As the part of its efforts to fight pharma companies which denies supply to certain distributors, the All India Chemists and Distributors Federation (AICDF) may soon file petitions against four drug firms, in Mumbai.
The federation will be filing complaints against the Mumbai based Aventis Pharma Ltd , Franco Indian Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Elder Pharmaceuticals Ltd and the Mumbai-based Macleods Pharma Ltd, Mumbai for violation of Section 18A under Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) Act 1995. The complaints will be filed by the federation members in the local police station near the company's drug depot, according to federation officials.
"Our members have already filed petition against Emcure Pharma at Hinjewadi police station at Pune for denial of supply even after the distributor submitted demand draft of Rs 15,000 and the order got placed. We have also contacted the concerned officials in these companies but in vain," said an AICDF spokesperson. The petitions against the Mumbai-based companies will be filed at Chennai even as a complaint against Mumbai-based Macleods Pharma Ltd, Mumbai will be filed at Mumbai, in the beginning of April, he added.
The companies are denying supplies to certain distributors following instruction from the rival trader's association, added the federation leaders without mentioning the name of its rival group, All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) and its affiliates. The AICDF has already proceeded with contempt of court petition in Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) against three multinational pharma companies. However, the officials refused to reveal the company names.
"We are not asking for any concession from drug companies. It is the duty of these companies to supply drugs to eligible traders but they are violating the law," added an AICDF member. The federation, which earlier warned companies for denying or suspending supply to its members without valid reasons, will continue with legal actions against the DPCO violators, added the member.