Representatives of All India Organisation for Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) will be meeting the Group of Ministers (GoM) which is reviewing the national pharmaceutical policy next month.

The Organisation has sought an appointment with the GoM for discussion on the policy before finalising the same. AIOCD feels that the GoM had so far ignored it in the earlier meetings with other stakeholders of pharma industry.

"Even though the GoM is not discussing subjects with implications on traders, we have to ensure that the decisions may not go against the interests of traders. The government has conducted various levels of discussions with AIOCD when the policy was last amended, and we anticipate the same approach from the government this time," said A N Mohan, president, AIOCD.

The key issue which may affect the traders is on the trade margins. And GoM has not yet discussed this issue or anything related pharmaceutical trade.

Nevertheless, the organisation would send a delegation to meet the ministers, by next month, after conducting its national executive committee meeting in Goa. The executive committee meeting is to be held in Goa from 28th to 30th, September 2007.

The GoM chaired by Sharad Pawar, Minister of Agriculture, Food and consumer affairs heard presentations from the industry and consumer groups on the issues in a meeting conducted in September 12, 2007. The meeting had heated discussion on the proposed extension of price control to 354 drugs from the existing 74 drugs.