In many rural and semi-urban areas, pharmacies often serve as the first point of healthcare. Requiring prescriptions may increase patient visits to clinics and place additional pressure on healthcare facilities. Other challenges include limited access to doctors in remote areas, public awareness about the new rule, training pharmacists on compliance, and strong regulatory enforcement. Experts say the success of the policy will depend on improving healthcare accessibility alongside public education. “To make sure the policy actually works, regulatory action can’t just sit by itself. It has to be paired with public education, better healthcare accessibility, pharmacist training, and solid monitoring systems. In the end, the aim should not only be about restricting access, but about making sure medicines are used safely, in the right way and for the best interest of public health, not something else,” said Dr. Srivastava.
