Pharmacists play a pivotal role in promoting the rational use of drugs. The increasing price of drugs compels pharmacists to counsel/prescribe alternative cheaper drugs to patients. The paper investigates the issue of increasing the quality of drugs through the Over The Counter (OTC) concept, and making it available to the common man at affordable prices. The study explores the role of pharmacists from the time of procurement of drugs to distribution, prescription, and monitoring of drugs, while communicating with the physician and ensuring the compliance of treatment guidelines to consumers. Based on a detailed survey on the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the paper enunciates that pharmacists provide substantial aid to pharmaceutical companies, doctors, patients and towards the society, at large.
The
cost of drug procurement is increasing rapidly today. Healthcare has become expensive
specifically in privately owned hospitals and nursing homes. Drugs cure people
from diseases and hence should be available to all at affordable prices. The pharmaceutical
industry is advancing with special emphasis on pharmacists who can procure drugs
at minimum price. The Actual Acquisition Cost (AAC) of the drug is decided according
to the customer's paying ability. Pharmacists play a pivotal role in promoting
the rational use of drugs. Over-the-counter (OTC) method of direct negotiation
between the buyer and seller brings down the price to a large extent. Many Indian
pharmaceutical industries have adopted the OTC concept. This paper focuses on
the issue of increasing the quality of drugs through the OTC concept, and making
it available to the common man at affordable prices. But this concept also generates
negative implications like the consumer's self-medication approach which not only
affects the professional practice of the physician, but also the well-being of
patients. Procurement of drug in the lines of OTC requires immense speculation
for the implementation of this concept.
The role of pharmacists should be evaluated with respect to prescribing drugs
to meet the final point of medication between the doctor and the patient. The
study explores the role of pharmacists from the time of procurement of drugs to
distribution, prescription, and monitoring of drugs, while communicating with
the physician and ensuring the compliance of treatment guidelines to consumers
with consumer education.To investigate the extent of the OTC drugs compliance certification, accompanied
by the therapy provided by the drug (with specific levels) and the durable packaging
mode of the drug. To investigate drugs and the comprehensive pharmacy services to convince the doctor.
To implicate interpersonal, emotional therapies and to build a trustworthy relationship
with the patient.
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