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What’s Behind the Over The Counter Restrictions?
posted (October 23, 2019)
So, if you have concerns about the quality or effectiveness of a pharmaceutical product, here's the number to call: It's the Drug Inspectorate at 828-4467 or you can email them at drugalert@halth.gov.bz.

And while you may have questions about generic drugs, what about those trusted names you used to be able to buy on the drug store shelves? Those have now been moved behind the counter - and we asked Manzanero why, using the brand name of a popular drug, Pepto Bismol:

Reporter
"One of the complaints made is that over the counter stuff that does not need prescription is now behind the counter such as Pepto Bismol. However, I'm saying that we have an association with that brand for immediate relief and we want to go and just pick it up off the shelf. That has change."

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services
"The OTC list, because there was none, has not been published for the country. I think we made an initial attempt in 2017 and it wasn't related to the SI, but we wanted to ensure that whatever products were made at the Chinese supermarket were the products that were in that list."

"We are in the process of reviewing that list and expanding it a little further, because we want to make sure that we are having medications that patents can readily access without having to get a prescription. Even the brand that you have just mentioned people assume that it is for any tummy ache, but it also has it side effects, so you really can't be having products that loosely. I'll give you an example: Ibuprofen, 200mg is available at the Chinese supermarkets. That's in over the counter lists, but you can't have a 600mg in, because it starts to have implications. I know lots of people who drink that on a daily basis and then they have kidney failure and it becomes the ministry of health responsibility. So all we are trying to do is ensure that we are protecting the patient."

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