The Nizamabad District Chemists and Druggists Association has called upon chemists and druggists across the district to take part in the all-India bandh to be observed on October 14, opposing the online pharmacy business.
In a press release here on Monday, association president N. Madhusudhan and general secretary Pippiri Venkat said that the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) would oppose the Central government’s move to regularise the sale of medicines through Internet i.e., e-Pharmacy, in the larger interests of the public.
They said that about eight lakh chemists all over the country would observe the bandh to draw the attention of the government towards the ill-effects of e-Pharmacy. It will increase the risk of adverse drug reaction, access to low quality, misbranded and spurious medicines, threat of irrational use of medicines, menace of drug addiction in youth due to easy availability through Internet, economical setback to chemists and 80 lakh workers and their families and impact the availability of medicines in rural India.
AIOCD president J.S. Shinde said that India was a country with a population of 125 crore, which was already facing problems like shortage of doctors practicing with modern medical facilities and medicines. Doctors, who were practicing alternative medicines, were also prescribing allopathic medicines. There were challenges such as shortage of manpower throughout the country to maintain medical shops and supply chain.
In advanced countries, e-Pharmacy might be a success but given the conditions in the country, it may not be useful for people. The government should not take a decision for the benefit of only a handful of players, he said.
Nizamabad District Chemists and Druggists Association has called upon chemists and druggists to take part in the bandh to be observed tomorrow
