"In India, many people believe that pharmacists were generating MDR-TB by dispensing TB medications without prescriptions," said Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada Research Chair in Epidemiology & Global Health at McGill University and the paper's joint senior author while speaking with CNS (Citizen News Service). "Our study clearly shows that not a single pharmacy gave away first line anti-TB drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide and streptomycin) without prescriptions. However, pharmacists gave away other antibiotics and rarely referred patients with typical TB symptoms, and that means they are contributing to delays in TB diagnosis. This can increase transmission of the infection in the community. So, there is great potential to harness pharmacists to identify those who need TB testing in India," he said.
Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
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