With significant growth in the number of retail chain pharmacy operators and grocery stores selling medicines in the state in last couple of years, the Andhra Pradesh Chemists and Druggists Association (APCDA) is concerned about the effect of these on individual retailers.

Talking about the sales of medicines by chain operators, Dr Ghisulal Jain president of the APCDA, said that this trend might affect the sales of the traditional retail chemists. In the absence of stringent norms for retail pharmacy chain operators, these stores would lure customers by offering medicines at discounted prices. Unlike these stores, the individual medical shops cannot offer medicines at discounted rates.

According to Jain, it might also be possible that retail chain operators may not have all the medicines that are prescribed and they instead stock only those brands that are manufactured by companies with whom they have a tie-up. There might be absence of qualified pharmacists at these outlets. There should not be any unethical use of the term 'affordable medicine' which is completely different from discounts and other offers on drugs. It is still unclear as to how can these stores are allowed to sell medicines at discount prices, he added.

Jain said the sale of drugs at discount prices is against norms as well as pubic good. There should be some initiation from regulatory bodies in this direction for the sake of public health. Doctors should also prescribe the generic name of the drug instead of brand name. If this is done then individual vendor can provide drug based on its generic name irrespective of the company that manufactures it.

Another grey area is the lack of awareness among the public. Most of the consumers do not know the price and regulations relating to drugs and cosmetics. Though majority of the medical vendors can provide a bill, it is often noticed that the consumer fails to demand the bill for his purchase, he said. On its part APDCA conducts awareness camps for its members as well as consumers.

When asked about the condition of individual medical outlets in the state, Jain said around 30,000 chemists are operating in Andhra Pradesh. Out of these nearly 2000 are wholesalers and 800 are C&F agents. The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad have more than 3,000 chemists. Currently, more than 70 per cent retailers have upgraded their shops to ensure proper storage of drugs. Some members, however, require financial assistance to maintain air-conditions, refrigerators, and other equipments.

According to Jain, APCDA is in talks with government to provide subsidies to chemists and druggists to upgrade the infrastructure. On an average each chemist requires an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for infrastructure.