Chemists closed on May 30

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Chandigarh, May 26

All 600 medical stores in the city, excluding those in hospitals, will remain closed on May 30 on account of the nationwide strike of the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists.

The Chandigarh Chemists’ Association has assured support to the strike. Chemists will assemble at the Sector 15 market parking on May 30 to hold a protest. Among their major issues are the online sale of medicines, e-portal, the condition of DPharma for becoming a wholesale chemist and renewal of licence.

The chemists say if the online sale system is implemented, it will affect 8 lakh chemists, besides 40 lakh dependants.

Addressing a press conference, president of the association Vijay Anand said, “We are against the online sale of medicines, which may prove detrimental to the health of patients. The online service, which the government wishes to provide to patients, will not only result in storage problems, but may also affect the quality of drugs being supplied. It will be difficult to ascertain the ‘credibility’ of the drugs supplied and the time involved in the supply, especially in case of life-threatening emergencies.”

Vinay Jain, general secretary of the association, said, “The Drug and Cosmetics Act will receive a severe blow as drugs will become everyone’s property without any check on their authenticity and usability. The easy availability of each and every drug, including habit-forming drugs, may tell upon the patients’ health and lead to a drug menace.”

Association members sent a tweet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister JP Nadda regarding the issue.