Have you ever been turned away by a Pharmacist when you asked to buy a certain drug? How did you feel? Did you ask why they refused to serve you? Did they explain why it is so? Today, let’s talk about the classifications of medicines in Ghana.
Although Pharmacists and support staff are employed to sell medicines and make a profit, they must do so within the confines of the law.
Who is taking the medicines? What are the side effects of these medicines? Does this medicine require an expert’s guidance? Does it have the tendency to be abused? A lot of questions need to be answered before your drug gets to you.
In Ghana, the Food and Drugs Authority(FDA) has classified drugs into three categories: Prescription-only medicines (PoM), Pharmacists’ Medicines and Over the counter medicines (OTCMs). The category a drug belongs to will depend on whether it will be served to you with or without prescriptions.
Prescription-only medicines are only dispensed to a patient who presents a valid prescription from a prescriber. These medicines are prescribed for one person and only that person.
Medicines that fall in this category are highly regulated due to many reasons;
1. If the drug is an anti-infective (Antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-parasitic). The misuse of these drugs has led to drug resistance. Infections are now hard to treat leading to prolonged disease duration, higher medical and research costs and mortality. Every time you enter a pharmacy and ask for amoxicillin or any of the other drugs that fall in this category to treat your cough, cold, stomach ache or diarrhoea, you are contributing to this impending doom.
2. If the drug is not safe to be taken. Some medicines, for instance, have a narrow therapeutic index; that is there is a thin line between an effective dose and a toxic dose. A single mistake may lead to death; hence require the instruction and supervision of licensed healthcare professionals.
3. When the drugs cause dependence. Some medications can cause physical and psychological dependence. There are proper ways to wean the patient off to prevent withdrawal or addiction. Hence the reason for restricting them.
4. Depending on the route of administration. There are different routes of administration of medicines; oral, per oral, parenteral (injection), topical, vaginally and anally. Routes like that for injections require experts to administer.
Over the counter medications, on the hand can be bought, without prescriptions. They are deemed safer than PoMs hence can be served at your request. Drugs that fall in this category include; Aspirin, Paracetamol, folic acid, ORS, emergency contraceptives, glucose, vitamins and minerals, etc.
‘P’ or Pharmacy medicines come between PoMs and OTCMs. They do not require prescriptions but given based on the professional judgement of the Pharmacist. Medicines have been switched from PoM to P so they are readily available to patients for the use of acute and chronic conditions without having to go through the hassle of visiting your prescriber.
Most antibiotics fall in this category. Drugs used to treat chronic illnesses that need to be taken regularly also belong to this category.
Only a registered pharmacist is allowed to sell Pharmacist (Only) Medicines. The pharmacist will ask you series of questions. Your symptoms, your medical, family and drug histories to arrive at the appropriate medicines to give you.
The Pharmacist is at liberty to choose not to sell a Pharmacist or Prescription only medicine when you ask for it. They can suggest appropriate medicines when you tell them what ails you.
As much as it is painful or annoying, it is the right thing to do.
Are there consequences for flouting the laws? Yes. Most customers think it is no big deal to serve all the medicines on the shelves.
According to the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 857, 2013, “A person who supplies restricted medicines from a promotional or marketing office without the supervision of a registered Pharmacist commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than two hundred and fifty penalty units and not more than five thousand penalty unit or to a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years or both.”
A person, you the patient, found in possession of restricted medicines without lawful authority is liable.
The Pharmacist on shift at the time the incident happened, the Superintendent Pharmacist will also be penalized. The Pharmacy may also be at risk of closing down.
So there is a lot at stake when you ask for a prescription drug without a prescription.
Before you think about getting offended for being turned away, think again!!
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Today, I leave you with some tips on what a Pharmacist should tell you before you leave the Pharmacy:
The product you were given is.
Why you were given the product.
How often you should take it and for how long.
The side effects and drug interactions.
The medicines and foods to avoid while taking the medicine.
To visit a Pharmacy or nearest hospital when you have adverse reactions or questions.
Stay safe. Stay strong. I am, your Pharmacist
Facts provoking and straight to the point. It was refreshening to my knowledge as a Pharmacist.