With the collective strength of around 35,000 retailers, Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association (MSCDA), comes as the fourth largest pharmacists' trade body in India. The state of Uttar Pradesh tops in this list with approximately 65,000 retailers followed by West Bengal (55,000) and Bihar (45,000).

Currently contributing roughly to 20% of the country's retail pharmacy business to the tune of Rs 400 crore, MSCDA an affiliate to All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD)-the umbrella organisation that represents nearly 5.5 lakh chemists all over the country including the Union Territories.

MSCDA, which came into existence in the year of 1975 is the result of sustained efforts by Vinubhai U Shah of Maharashtra, Atul Datta of West Bengal and Anubhai Patel of Gujarat, the trio which the organisation considers as its founders.

Today, MSCDA has penetrated far and wide into the heart land of Maharastra. It is spread across all the 36 districts working through a three-tier principle. The micro villages are administered by the Tehsils and these Tehsils are connected to districts level bodies. And MSCDA governs the district functionaries.

As the state trade estimated to grow at the rate of approximate 10 per cent per year, MSCDA initiated the process of corporatising the outfit in an effort to make it more resilient and compatible to the changing needs of the day. The trade is currently faced with competitions from organized retail chains like Medicine Shoppe, Health & Glow, Life Springs and Subiksha.

Named Green Cross Healthcare Pvt Ltd, this corporatisation bid is seen an effort to equip the domestic retail trade to face the challenges of the post-GATT era which is marked with the competition, claims J S Shinde, President MSCDA and Hon. General Secretary AIOCD.

As per the plan, 100-300 member shops of the association in a town or a city in the state will be encouraged to merge together to form a single whole company and these shops will act as chain stores run by the jointly formed company. MSCDA would encourage such organised retailing in the state. MSCDA members would float regional societies or companies, which will manage the running of all retails shops in that region in an organized manner. Every member will be a share holder in the company, said Shinde.