Punjab Chemist Association opposes online medicine sales
AIOCD plans nationwide days’ strike on October 14
Punjab Chemist Association opposes online medicine sales
Ferozepur, October 1, 2015: All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) plans a nationwide days’ strike on October 14 to protest against online sale of drugs.
On a call from All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), Punjab Chemist Association has decided to proceed on strike, on October 14, in protest against online sale of scheduled drugs.
Today, the Chemist Association submitted advance intimation to this effect to Ravinder Singh Deputy Commissioner and Dr.Jagpal Singh Bassi, Civil Surgeon.
On this occasion, Dr.Kewal Krishan, Chairman Chemist Association, Sandeep Bhusri, President, Bal Krishan Kataria, Secretary, Tilak Gagneja, Treasurer, Subhash Sethi and Prafull Chander Nagpal were also present.
Under this decision, all the wholesale and retail chemists in the city and villages of Fazilka would register their protest to oppose the sale of online drugs, by shutting down their work.
Bhusri, District Secretary of the Association and President of Fazilka Unit said, with the introduction of online sale of drugs in the country, the business of about 8 lac chemists would be badly affected and Drug and Cosmetic Act would also become meaningless. Besides the condition of giving license for sale of medicines to the qualified person under whose supervision the medicines are sold, would also not be applicable on online sales. Besides, the storage of medicines will not be as per the instructions.
There is no guarantee that drugs are stored in appropriate condition during transit through courier or other means of transport. Thus, it can lead to loss of potency of the drugs, he added.
Because of the state reasons, the drugs being sold online will not be free from any dangers of this unregulated practice.
Keeping in view the interests of chemists and patients of online policy of sale of medicines, the Association demanded from the government, not to give permission for online sale of medicines failing the Association will lodge its protest on all fronts.
