The Ministry of Health of Belarus is strengthening control over the sale of over-the-counter drugs in pharmacies from July 1

June 29, Minsk / Svetlana Savko - BELTA /. The Ministry of Health of Belarus is strengthening control over the sale of over-the-counter drugs in pharmacies from July 1, reports BELTA correspondent. The strengthening of control over the dispensing of medicines in pharmacies is aimed at preventing uncontrolled self-medication, which poses a serious threat to the life and health of patients. The list of over-the-counter drugs, approved by the Ministry of Health Resolution No. 55 of June 5, 2012, includes 3,279 drug names, or 61.6% of all registered drugs in Belarus. Drugs used to treat the most common diseases of the digestive tract and liver (Almagel, Gastal, Mezim, Pancreatin, Festal, essential drugs, etc.), cardiovascular diseases (Atenolol, Validol, Enalapril, etc.) will be dispensed without a prescription. The over-the-counter list also includes painkillers, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic drugs, drugs used for diseases of the musculoskeletal system (Aspirin, Diclofenac, Nimesulide, Paracetamol, Teraflex, etc.), as well as certain antibiotics, antiviral, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and other drugs (Ampicillin, Arpeflu, Aciclovir, Groprinosin, Doxycycline, Oseltamivir, Erythromycin, etc.). Only 1985 drugs, or 38.4% of all registered in the country, will be dispensed by pharmacies by prescription. These include psychotropic substances, drugs used to treat epilepsy, psychological or physical dependence on various substances, 3rd and 4th generation antibiotics, insulins, hormones, anabolics, antiarrhythmic drugs, and drugs for the treatment of oncological diseases. At the same time, the Ministry of Health will gradually tighten measures against pharmacies that violate the prescription dispensing order. Licenses will be revoked only for gross violations, such as the sale of narcotic, psychotropic, and potent drugs without a prescription, as well as the dispensing of expired drugs. The Ministry of Health has also taken a number of measures to ensure that the strengthening of control over the dispensing of drugs in pharmacies does not lead to an increase in queues at polyclinics. Lyudmila Zhilevich, Deputy Head of the Main Department for the Organization of Medical Care of the Ministry of Health, said that all healthcare organizations, including specialized scientific and practical medical centers, as well as departments of medical universities and the Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, are fully equipped with prescription forms. In addition, by this time, all chronically ill patients who have been taking the same medications for a long time have been summoned to polyclinics to renew their prescriptions, the deputy head of the ministry reported. "About 40% of patients on dispensary records have received extended prescriptions. It is this category of patients who visit the polyclinic most often. Thus, the workload on doctors in the initial period after strengthening control over the dispensing of drugs will be significantly reduced," she noted. Lyudmila Zhilevich pointed out that anyone can familiarize themselves with the list of over-the-counter drugs. The list is available for public access in all healthcare organizations and the pharmacy network.-0-