Home / Health / Hyderabad Pharmacies Illegally Dispense Meds: 70% Risk Safety
Hyderabad Pharmacies Illegally Dispense Meds: 70% Risk Safety
5 Oct
Summary
- Nearly 70% of Hyderabad pharmacies use unregistered staff for dispensing.
- This practice poses risks of incorrect dosages and unsafe prescription drug sales.
- Officials plan to digitize pharmacist records to prevent fraud.
Official data indicates that approximately 70% of pharmacies in Hyderabad are allegedly employing unregistered personnel to dispense medicines. This bypasses the legal requirement for registered pharmacists to interpret prescriptions and ensure correct dosages, leading to potential medication errors and unsafe sales of prescription drugs. The Pharmacy Act of 1948 strictly mandates that only registered pharmacists can dispense medicines.
Concerns are high regarding the over-the-counter sale of prescription medications, including antibiotics and antidiabetic drugs. Experts emphasize that a pharmacist's role extends beyond handing over medication; it involves verifying prescriptions and advising patients. TG-SAFE is planning to strengthen digital records to link pharmacists with their registrations, aiming to identify instances where a single pharmacist is registered at multiple establishments.
This practice could expose patients to serious health risks, including dangerous drug interactions. Experts stress that a registered pharmacist's presence is a vital patient safety measure, not just a regulatory formality. Pharmacies must ensure qualified professionals are available during dispensing hours to prevent inappropriate drug selection and combat antimicrobial resistance.
