‘Paracetamol, taken like a candy, has very high side effects if not used judiciously’
Shillong, May 10: Meghalaya Health Care Association (MHCA) has urged the Central government to hold discussions with all stakeholders, including All India Organization of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD), before deciding to de-license some medicines as over-the-counter (OTC) medicinal products.
Referring to the government’s “intention” to consider some medicines as OTC products, the association said it would hamper the supply chain and lead to total chaos.
“We the 12.5 lakh members of AIOCD are facing lots of problems due to reduced sale because of online drugs, Jan Aushadhi and Dawa India,” the MHCA said.
“If the government brings more medicine under OTC category, our sale will be drastically reduced,” it added.
Opposing the alleged government intention to brand some medicines as OTC products, the association warned of severe health threats to be brought by any such move.
Citing commonly used medicines such as paracetamol and diclofenac, the association said branding such drugs as OTC products is not advisable as consumption of these medicines should be under the advice of experienced persons.
Referring to paracetamol, “which everybody is taking like a candy”, the association said, “It has very high side effects if not used judiciously. Slight overdose may cause severe kidney and liver damages along with other problems.”
“In case of high blood pressure, diclofenac sodium will shoot blood pressure even more, whereas diclofenac potassium in case of low blood pressure reduces it even further,” it said pointing at risk of making diclofenac as OTC product.
These two are simple examples that drugs need to be handle with proper case and under experience guidance. Similarly, all drugs which may be OTC but need to be taken care of by experience person, it added.
