Govt to chemists: Stock Tamiflu or lose licence

Health ministry is all set to take drastic action against chemists who are licensed to stock swine flu drug Oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu, but are not doing so. There are only 2,500 outlets across the country (50 of them in Delhi) who have the special licence required to sell the ‘Schedule X’ drug . The Drug Controller General of India has told the All-India Chemists and Druggists Association that they should immediately ensure availability of the drug or face suspension of licence. The ministry is also mulling issuance of the licence to 10,000 more chemists.

“Of the total 8 lakh drug outlets in India, 2,500 are licensed to stock Oseltamivir. That is a sufficient number to cater to all patients as hospitals both state-owned and private are also dispensing the drug. But not all of them stock the medicine usually as uptake in normal circumstances is low. Besides, there are stringent regulations on the sale. But if they do not stock it now, we will take drastic action, they could lose their Schedule X licence and even the general licence,” Drug Controller General of India Dr G N Singh told The Indian Express.

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Schedule X drugs cannot be sold without a prescription and chemists are required to maintain a register of the sale for subsequent scrutiny by drug authorities. The health ministry is in the process of uploading the names of all chemists in the country who can stock Oseltamivir on their website.

Director General Health Services Dr Jagdish Prasaf said: “DCGI has been told to issue 10000 more licences on an urgent basis.
The process should start tonight.” The drug controller’s office has already written to manufacturers like Cipla, Ranbaxy and Natco to ensure a steady supply and to bolster the distribution network.
Meanwhile, the swine flu death toll in the country has touched 624 with the total number of cases crossing 9,000. Health minister J P Nadda on Tuesday chaired a review meeting with all senior officials of the ministry where the issue of drug availability was discussed. The fact that Oseltamivir’s inclusion in the Schedule X of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act is restricting its availability was also discussed at the meeting.