Pharmacies Deny Loose Tablets: Govt Mulls Exact Prescription Quantity Drug Dispensing, AIOCD Raises Concerns
New Delhi: The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists Association (AIOCD) has raised concerns regarding the proposal on dispensing exact prescription quantities of strip-packed medicines placed before the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), stating that the measures could lead to operational challenges for pharmacies, financial losses, and potential risks related to drug safety and traceability.
The issue came up during a recent DCC meeting, where the DCC was apprised about a public grievance received highlighting refusal of pharmacies to dispense cut/loose strips (e.g., 5 tablets when prescribed, but strips contain 10-15), forcing patients to buy excess and incur unnecessary costs (Rs. 5-100 per strip).
DCC deliberated the matter and recommended referring the matter to the sub-committee already constituted in the 66th meeting of DCC dated 17.06.2025 to examine the matters of labelling.
Responding to the above, the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has raised serious concerns over the proposal placed before the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) regarding the dispensing of exact prescription quantities of strip-packed medicines, cautioning that the move, in its current form, may lead to significant operational, financial, and regulatory challenges for pharmacies.
In its representation submitted on behalf of the chemist fraternity, the AIOCD stated that pharmacists and chemists across the country remain fully committed to patient welfare and affordability and acknowledged that patients should not be compelled to purchase medicines beyond their prescribed requirement. However, the association emphasized that while the intent of the proposal is appreciated, several practical challenges need to be addressed before implementation.
However, while supporting the intent of the proposal, the AIOCD addressed certain practical and regulatory challenges.
1. Impact on Dispensation from Pharmacies: This may lead to operational, legal, and inventory management challenges at the retail level.
2. Risk of Wastage of medicines that is a national loss and financial losses to the retailers:
- Dispensing loose tablets will inevitably result in unsold partial strips, which cannot be reused efficiently.
- These cut strips cannot be returned to stockists or manufacturers, leading to direct financial loss for chemists.
- Given that medicine prices and margins are already fixed by the Government, retailers operate on very limited margins and cannot absorb such losses.
3. Consultation with stakeholders: -
To the best of our knowledge, such a significant operational change has not been discussed in detail with trade bodies like the AIOCD prior to this proposal.
Since chemists are the primary stakeholders responsible for implementation, it is essential that:
- Trade bodies are taken into confidence.
- Practical ground-level challenges are incorporated into policy decisions.
4. Issue of Batch Number & Expiry Visibility:
- One of the most critical concerns is related to drug safety and traceability.
- Cutting strips often results in loss of batch number and expiry date visibility.
- This creates serious issues in Patient safety Drug recall situations, and Complaint redressal.
- It also exposes chemists to legal and regulatory risks.
Additionally:
Patients must have access to batch and expiry details.
Retaining unidentified loose tablets at the pharmacy is not compliant with good dispensing practices.
5. Inventory & Return Challenges
Cut strips cannot be taken back by distributors or companies. Pharmacies cannot maintain unidentifiable or incomplete stock • There is currently no reverse supply chain mechanism for such partially used strips.
6. Suggestions & Way Forward
While supporting patient interest, AIOCD requested that the following measures be considered before implementing any such rule:
1. Manufacturer-Level Intervention:
Pharmaceutical companies should produce variable pack sizes aligned with common prescription durations.
2. Mandatory Printing on Each Tablet/Blister:
Ensure batch number and expiry date are printed more than one place one unit/blister segment
3. Return Policy for Cut Strips:
Companies/distributors should establish a mechanism to accept and compensate for unsold partial strips
4. Revision of Trade Margins
Government may consider increasing minimum margins to offset operational losses arising from such practices
5. Clear Legal & Operational Guidelines
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must be issued to ensure:
- Proper labelling
- Traceability Accountability
- Optional / Voluntary Dispensing
- Chemists cannot give medicine. Suo Moto must be allowed to dispense loose quantities where feasible, rather than making it mandatory.
Concluding its representation, the AIOCD reiterated that while reducing patient burden is a welcome objective, the proposal in its present form may lead to unintended consequences. The association urged that any policy decision be taken only after detailed consultation with stakeholders, assuring its full cooperation in developing a balanced, practical, and patient-friendly solution.
To view the official communication, click the link below:
