IMPHAL, May 10: As in other parts of the country, pharmacies in the state also remained closed for today. The All India Organisation of Chemist & Druggists had called a nation-wide strike today for their demands. AIOCAD
The demands said “Considering the rising operational costs, we demand to maintain the trade margins of medicines and not to reduce it in the forthcoming drugs (price control) order 2013; to resolve the long pending issue of shortage of pharmachists and suitably amend rule 65(15) (c) of drug and cosmetic rules to permit the partner or proprieter as a qualified person to dispense the medicine; to give relief under section 19 of the drugs and cosmetics act 1940 to the innocent dealers who may have acted with bonafide intentions, if he submits valid documents of transactions, administration should not prosecute him till his quilt can be proved and FDI should not be permitted in distribution and retailing of medicines and there are families of 25 lakhs employees are subsisting on the livelihood through employment in this sector”.