New Delhi, May 5 -- Cough lozenges, pain relievers and anti-fungal creams may soon be available at a neighbourhood grocery store near you, in a move that promises easy access to common medicines but raises concerns of potential misuse.

The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) decided last month that several medicines that do not need a prescription may be sold at retail outlets, three people aware of the matter said. These include analgesics, anti-allergics, antihistamines, cough syrups, laxatives, antifungal products, and certain asthma drugs. Though retail stores won't need a pharmacist like regular chemists, they will need to secure a licence for selling these medicines, also called over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

"The government is f...