The terms ‘drug’ and ‘medication’ have two different connotations. Any substance that has medicinal or performance-enhancing effects when taken in or put inside the human body is known as a drug. It is important to note that a drug is not to be considered as a food item. Drugs are chemical substances and are used in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases occurring within the human body. Drugs are prescribed either for a limited period of time or over far longer durations. Some other drugs are recreational drugs that tend to have an effect on the central nervous system. These drugs may create addiction in human beings in some cases. On the other hand, a medicine refers to a drug that is taken to cure the symptoms of a prevalent disease. Medicines may be broadly categorised as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, behind-the-counter (BTC) medicines and prescription-only (POM) medicines. In India, there are a number of discrepancies in the drug and medication scenario. At times, doctors randomly prescribe drugs, especially in the private sector. Drugs which are considered to be potentially dangerous are freely sold over the counter in some cases. Moreover, some popular drugs being currently prescribed in India have already been banned in Western countries. The need of the hour is to reduce commercial pressure on Indian doctors to prescribe drugs which may at times be unnecessary. Hide this