Shelf Life of Medicines
Do you mean to say that expiry of medicines dates that are printed on the strip, cover, packages etc.
Normally medicines are controlled by the following authorities and we should take up the point with them.
CENTRAL DRUGS STANDARD CONTROL ORGANIZATION
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HEALTH SERVICES,
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE,
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
Once the date is expired the whole quantity will be replaced by the distributor / stockist. A shopkeeper / dealer / pharmacist does not loose single penny if the expiry date of the medicine is over. Normally they get minimum 15 to 25% margin on medicines depending on the product / manufacturer etc. At certain shops they charge tax in addition to the max retail price printed on it. Unless we have standardised procedures for any products, the customers will be looted and we will be cheated by the shopkeepers. Therefore, there should be a standardised payment system for all the products whose MRP price is printed on the cover / leaflet/ tag etc.
Actually 3 months before expiry date the selling of medicine should be stopped. Because the items like creams used for skin allergy, rashes etc. (eg)Tenovate (Clobetasol Cream IP) cannot be used for within short period and the remaining can't be used if the date expires. The shopkeeper try to push the product to clear his inventory and where as the person buying the product can't be used after expiry date due to fear and other reasons. Therefore such products are NOT to be sold before expiry of 3 months.
First of all we should look in to the possibilities whether those medicines are taken back and packed in a new cover ! These menancy to be stopped forthwith. I had seen personally the sales staff are removing the dates and stamping new dates on various products that are used externally such as creams, lotions etc.etc. Even before introducing GST rules the shopkeepers were busy in changing the tags, price list and details on various products. How this is done is yet to understood. So I think the expiry date of medicine also can be changed by the company to sell their old products and to make huge profits. So if someone is noticed such practices, then it should be brought to the knowledge of authorities. more