AYUSH Dr`s ill not prescribe Schedule HX Drugs ?

FC&DK objects to Schedule HX, proposes measure to prevent cross prescription and awareness for doctors

The Federation of Chemists & Druggists of Karnataka (FC&DK) has objected to the amendment on Schedule HX in Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945. It has now proposed to Union government on measures to prevent cross prescription and awareness for doctors. The move to amend the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules and insert Schedule HX comes in the wake of concern that there is a rampant over use of antibiotics in India and the resultant drug resistance. But the lack of doctors in the country especially in rural areas and general practitioners dispensing medicines to patients would still continue the irrational use of antibiotics, stated Ashokswamy Heroor, vice president of the Federation of Chemists and Druggists in Karnataka and president, Koppal District Chemists and Druggists Association and the President of Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Gangavati. To control this, the Federation has communicated to the Union Ministry of Health, to take cognizance of the fact that despite the Schedule HX, there could be gross misuse of antibiotic prescription by the doctors in the rural areas. Also the pharmacy outlets in the region which were used to dispense antibiotics without prescription was a huge menace. In this regard, there is need to implement certain polices in the interest of the public to ensure the total adherence to Schedule HX. The Federation recommends necessary action to be taken to stop the medical practices by non qualified persons. The government should delegate the necessary powers to medical officials and drug departments to control such practitioners, stated Heroor. Further, the Federation in its letter to the Central government has also insisted that qualified allopathy doctors should practice only in their qualified systems and refrain from prescribing the traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy. In the same way, doctors qualified in the traditional medicine should keep away from prescribing allopathy drugs. There is hardly any information on the adverse drug reactions and therefore the doctors of the two systems of medicine should ensure they do not prescribe drugs unrelated to their specialization. Multiple drugs increase the risk of adverse reactions. In addition, inappropriate use of antibiotics and other anti infectives cause in drug resistance and result in high morbidity and mortality. Although most of the drug information is made available, yet it is not properly utilized by the general practitioner. This results in cases of antibiotics overuse, indiscriminate use of injection, polypharmacy, excessive use of anabolic steroid for growth, tonics for malnutrition, etc. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics can cause adverse reaction and superbug infection which only increases the financial burden on the patient, pointed out Heroor. It is vital for the government to conduct the training or refresher courses annually for medical practitioners of all systems of medicine covering from allopathy to Ayurveda and Homeopathy to keep them updated on the latest trends in pharma and healthcare at sessions organized at various district headquarters, he said