📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Amitav Joyprakash Choudhury
Health
Pharmacists Call for More Checks in Drug Supply Chain, Not Fewer Links
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 27 Sep 2026, 05:02 AM
👁 9
Pharmacists have urged regulators to tighten oversight of the pharmaceutical distribution network, arguing that reducing intermediaries could jeopardise drug safety.
Pharmacists across India have voiced concerns that the current drug distribution system requires stronger regulatory checks rather than a reduction in the number of intermediaries. They argue that each link in the supply chain plays a crucial role in verifying the authenticity and quality of medicines before they reach consumers.
Industry experts note that while streamlining processes can improve efficiency, it should not come at the cost of compromising safety standards. The professionals highlighted the risk of counterfeit or substandard drugs entering the market if oversight is weakened.
The call for enhanced inspections and documentation aims to reinforce confidence among patients and healthcare providers. Pharmacists emphasized that robust checks at every stage—from manufacturers to wholesalers and retail outlets—are essential to safeguard public health.
Regulatory bodies have been urged to review existing protocols and consider implementing additional verification mechanisms, such as barcode scanning and real-time tracking, to ensure that each transaction is transparent and traceable.
The consensus among the pharmacy community is clear: strengthening checks will protect consumers without disrupting the essential flow of medicines across the country.
Industry experts note that while streamlining processes can improve efficiency, it should not come at the cost of compromising safety standards. The professionals highlighted the risk of counterfeit or substandard drugs entering the market if oversight is weakened.
The call for enhanced inspections and documentation aims to reinforce confidence among patients and healthcare providers. Pharmacists emphasized that robust checks at every stage—from manufacturers to wholesalers and retail outlets—are essential to safeguard public health.
Regulatory bodies have been urged to review existing protocols and consider implementing additional verification mechanisms, such as barcode scanning and real-time tracking, to ensure that each transaction is transparent and traceable.
The consensus among the pharmacy community is clear: strengthening checks will protect consumers without disrupting the essential flow of medicines across the country.