Sale of medicines without proper prescriptions by both online and brick and mortar pharmacies, the main cause of anti-microbial resistance, will be a thing of the past in Andhra Pradesh soon with the Drug Control Administration (DCA) taking up a first-of-its initiative to dispense medicines on the basis of digital prescriptions.
The Comprehensive Drug Monitoring System (CDMS) will be rolled out during next month coinciding with the World Antibiotic Awareness Week to combat antibiotic resistance, biggest health threat, DCA Director General A. Ravishankar said after signing of a memorandum with health care professionals here on Saturday.
All the doctors will have to issue e-prescriptions with his or her digital signature, which, in turn, will be verified by pharamcists concerned before dispensing with the medicines and after entering the details electronically onto the CDMS online portal, explained Mr. Ravishankar, also NTR Vaidya Seva Chief Executive Officer.
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“Antibiotics have to be taken only on the advice of doctors as they are not the answer for every health issue,” he added while decrying the tendency of patients obtaining medicines directly from drug stores for quick relief and risking their lives.
Ongole Declaration
The stakeholders, including functionaries of IMA, Andhra Pradesh Veterinary Council, State Pharmacy Council came out with ‘Ongole declaration’ coinciding with the IMA’s State conference here to contribute their mite to end indiscriminate use of antibiotics which resulted in anti-microbial resistance among human and animal beings. NTR Health University Vice-Chancellor C.S. Rao called for a change in the attitude of patients who at many a time take medicines without prescriptions and diagnosis of the rootcause of the disease.
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