Medical representatives are going on a nationwide strike on February 3 demanding regulation of investment by multi-national companies in the pharmaceutical sector and online sale of medicines.
A.P. Medical and Sales Representatives Union State secretary Koteswara Rao, State executive member A. Venkatesh, district president B. Peddaswamy and secretary Shaik Shavali released posters on the strike here on Saturday.
Speaking to the media, they demanded control of the sale price of medicines and medical equipment based on production costs. They wanted withdrawal of excise duty, commercial tax and GST on medicines and medical equipment, which further escalated their prices.
Opposing investment by multi-national companies in pharmaceutical sector and online sale of medicines, they sought steps to safeguard the public sector pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical companies violating the statutory guidelines must be brought to book, the union leader said.
‘Excessive pricing’
Citing examples of excessive pricing, they said six tablets of an anti-biotic Amoxyclav were being sold at Rs. 144 as against the production cost of Rs. 26.60 and 15 tablets of Amlodipine 5 mg, used for controlling blood pressure, were being sold at Rs. 43.90 as against the production cost of Rs. 3.18. Excise duty was fetching higher revenue to the government and pharma companies were reaping profits at the expense of patients, they said.
Withdrawal of curbs on foreign investment in pharmaceutical sector resulted in multi-national companies flooding Indian markets with expensive patented medicines, which have to be used by patients suffering from cancer, cardiac, brain and renal disorders, the union leaders said.
Union joint secretaries Ravindra Reddy and Basavaraju and treasurers Sivaranga and Moin were also present.
