The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Cold chain glitches put potency of drugs at peril

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Monday, Jul 28, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Cold chain glitches put potency of drugs at peril

Pharmacists don’t know the difference between ‘cold’ and ‘cool’ storage

Drug stores lack backup measures to survive frequent power cuts
During nights, the air-conditioners and refrigerators are switched off

HYDERABAD: Does the potency of biological drugs such as antibodies, life saving vaccines, enzymes and insulin, remains intact when bought across the counter?

Given the lack of awareness among druggists on cold chain management, high day-time temperatures in city and the frequent power cuts, this seems very unlikely.

Barring a few noted chain of pharmacy outlets and big drug stores, the friendly neighbourhood druggists don’t have enough infrastructure for cold chain management, which is vital to preserve the potency of life-saving drugs.

The concept and practise of maintaining temperature-controlled supply of drugs still seems to be at a nascent stage in city.

Personnel manning drug stores can’t tell the difference between ‘cold’ and ‘cool’ storage conditions of drugs. Backup measures to survive frequent power cuts are absent. During nights, the air-conditioners and refrigerators are blissfully switched-off, putting the potency of drugs at risk.

“Pharmacists are obliged to keep drugs in cold storage and retail them in a cold chain pack till it reaches the doctor, like we do. The drug stores should have an alternative source of power,” says Uday Mor of Mor Druggists and Chemists, the oldest drug store in Hyderabad.

Vaccines, enzymeNarco-test reports confirms the involvement of Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islamiy drugs have to be kept in cold storage, by maintaining round the clock temperature of two to eight degree centigrade.

Capsules, tablets and tonics have to be stored in cool temperatures of below 30 degrees.

“Selling a drug, which has lost its potency, is a violation of law under Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Not taking measures to maintain cold chain is an offence. Licenses have to be cancelled, for non-compliance of cold chain management.

This will be a deterrent for others,” says Member of Pharmacy Council of India and former Director of Drugs Control Administration M. Venkat Reddy.

Members of A.P. Chemists and Druggists Association (APCDA) point out that they have already asked their members to take cold chain measures.

“It’s not just the small and medium stores which are hit by power cuts, even the wholesale storage facilities are facing difficulties. We have asked our members to take measures to address the issue of cold chain management,” says APCDA president Ghisulal Jain.

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