Ranchi: Despite the Union health ministry’s directive prohibiting over-the-counter sale of medicines such as cough syrups, pharmacies across the city continue to sell them without asking for a prescription. The health ministry in June amended drug regulations to end over-the-counter sale of cough syrups.TOI on Wednesday found that many pharmacies were selling cough syrups to customers without asking for prescriptions. At Albert Ekka Chowk, a pharmacy handed cough syrup bottles to customers of all age groups without asking for a prescription or enquiring about the customer’s medical condition. A similar situation unfolded at shops in Lalpur and Kokar areas.When asked, pharmacy owners said that due to fluctuating weather, many are experiencing cough and cold. “As customers ask for medicines and the symptoms are clearly visible, we sell without asking for a prescription,” one of them said.A pharmacist in Kokar area said that he sells cough syrups without asking for prescriptions only to known customers.Ranchi drug inspector Arup Ratan Saha said that authorities are checking medicine shops and appealing to them to adhere to the guidelines. “We will spread awareness about the matter and if they are found selling cough syrups without prescriptions, action will be taken against them,” Saha added.
