NEW DELHI, Oct 14:
Reaching out to chemists ahead of their nationwide strike today, Health Minister J P Nadda spoke to the President of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists, regarding their apprehensions prompting the call for a shutdown in protest against the reported move by the Centre to allow sale of medicines through Internet. Mr Nadda, who spoke to the president yesterday, clarified that no such decision had been taken by the government as was being claimed. He assured that views of all stakeholders will be taken into account as and when the matter was taken up for consideration by the Government.
Today’s bandh is against a reported move by the Centre allowing for sale of drugs through online pharmacies, which chemists and druggists fear will affect their livelihood as also violate the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
To clarify the matter, a meeting was held between senior ministry officials and the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists on Monday, wherein the organisation’s office bearers were informed that a number of representations have been received both for and against the proposal and the matter had earlier been discussed in the meeting of the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC) held on July 24 comprising the Drug Controller General of India and all State Drug Regulators.
A sub-committee has been constituted by the DCC to look into the matter which has so far undertaken only preliminary discussions with the stakeholders to ascertain their views.
It was also clarified during the meeting that examination of representations in the matter should not be misconstrued as the intention of the Government to permit any such sale. (UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel