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KSRPO concerned over growing number of medical shops across the state
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
January 10 , 2025
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The Karnataka State Registered Pharmacists Organisation (KSRPO) has expressed its concern on the growing number of medical shops in the state which is leading to intense competition, affecting profitability, market share and quality standards. To address this concern, the Association is looking for open discussions with government and the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) about this impact on the retail sector.
In a letter to the Karnataka government, KSRPO has spelt out the need to curb the growing number of medical shops in the state. The state FDA should also look into the pharmacists who are working elsewhere and lending their certificate to medical shops by submitting false affidavit to the licencing authorities. Here, KSRPO has said that the state FDA must take action against them under relevant sections of IPC.
All efforts need to be made to ensure that licenses are not granted to the fake doctors including qualified Ayush medical practitioner clinics who operate pharmacy outlets in their premises. We are noticing perpetual violations of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Rule 64 (2), stated Ashokswamy Heroor, president, KSRPO.
By referring to Rule 64 (2) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Heroor stated that there is a need for the State FDA to reject the new applications for the sale of medicine to curb the number of licenses to avoid competition.
The enforcement teams at Karnataka FDA need to inspect the medical stores that are already selling scheduled medicines on the prescription of the fake medical practitioners and Ayush doctors. They will need to file the prosecution case under the Rule 64(2) and ensure that their licenses are not renewed, said Heroor.
Heroor said that he has seen medical shops operating in tin sheds. Now the state FDA needs to seize the licenses of the medical shops which are operating in the tin sheds and make sure they are shut down by referring to Schedule P. There is a lot of profit in medicine sales and we are seeing many unqualified persons entering this business. Extensive investigations at frequent intervals need to be undertaken across pharmacy outlets in the state, Heroor stated in his communication.
The Karnataka FDA needs to suggest guidelines or policies to regulate the proliferation of new medical shops while ensuring fair competition and quality of service. The state FDA also needs to ensure that all shops maintain high standards for the benefit of the community, which could help sustain trust in the industry despite growing competition, said Heroor.
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