In the wake of rising COVID-19 cases, advisories have been issued to medicine shops and pharmacists in the State to keep a record of phone number and address of customers, who buy medicines for fever, cough and cold, symptoms akin to coronavirus.
The authorities suspect that these people might be trying to suppress the symptoms to skip the tests for the virus.
The State Drugs Controller has asked pharmacists to note the address or at least telephone number of the persons buying medicines for flu like symptoms.
“We have been collecting data in order to ascertain the ratio of population vulnerable to cold and fever. There is no reason to be worried about. The data may be used in extreme case in future,” said an official.
The official said chemist shops are sending the required data to the Drug Inspectors of their areas.
“We know fever, cold and cough are seasonal disease. The people should cooperate and open up,” she said adding urban local bodies help is also being taken to make medicine shops aware about coronavirus.
Besides, the Drug Controller administration has already restricted sale of medicines like Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin. The chemist outlets are directed not to sell such medicines without doctor’s prescription.
The Government has already stopped supply of such medicines to outlets.
This is done to discourage people from using such medicines as they have side effects and therefore should be consumed only on prescription of doctors.
The anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine is in much demand for management of COVID-19 cases.