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Anju Ghanghurde
Mumbai, June 26: IDMA has objected to what it claims could be a disturbing trend to allow the shift of specific prescription brands to the over-the-counter(OTC) segment.
This follows reports of the submission of a list of around 57 ethical formulation brands to the Drugs Controller for consideration for grant of an OTC status.
IDMA president Gopakumar G Nair said that while the idea of granting OTC status to prescription drugs (with no major side effects etc) is welcome, such a move cannot be undertaken on a brand-to-brand basis.
"Such a move should be undertaken only on the basis of proper classification drug-wise and only specific drugs by pharmacopoeial names should be allowed to move towards the OTC category, " he said.
For example, Paracetamol formulations could be shifted to the OTC segment, while this approval cannot be granted to a single brand like Crocin on a selective basis as it could be challenged for being a discriminatory practice.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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