Gujarat: Pharmacies at hospitals told to put up disclaimer by regulator

In a move aimed at giving an “informed choice” to patients and making them aware of their rights to purchase medicines from wherever they see fit, the Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) on Friday issued a circular to all its Assistant Commissioners to make sure that all in-house medical stores in hospital display a disclaimer stating, “It is not mandatory for patients of this hospital to buy medicines from here.”

The circular, said FDCA Commissioner Dr Hemant G Koshia, followed a multitude of complaints from patients, caregivers and chemists, who had brought to light the unfair trade practices that resulted in higher out-of-pocket healthcare costs for those seeking treatment.

A statement from the Gujarat FDCA on Saturday stated, “Patients coming for treatment in the state are forced to buy medicines from the in-house medical stores by hospitals. Due to this, the patients are not able to get generic medicines or other cheap medicines and have to bear financial burden.”