India’s pharmaceutical industry has seen exponential growth in recent years, contributing significantly to global healthcare by supplying drugs to over 200 countries.
Indian-made medications are often pivotal in treating various health conditions worldwide, from life-saving antibiotics to daily pain relievers.
However, amidst this growth, concerns surrounding drug safety and regulation are increasingly being raised, particularly regarding the risk of Look-Alike, Sound-Alike (LASA) medications and poor prescription practices.
While incidents involving contaminated medicines, like cough syrups linked to deaths in Gambia, Cameroon, and Uzbekistan, have made headlines, there’s a critical but lesser-known issue within India’s own healthcare system: LASA medications.
This hidden danger increases the risk of medication errors, putting patients’ health at serious risk. This article delves into the problem of LASA drugs, particularly in India, and proposes strategies for stakeholders to mitigate the issue at various levels.
What are LASA Medications?
LASA drugs are medications that sound similar or look alike, which increases the chance of mix-ups by pharmacists, doctors, and patients.
In India, the wide proliferation of pharmaceutical brands has led to a complex web of confusion.
Many of these drug names sound phonetically identical or are visually indistinguishable from one another, leading to significant public health risks.
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