Health Ministry proposes to allow Nurses, Community health workers to store, dispense medicines; Pharmacists see Red

central government’s move to permit many allied healthcare practitioners including Community Health Officers, Nurses, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives and Lady Health Visitors to store and dispense drugs without the need for license under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,

In the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, in Schedule K, against serial number 23, for the entries under the column “Class of Drugs”, the following shall be substituted, namely:―

“Drugs supplied by (i) Health Functionaries including Community Health Officers, Nurses, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives and Lady Health Visitors attached to Primary Health Centres/ Sub-Centres/ Health & Wellness Centres in rural and urban areas, (ii) Community Health Volunteers such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) under the National Health Mission, and (iii) Anganwadi Workers.”.

thats why ,Pharmacists to protest at Jantar Mantar against amendment of Schedule K of Drugs and Cosmetics Act on 29th.november.