Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this week has directed all hospitals, medical practitioners and affiliated pharmacies across the state to stop compelling patients for buying medicines exclusively from the pharmacies located within or attached to hospital premises.
According to an order dated June 12, in which the FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe directed hospitals and doctors to hand over prescriptions directly to patients or their relatives, and prohibited prescriptions from being routed to in-house or affiliated pharmacies without the patient’s consent.
The FDA also said that withholding prescriptions or directing patients to specific pharmacies for their own interest resultingan unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Mundhe also directed doctors and hospitals not to refuse prescriptions and to inform patients that they are free to purchase medicines from any licenced pharmacy.
All hospitals have been asked to prominently display notices in Marathi and English stating: “Patients are not compelled to purchase medicines solely from the pharmacy located within this hospital. Patients or their relatives can purchase medicines from any licensed pharmacy.”
The order warned that appropriate legal action could be initiated against institutions found violating the directive.
Mundhe has directed divisional joint commissioners, assistant commissioners and drug inspectors across the state to communicate the order to hospitals and practitioners within their jurisdictions, and verify compliance during routine inspections.
Written by: Pramit Hazra
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
