Mangaluru: Druggists to strike Oct 14, e-pharmacy issue.

Mangaluru: Druggists to strike Oct 14, e-pharmacy issue.

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru :  South Kanara District Chemists and Druggists Association in response to a call from All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists is taking part in a nationwide bandh of chemists and druggists on October 14.

The bandh is against a reported move on part of the Union government to permit sale of drugs through online pharmacies, which chemists and druggists fear will not only hit their livelihood but violate the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Ganesh Kamath, general secretary of the association, says that the move will hit retail chemists and druggists numbering around 10 lakh across India. "Nearly 40 lakh people are dependent on this trade - directly or otherwise and their livelihoods are in danger," he said, adding the Act very prescribes drugs have to be dispensed on prescriptions given by a qualified registered medical practitioner, which may not happen with online pharmacies.

There is also the danger of online pharmacies selling habit forming drugs to youths based on forged prescriptions, he said adding the quality of drugs sold in such a manner is also questionable. "On the other hand, officials of drugs control department frequently visit pharmacies, collect samples for testing and this keeps tabs on quality of drugs sold," he said, adding this accountability will not be there in case of online pharmacies. This could set a dangerous trend, he opined.

Expressing regret for the inconvenience that the bandh will cause, Ganesh said people in need of medicines may approach pharmacies attached to nursing homes and hospitals on that day.These pharmacies have been kept outside the purview of the bandh, he said, adding the main aim of the bandh is to draw attention of the government to the flipside of its shortsighted decision to allow online pharmacies to function without checks.