The Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association has planned to call for a State-wide shutdown of pharmacies on May 30 to highlight a number of issues. K.K. Selvan, general secretary of the association, said the Central government was planning to put in place a system under which all retailers and dealers would have to upload purchase and sale details on to an e-portal.
“Of the 33,000 pharmacies in Tamil Nadu, only around 17,000 have computers and only around 10,000 have internet connections. They will face great difficulties if this is put in place,” he said.
This apart, the cost of obtaining a drug license has gone up from ₹3,000 to ₹30,000, affecting the financial position of many pharmacists.
Also, manufacturers have not been providing profit margins to wholesalers and retailers, he said. Online sale of drugs is another issue the association is opposed to, and has objected for several months.
The risk of fake medicines being sold online, drug control authorities not being able to test for quality and irrational drug usage were some of the issues highlighted.
Chennai district president W.S. Mohan Kumar, however, said a decision on the shutdown in Chennai would only be taken on May 28 after an annual general body meeting.
No shortage
For the past few weeks, there has been a message doing the rounds on WhatsApp, warning residents to expect a shortage of medicines owing to the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.
Pharmacists, however, say there is no such shortage.
“All stocks of drugs are freely available,” said a pharmacist in the city.
