In an effort to address the issue of medical wastage and alleviate the financial burden on customers, the government is actively considering alternative measures for purchasing medicine. Currently, customers are obligated to buy complete strips of medication even when they only require a smaller quantity. A spokesperson from the Department of consumer affairs, who preferred to remain anonymous, highlighted the lack of logic in purchasing an entire strip for just a few tablets.
As a potential solution, the government has put forward a proposal to modify medicine packaging by introducing perforations. This would allow sellers to separate and sell a few tablets or capsules. Each separated segment would contain essential information such as the expiry date and other pertinent details. Although the initial implementation cost of this change may be relatively high, it is believed that as more companies adopt this practice, the costs will gradually decrease. This initiative holds considerable importance as it addresses the grievances of consumers who have complained about chemists insisting on full-strip purchases, despite the requirement for only a few tablets.
Jagannath Sakharam Shinde, the chairman of All Indian Origin Chemists & Distributors (AIOCD), has expressed concerns about the use of "cut-strips" due to their lack of critical information like the batch number, manufacturing details, and expiration date. It is considered a violation to stock medicine without these essential particulars. According to media reports, industry representatives have suggested that the cost of printing a QR code on each tablet could be less than 10 paise.
Recently, the government held discussions with senior representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, alongside officials from the Drug Controller General of India. As part of their deliberations, the ministry has recommended exploring innovative packaging technologies for medicines as a potential solution to the current challenges.
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