E-drug: Polypharmacy in India (cont)
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In response to the query about dealing with the problem of polypharmacy, we
have to deal with such long prescriptions many of the times. The pharmacy
profession in India is mostly Industry oriented, and not clinical oriented.
Our curriculum trains us to be industrial pharmacists, with bits and pieces
of clinical orientation (which neither the teacher nor the student have
much interest, most of them at least).
Of late, awareness has been generated about clinical & community pharmacy,
but it will take a long time for things to be set right (perhaps another 20
years).
We, in India face a chronic problem of irrational drugs & combinations,
irrational prescribing (with the pharmacist having no say), unethical
marketing strategies, sales of medicines without prescriptions (though
illegal, there is no stopping it.
Like all chronic problems, the solution (treatment) for this problem is a
very slow process ! There are a few concerned people and a few NGOs who
raise their voice against such unscrupulous practices, but the voice is
drowned amongst the money powers of the drug companies and a meek FDA.
So, when we receive such prescriptions, we have to give them without any
word. Pharmacies in India have become traders, not professional. Things
will take long times to change.
The blood sugar level I quoted was written on the prescription by the
physician (must have been taken at a laboratory, or glucometer).
Raj Vaidya, M.Pharm,
Community Pharmacist,
Hindu Pharmacy,
P.B.No. 149,
Panaji - Goa - India 403001
Email : rajvaidya@bigfoot.com
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