Gen stores will be allowed sale of some drugs: Official

Hyderabad, Oct 16 (UNI) With the banning of 'rofecoxib and valdecoxib,' the Union Government is closely monitoring 11 drugs, Union Health and Family Welfare Director Rajesh Bhushan said today.

Talking to reporters here, he said the Centre was considering allowing the sale of certain types of drugs by General stores.

He said the National Pharmaco Vilgilance Advisory Committee was tracking adverse 'drug events' relating to 11 drugs, ranging from pain killers to ones used for treating cardiovascular diseases and fever, at the level of medical college hospitals, State and the Centre. ''Once the data was available, a decision would be taken whether to ban them or not,'' he added.

Largely household remedies and sanitary items would be allowed to be sold by general stores shortly and the list would expanded in phases, he said, adding that a draft notification would be issued for the people to respond.

Replying to a question, he said there could be no universal ban on drugs as reaction to using drugs would not be the same among different communities.

In an effort to curb spurious drugs, the Ministry would undertake a nation-wide campaign shortly to remind the ailing public to insist on bill and purchase drugs only through a doctor's prescription, he added.

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