**Policy Summary: Separate Shelf Rack for Generic Medicines in Retail Shops**
**Objective:** To promote the availability of generic medicines to consumers throughout the country.
**Directive:** All State/Union Territory Drug Controllers are directed to ensure that every retail outlet licensed to sell drugs provides a separate shelf rack exclusively for stocking generic medicines. This shelf rack must be distinct from other medicines and clearly visible to consumers within the licensed premises.
**Background:** The Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) and Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) have deliberated the matter of generic medicine availability and determined that separate shelving is necessary.
**Action Required:** State/UT Drug Controllers are requested to direct all retail drug outlets under their jurisdiction to comply with this directive.
**Reporting:** Action taken in this matter should be forwarded to the office of the Drugs Controller General of India at the earliest.
**Authority:** Dr. S. Eswara Reddy, Drugs Controller General India, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
**Contact Information:** F.D.G.A.O., VBEHRANWAMNE,N TK OOTFL AI NRDOIAAD, NEWDELHI-110002, F. No. 18172018DC, Dated 12 JUN 2018, Tel.: 911123236965, Fax: 911123236973, Email: dci@nic.in, Website: www.cdsco.nic.in
**Distribution:** This directive has been copied to the PPS to JSR, PPS to AS DG CGHS, and the President of AIOCD (with a request to inform all retailers).
Key Entities Referenced
Dr. S. Eswara Reddy: Drugs Controller General of India
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation: A directorate under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is the national regulatory authority for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Ministry of Health Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
State/UT Drug Controllers: Drug regulatory authorities in various states and union territories of India.
Drugs Consultative Committee: A committee involved in the regulation of drugs in India.
Drugs Technical Advisory Board: A statutory body that advises the Central Government and State Governments on technical matters arising out of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists: An organization representing drug retailers in India.
Generic Medicines: Medications sold under their chemical name rather than a brand name.
ST. G. SIRI NSS wa ori ive. Dr. S. Eswara Reddy mPharm, Ph.D.
Drugs Controller General (India)
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF HEALTH SERVICES
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F. No. 18-17/2018-DC Dated I 2 JUN| ZmU eie
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To
All State/UT Drug Controllers
Subject: Providing a separate shelf / rack for generic medicines in retail shops
visible to the consumers - Regarding.
Sir,
Issue of having a separate shelf / rack of generic medicines in every retail
outlet in the country so as to promote the availability of generic medicines has
been under consideration for quite sometimes now.
The matter has also been deliberated in the meetings of Drugs Consultative
Committee (DCC) and Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and it has been
decided that every retail outlet should provide a separate shelf / rack reserved
exclusively for stocking generic medicines in the licensed premises separated from
other medicines, which shall be visible to the consumers.
In view of the above, you are requested to direct all the outlets licensed to
sell drugs by retail under your jurisdiction to provide a separate shelf / rack
reserved exclusively for stocking of generic medicines in the licensed premises
separated from other medicines, which shall be visible to the consumers.
Action taken in the matter may please be forwarded to this office at the
earliest.
Yours Sincerely,
63h,
(Dr. S. Eswara Reddy)
Drugs Controller General (India)
Copy to:
1. PPS to JS(R)
2. PPS to AS & DG (CGHS)
3. President, AIOCD with request to inform all retailers.
Tel.:+91-11-23236965 Fax : +91-11-23236973 E-mail : dci@nic.in Website : www.cdsco.nic.in