It might not be necessary to travel to a pharmacy to buy over-the-counter (OTC) medications anymore, as these will probably be available at neighborhood grocery stores in the upcoming months, too, without any prescription.

The Health Ministry's move is aimed at ensuring that medications are affordable and easily accessible for underprivileged people who might otherwise be able to obtain them without having to contact a doctor and pay a consultation fee.

The committee is developing a list of medications that fall under the OTC drug category so that regular Kirana stores can carry them.

Nonetheless, groups that advocate for chemists, druggists, and chemists are against the change as this step can lead to incorrect diagnosis or incorrect dosage.