Says online pharmacy is against law
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 24
All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has opposed the central government’s ‘sudden’ notification banning around 346 Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs with effect from March 10, 2016.
According to AIOCD General Secretary, Suresh Gupta, who spoke as guest of honour at the 2nd AIOCD NE Zone Conference at Hotel Saramati, Dimapur on Sunday, there were no reports of the banned drugs having adverse effect on human body. “The government does not have any proof about the adverse effects of the banned drugs,” Gupta said.
He said the government’s decision to ban the drugs was based on the recommendations of an “expert committee.” He said if the government was to make any such move, then the matter has to be referred first to Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC) and Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) for approval. “But the system was not followed,” Gupta asserted.
The AIOCD General Secretary revealed that there were more than Rs. 18,000 crore worth already-manufactured ‘banned’ drugs in the country and if all such drugs were to be destroyed/removed, it would be a national loss.
Further, Gupta said that doctors are still prescribing the ‘banned’ drugs and queried, from where the patients would acquire the drugs that have already been taken off shelves.
He maintained that if the drugs were to be banned then the government has to first stop manufacture and give 3-6 months time for the pharmaceutical traders to comply.
Gupta also objected the move of the government to regularize online sale of medicines saying that it was “totally against the law.” “If any government frames laws against pharmaceutical trade then more than 18 lakh chemist fraternity in the country will not tolerate,” Gupta asserted.
It may be recalled that the Nagaland Medicine Dealers’ Association (NMDA) had called for a strike on October 14, 2015 when medicine shops across Nagaland were shut complying with the decision of AIOCD.
It is illegal to sell medicines on the internet under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940.
The AIOCD Secretary was also critical of the erstwhile central government’s amendment to make a pharmaceutical trader as the first accused if s/he was found possessing spurious drugs even after producing proper purchase bills from the manufacturer. “It (such law) is not good,” Gupta said, indicating that the first accused should be the drug manufacturer and the trader, second accused.
Stating that the pharmaceutical trade has over Rs 90,000 crore domestic market, he informed that India was also exporting drugs to more than 206 countries at the cheapest rates with high quality.
Editor, Nagaland Post, Geoffrey Yaden who was the chief guest lauded the activities of NMDA which he described as an Association that “gives back to the society.”
Reflecting on the issues raised by Suresh Gupta, Yaden said that the central government’s decision to ban hundreds of FDCs were “definitely questionable.” “How can a popularly elected government act in such an arbitrary manner?” Yaden wondered. He said that the responsibility of the government was also to ensure that those who were doing business legally are not put into trouble.
He called for people’s support to the AIOCD stand, adding, “If government does not revoke the ban then lots of patients will face problems.”
AIOCD NE Zone Vice President, Ashok Kr. Singhal said 90% of medicines in Nagaland were supplied by NMDA and appealed the state government to extend “full support” towards the chemists.
Chaired by NMDA Honorary General Secretary, Basu Damani, the conference was attended by delegates from Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh besides Nagaland delegates.
