Kolkata: The West Bengal Health Department has issued an advisory titled Right to Information on Right Drugs for Everyone for consumers purchasing medicines.
A consumer, while purchasing medicines, should verify the contents of the cash memo with the one written on the medicine boxes.
This consumer should check if it includes the name of the particular medicine, batch number and expiry date.
The advisory includes several points relevant to the consumers.
A copy of the license to sell medicines, issued by the Drugs Control Directorate, must be on display at the medicine store.
The consumer must insist on a cash memo after buying drugs.
The cash memo must contain the name of the particular medicine, batch number and expiry date.
The consumer must verify the content of the cash memo with the one written on the medicine boxes.
A list of 300 medicines comes with a QR code that can be scanned to check if it is spurious. The list of such drugs is available on www.wbhealth.gov.in/DrugAlerts.
If, after scanning the QR code, a “could not be verified” message pops up, the medicine is likely spurious. One can mail the picture of this medicine and a copy of the cash memo to lodge a formal complaint at prosecutionandcomplaintcell@gmail.com or through WhatsApp at 7908077615.
Batches of some common medicines have been listed under non-standard quality. A list of the medicines with specific batches must be displayed at the shops.
The advisory has been sent by the Directorate of Drugs Control to all medical colleges and hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals and health centres in all districts and blocks.
A copy has also been sent to the Bengal Chemists and Druggists Association. This is the largest body of wholesale and retail medicine dealers in the state, with around 45,000 members.
The West Bengal government has banned 137 medicines that did not meet the drug quality standards.
This content comes on the heels of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) identifying over 196 drugs across the country as substandard.
