The AICDF general secretary Joydeep Sarkar has clarified that his organization has not called for any bandh on March 28 individually or jointly as reported earlier, but only observed a mass protest at Jantar Mantar on March 24.

Reacting to report published in Pharmabiz, the general secretary said that AICDF never called for any bandh nor it intends organize such event which are against human interests or benefits.

Earlier the Doctor of Pharmacy Association (DPA) based in Hyderabad had claimed that they would fight against any organization that is acting against the pharmacists interests in the country.

Reiterating DPA’s stand to fight and protect the interests of pharmacists in the country Sai Kumar, president DPA said their organization is not against any drug trader organizations or their agitations but would not be shying off to go to any extent if any move by any organization or by the government is against the interests of the pharmacists.

Reacting to the recent agitations by drug trade organizations in the country, Sai Kumar, president DPA said, “Some of the demands of the drug trade organizations are against the interests of the pharmacists. We are not against any drug traders or any related organizations, except that we will fight anyone who is against the interests of pharmacists’ in the country.  We don’t have any differences with AIOCD and AICDF. Our goal is to protect the interests of pharmacists in the country who are suffering with large scale unemployment. Our demand is the government should not bow to any pressure tactics of the drug traders as they have been demanding amendment in the Pharmacy Act to accommodate unqualified persons to dispense drugs in the pharmacy stores,” explained Kumar.

Kumar had also cited one instance of the drug traders’ organizations pressurising the government by launching a nation-wide bandh during May last year. “We only fear that any move by the drug traders should not go against the interests of the pharmacists. If they go for bandh call again this year it may not only impact the common people and patients but any move by the government to amend the pharmacy act against the interests of pharma professionals under the drug traders pressure, it will not be tolerated,” clarified Sai Kumar.