W.H.O. Definition of Drug
“Any substance or product that is used or intended to be used to modify or explore physiological systems or pathological states for the benefit of the recipient.”
Conventional definition of Drug
Drug is a substance used for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of a disease in human beings or animals.
But, this definition ignores many situations such as:
- The use of ‘contraceptives’ to avoid undesirable pregnancy, which is not a disease.
- General Anesthetics, which is not used for any treatment, diagnosis or prevention of a disease.
- Vaccines or Antisera, which alter the pathological state by producing antibodies in the body.
So, The W.H.O. Scientific group had redefined the drug in 1966 as above.