Antibiotics to be sold in blue cover from now on

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As part of controlling the use of antibiotics, medical stores and hospital pharmacies will provide antibiotics in blue cover. All medical stores will display a poster stating that antibiotics are not given without a doctor's prescription. Antibiotic smart hospitals will be given a special emblem and certificate.

This was decided by the AMR high level meeting chaired by Minister Veena George.

This is part of the system implemented in Ernakulam as part of the release of district-level antibiogram.

The health department had directed to cancel the licenses of pharmacies and medical stores selling antibiotics without prescription. Members of the public who notice antibiotics being sold without a prescription should call the toll-free number 1800 4253182.