The child casualties caused by Dok-1 MAX consumption have revealed issues in the spheres of health and pharmaceuticals in Uzbekistan, the national movement ‘Yuksalish’ said. Only a comprehensive approach and the involvement of all stakeholders will prevent such situations in the future, the statement issued on Sunday said.
First of all, it is necessary to reconsider the situation with the uncontrolled consumption of drugs, the movement believes.
Today, citizens are more likely to consult a pharmacist about what medication to take in a given situation than with a doctor. Easy availability of a large range of drugs without a doctor’s prescription creates a risk of improper use of medicines, the statement says.
Global experience shows that on average 10% of hospitalized patients experience side effects from the drugs they take, and in developing countries, this rate is twice as high. In 2008, Uzbekistan registered 2,300 self-medication cases.
Direct advertising of medicines in the media should be prohibited, Yuksalish says. It should be carried out only with the approval of the Committee for Promotion of Competition and Consumer Protection.
According to the World Health Organization, the advertising of medicines contributes to an increase in the level of uncontrolled use of medicines and self-treatment. Self-treatment takes the fifth place in mortality, behind injuries, diseases of the circulatory system, and oncological and pulmonological diseases, the message reads.
Consumers underestimate the risks of side effects from the use of medicines, their compatibility, and the individual response of the body. The situation is aggravated by the attitude of buyers to medicines as ordinary consumer goods. This issue is particularly relevant in Uzbekistan, where there are an average of 2, 527 pharmacies per 100,000 population.
Secondly, it is necessary to strengthen the responsibility for violation of the legislation on the advertising of medicines.
Last year the law 'On advertising' was adopted in the new edition. Although it defines clear procedures for drug advertising, there are daily violations of the law on television, radio, and other advertising. Pharmaceutical companies also look past the law requirements.
We believe that it is necessary to establish administrative liability for violation of the procedure and legislation related to the advertising of medicines, and for cases of violation of the law that have led to serious consequences - criminal liability»- noted in the statement.
Third, it is necessary to strengthen the responsibility of manufacturers and importers of medicines, as well as certification authorities, the message reads.
Earlier it was reported that the preliminary investigation established a gross violation of the requirements of the legal and regulatory documentation when conducting laboratory tests of 'Dok-1 MAX' and 'Ambronol' by the Scientific Center for the Standardization of Medicines. As a result, poor-quality drugs were allowed to be sold.
The fraction considers it necessary to include among the subjects of Article 186 3 of the Criminal Code persons who allowed the distribution of substandard, counterfeit, and unsafe drugs.
Fourth, it is necessary to provide citizens access to modern diagnostics in step-by-step availability, as well as the transition to insurance medicine, which is based on uniform standards of treatment.
People often engage in self-treatment, taking different drugs, not knowing the exact diagnosis, and focusing on advertising. Errors also occur at the stage of the prescription of medicines by doctors, some of whom, unfortunately, are financially interested in the promotion of certain drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to move as quickly as possible to the insurance system of medicine.
Fifth, it is necessary to provide openness and transparency in pharmaceuticals.
The public has the right to know what drugs are imported, who are manufacturers, their reputation abroad, and how the certification process is carried out. There is a need to establish an open database with access to information on pharmaceuticals that affects the general public. It is important to speed up the process of mandatory digital labeling on all types of medicines traded. The buyer can verify the authenticity of the drug with the help of labeling, the statement reads.
The fraction called on parliamentarians, authorized ministries and departments to take immediate measures, and medical institutions and entities of the pharmaceutical industry to 'give priority not to commercial but to public interests'.
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