What is Schedule III in the National Drug Schedules?

• A. Over-the-counter products that do not require a prescription and are available for self-retrieval.
• B. Drugs that require registration and a prescription.
• C. Drugs that require a prescription but are not available for self-retrieval.
• D. Pharmacy-only items that require pharmacist to dispense.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that National Drug Schedules tell you how restrictively a medicine is controlled and how a patient can obtain it. Schedule III refers to medicines that are non-prescription and can be bought directly by the public without a prescription, meaning they are available for self-retrieval from the shelf.

This is why the statement describing over‑the‑counter products that do not require a prescription and are available for self-retrieval matches Schedule III. The other descriptions imply more restricted access—needing a prescription, or requiring the pharmacist to dispense—which aligns with higher schedules or different categories.