Consumer Awareness, Rights and Protection Regarding Pharmaceutical Products: A Study in Cuddalore City

Abstract

There is a need for consumer awareness and protection within the pharmaceutical industry because of an increased number of cases of unethical business activities and a lack of awareness on the part of consumers. In this context, the present study assesses the extent of consumer awareness, rights, and protection of pharmaceutical products in Cuddalore. This study follows an empirical approach by collecting both primary and secondary information for analysis. Primary information was collected from 120 respondents using structured questionnaires and convenience sampling. The analysis involved percentage calculations and chi-square tests using the SPSS software. The results indicate that there is poor awareness of important issues such as expiry date, manufacturing details, and methods for verifying the product, and those consumers have poor awareness of their legal rights in the matter of protection laws. The study also shows a relationship between educational qualifications and levels of awareness, as well as gender differences in awareness. The conclusion indicates the inadequacy of awareness despite the presence of effective legal measures, which means that consumer awareness must be improved.