Manipur chemists to close down on October 14

Chemists said they have been informing their customers in advance about the protest. While the panel has not submitted its report yet, AIOCD representatives have expressed fears that any steps towards legalising online sale of medicines would hurt retail shops and could expose people to potential harm.

The bandh is against the Union government’s policy that allowed the sale of drugs online. “We are trying to get at least one chemist’s shop to remain open in a locality”.

AIOCD member Suresh Gupta said the government should crack down on any online sale of medicines as it raises the risk of misuse of drugs.

“Prescriptions uploaded to websites online can be prone to fraud and duplication”.

An umbrella body of druggists and chemists today announced a nationwide strike on October 14 to demand action from the central government against “illegal” online sale of medicine.

“I have already instructed officials to ensure adequate medicines and a proper back-up for October 14”. A senior officials from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) told IANS: “The AIIMS pharmacy has enough stocks of medicines”.

Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS outpatients’ departments witness daily arrival of around 8,000 and 10,000 patients respectively.

The Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association (MCDA) has reported that it’s going to watch the achieve from 0600 hrs to 1800 hrs as an important aspect of a national standard beat named by All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).