Chemists and druggists to join May 10 strike

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: Chemists and Druggists in Goa will join a one-day strike called by the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), on May 10, with Chemists and Druggists Association of Goa (CDAG) set to join the strike. 

The strike call is primarily to protest the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy 2013, which the chemists say aims to reduce the margins which the chemist gets on the sale of medicines. 

While the call to take part in the strike has gone out to all members of the Association, pharmacies located within hospitals premises will continue to cater to in-patients so that they are unaffected. If 24-hour pharmacies choose to heed the bandh call their services may be affected. 

In a letter to the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, the AIOCD has demanded that they give a 10% margin to distributor and 20% to retailers. 

“It is important to bring to your notice that in previous DPCOs (Drug Price Control Orders) when mark-up to manufacturer was 100%, corresponding trade margin was 16%. Now going through draft of policy, it is evident that manufacturer’s mark-up will go about 300% & more,” the AIOCD has said in their letter. 

Speaking to Herald, Lyndon D’Silva, secretary of CDAG said that they are participating in the strike under the call given by AIOCD and were giving forewarning, so that patients do not suffer. 

“The strike is to draw the attention of the central government to these issues, at the same time, we do not want patients to be affected,” the CDAG said. 

The AIOCD is also demanding the government resolve issue of shortage of qualified pharmacists, who as per law are the only ones who can legally dispense medicines. 

They seek that the government suitably amend Rule 65(15)(c) of Drugs & Cosmetics Rules to permit-the partner/proprietor as a qualified person to dispense the medicines.  

Their other demand includes the stopping of Foreign Direct Investment in distribution and retailing of medicines as families of 25-lakh employees are dependent on this livelihood through employment in this sector.