KOLLAM: Many doctors run parallel pharmacies in their clinics without licence from the state drugs control department and flouting the Kerala High Court order in this respect. The doctors also employ unqualified hands, including minors, to dispense medicines from their dispensaries.
Recently, the High Court had imprisoned a doctor from Kollam for a day and imposed a fine of Rs 1.20 lakh on him for running a dispensary without licence.
However, doctors still dispense medicines over the counter. “Many doctors run their own dispensaries in a room adjacent to their clinics.
The doctor who gave me the prescription also gave me the medicine, but it was delivered by an amateur. Huge quantities of medicines have been stocked by him exclusively for his “own patients,” said a member of an NGO in Kollam.
The doctors also stock the medicines in bulk which are directly supplied by the stockists. These medicine brands are often not easily available in the market.
The doctors take advantage of ‘Schedule K’ in the Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1940 to claim special rights.
“According to the mandate in Schedule K, the doctors can dispense medicines to their patients, but not over a counter.
It should be done by himself and not by employing someone if they have not acquired a drug control licence.
Based on the court verdicts, including that of the Supreme Court, we are insisting on such practitioners to procure the licence,” said Mr K.J. John, assistant drugs controller, Kollam.
