are the drugs that are banned from time to time.


THE HINDU, in an article, when the news broke out, enlisted the route through which drugs are supplied to the retailer for sale. There is no mechanism to check from whom the retailers buy the drugs, and at what rate.
The retailers must be advised to keep an inventory of the drugs they buy, from whom they buy, and at what price they buy.

It is our appeal to the Authorities to ensure that total vigilance in this field is ensured on a sustained basis.

Doctors must be advised to prescribe only such drugs of companies well established and whose credibility is beyond doubt.

Retailers must be advised to buy drugs only from trusted distributors and stockists. And these distributors/stockists should obtain necessary license from the Government.

It is highly desirable that the Government prepares such a comprehensive list of authorised distributors and/or stockists of drugs and furnish the same to retailers. Retailers are to be advised to follow the practice of buying the drugs only from such Govt.approved and licensed stockists/distributors that the Govt.authorites have approved.

Periodical random checks would go a long way in arresting the unhappy trend that has surfaced recently.There should also reasonable checks on how doctors use their free samples, given by the marketing salesmen from various manufacturing companies.

While commending and appreciating the Tamil Nadu Government for all their work in their direction, we eagerly expect that the Government sustains their vigilance though it may cost them a lot for welfare of public.

For the public, we have a few advices:
THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE, BUT ONLY A MINIMUM OF CARE TO BE TAKEN BY ALL.

ALWAYS LOOK FOR DATE OF EXPIRY OF ANY DRUG (INCLUDING VITAMINS) WHENEVER YOU BUY.  PLEASE LOOK AT THE SPELLING OF THE DRUG IN THE STRIP (OR PAD) OF THE DRUG AND ENSURE THAT IT MATCHES WITH THE SPELLING WRITTEN BY THE DOCTOR. 

DO NOT BUY ANY DRUG OR MEDICINE WHICH IS NOT PRESCRIBED YOUR PHYSICIAN. PLEASE, FOR HEAVENS' SAKE,  DO NOT CONSULT ANY SALESMAN AT THE RETAIL SHOP EVEN FOR ANY MINOR AILMENT.    NEVER TAKE ANY ANTI-BIOTIC OR PAINKILLER OR STEROID WITHOUT  A PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE HAVING AN STOMACH ULCER, OR ALLERGY, HYPERTENSION, DIABETES. 


NEVER BUY ANY DRUG WITHOUT CONSULTING AND GETTING A PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, OR BREAST FEEDING YOUR BABY.   BE AWARE THAT EVEN THOSE  MEDICINES PRESCRIBED BY YOUR DOCTOR  DURING YOUR NORMALCY MAY HARM YOU WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREAST FEEDING.


DO NOT BUY ANY DRUG WHICH THE RETAILER SALESMAN SAYS THAT IT IS THE SAME AS WHAT YOUR DOCTOR HAS PRESCRIBED BUT BY A DIFFERENT COMPANY. ALWAYS CHECK UP WITH YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.


DO NOT BUY ANY COMBINATION OF ANY DRUG, EVEN WHEN IT INCLUDES A DRUG PRESCRIBED BY YOUR DOCTOR, UNLESS YOUR DOCTOR AUTHORIZES IT.


DO NOT GIVE ANY TABLET OR CAPSULE TO ANYONE, JUST BECAUSE THE SAME TABLET OR CAPSULE DID TREAT YOU WELL AND PRESCRIBED BY YOUR DOCTOR.


DO NOT TAKE ANY VITAMINS UNLESS YOU NEED THEM AND YOUR PHYSICIAN ADVISES YOU.IN CASE YOU FEEL U NEED SOME SUPPLEMENT TO YOUR DIET, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR AND HAVE A CHECK UP .




Please check up your almirah periodically for unused drugs and destroy them immediately. Do not just throw them in the dustbin in a bunch.

ஒரு ஐம்பது ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு இந்த வாசகத்தை திருச்சி ஜோசப் கண் மருத்துவகத்தில் படித்தேன். 

மருந்து தருவது மருத்துவன் கடமை.

ஆரோக்கியத்தை தருவது ஆண்டவன் அருள். 

முக்காலமும் இது உண்மை.

MORE OF THIS WILL FLOW....