Chemists oppose hike in licence fee

Amritsar, January 13

The Punjab Chemists Association has condemned the central government’s move to increase the licence fee by five times, the notification for which was issued in a recent draft seeking objections from people and the chemist associations.

Surinder Duggal, general secretary of the association, said the Department of Health and Family Welfare in the recent notification has sought a number of amendments which would further burden the chemists and druggists all over the country. Among these amendments are increasing the drug licence fee from Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000. He claimed that in the draft, the government has proposed to enhance every type of licence fee by five to 10 times, including that of change of premises and renewal of licence which is unacceptable. He pointed out that this would hit the small and marginal chemists the hardest.

Duggal said the association opposed the move and urged the Under Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to call a meeting of representatives of all associations, including the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists. — TNS