Live Life Team
Medicines can be categorised on the basis of its supply and how it can be obtained. This categorisation is important and depends on the level of supervision of medical professionals that is needed before the use of a particular medicine. Some medicines are available in the super market or over the counter at pharmacies while certain others need doctor’s prescription. The categories that the medicines can be divided into are as follows:
Prescription-only medicines (POM’s) – these are dispensed through pharmacies or dispensaries (in rural areas) only on a prescription from a doctor or a qualified healthcare professional. The patient is required to consult a doctor or health care professional before they prescribe this medication. Examples are medicines to lower high BP or asthma inhalers.
Pharmacy (P) medicines – these are medicines available over-the-counter (OTC) in pharmacies only. These do not require a prescription but need supervision of pharmacist to supply it. You cannot pick these off the shelves of the pharmacy but need to ask the pharmacist for it, who will check the suitability of medicine for you and might ask you about your health problem to ensure you get the right medication. Examples include chloramphenicol eye drops to treat an eye infection.
General sales list (GSL) medicines – these are available in pharmacies and supermarkets and do not need prescription or supervision of pharmacist. These are medications for minor and less serious conditions like common cold, stomach upsets, headaches, minor cuts, other aches and pains.
Change of status of medicines
Any new medicines tend to be added to the POM category so their use can be supervised by healthcare professionals during the early years of launch. If results are safe in higher percentage over long periods, they might be placed in the P category after consideration by the regulatory authority and a surety that there will be no danger to health if used without doctor’s supervision.
In case a medicine in P category shows absolutely no or negligible problems for a long period of time, it can be considered to be added to the GSL list and sold from retail outlets directly off the shelf.
There are a wide range of medicines which have changed their status from both POM to P and P to GSL over the last two decades. These include ibuprofen, nicotine replacement therapy, emergency hormone contraception, clotrimazole and fluconazole for vaginal thrush.
Recently, cholesterol reduction medication simvastatin to reduce risk of heart attack has also moved from POM to P list.
If a medicine switches status from POM to P or from P to GSL, the drug continues to be as effective as before and it carries the same side effects if one does not follow the instructions carefully. Its just that one needs to be watchful about its dosage and follow the instructions carefully and judiciously on the label to avoid any health risks.
