Kohima, November 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has questioned the State government, particularly the authority concerned, as to why the existing posts of 490 pharmacists had to be slashed down to 309 posts when there is still shortage of pharmacists even in government health centres. “Without pharmacists where is the security of health care when the legal person who is solely handling medicine is not placed at the health care centres and this is also in contrary to National Health Policy 2015,” NVCO stated in a press release issued by its Press & Media Cell.
NVCO president, Kezhokhoto Savi also lamented that much of the food items the consumers are buying daily are not very safe, including medicine. He cited two incidents which happened in Kohima recently: one was of a pharmacy salesperson selling expired medicine to a patient and the other of a pharmacy owner being arrested for running his business without having any knowledge of medicine.
In this regard, NVCO once again appealed to the district administration and concerned authority to take immediate measures “so as to control and do away with the shortcomings of proper practices such as selling expired medicine, sub-standard, running the business without license and also without registered concerned, recruiting salesman, etc.”
Meanwhile, the release informed that two days training on ‘Consumer Rights’ organized by Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Kohima specifically for Kohima municipal wards ended on November 25. Certificates were given to all the participants by the president of NVCO and recipient of National Youth Award on Consumer Protection, who was also one of the resource persons.
Savi thanked ATI for conducting the intensive training, which he said is very important to create awareness amongst the citizens of the state capital. The topic, he said, was chosen at the right time as Hornbill Festival and Christmas are approaching, where prices tend to shoot up “which is amounting to consumers’ rights exploitation as per the Consumer Protection Act 1986.”
He asserted that it is crucial for every citizen as a consumer to know their rights and duties so as to protect themselves from all the “unscrupulous” traders. Savi also highlighted several topics concerning the rights of the consumers such as the National Food Security Act 2013, Nagaland State Consumer Helpline Toll Free No. 1800 – 345 – 3701, Public Services Delivery which was launched by the NVCO during the 2016 Vigilance Awareness Week, Food Safety & Standard Act 2006, Lokayukta, Food Adulteration & others, RTI, etc in the course of the two-day training.
