Drug firms showing lukewarm response over restriction-free OTC products

Despite the health ministry’s pledge to allow 44 over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, including the popular tonic Bacchus-D, to be sold at supermarkets and convenience stores as early as August, pharmaceutical companies are still unwilling to do so in fear of upsetting the powerful pharmacy owners.

An official at a major pharmaceutical company said most of the 44 liberalized medicines aren’t th...