Repeating old prescription - Self-Medication
Apart from technical issues there are social and economic issues involved that drives the patient to buy repeat dose directly.
The issue is grave in chronic patients like Diabetes, cardiovascular problems, Psychiatric problems, Neurological problems etc..
A vist to a Doctor costs ₹500 to ₹1000/- excluding medicine. Unaffordable to middle class patient.
However, this doesnt justify self medication even if it is a repeat on old prescription..
But, the challenge remains.....
Can the Challenge be left unaddressed and ignored as is being done now?
Few suggestions:
1. Categorise such drugs into further subgroups:
a. Those that should be dispensed only on New Prescription.
b. Those that can be dispensed for some fixed No of times or in not more than some fixed quantity.
c. Those that should be dispensed only by the Regd Pharmacist.
And also mandate certain guidelines in the prescription for repeat purchase like:
a. Not to be repeated.
b. Repeat for _3_ times only
c Repeat only for --weeks requirement.
Alternate suggestion requested
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